The San Francisco call., 1895-12-14
Secretary Scott Called Upon to
Explain Apparent Dis
crepancleS.
PROBED BY THE GOVERNOR.
Unpleasantness Growing Out of the
Loose Drawing of an In.
ventory.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Dec. 13.-Win-
field Scott, the secretary of the State VIII
cultural Commission, appeared before the
State Board of Examiners to-day to explain
what appeared to be a remarkable and
extensive disappearance of State property
in charge of the commission. The Gov
ernor had been doing some quiet inves-
tigating and had asked for an inventory of
the effects in the rooms of the commission
at 101 Sansome street. When tnat Inven-
tory was furnished by Winfield Scott, it
was compared with the records of State
expenditures on fixtures for the COM
mission during the last fourteen years, and
a great discrepancy was found, amounting
to value of $2792 05 out of a total sum of
1924 90 spent for apparatus since the
organization of the viticultural bureau
in 1881.
The investigation was made in anticipa-
tion of the near dissolution of the commits
sion, which. by an act OF the last Legisla-
ture, is to cease its existence on January l,
1896, and to turn its property over to the
University of California, so that the witt
cultural department of the State Univer-
sity might thereafter do the work of the
commission and by concentration of in
terests save about $4,000 to the State an
nually.
The commission and the university have
never worked in unison, for the viticuI-
tural department could not appreciate the
necessity of an OUTLAY on commission
when the university might just as we'll
have the funds to increase the efficiency
and scope of the work of It's viticultural
department.
1t was claimed that almost the entire
laboratory of the commission had silently
dwindled away during the years of no
accounting. 1t was all right for perishable
apparatus to break in the course Of wears,
but when great, substantial pieces of fur
niture - bookcases. ranges, microscopes,
thermometers, fixtures and long list of
scientific apparatus used in testing wines
were not mentioned in the brief inventory
there was grave suspicion OF something
wrong.
cellar outfit, consisting of barrels, fer
menting tunnels, bottle-stands and skids.
that had cost in all over $500, was not
accounted for. The unexplained laDora-
tory shortage embraced materials that had
at different times cost the State nearly
$500.
A little lesson in itself was given in
record OF purchase Of 517 wine glasses
without even one being left to-day. And
so it was with many of the other things
that the books in the Capitol showed had
been bought, but which the inventory had
passed unconcernedly by.
The investigation to-day developed the
fact that the inventory had been very care
lessly drawn, and embodied only those
articles which were in the office of the
commission at the present time. A large
amount Of the effects which were boxed
up ana stored away in the basement were
not included in the inventory, nor were
quantity which had been stored in the
Arizona warehouse. The S400 spectroscope
lad been loaned to Professor Rising OF
the State University to conduct some ex-
periments with, and it is probable that the
minutes OF the commission will show that
many other missing articles have through
courtesy been loaned 20 other State de.
partments.
In opening the matter Governor Budd
asked Mr.. Scott if he could give the board
information as to the whereabouts of the
missing articles, and Scott replied that he
could not as most of the articles had been
furnished the commission before he
had accepted the position of sec
retary. There had been five predecessors,
and as he had not been given inventories
upon assuming the duties of the Office he
was unable to give any information upon
the subject. When he received the boards
request for an inventory he had mentioned
the matter to Clarence Wetmore, and he,
Wetmore, had told him to make list of
the things in the office and forward it: so
he had just bundled it together and sent it
along.
There's lot of plumber in the basement
1 didn't bother with" he continued.
''Oh, you didn't" sarcastically inter
rupted Governor Budd. "And you call it
plunder, do your'
We'll, yes, that's the term 1 used" re-
piled the secretary.
Now, Mr.. Scott, why didn't you make
mention in you inventory that there was
quantity of goods in the cellar and ware
house? Are they not fully as important as
the lot of old waste-baskets and pens Won
did mention?"
eyes, suppose they are" replied Mr..
Scott "but | did not attach anv particular
value to this inventory business ANYWAY"
and then waxing wroth the secretary said:
II see that | am accused in a morninp
paper of disposng of $1,000 worth of the
States property. This is totally false and
l demand an official investigation. 1 am
also accused of being mem Der of the firm
of R. NJ. Wood d Co., and of forwarding
their interests at the expense of the State.
l was not member OF the firm of Wood &,
Co. when l accepted the position of secre-
tary, and also demand that that be in
vestigated.'
This board has not accused you of anv
thing, and is certainly not responsible for
any published statement, as it was not
furnished either from my office or the
Office of the Secretary of State" said Mr..
Budd. SIN fact, have been credibly in
formed that you gave the nucleus of the
articles to the papers yourself"
mo. sir, did not" retorted the in
censed secretary. at emanated from
Arthur 7. Hayne, that's where it came
from. and / know it. | hold too respon-
sible a position in San Francisco to stand
these kind of attacks"
"And yet you invite them by sending us
careless inventory in whicn you avoid