The morning call., 1893-06-21
PLUNDEREDFUNDS
Report of the Alameda
Grand Jury.
FOUR SUPERVISORS ACCUSED
Their Removal From Office and the
Prosecution of Two Editors
Demanded.

The much anticipated report of the Ala
media County Grand Jury, impaneIed by
Judge Greene on April 4, was presented
yesterday loon in Oakland.
As was expected, the report proved to
be of highly sensational character. and
has created considerable excitement rom
its rigorous and thorough character.
The affairs of Alameda County were
carefully reviewed and the conduct Of its
officials fearlessly criticized.
Four Supervisors were charged with will
fnl misconduct and neglect of duty. They
are:
Barr Morgan.
d. W. Martin.
W. S. Peiouze.
Hiram Bailey.
The District Attorney was directed to
bring proceedings at once with view OF
removing them from office.
The specific charge against these men is
that they illegally and wrongfully passed
bills allowing the Alameda Statesman and
Alameda Argus S2653 for publis hing the
election proclamation.
Supervisor Plunkett alone escaped the
sweeping denunciation. He had asked
TO be excused from voting when the bills
were passed.
T. G. Daniels and J. E. Barber, editors
of the Argus and Statesman, were CEN
sured for receiving the money. and the
District Attorney was instructed to begin
proceedings against them at once to re-
cover the amount.
THIS accusations against the Supervisors
are authorized by section 75S of the Penal
Code. II is not criminal proceeding and
the penalty is removal from office. Such
a trial must be had before the court and
jury. 1t is heroic treatment and has only
been attempted ouce before in California.
The Supervisors themselves are not
alarmed al suit and say they expect to
win il. They claim that the bills we're
legally passed and were pad by Audi
tor Whidden only upon an order Of Judge
Ellsworth in which the bills were finally
passed upon.
When the bills were first presented to
the Auditor he refused to pay them. Mr..
Barber thereupon secured a writ of man.
damus and Judge Ellsworth issued an
oder upon the Auditor.
The portion of the report GOVERN G The
circumstances on which the Supervisors
were charged with wllful neglect of duty
is as follows:
We observe two bills for printing as ad-
vertisements the sample ballot" used at
the last election, both amounting To S720.
Presenting they were authorized 10 print
the overcharge amounts TO S104. Over
charging and overm.asuring abound in
| bills without number.
Because of their great number we can
with the multitude of errors and over
charges; but when 1t comes to the squan-
dering of thousands at the suggestion of
an individual Supervisor unchecked, and
even aided by his colleagues. 1t is time to
call halt and ask if the people have no
| redress and no remedy.
We here allude to the payment of S2653
To the proprietorS of TWO newspapers pub
lshed in the town of Alameda for alleged
| advertising of the Government and county
proclamations for the election of Novem-
her last. This transaction is so high
handed that We cannot allow it 10 stand
| unrebuked as precedent. and we shall be
pardOned if we scrutlnize IL closely aud
give, as we believe. its true history.
1t is an insult to the intelligence of any
man to suppose that he believes that an
equivalent was rendered for this large
sum of money, or that any member of tho
Board OF Supervisors could have thought
SC, heretofore or now. We have HAD be-
fore lis each of the FIVE members of the
board in office when the alleged authority
was given to OIder said work. Substan-
tally all agree that tho board as board
never gave any authority-nn resolution
offered, no vote had One of the body
claims that he said. speaking to some of
the members mot in session., that he
wanted some of the printing for his
c'my') papers, and that no objection was
offered. This negative acQuiescence is all
ha mr. ha va IN ct nlat,
it was granted in COMMITTEE of the
whole" and was an understanding" that
he could order printed what he desired.
This is the most favorable view offered.
Conversation in committee of the whole
does not constitute action of the beard.
Let US see what the record shows: 1t
appears from the minute-book of the board
that at a meeting held October 10, 1892, at
the morning session, on motion of Super
visor Pelouzn. seconded By Supervisor
Martin, the election proclamation was or
dered published in the foliowing-named
Enquirer, Oakland Tribune and Oakland
journal. After the minutes were written
UP, interlinpd upon the minute book come
the words, "and Oakland Morning Times"
Whether the interline al ton was the result
of an accidental omission by the clerk of
the board or an afterthought we do not
endeayor to determine. But If an omis-
sion, and other papers were also omitted.
Is it not reasonable to suppose that the
interliner would have added, land Ala
media Argus and Alameda Statesman"
But the record shows more publish hing of
election proclamation orders on the same
day, and now will come the chance for the
Alameda papers. At the afternoon ses.
sion of the board. on motion of Supervisor
Bailey, it was
Resolred, That all weekly newspapers in the
county are authorized 10 publish the election
proclamation for ten days prior To the election
10 be held November s, at The unlfdm cost OF
$50 each.
Is there any mention made in the board
proceedings of the understanding men.
toned in the committee of the whole that
two newspapers of the town OF Alameda
were 10 be subsidized at the rate of S1326
each? Not a word.
board proceedings OF the understanding men,
toned In the committee OF the whole that two
newspapers OF the town of Alameda were to be
subsidized at the rate OF Sl326 each? NOT
word.
But at the next meeting the minutes will
he read Oml sSiODS SUDnled and tho tryipS