The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-09
He TRAVELLED IN STATE,
Roscoe J. Whittaker's Luxurious
Tastes Offend the State
Examiners.
Tips for Porters and Dollar Meals for
Prisoner Looked Upon With
Disfavor.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Nov. 8.-The
usual monthly bills were passed by the
State Board of Examiners at it's session
this afternoon, and but little extra bust
ness of moment came up until the claim
of Roscoe J. Whitaker for $500 for ex-
penses incurred in the matter of extradi-
ton from the State of New York, charged
with burglary, was reached.
This raised storm of Indignation, and
the claim received thorough examina-
ton. Evidently Mr.. Whitaker is gen.
tleman of luxuriant tastes, as every meal
partaken of during his journey was charged
for at the rate of 81. He tarried ten days
in New York, charging S. per day for
hotel expenses.
When questioned on the matter, Secre.
tary Marley stated that Whitaker had
informed him that he was sick while in the
East. and had referred him to Dan Burns
and Nose Gunst, who were in his company
the entire time, and could vouch for the
fact that he was unable to travel. There
was laundry bill of S. IS which the State
of California was requested to Gquidate; a
Pullman drawing from New York to
San Francisco cost this State ST.; express
age on an organ, but evidently too cum
bersone to be included in Mr.. Whittaker's
luggage, although the State was expected
to disburse 81 for transferring the same IN
Chicago and alsoin New York.
In his goodness of heart the gentleman
handed the porter 81 and charged that up
to the State, and there were snndry other
evidences of his luxurient tastes included
in the bill. Even the prisoner was fed on
81 meals on the return trip, and not the
slightest sign of a voucher accompanied
this claim. 1t will probably be liquidated
after the energetic secretary of the Board
of Examiners get through scratching it.
Stephen Potter's claim for $541 20 for
services rendered as stenographer of the
Board of Railroad Commissioners for a
short period also failed to receive the sig
natures of Governor Budd and Secretary
of State Brown. The salary of this posi-
ton is but $500 per year, yet Mr.. Potter
enters a claim at the rate of $40 day and
20 cents per folio for transcribIrg, and for
the short space of time in which he was
regularly employed by the board his claim
exceeds the appropriation in the sum of
SAL 20. Secretary Marley was instructed
to inform Mr. Potter that he would re-
ceive just $500 for the years work-no
more, no less.
A communication was received from the
Southern California State Asylum for
Insane and Inebriates requesting the board
OF examiners 10 allow lnem at the rate or
45 cents per diam for each inmate and
employe, which will bring the requisite
amount up to $4,000 per month instead of
the sum allowed by the appropriations,
$4S66 &c. 1t stated that the institution
could not be properly conducted on the
latter amount, there being 1872 inmates and
fifty employees. Secretary Marley was
instructed to inquire as to the number of
each class of inmates, date of commitment
and condition at present time; whether
the insane were dangerous to life and
property and the advlsability of transfer
ring enough of the inmates to the other
State institutions was to bring the ex-
penses within the sum allowed by law. 1t
was inferred that large number of the
inebriates could be released and expenses
reduced in that manner.