The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-21
pERrERsroN or PUBIC LANDS
Tert Of the Charges Made or the Kern
County Grand JlrB.

IctE 81 inc charges @uduc or me AcfU
County Grand JWrp.
BAKERSFIELD, CAL, Nov. 20.-In
THE CALL OF the ii inst. there Was pub
hShed an extended notice of the report of
the Solano County Grand Jury, wherein it
seems that an amazing amount OF cor
rupuon, particularly in the conduct of the
Board of Supervisors, had been found. In
an editorial of the Sd inst, under the
heading IA Common Suspicion, " il said
Popular cyniciSm regarding official in
tegrity has been expressed with refreshing
candor by the Grand Jury of Solano
County. That body has overhauled the
work of the Board of Supervisors and has
found il in a great part rotten" All of
which applies 10 Kern County very iorei-
bly,, as will be seen from the report recently
submitted by the Grand Jury, rs 10 its
findings against the officials of Kern
County.
After all the pains taken by Grand
Jury of "stern-faeed farmers, many of
them from remote parts of the county and
none with any sympathy with the political
rings and combinations" there is every
appearance that no convictions will be
made, for with the many and varied intiu-
the ring and their friends, whose toes are
being trod upon, the Grand Jury is being
assailed rs n body that has been perse-
cutting the innocent hard-worked CD offi-
ciaiS, these oifice-holders having hardly
carried out q single provision of the law
relating To their offices except 10 draw
their salary. The report of the Grand Jury
says:
The jury entered into thework earnestly and
fafsh eftskr
pert the books OF the county officials extend
ing back 20 the year 1850. The question of
selecting an expert was surrounded witch dill
culfieS. To select citizen of Kern County in
the feverish state OF public opinion would
cause his steps To be doggeG with suspicion,
and Il was deemed advisable 10 turn 10 other
parts Of the State. After full inquiry as 10 the
merits of several men Edgar Moore Of los An
gelcs selected on the recommendation of
many promtnsnt public sad business men OF
that place. On the 18th day OF December,
1924, Mr.. Moore was sworn in and entered
upon the duties deVolving upon an expert.
IL soon became evident that the work would he
very difficult owing 10 the destruction or
displacement Of many vouchers and the
imperfect condition OF many OF the public
records.
During the first session numerous inveStigs-
tionS were made regarding the charges OF lie
gal voting which Were brought 70 the attention
OF the jury. As result three indictments
were found upon that charge and one upon
the charge OF buying votes. Il is evident Thar
the most glsring frauds were perpetrated upon
the eallot,eax IN fhe Third Wand in the town
Of Bakersfield. The business Of purchasing
votes WAS SO Sdroitly carried on, however thar
there could be found only enc witness 10 any
one individual transaction, 4 card system
having numbers which referred 30 certain cam
Gidates Was introduced, and = number Of Wiz
neSSes were found who Ssid they were paid
neaey 20 vete for eertain numbers upon the
card. IL Was the desire 81 the Jury to carry ouI
your HonoraS Instructions which were en-
phatic on this point Sna bring 10 juStlce this
class Of criminals who were cndcaNortns - de-
lea, tho VIII ~ She people ~ She ballot, box
Various other matters were taken gp, bat
owing &c the almost continued absence III the
then District Attorney the WORK ri the jury
was very much retarded,
Regarding the acts Of the Board OF SUI
peryiSorS, the Grand Jury reports:
In making the examination % the books, pa
porS and seee0nSS Of the Roasd 81 SuperVlSoSS,
extending ever period ot FIVE years from
January 1. 1880 - January l, 1873, i show.
ing Is made which. 20 say the least. reaeotS very
diSereStisSaay upon the lUtelligence. ana in
many transactions upon the honesty aud in
tReritN al lis members The minutes haVN
heen p0erly aa3 Improperly kept, the ladieaS
are 81 no value, Ire records unreliable and the
papers ana vouchers net property MED swsy.
Throughout 81 The records o. the trsa-
ssetieas II she ee&sd SsoSs oareless;se>S
aud almost criminal neglect Is apparV0s.
Members az the ssass1 engaged III public WORK
and presented claims U0deF tho disguise I'll &u
esaniaye. the eisliss eolag showed by The
heard, anG audited By The Asttitos. sud the
Treasurer Nsyei the SSsae " hen Endorsed only
ey the laeiaeer Of the beard. All of watch is
contrary 30 l&w.
Had The exaersS properly Investigated the
affairs and workings a the hoard daring the
iaSs 1--WE years tae wrengdoer would have
keen called 80 account, ths wrongs riSAteSt,
bat. ewing 60 she ancoSapSteacy or IL the
acxlecs % the expSzsS wA0 have eSSsalne3 the
records Of the county ofsei&tS .dariag THIS
pesioA, SySseEa al errezS and = Law ri EaS~
taxes have been enacted. until The pGAaie st~
fairs ef the pecple Asye become private haSs-
ness Of individuals a Just snd neslsed ~