The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-07
AN UNSATISFACTORY Bond
The Mayor Refuses to Accept
the SuretieS of Treasurer
Widber.
ALL BUSINESS SUSPENDED
His Honor Objects to the Financial
Standing of One of the Bonds
men.

Treasurer Widber vainly tried to throw
open the treasury vaults to the public
holding demands against the City yester-
day, but Mayor Sutro interposed, and
business was suspended until tomorrow
morning.
The trouble was about the new Treas
urer's bond. Mr.. Widber had named Tor
his sureties H. n. Morse, l. w. Lees, h. J.
Techau and H. A. Crane. Morse was on
the bond for 100000 and the Mayors Sec
rotary ]. T. Rogers, raised a question as
to his qualifying under the consohdatlon
act, which provides that no surety can be
accepted for public official unless he has
property in the City and County.
Auditor Broderick and Judge Murphy
approved the bond on Friday, but the
Mayor remained obdurate until yesterday
afternoon, when he satisfied himself that
the acceptance of the bond should be IN
accordance with the general law and not
the consolidation act. But his Honor was
not yet through with his investigation.
His next step was to inquire into the re-
sponsibilitv of the sureties, and at
o'clock in the afternoon he declared that
the bond was insufficient.
All day long there were knots of people
around the corridors waiting for the Dig
doors of the treasury to swing open ana an
air of melancholy pervaded the City han.
The extra clerks of the Assessor who were
let out on the LIST confidently expected to
get their salaries on Wednesday, but their
warrants have not vet been issued.
Mayor Sutro held conference in bis
Office yesterday morning, at which were
present Auditor Broderick, Taylor Rogers,
City and County Attorney Creswell and
others. His Honor asked the opinion OF
Creswel, who promptly replied that the
general law should guide the action OF the
Mayor, Auditor and Sup erior Judge. Still
the Mayor was not satisfied and he harped
on the consolidation act"
II will see Judge McKinstry," he said.
Hes good lawyer"
"You asked my opinion as the, City,s
legal adviser" exclaimed Creswell with
considerable asperity, "and l gave it to
you. l don't care TO have that opinion
hawked about town."
But the Mayor and his secretary went TO
ex-Judge McKinstry's office and were gone
till nearly o'clock. Mr. Rogers said that
Mckinstry had agreed with Cresweu. He
thought that the general law should apply
and was of the opinion that the Supreme
Court had so decided in other cases by i'm
plication.
The Mayor, having satisfied himself on
this point, set out to satisfy himself as to
the responsibility of the sureties, but says
that he failed TO do so.
~ have made inquiries at the Assessors
Office and have telnphoned to Oakland re-
garding Mr.. Morse. | am not satisfied re-
gardirg Mr.. Morse's financial standing,
but he may have other property than that
which has been recorded. That is what [
am trying to find out now The Treasures
bond should be at least a quarter of mil
lion dollars, but is fixed at 100000 and
cannot now be changed. 1t is all very well to
say that these things have been, but
it does not follow that they should be now.
Mr.. Morse was accepted formerly, but l
cannot take that as guarantee. There is
a right way of doing thing and a wrong
way of doing it, and | propose to be in the
right. | am sorry for this delay, but l
cannot help it. Personally, am anxious
to assist Mr.. Widher in every way possible,
but must do my duty. Monday, l think,
everything will be cleared up. Twill count
the money, after which the bond is to be
approved. | do not think though that
the bond which has been offered will be
accepted.
The Assessor, Sheriff, County Clerk and
License Collector have been obliged to
store their fees in their respective safes
since Wednesday last. This has been
necessary to keep the wheels of govern
ment going, and nobody has been discom-
NODDED except those who have demands
against the City. Mr.. Widher was anxious
to resume business, and as far as he was
concerned personally he said that he would
waive the counting of the money and pro-
coed to the payment of the demands.