The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-07
state Funds Still in His
Possession.
COMPROMISE.
The People Said to Have Been Badly
Treated in the Affair-Reddick'
Railroad Committee.
Special to The MORNING CALL


missioners against the b0Ddsmen of John
:. GRAY and other State defaulters, arrived
here to-day to see how his bill for $1,000 is
getting along. 1t was this little claim OF
his that brought out the knowledge that
Acknowledgement Hart has been holding
$4,000 OF the States money for more than
p wear. The $4,000 was the amount that
Hart compromised with the bOndsmen for
Mr.. Langhorne gave your correspondent
some interesting facts concerning how that
scheme was worked from the beginning. He
saws that the State had the suit against
these men virtually won. In October. 1890.
more than two months before the Legisla-
ture convened, Judge Shafter had decided
il against the defendants, but the counsel
fer the latter succeeded in getting il re-
ferred to q referee and after that the
States attorneys could never get the other
side to agree to hearing. Some one Of their
number was either Ill or had gone 10
funeral or something or other happened 10
delay the case. OF course this was done
after t had been decided to railroad bill
through the Legislature. giving the Attor-
ney-General the authority to compromise
tie cases for little more than one-tenth Of
what the State was entitled to.
Among those interested in getting such
bin through were the estates Of Peter
Donahup, William T. Garratt, Moses Heller
and Samuel Grimm. How such an infa-
nous mea ur- could have been put through
both houses and have received the signature
Of the Cover OF is mystery.
The fact that Dlbble and some others
OF his ik miSrepreSented the matter
20 the honest msmbeTs may account for 1t
in a measure.
Assemblyman Lynch. who was a member
Of the Assembly judiciary Committee when
the bin was before II, says that Dib6le told
him that it was just like the State finding
$4,000. Hart also appeared before the
committee and favored its passage. Mr..
Iaughorne says he has not the slightest
doubt bat that he could have collected every
dollar Of the $4,000 sued for If the COM
promise bin had not gone through.
It looks now as if the Attorney General
was in the scheme 10 put the bin through,
for after be got the $4,000 he did not turn
over that small amount and mas lot yet,
but holds il with no other excuse than that
be does not know what fund it should 20
into. As soon as be returns the Controller
VIII call upon him and demand the money.
The States legal adviser seems to have
penchanl for holding on to the dollars. for
when the 5000 judgment was obtained
from the American Sugar Refinery some
tine ago he kept il fOr more than year.
In fact. he did not let 20 his grip on it until
the Controller demanded it. he told that
official when be paid it over that he had
kept it in his safe all the time. Where be
has kept the $4,000 he has not yet ex-
planned. but il the instructions of the Legis-
lature are carried out he VIII have to pay
over to the State the legal interest on the
amount for the time that il b as been u MS
possession.
Senator Gesford has introduced a bill re-
lstiDg to insolyent debtors, which takes the
place Of q number of others. It is intended
70 benefit both the insolvents and their cred
itors, and instead of the Sheriff Of San
Francisco and other counties of the State
receiving thousands Of dollars in fees that
money will go TO the legitimate creditors and
viii thus reduce the indebtedness Of the in
solvent. The Sheriff is made the simple
custodian Of the property OF an iDsolyenf,
and is clothed with no power. BE Is allowed
TO charge no more than his actual expenses.
This viii cut of all collision between Judges
and Sherffs, and stop practice which has
made the business of professional receivers
profitable in the past
There are other features of the bill that
are also cOmmendable. 1t compels q debtor
who fails for dishonest purposes to apply
for his discharge within one year, and stops
tie transfer of unrec0rded deeds between
debtor and creditor.
Senator Gesford says that the Sheriff Of
San Francisco is making very reprehen-
sble fight against the bill. He came to
me-" said the Senator, land told me that his
election had cost him $4,000, and for that
reason he didn't want any of his perQuisites
taken away from him. To-day l received
a telegram from McDade stating that If
would change the bin so as not to have it
take effect until 1895 he would withdraw his
opposition, but not otherwise"
Gesford says that he proposes to stay by
the measure until it is either passed or de-
feated
McDade has aroused every Sheriff In the
State, and there is no doubt that many Of
them will be here TO accomplish the defeat
Of the bill. II possible.
Aside from the provision which curtails
the revenue Of Sheriff, there Is one which
reduces the time in which attachments may
remain on property from four to three days.
THIS viii lessen the chances Of one partlcu-
lar creditor standing in with the debtors in
Justice Court cases. The bill also reduces
the time for the election Of assignee from
thirty to twenty days.
Every day that passes lessons the chances
of the RaiDeY and MahOBey fire bill becom-
ing law. Every square and fearless man
in the Assembly has been acquainted with
the motive that inspired the introduction Of
II, and the chances are that it will meet
defeat.
LuttringeT to-day introduced bill in the
Assembly which provides for the establish
ment Of Board Of Veterinary Surgeons
whose duty 1t shall be to examine eyerv
veterinary surgeon, pass upon his capabiI-
tiles and issue a diploma before he can
practice his calling This same bill was in
PRODUCED two years ago, and the Assembly
engaged in a hot battle over il. Opposition
to ii came from every section Of tie State.
and it was finally defeated.
Kennedy of San Francisco has introduced
bill providing TOR an appropriation Of
500, 600 to be used in fitting out a training
ship for boys so that they may be taught
naval warfare. The bill provides that they
shall serve two years before they become
tull-iiedged warriors. fit to associate with
The naval reserve.
~OAieo'iisei ihS1Ouuced a Dill To-Day giving
power 10 the Board Of Supervisors in San
francisco to close any city cemetery that
has become a nuisance.
Marston is the author of bill 10 increase
the term Of all county officers to four years.
In the Senate to-day, Arms, al the re-
quest OF the Coroner of San Francisco, in
troduced a bill increasing the number OF
deputies In the Coroner's Office of San
Francisco to seven. 1t raises the salary of
the first assistant from $50 to $500 month.
and the second assistant from SIPS to $3.50.
Senator Seymour, very quietly and unos-
tentatiously, sent up a bill to-day which
provides that, at the expiration Of the term
of Office OF the present Board of State
Library Trustees, the Governor of the