The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-15
OUR ROAD EXPENDITURES
The County Surveyor Dips His Finger Deep
Into the Treasury Pie
Il Costs More to Run Los Angeles County
Than II Does to Run the Whole State
Of nlnnesots, and Here 10 the
Bill Of Particulars


the money Of the taxpayers OF los Ange-
las county, for the past nine months, has
been and is being expended is enough to
cause one who knows the inside and who
is aware of exactly how vast q sum is be-
ine disbursed, to long for Parkhurst or
a Mayor Strong to appear and take hold
OF the rsins of government. Then there
might bs some relief. but II things con-
.inus a. they are now going there will be
,one." This is what member OF tho
grand jury said yesterday.
1--WE have not mpleted our investlga-
don OF the affairs Of the county govern
nent yet," said this gentleman, contin-
ling, "but az far a. we have looked into
matters We have found that county ex-
,enditures for the past nine months par
icularly have been chara sterizsd by ap-
pailing extravaRance.
Money FROM the county treasury has
flowed out in vast streams In every direc-
tion and in every possible form that
could have been conceived under which
to cloak q useless or an unnecessary out
lay of the peoples coin in the shape OF
supposed legal demsnd upon the public
treasury.
1.-THE examination We have made Of the
books disclosss . state Of affairs in the
management Of the CO unity government
thnt cannot be Characterized ~ other than
scandalous.
Take the one simple item Of deputies.
and those in the employ, Of the county
under various names, devioe1 and sub
terfugss--any way to get . demand au.
dited and secure warrant on the treas.
ury::.,
county IL today paying out In this direo-
tion over $500. 900 per annum? Places.
have bssn supplied in the various public
o.a...ces. in the departments OF the county
government, on the county roads and IN
other ways for vast army OF political
heslers, relatives OF officials. ward man.
ayers. Everybody with pull has secured
p ace either for himself or his sister,
his cousin or his aunt.
Can this has been done without any
regard for efficiency or for what the pub
lie service demanded.
"Ws have not finished the examination
yet, and the further va go the worse it
gets. We will al the proper time present
the whole thing to the taxpayers of this
county IN the shape of detailed report.
Then they can Judge for tbemae selves"
The gentleman who talked III this vein
to reporter Of The Herald is one of the
foremost man of the county and he is not
a partisan. He 10 of unquestioned stand
ing. cursory examination of the books
in the auditors Office 20 to bare out the
statement of the member OF the grand
jury.
DULL MONTHS BILLS.
August is ono of the m onths in the year
wnen county expenditures for labor in
the way of deputies, etc., are not large.
1t is dull month. 1t was some sixty
days before the grand jury wac called, and
il is therefore fair average month OF
tho present high pressure reg ime that is
In control at the courthouse.
The auditors books for September last
show that between the I'd and the 10th of
the month $31. 1904 was drawn out of
to county treasury and went 10 line the
pockets of the deputies, their chiefs and
the vast horde of men. women and chill
dren on the pay rolls OF the county who
ostensibly give their services to il.
This amount was divided among the
various departments as follows:
LABOR ON ROADS,