The San Francisco call., 1897-09-25
Mendocino'S Grand Jury
Accuses the County
Supervisors.
District Attorney InSti uc.ed to
Bring suit to Gust the
Board.
Alleged to Have Diverted Large
Sums of Money Into the
Members Pockets.

UKIAH, CAL, Sept. 4-The Mendocino
County Grand Jury to-day hled its report
and instructed the District Attorney to
begin proceedings to oust the Board of
Supervisors for maIieasance in Office. The
mem bers of the board are Samuel Duncan,
G. P. Smith, ]. v attenburger and John
Flanagan, Democrats, and a. NJ. Duncan,
Republican.
In its report the Grand Jury recites the
fact that, even with magnifcen: tax levy,
the Supervisors have kept the treasury
empty, and that the Grand Jury's request
that the tax levy be kept down to 81 80
this year was ignored. On the subject of
county roads it declares:
Our investigation has shown US that the
care and maintenance OF most of our county
roads were let by contract TO various persons
during the three years which covers the ex-
tent OF our Investigation, u to about the N d.
die OF last February. notwithstanding The
fact that the contract price was in every in
stance paid by the county. the Supervisors
have, in addition 10 this, voted enormous
amounts to the various members OF the board
OF road and bridge work in the various road
districts OF the county, and private individ-
uals have been allowed large additional
amounts for road work. The most extrava-
CANT expenditures have bsen incurred in
Supervisor district 3. In this district every
road was let by contract and paid for by con-
tract, and in addition to the moneys so PAID
the Supervisor of said dis trict has for he past
three years been allowed for road and bridge
work The sum of $4,000. The road funds
nave In a number of instances not been
pended in the districts in which they were
collected and to which they belonged. The
revenue TO which the different road funds
were entitled has been exhausted in the ag-
gregate, and besides this the different road
funds were nearly $4,000 in debt OH the 1st
day OF september, 1897
The Grand Jury finds that the mileage
has been drawn TO the very limit th at the
law would allow. Some of the Supervisors
performed the astonishing feat of travel.
ing 700 miles between two meetings of the
board, held respectively during the
months of April ana May of the present
year.
Continuing the report states:
A number of bills which were not proper
county charges have been allowed by the
board and paid by the County Treasurer We
have instructed the District Attorney to com
mence suit immediately for the recovery of
the amount OF said bills. In examining the
various bills allowed by the board 10 different
members. in addition to the compensation
fixed by law, we find that many of said bills
have been allowed by the board without hay-
ing the Endorsement OF the District Attorney
AS we are informed by that officer that q num-
Der OF these bills were not proper county
charges the reason Is evident why they were
not presented 10 said officer for his indorse-
ment.
We find that the Board OF Supervisors has
illeg ally and without authority of law trans
ferred money from the county general fund TO
the road fund, and we awe directed the Dis
trict Attorney to take immediate steps for the
retransfer of such funds as have been illegally
ira ransferred.
We find that the Board of Supervisors has
not piled with section %, subdivision 21
of the county government act, requiring SAID
board to advertise for all kinds of supplies
needed by the county, and we have called at
tention of the District Attorney 10 section of
the county government acLrequtring said Off
Ger 10 commence suit Tor restraining payment
OF all Claims against the county incurred in
violation OF any of the provisions of said act.
We find that the election expenses were COM
paratively low during the last election, and
we commend the Supervisors for exercising
economy in this direction.
We have satisfied ourselves, after careful
examination. that the amounts paid durin G
the past year for printing and advertising
stationery and books court expenses Court
house and jail supplies are heavier burden
than the taxpayers OF this county should be
asked TO bear. The aggregate amount was
over $4,000. We find that S1441 has been
expended tor coyote scalps during the past
year, under the ordinance adopted by the
Board of Supervisors now in force and we
recommend that said ordinance be reseinded
Over 10000 was expended unlavfully for
road purposes during the past fiscal year over
and above the amount to which said funds
were legally entitled. Relative to an increased
maximum compenSat ton mileage for
Supervisors, have advised the District
Attorney TO restrain payment OF said mileage
Deypuu the bulOQHL 10 WutCH llS SUPERVISORS
were entitled Road Commissioners at the
time of their election to Office until such time
as the court may settle this question.
In view of the disregard OF law and the in
fraction of statutory enactments showing
repeated and willful neglect of duty on the
part OF the Board OF supervisors, we, the
Grand Jury, deem it our duty in conformity
with statutes made and provided for the well
fare of the people, 10 instruct the District
Attorney 20 take immediate steps for removing
from office the present Board of Supervisors OF
Mendoc1no County, and we have presented to
the District Attorney accusations against the
said Supervisors for misdemeanor in office
and have instructed him TO proceed.