The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-01
A Question of Morals When the
Law Is Silent
GARLAND'S IMPOLITIC ACT
A City Official Who Profits by his
Official Capacity
AS Chairman of the Insurance Committee HI
Insures School Houses Through his
Business Associates

Some comment has been caused by the
fact that W. H., Garland, a member OF the
Board of Education. has been appointed
chairman of the insurance committee OF
the board, and that the first insurance
placed by the committee has been placed
in the Phoenix OF Hartford, company in
which Mr.. Garland is, in a roundabout
way, connected.
At the last meeting of the Board OF Ed
ucation on Monday night Garland, as
chairman of the insurance committee, re-
ported that the insurance on but one OF
the school houses has thus far expired,
that one being the policy covering the
CASTELAR, street school building. This had
been reinsured in the Phoenix of Hart
ford. None Of the school houses were in
sured in the Phoenix of Hartford before;
this is the first time that the insur-
ance committee of the board has cast its
favors in the direction OF the Phoenix OF
Hartford. The amount placed upon the
building is $780,
The report of the meeting of the Board
of Education was published in Tuesday
mornings Herald, and Immediately there
was comment on the action OF Delegate
Garland.
Yesterday reporter of The Herald in
vestigated the matter. 1t was ascertained
that the agent through whom the bust
ness was done is Victor Wankowski, whose
office is with Mr.. Garland in the Potomac
Block. The regular agent of the Phoenix
of Hartford was not connected with the
deal, nor was he aware that his company
had received the favor Victor WankoW-
ski is the agent for the town of Glendale
for the Phoenix of Hartford. He is also
! said to be connected with Garland in a
| business way.
The City Attorneys Office was asked by
| the reporter if there is any law to prohibit
a member of the Board of Education who
happens to be on the insurance committee
from placing the insurance with com.
pany for which he may be the agent
either directly or indirectly9 ;,
Il am not prepared to say off-hand,
replied the Deputy City Attorney, who
was in charge during City Attorney Den.
MIS- absence in court. 1T would take
should like to before making positive
statement. The point would be that the
contract is made between the city and the
company and not with the agent. II
might require judicial decision to settle
the point.
The City Attorney last year refused to
sanction a contract between the Council
| Abraham was then a member of the Board
of Education, and consequently a city
official.
Other attorneys who were seen yester-
day regarding the matter were not GER
tain. that the action of Mr.. Garland is I'M
| lawful, but all were agreed that 1t is moi
J polite and is morally wrong. Insurance
men were of the same opinion.
cit is a fact that there could be no cues
ton of rates, for the Insurance Union
maks the rates uniform" said one agent
''but the action leaves a suspicion OF
/ minds of many"
Not one of the many city officials, at
torneys or insurance men seen yesterday
| by the reporter were able to exoneratt
MIR. Garland from an unwise action
though they expressed surprise that \ nc
! should have none such thing, especially
when the gain to himself, if any there is
| will be so small.