The herald., 1893-01-22
CITY TAX COLLECTOR WADE,
His Residence Claimed to Be
in Another County.
How He Was Q Citizen of Rialto for a
Year and Four Months,
He and His Family Resided There; His
Business Was There, ami His
Household oods Are Said
to Be There Now.

cision of small plurality of the voters
at the recent municipal election, is
legally entitled to the position is one
that should receive some attention fro m
the proper authorities.
Tue HERALD has taken some pains to
look into the matter, and finds the facts
of sufficient Importance to demand
thorough investigation and final set
tlement of the matter by the courts.
Mr.. Wade is we'll known in Los Angeles,
having resided here number OF years,
but he, like the great majority OF our
citizens, has not lived here always. The
reasonable supposition would be, that
he, like other people, when they sever
all business connections with commu-
nifty in which they have resided, and
remove themselves, their family and
effects to another community, and there
engage in business, had changed resi-
dence and become citizen of the latter
place.
Acting upon this supposition, the
HERALD presents these facts, and ques-
tions Mr.. Wsde's legal right to the posi-
tion he now holds.
At a meeting of the board of directors
of the Semi-Tropic Land and Water
company, held on the Sth day of April,
1891, at the compsny's Office in Rialto.
San Bernsrdino county, Mr.. Wade was,
by resolution, duly offered and adopted,
elected superintendent of that COM
pany's affairs at salary OF $3.50 per
month. The resolution also prescribes
as his duties among other things that he
have charge of the engaging OF all en-
ployes and the direction as to their
labor. Also to see that water was fur
nished to those entitled to it at the
proper time and to generally superin-
tend the active operations of the com
pany. The company's property and
business is all in San Bernardino county
and his duties were such as to require
his constant presence there. He en-
tered upon the discharge of his duties as
such superintendent on the 18th day OF
April, 1891, and continued constantly i'll
that position until the 10Th day of
August, 1892, one year ana four months
lacking five days, and he would have
been there yet drawing his salary from
that corporation instead of the city OF
Los Angeles had it not been for the
purchase of the prnperty of
the company from Major Bonebrake,
Howes, Merrill and others by Melon
aid, Sheldon and others, the latter reor-'
ganizing the company, assuming the
management of affairs and relieving Mr..
Wade on the 10th day of August, 1892
During the time that Mr.. Wade was
in the employ of this company he pur-
chased of them in the name of Mrs.
Emily Snoddy, presumably relation, a
tract of land in Rialto, payments for the
same being made by him or charged
against his salary accounts. He also
purchased in the neighboring town of
Ontario dwelling house and removed
it to the Rialto property, repaired and
made additions to it, furnished and oc-
cupied 1t as q residence with his entire
family and effects. He took an active
town, and was regarded by all as a good
and permanent citizen. He was a good
man in the position, and no doubt re-
garded it as virtually a life job, as the
company's holdings embraced 1000 or
more acres of land, several town sites
and water companies that it will require
many years to dispose of to private own
ers, and the idea of disposing of the en-
tire business in block all at one time
probably never occurred to him or any
of the company prior to within few
weeks of the transfer that let them all
out.
Mr.. Wade did not move his family to
this city for some time after the 10th of
August. and there is a doubt ss to
whether he was here so days previous to
the 9th of December. at which time he
was elected to the Office of city tax col
lector.
But there is no doubt of some things,
and that Is that he did not leave San
Bernsrdino county before the 10th of
August, but that he registered in this
county on the 28th day OF September, to
vote at the general election, held on the
8th day of November; that one require
ment OF the statute is residence of 80
days in the county next preceding the
election. Mr.. Wade was presumably
not resident of Los Angeles county 80
days preceding the general election, ia
supposedly consequently illegally regis.
tered and cast an illegal ballot at said
election.
As to what constitutes temporary or
an absolute residence it would eeem
that the abundance of evidence lie in
favor of Rialto, where is located his
home containing his household effects,
as the absolute and permanent resi-
dence, as against the rented rooms in
furnished lodging house in this city,
at present occupied by him and hie
family.
The matter to be determined is
whether or not resident of San Ber-
nardino county can remove to Loa An
geles within 80 days preceding general
election, register and vote here, be
elected to an Office, establish his right
thereto as citizen upon his owa
declaration, unsupported by the facts
in the case. 1t is probable that the city
treasurer will be enjoined from paving
the salary warrants of himself and depu,
ties until the matter is determined by
the courts.
ATTORNEYS OPINIONS.
Several attorneys were asked by a
HERALD reporter yesterday about the
merits of the points raised in regard to