The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-03-02

others for money paid them or services
rendered.
Mr.. Devlin put it in another way; he
said:
Had General Hart died last Novem-
per, was there any eviueuce-any scrap
become OF the money collected from the
Harbor Commission cases."
There Is no record kept in his Office"
returned Mr.. Stone, "and the ONLY means
by which the fact could have been ascer-
tanned was through the docket of the
courts IN San Francisco"
Then continued MIR. Devlin. stbere
would have been nothing to pass into the
hands OF his successor in Office to show
what had become of the money!"
Nothing except the public records"
returned Stone. lie did not know
whether General Hart had kept a private
memorandum OF his accounts or not, bat
presumed he had for his own protec-
ton.
No Attorney General who has ever
preceded General Hart" continued Mr..
Stone, has ever kept such books, and
III fact the State makes no provision
for book-keeper in the Office"
Chairman Mathews wished to know
whether General Hart paid parties, such
as Sheri1ls and attorneys, from his own
pocket and then presented claims in his
own person and name FOR the amount so
paid 10 the State Board of Examiners.
Stenographer Alfred Belts of the Attor-
ney-GeneraFs Office volunteered the in
formation that such an action was some
times taken.
Mr.. Mathews then wanted to know if
book was Kept in which contingent eX-
penses were entered.
Belts replied that the Office kept no
track OF the funds so expended, but re-
lied upon and were notified by the Con-
troller's office at stated periods of the
amount Of money drawn.
NDeputy Attorney-General LAWSON be-
ing present was appealed to by the Chair
man, but did not know whether a mem
orandum OF expenditures was kept OF
not.
Attorney Stone, after consulting with
Belts and Layson, stated that a book was
kept in the Office in which entries were
made OF all money put in or taken out of
the Attorney Generals Fund"
"a Chairman Mathews wanted to know
whether the contingent fund of 5000 was
ever drawn upon, to which Mr.. Stone re-
plled that 1t never was except by the Con-
trolleT'S warrant"
Mr.. Stone,3 said Mr.. Devlin, ''means
to leave the impression with the commit
tee, that lawyers are poor book keepers.''
Well" replied Mr.. Stone, 81 can say
That always balance my accounts at
night by going to bed with an empty
pocket"
Director Boggs of the State Agricultural
Association was next placed upon the
stand. He testified that he had been ap-
pointed by the Board OF Directors TO visit
General Hart regarding the cases arising
from the grand stand accident at Agri-
cultural Park in 1891, as the association
considered the matter should be tried by
the State. General Hart had promptly
promised him to attend to the matter at
once, stating that he was already familiar
with the case. General Hart, however,
did not attend to the case, but Mr. Law
son did. President Cox afterward con-
suited Mr.. LaysOn, and told him that the
ASSOCIATION would employ associate coun-
sci il he desired help i'll the matter, and
LaysOn answered by informing Cox that
he had already procured counsel for the
association. \ claim had afterward been
presented to the Board of Directors
drawn in favor of Layson and Brusie
The claim was for y, 800, attorney fees in
the cases arising from the grand stand
disaster. The board, witness said, had,
after due consideration, allowed Brusie
5000 for his services, but had cut LAWSON
Oil without penny, as they thought he
had been acting for the State and not as
private attorney.
Controller Colgan was recalled, and tes-
tilted that General Hart had no fund
upon which to draw in which the claim
did not go before the State Board of Ex-
anllners. If he pays out money from his
private purse he must put in his personal
claim for the same. The witness did not
know whether the Acknowledgement
kept a ledger in which was entered the
amount OF his expenditures or not.
The committee adjourned, after deter
mining to hold an executive session later
III the day.