The record-union., 1895-03-22
TEE GOVERNOR OPEN TO CONVICTION.
But Not Likely to Be Convinced in
All Cases.
He Listens to the Jordan Claimants
and the Seductive Arguments of
the Coyote Scalpers.

The Governors office was crowded yes
terday from early morning to late in the
afternoon with those anxious, for one
reason or another, to get temporary loan
of the Gubernatorial ear.
The applicant for an appointment to
gome position within the Governors
power to grant was there, anxious and
restless, eagerly waiting for an opportu-
nifty to present his recommendations for
inspection. The man who had claim
bill awaiting the Executive signature was
there, biding patiently his chance TO prove
that it should by all means be signed. So
were also the men who were either advo-
eating or opposing general laws, who
burned for an opportunity to impress
upon the mind of Governor Budd the
weighty reasons why he should act on
their suggestions.
They sat or stood In the outer Office,
talking in groups where common inter-
ests happened to be united, or alone with
their thoughts and hopes, listlessly wait
ing a summons to the inner room. Pri-
Vate Secretary Coinon and Executive
Secretary MCCabe came and went, now
passing a word with this one or 2nnounc-
ing to that one that the Governor was
ready to see him, while ever and anon
they were buttonhOled by some acquaint-
ance and led TO corner where whispered
conference could be had.
Many faces were there that are more or
less well known throughout the State.
ExMayor Ellert of san Francisco had
come up, it was rumOred, to explain TO
the Governor something concerning title
Insurance. Ex-Lawyer Philbrook had
dropped in to tell him why he should by
all means sign the bill to restore him to
practice before the courts. Senator Smith
was there TO endeayor to secure some cor
rectiOn in the county government bill.
George Z. Bates had casually happened
in to promote the security Of the appro-
priatiOn TO pay the coyote scalp claims.
and Assemblyman Laird of Modoc and
number Of others had the same end in
view.
In the inner room sat Governor Budd
at the table usually occupied by the Pri-
gate Secretary, on which were piled up
papers and slips of the many bills that
are as yet unsigned. He gave careful and
earnest attention 10 the arguments ad-
dressed to him, breaking in at times to
ask question or make dissenting Te-
mark or more extended argument.
THE JORDAN CLAIM.
The morning was mainly passed in
listening to individual statements, and at
/ o'clock Secretary MCCabe announced
that the Governor would see no one else
till = o'clock. Instead OF diminishing,
the crowd augmented in the afternoon,
and when the audience was resumed the
weiI-knowu Jordan claim was The first
taken up for consideration. Hon. Grove
l.. Johnson appeared for Jordan and his
son, making an exhaustive statement OF
the case and urging its equities on the at
ientIon OF the Governor.
Hon. William Mulgrew also spoke in
support of the bill.
Judge Catlin opposed the bill. giving
his reason at length, and cOntending that
the State should not pay the claim.
Ihe Governor listened carefully, MAX
ing notes Of various matters, and when
they had presented their cases signified
that he was ready tor the coyote scalpers.
COYOTE sCALPs.
\ large number of claimants under the
coyote scalp law appeared before the Gov
ernOr to urge his approval OF the bill for
payment OF the claims.
DR.. W. L. Mathews explained how the
bill providing for the payment Of claims
for coyote sCalps was repealed, leaving
claims unpaid on account OF lack of an
preparation. He thought the claims were
a Just debt owed by the State and should
be paid.
Governor Budd read long list Of bum
dies of scalps that had been shipped into
the State and detected that We're now at
Caliente and being shipped in small bun
dies 10 different parts Of the State. He
said that between 900 and > 400 scaIDs
which had been shipped into the State had
been traced TO respectable citizen in the
lower part OF the state. 1t Will be verv
difficult 10 distinguish between genuine
and fraudulent claims. Although he had
several men investigating these matters,
the time Tor the investigation had been
too short. one package OF ZZ3 pounds Of
scalps was shipped from Fl Paso, Texas,
and package OF similar weight was
shipped from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
The law provides that claims must be
acted on by the Board OF Examiners
within thirty days, and in cases OF doubt
tnat is not long enough to allow OF proper
investigation. OF course just and honest
claims should be paid by the State but
it is hard TO determine which they are.
In Kern County, during the quarter be-
fore the law was repealed, there were
1,S00 scalps and within three weeks after
ii was repealed they had increased to
3,272
George L. Bates argued that the claims
that were just could easily be proved aud
as many OF them were small ones they
were not likely 10 be fraudulent and
should by all means be paid.
The Governor replied that he could see
no reason why, because the State owed
just claims for 5000 or $4,000. which
cAAOutAA GGA taALllN DC It2ll, AIlB s>EGke SnDUlG
pay S2JUOOO worth OF fraudulent claims,
The Board of Examiners should have
two years 10 examine into these claims
before being compelled 10 pay them. The
Grand Jury Of Kern County had a case
before II, but instead of finding an in
dictmeut, as he had hoped. it referred the
matter 70 the Board Of Examiners.
lie resd long list Of men IN Kern
County who presented claims for from
20 10 30 scalps each within three months
ana said the country must be fairly
oVerTuu with coyotes down there.
a gentleman from Kern County said
the Grand Jury had not dropped the
matter yet. He was member OF it and
knew That il still intended to go to the
bottom of the affair.
The statements Of the Governor did not
seem TO produce any undue amount Of
eiatlon IN the claimants, especially when
ne remarked TO one OF them: II am
sorry for you, Old man, for know your
claim is all right and straight" The
argument was advanced by one of the
speakers that if, as the Governor stated
there would not be enough money 10 pay
the appropriation, in addition TO all that
was needed Tor other purposes, that less
coulu be used on the State buildings, as
thIS was just debt that the State should
see palu nrst. The suggestion did not,
however, meet with favor from the EX-