The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-16
HART INDIGNANT.
A Tilt With Investigator
Mathews.
WITNESSES BY THE SCORE.
The Attorney-General Names a Few
of the People Whom He In
tends to Summon.
Special to THE MORNING CALI.

SACRAMENTO, Feb. 15.-The Assembly
Committee appointed to investigate At
torney- General Hart met this afternoon.
In opening the investigation Chairman
Mathews said that this was an informali
meeting to arrange prellmlnarIeS. MI.
Hart could state his desires.
Hart-In the first place l have been
little over two years the Acknowledgement
of this commonwealth. / have endeavored
to conduct my office with what skill / may
have acquired after twenty-three years OF
experience as lawyer. l believe in fair
play, square dealing. 1t seems that this
committee might have notified me as
preface. All l want Is fair. square
hearing.
Mathews-That you will have.
Hart-I am on the same footing ms You MS
a constitutional officer, and 1 think before
am tried that you should first furnish me
with charges.
Mathews-You seem to think that we
have not treated you courleously.
Hart-I have not read the articles in the
newspapers, because when | am angry am
somewhat of a violent man. and this would
prevent me from coming here and properly
treating the committee.
CPNE1al llDItS III. -hdlhtNo ohH hhN w
cused got into wrangle over the sarcastic
insinuations OF Hart, and he was fl itly told
bv the chairman not 10 be TOO pugnacious.
Hart said he was the coolest man there.
He would suggest that they produce testi-
mony and then he would introduce his. tie
was willing and wanted to have full and
fair investigation OF himself. his office. his
deputies, and "you can investigate until
your hair is gray"
DR.. Mathews-The Attorney General does
not seem TO fairly understand the situation.
I will recapitulate the situation. At the
outset the Ways and Means Committee was
trying TO find the whereabouts OF certain
funds, and could get no information at his
Office, and his letter to the Controller was
unsatisfactory to the Assembly. and we
think them grounds for impeachment. This
committee must not be confused with the
Ways and Means Committee, and we will
give you fair hearing. As the session is
drawing TO an end we can hardly walt until
Monday.
Hart-l have case in court tomorrow
and Friday. and cannot be here until Mon
day. l have retained General Barnes as my
| counsel. If you have general charge OF
dereliction of duty l will insist on having
100 witnesses.
Mathews-That will certainly be one Of
the charges, but the keeping Of moneys IN
! lawfully from the treasury VIII be the main
one.
Hart-I will have fifteen witnesses on that
charge.
Kahn-If you are going to have 100 wit
nesses from San Francisco it would be a
| saving to the State TO hold the investigation
! in San Francisco.
This sentiment was opposed, and part Of
! the inquiry will be held In San Francisco
| and part in Oakland. The committee de-
| cided to hold its first meeting on Monday at
! 10 o'clock In the Supreme Court room. AS
| to witnesses Hart said he wanted J. w.
| Keegan, Charles Bassett, c. o. Alexander,
| General W. n. Brown John II. Miller. J. p.
! Langhorne, Thomas r. Bergen, E. s. Heller.
| Arthur Rodgers, Isaac Helman, J. T. Fas-
set, w. II. knight. Hon. George c. Perkins,
| ]. S. Emery, Daniel E. Hayes. Oregon San
ders Deputy Attorney-GeneraD. A. Betz G.
Fl. Jackson, f. S. Stratton. +. L. Sharple,
George Hattou, Fremont Older, NJ. II. de
Young, W. E. Dargie. w. II. L. Barnes, a.
| B. Hotchkiss. c. B. Darwin. r. Van Patier-
son, E. B. Coleman. w. W. Douglass. w.
H. Layson, Higgins, George E. Pratt, Dana
| Perkins, Anderson, w. u, Waite and john
| B. MhooD.
The committee adjourned to meet on Mon
day at 10 o'clock.
In an interview this afternoon Hart said
that be proposed to have W. II. H. Barnes
and Jim Budd Of Stockton defend him. lie
stated that he had not read the newspaper
accounts of his misconduct nor would he
permit any one to read them to him.
The Governors secretary. Mr.. Higgins,
has in his possession petition directed TO
Attorney-G General Hart. asking that W. II.
Layson, the first assistant in his Office, be
removed. The petition is signed by every
State officer and Governor Mark hams name
heads the list.
Tie committee has decided that they will
first examine the witnesses that are there,
and then, if 1t is necessary. they will 90 to
San Francisco and pursue the examination