The San Francisco call., 1897-07-10
Scheme to Induce Men
of Capital to Supply
the Funds.
Would ExriCate the Governor
From His Embarrassing
Position.
No Way Yet Devised for the Pay
ment of SchoolteaCh hars'
Salaries.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, July 9.-That
the numerous com mpllcations which have
arisen from the action OF Governor Budd
in having vetoed the appropriation for the
support OF the State Printing Office have
aroused a world of apprehension in the
minds of those who are close to the execu-
tive is evinced by the fact that scheme
is on foot to persuade the bankers and
moneyed men of the city to club in and
advance enough ca pital from their private
means to reopen the State Printing Office
and conduct it until the next session OF
the Legislature. with the expectation that
at that time, as there is sure to be a
change of administration, the full amount
of the money invested will be returned
with 7per cent interest, by appropriation.
That this movement has been on the
tapis for some time is not denied by any
Of those most dseply interested. but that
it is shrewd move on the part of the
executive TO extricate himself from the
odium which is attached to his admins
tration by his action in yetoing the appro-
prialion for the support OF the State
Printing Office, they are not so willing to
admit. The fact remains that the move
ment is on foo. and may be consum mated.
1t is claimed that many of the mem bers
of the banking fraternity are not particu-
larly infatuated with the scheme, as in
the past they have been badly scorched in
similar ventures when 1t came 10 asking
the Legislature TO reimburse them, and
while they eventually received their
money it was at loss financially, as the
percentage demanded by the mem bers of
the third house for their services was
always exorbitant.
When it was discovered that it would
be impossible to grant the teachers of the
public schools their salaries, owing to the
fact that the supply of school registers
was exhausted, as was exclusively pub
Iished in Wednesdays CALL, Superin-
tendent OF Public Instruction Black had
issued the following letter:
STATE OF CALIFORNIA,
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION
SACRAMENTO, July l. 1897.
To County and city SuperiattndeptS of Schools:
l am informed by the state Printer that the
State Printing Office with the exception ofthe
school blanks including school registers,
were filed with the State Printer some time
ago, but he has been unable to fl them.
suggest that you consult Immediately the
proper legal authority OF your county or city
as TO the Legality and advis ability OF having
your local governing bodies-Supervisors. city
pense of he county. city. or city and county,
such blanks as may be mmediately necessary.
The school register presents, perhaps, the
most pressing necessity atthls time;
Superintendent OF Pubic Instruction.
Superintendent johnson of the State
Printing Office Immediately requested an
opinion from Attorney General Fitzgerald
as TO whether or not ii lay within the
powers of tho county and city Superin-
tendents OF Schools to have any other than
ordinary letter-heads and local blanks
printed outside of the State Printing Of
flee on the grounds that all school moneys
are public moneys. Imam interview with
Stale Controller Colgan that official said
my Office has no control over the dis.
bursem ment of school funds, but if 1t had,
from the careful investigation which /
have made on the subject, should GER
tainly refuse to issue any warrants for the
printing OF any school registers which
were printed and bound in any other office
than the State Printing Office, as is strictly
and plainly provided for i'll the law"
In an interview with prominent Re-
publican, mem Der Of the legal fraternity,
to-day, the gentleman said:
Il cannot see any way open by which
school registers can be printed outside of
The ate Printing Office. There seems to
be an idea prevalent that the action OF
Governor Budd in vetoing the appropria-
tion for the support of the State Printing
Office was based on economical primes
pies. This is utterly erroneous as when
the State tax rate was fixed it included
enough money for the support of the State
Printing Office, and in consequence of the
executives action in The matter of the ap-
preparation bill this money Is not de-
Quoted so as 10 reduce in any way the
Safe tax, but is collected from the tax
payers OF .he State and must lie idle in
the State treasury instead of being placed
again in circulation, and thereby benefit
ing hundreds and indirectly thousands OF
people in various portions of the State"