The herald., 1893-09-14
SHORB MUST RETURS TODAY
Or the Office of County Treas
urer Will Be Vacant.
He Was Very Ill in Philadelphia at
Last Accounts.
Names Of Those Mentioned for Appoint
ment to the Ohice-Tho County
Funds All Right-Action
ofthe Supervisors.

supervisors 10 delare the office vacant
and appoint new county treasurer to
fill the unexpired term.
County Treasurer Shorb has been
away from the county go days, the time
being up yesterday.
From all accounts ohtainable be IS
still very sick man at a hospital IN
Philadelphia.
Such was the information furnished
the supervisors yesterday afternoon py
his relatives, and it was intimated to
them that it is very doubtful when Mr..
Shorb will return to California.
1t is understood that the last direct
advices from the county treasurer were
received about week ago by his family.
Telegrams sent Tueeday and yesterday
had not been anewered. 3HsE
The board of supervisors would prob
ably have taken some action III the
matter Yesterday, but owing to tho un-
certainty of the movements OF Mr..
Shorb. thinking that there might be a
possibility OF his arriving home today,
they deferred final action until this
morning. N
The situation was made the subject OF
extended and earnest deliberations
yesterday, in which District Attorney
Dillon participated. The matter was
discussed privately, the board being
closeted in their side room the greater
part OF the afternoon.
The situation becomes the more i'm
portant owing to the complications aris-
ing from new appointment in connec-
tion with the large bond required.
Treasurer Shorb's bond is $780, and
his bondsmen embrace officers and di-
rectors in all the clearing house banks
OF the city.
There has been so much discussion
and trouble over the handling of the
county funds by the banks that the
bondemen OF the treasurer are not bit
backward about saying they will go on
no more treasurers' bonde.
A $500, 900 bond is very large one to
be raised by any one who might be ap-
pointed, and especially when number
of the eolideet men financially in the
city decline to go on 1T.
The supervisors, however, have no
option in the matter. The law is very
explicit and mandatory in prescribing
their duty in just such cases as the one
that has arisen. The political code and
county government act cover the case
completely.
THE LAW OF THE CASE.
Section 81 OF the county government
act reads: "A county or township officer
shall, in no case, absent himself from
the state for a period of more than 60
days, and for no period without the con-
sent Of the board of supervisors OF the
county"
Article 8, section 996, Of the Political
Code, eaye: IAN Office becomes vacant
on the happening OF either OF the fol-
lowing events before the expiration OF
the term: Az
Subdivision 8 reads: "fiis absence
from the state without permission ,ofi
the legislature beyond the period al-s
lowed by law"
Section 25, subdivision /, OF the coun-
ty government act, provides that boards
of supervisors have power ito fill by
appointment all vacancies that may
occur in any office filed by the appoint
ment OF the board Of supervisors, and
elective county or township offices, ex-
cept in those .of judge of the superior
court and supervisor, the appointee to
hold office for the unexpired term.
MIR. sHoRB's LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
Mr.. Shorb has not been in a very
good condition ss far as health goes for
several months. Upon the advice OF
physicians he decided in July last to 90
east to Philadelphia, where his brother
resides and undergo medical treatment.
His condition was described then and
now as that OF nervous protration.
He obtained leave of absence from
the board OF supervisors July 14th, for
80 days. at the end OF that time an ex-
tension OF 80 days more was granted by
the board upon the representations
made to them by physicians and the
family.
That time also expired, yesterday be-
ing the last day, az figured by the super.
visors, and no word had been received
by them in regard to the movements OF
the treasurer, except in an indirect way
through his relatives.
The Office during Mr.. Shorb's absence
has been in the hands OF ]. NJ. Tiernan,
assistant treasurer and deputy treasurer
Thos. ]. Fleming, careful and capable
gentlemen. Its business has been kept
up to the mark and everything has
moved like clock work.
WHO WILL BE TREASURER?
In the event that the supervisors are
required today to take action, the sub.
ject of whom they will appoint to fill
the vacancy becomes a pertinent one.
1t is known that they have seriously
coneidered the subject of the appoint
ment, and that several names have been
mentioned in connection With the office.
1t could not be ascertained how the
supervisors stood on any OF the gentle-
men mentioned. Among those who
have been spoken about as standing a
show for the place are DR.. w. G. Coch-
ran. Frank Gibson, Thos. j. Fleming, j.
III. Tiernsn and Mr.. Gillelen.
In the event OF appointment it is
stated on very good authority that the
choice would in all likelihood be made
from those named.
e THE COUNTY FUNDS.
1t is not likely, but in the event that
the bankers should adopt different
policy than has prevailed regarding the
county funda which are now distributed
among the clearing house banks, that
all the county funds might be turned
back into the vaults OF the county treas
ury. ff IA GJ
At the present time there is about
$4,000 in the treasury in coin, while
the banks hold some $3.50, 600 of the
county's cash. a
The question confronting new treas
urer may be the locking up of large
- 4 -.