The San Francisco call., 1897-04-06

Mayor Phelan's quiet investigation into
the manner in which the District Attor-
ney's office is conducted has convinced
him that there is need of reform of some
kind and he will address the Supervisors
on the matter in manner that will pro D.
ably make the members of the board open
their eyes.
The inquiry that is now progressing
was suggested to the Mayor by COM
munication from District Attorney Barnes
to the Supervisors. in which that Official
requested that Attorney Joseph P. Dunno
be retained as special counsel to assist in
keeping the Office from running behind
with its work.
Mr.. Barnes took occasion to remark in
his petition that there were fifty-eight
criminal cases on the calendars of the va
cious courts that must be attended TO and
that the services of Mr. Dunno were very
necessary ior an indefinite period to come.
At the time the Mayor called the atten :
tion of the board to the fact that the spe-
cial counsel fund was exhausted and that
there was no money to pay him il he was
retained. He also stated that the attor-
ney was engaged almost exclusively in
prosecuting violators of the pure-food
laws and had been paid salary for doing
what the City allowed the attorney of the
Board of Health $4,000 year for attend
ing to.
STRANGE the board saw fit to stand in with
the District Attorney and voted to retain
Mr.. Dunno.
Then Mr.. Phelan started in to ascertain
whether or not the attorney was actually
needed and procured information as to
the character of the cases that the District
L.. 4
not continuances had been granted and
who asked Tor them.
As result of the investigation he learned
many interesting and valuable facts that
will be embodied in the message to the
board.
"I have ascertained,' said the Mayor
yesterday, 'that the business of the Dis.
trict Attorneys Office has not increased to
any material extent during the past few
years, but that the expenses have been run
up 10 degree that requires investigation
and correction.
"There are mum Der of sinecures that
might be dispensed with. and / am told
that In one case an official who receives a
fat salary does work of character entirely
opposite OF wnat it should be. 1t is time
that the offices of this City governm ent
were run on business principles.
Attorney Dunno IS expected to handle
these pure food cases while we have an at
torney at $3UO0 per year 10 look after them.
l understand that he turns the pay over to
the widow of Dennis Spencer, who died
while holding the Office.
THAT is probably true, and Spencer was
no doubt good fellow, but 1 do not
see why the City should pension Mrs.
Spencer, even though il is deserving
| case. 1t has not been done in other cases
and it is not business.
1.-THE Board OF Health funds pay for the
service and the man who draws it should
either do the service required or give way
| to some one who will. I trust that the
| board will see that this is only commo on
sense and their duty to taxpayers and
| remedy the matter"
The board was addressed yesterday by
| the Manufacturers and Producers' Asso-
citation in letter asking that the board
appoint Attorney Dunno an Assistant
District Attorney and find some means of
paying his salary. The association is
particularly anxious to have Dunno kept
in office because of the fact that he is en-
gagged in prosecuting violators OF the pure
food laws.