The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-20
A DISCREPANCY FOUND,
1t Is Currently Said to Exist in
the Office of the Re.
cOrder.
Sam Rainey Reported to Receive Roy
atty on Hydrants-Chief Sullivan
Says He Does Not.


deputies and clerks, accountants, and the
army of retainers that occupy the new City
Hall constitute large family. The fam
lily secrets are generally pretty we'll
guarded, but gossip occasionally reaches
the outside. A report has been going
around for several days to the effect that
c. H. Williams, the expert of the Finance
Committee of the Board of Supervisors,
had discovered a shortage in the Record
er's office. The amount delinquent is not
stated, hence the report of the expert is
awaited with some degree of anxiety.
The assertion that a discrepancy or
shortage had been discovered was made
last week to two officers of the City gov
eminent. At the next meeting of the
Board of Supervisors Mr.. Taylor, chair
man of the Finance Committee, may sub
nit the facts. While he is dealing with
| the question he may digress from the main
point to the extent Of explaining why the
| fee receipts in the County Clerks office,
the Police courts and several other offices
have not been checked up by an expert
| for several months.
| Yesterday CALL reporter asked County
! Clerk Curry when the expert had last
checked up the fees of his office. The
clerk thought it had been done recently,
but inquiry did not show that it has been
zone IOr SIX months, even curing Tue
present year. Mr.. Curry's deputy, who
has charge of the fees, suggested that the
expert had checked the fees in the Audit
or's office.
The Auditor said subsequently that the
expert had been in there frequently look
ing over the books. The books in the
Auditors office will show the receipt of
fees according to the certificate issued and
returned. but information as to fees remit
ted could only be obtained in the County
Clerks office.
In the Watson suit, recently instituted,
Auditor Broderick was impressed with
| the circumstance that he could find no
record that fee had been paid. AS he
| was interested in the suit he fancied that
he had won the case in the first round.
! Inquiry at the County Clerks office
brought to light the fact that Judge San
| derson had RENTED the fee.
Further question elected the informa-
| ton that Judge Coffey of the Probate
| Court frequently RENTED fees. The Au-
ditor desiring to know to what extent
legal business was being transacted with
out the payment of fees, suggested that
| future reports of the County Clerk should
contain full statement of fees RENTED
each month and by whose order RENTED.
| Mr.. Curry at once agreed to comply with
the Auditors suggestion.
| 1t is said that the expert of the Finance
Committee is kept so busy looking after
! other matters for the board that he has
! not had time to get into the books of the
Police courts, the Sheriff office, the Free
Library and the County Clerks office.
The City is now paying for the new hy-
drants authorized by the Board of Super
visors. The scheme contemplates an addi-
ton Of 1000 hydrants, and the work of
putting in the first 500 is going on merrily.
For each one the Spring Valley Company
gets $40, which surely covers the cost Of
the hydrant and the setting. Then the
company gets So a month from the City
for each hydrant maintained.
THE CALL was informed that some one.
believed to be Sam Rainey, received a
royalty of 81 on each hydrant,, and also
royalty on patented hose nozzle.
Chief Engineer Sullivan was asked if
anybody received royalty on the hy
drants, and he replied distinctly in the
negative. He said, moreover, that the
double hydrant was Rainey's patent. but
that Rainey had never received dollar
from San Francisco, Oakland, MERGED or
any other city for its use.
On the other hand, the report goes that
Mr.. Rainey has made, or will make. S25 600
by reason of the Fire Department using
his patents. The records in the Auditors
office simply show that the Spring Valley
Company is paid $40 for each hydrant.
Chief Sullivan knows that the MIGRANTS
are made by the Risdon Iron Works.
What Spring Valley pays for the hydrant
is something that is known to the water
company and the iron works.
The Auditor knows that the demands
are constantly coming to him. At the
rate OF S. per month the water company is
drawing nearly $150.000 year from the
City, aside from receiving $40 for every
new hydrant put in. This scheme is sun
posed TO reduce the water rates and make
the burden lighter for consumers by forcing
the owners of land on which no houses
stano to contribute something in the order
of general taxes for the use of water.
The charge to the City may not be ex-
cessive, but men who are familiar with the
subject regard $40 as pretty steep for build.
ing and connecting hydrant. Still the
price has been as high as $40.