The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-26
He Is Proud of Being Called
Poor, Obscure Black
smith.
FITZGERALD rs CRITICIZED.
State Bureau of Highways on His
Residence In San Fran
cisco.


Attorney-General and the State Board of
Equalization and Controller E. ?. Colgan,
nor has the article in regard to Mr.. Colgan,
which appeared in the columns of San
Francisco daily this morning, although
denied by Attorney-General Fitzgerald,
tended toward alternating the tension of
antagonistical feeling existing between
the interested parties.
When questioned upon the subject Mr..
Colgan simply smiled and said: IF there
be any truth in the published article can
simply say that fully desire that all the
affairs of my Office be exported. l have
not the slightest objection in the world. l
have resided in this State many years, am
well known, and after conducting the
affairs of my otfiae for one term the people
have shown their confidence in my integ-
rity by re-electing me.
~ have no desire to enter into any per-
sonal discussion with the Attorney Gen.
eral. He is entitled to his opinion; on the
other hand l am entitled to mine. l do
not deny that have been a horseshoer;
on the contrary 1 am proud of it and it
would have hurt my feelings had the
Attorney-General not intimated that l was
poor blacksmith.
Equalizer Morehouse, when approached
on the subject, said: /.
'If there be any truth in the reported
statement | am surprised at Attorney
General Fitzgerald's inconsistency, for he
remarked in my presence that it was
pleasure to render to the Controllers Office
an opinion, as Colgan always presented
such plain and concise statement on any
subject that it was impossible not to rem
der an intelligent opinion; and on another
occasion, when some one asked about the
allowment of a claim the Attorney-Gen-
eral remarked: If you are entitled to that
claim you'll get it, if not you won't, be-
cause 1 know that Colgan is one OF the
most careful and conscientious officials
ever in the employ of the State, or that /
ever met -
Mr.. Douglass Deputy Controller. fully
Endorsed the statement of Mr.. Morehouse,
and was also surprised that the Attorney
General would descend to the level of using
personalities because Controller Colgan
failed to coincide with his view on sub
ject.
"The general" he added, "has always
made it point 10 speak of the reduction
of expenses in all departments, bat he ap-
parently overlooks the fact that fully
onehalf of the appropriations for the
repairs of the State Capitol for
the coming two years have already
been expended in adjoining his Office
apartments in the State Capitol, and that
he fails to comply with the law IN not re-
siding in this city. as provided for in sec
ton $50 of the Political Code, while chap
ter 32S of the Statutes of '63 and ga espe-
cially provide that he must be resident
AS it is there are seven employees in his
office, and all but two are in the San Fran
cisco branch Office"
That there was trouble brewing between
Attorney General Fitzgerald and the
Bureau of Highways some time since is
fully conceded by many of the occupants
OF the State Capitol building who are con-
coded to be conversant with all the hap
penings that occur within its walls. AT
the meeting of the State Bureau OF High
ways held September q the following reso-
luton was presented by Commissioner
Maude:
Resolved In view of the fact that it is i'm
possible to see the Attorney-General in Sacra-
mento and as it seems necessary in view of
his actions as q member of the Board of.Ex-
aminers to have consultation with him, the
members OF this bureau proceed to San Fran
cisco to consult with the Attorney-General at
his Office in that city.
Before the resolution was put to vote
Commissioner Maude announced that he
had consulted with commissioner Irvine
on the matter chat gentleman being ab-
sent), and that the latter was in sympathy
with the resolution.
The foregoing resolution was called
forth by similar document presented at
previous meeting of the bureau, which
reads:
WHEREAS, The law creating this bureau
contemplates and directs that an inquiry shall
be made into what laws and methods are in
use in other States in regard to road matters;
and whereas, this bureau Is in recent of an
invitation from Hon. ). Sterling Morton. Sec
rotary OF Agriculture, urging the attendance
of all State highway organizations at the Ma
tional Road Conference at Atlanta, Ga; there
fore be it
Resotved, That the honorable Board of Ex-
aminers be reques ted to permit the expendi-
ture of the necessary sum to defray the ex-
penses of one of the members of this bureau
to attend said convention and to represent the
State or California at Atlanta on the 18th,
18th and 10th days of October, 1885, he to
gather such data as appertains to highway i'm
proVements and legality.
1t was in regard to the advisa bility of
the expenditure of the necessary sum to
defray the expenses of said Commissioner
that the bureau desired consultation
with the Attorney General, and according
to a published statement the Attorney
General is credited with making the asser-
ton that he did not believe in paying for
junketing trips and would not countenance
the trip to Atlanta. 1t was also stated
that the bureau was fast expanding the
appropriation of $31 900 allowed it by The
Legislature for expenses. In the latter
statement grave mistake seems to have
occurred, as in reality in the five months
during which the bureau has been in opera
ton they have expended but $l466 63, while
in reality their pro rata would have been
$6458 SO, while the personal expenses of
the members Of the bureau during
trip through eight counties of the State
amount to but So Is per day, which in
comparison with the expense record of
Attorney General Fitzgerald while a
member of the Supreme bench is merely