The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1893-02-21
RATHER HARD ON HART.
The Attorney-G General Under
Heavy Fire.
An Investigation Of His Office
in Progress.
His Fellow State Officials Rip Him
Up the Back.
Governor Markham and Private Secre.
tary Higgins Chief Among the
Complainsnts-Other
at Sacramento.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
SACRAMENTO, Feb. 20.-The investiga-
tion of the charges brought against At
torney-General Hart began in earnest
this morning. Gen. w. H. L. Barnes,
who represents Hart, was present. Rob-
ert 7. Devlin appeared for the commit
tee as prosecuting attorney. General
Barnes made objection, saying it was not
custsmary for an investigating commit
tee to employ an attorney. Chairman
Mathews replied that Hart had an array
OF the legal profession calculated to awe
the committee, and that what they
wanted was to get the truth and they
had retained Devlin.
Controller Colgan stated in his exam
ination that he had known cases where
money had been paid by collector
directly into the harbor improvement
fund. He also said that he understood
it to be the duty OF any collector having
any money belonging to the state to
turn the same into the state treasury
Immediately. The first information the
controller received that Hart was in re-
ceipt of money belonging to the state,
was from Attorney Miller.
Colgan practically admitted during
cross-examinstion that he did not know
to whom the money should be paid.
The committee adjourned until 2
O'Clock.
The investigation was resumed this
afternoon. Governor Msrkham's secre-
tary presented letter signed by the
governor and E. G. Wilder, E. P. Col
gan, Thomas Mcdonald, Theodore Rich
ert, ]. w. Anderson, A. J. Johnston
and George E. Pratt, which had been
sent to Hart, stating that great incon-
venience was caused the various state
officials by reason OF continually being
compelled to seek advice of private at
torneys on many questions that daily
arise in the transaction ofs their busi-
ness, and insisting upon deputy attor-
ney who would more closely attend tc
the business of Hart's office.
Secretary Higgins testified that on
many occasions the attorney-general's g
employees have been uncivil to the gov
ernor's Office.
J. w. Anderson, superintendent of
public instruction, next took the stand.
He said that his business with the at
torney- generals Office had been unsatis-
factory.
A statement was produced by Con-
troller Colgsn showing the expenditures
made in the controllers Office for special
counsel.
The state treasurer, J. R. Mcdonald,
stated that his experience with the at
torney-general's 's.office had not been sat.
isfactory; that he had often gone to the
Office and found it closed.
The secretary of state testified that
he frequently had found the Office
of the attorney general locked; that his
business with Hart's Office had been of
an unsatisfactory character, and that he
had frequently gone outside for legal
advice.
E. G. Pratt gave similar evidence.
H. G. Johnston, state printer. pre-
sented statement made by him at the
request of Hart, showing the amount of
briefs, etc., which he had printed for
the attorney generals Office during
Hart's incumbency.
W. H. Layson. Hart's first deputy,
stated that he aided in his official ca
pacity largely Independent of Hart;
that he had been at his Office every
day during his term of Office and re-
viewed an immense amount of legal
work.
The committee adjourned TO meet in
San Francisco tomorrow.