The herald., 1897-08-20
August 10, 1897.
Horticultural Commissioner Rust

To the Editor of the Los Angeles
Herald: I read from your issue OF to-
day that Horticultural Commissioner
Rust eveidently had been taken by sur
prise when he learned a second petition
asking for his removal had been pre-
sented to the board of supervisors yes
terday. 1t is also evident that Mr.. Rust
does not want to vacate his position Of
s4 a day if he possibly can hold onto it..
AS soon as Mr.. Rust heard of the nursery
mems circulating a second petition he
made it his duty to call on most of those
who had asked for his removed in the
first petition, and tried to explain to
them that there would be no trouble on
his part. He even mentioned to me that
if I objected to his coming into my nur-
sery he would not trouble me.
AS evidence of his good faith, I had
small shipment of trees to send to
Helmet valley, and accordingly had 10
notify Mr.. Rust, the manager of the
Park Nursery company, to come and
give me liberty to forward the same.
Instead of Mr.. Rust coming, he sent his
brother commissioner, Kellogg, out the
following morning from Los Angeles.
This would in all probability cost the
taxpayers of Los Angeles county two
dollars, as each commissioner is allowed
four dollars and expenses for each days.
work.
Mr.. Rust's statement that the petition
does not represent the sentiments of
the majority of the nurserymen in this
section is misleading, as only one firm
called on in the Alhambra and Pasadena
district refused to sign it, and l under
stand from the party who circulate q
the petition in Los Angeles than only
one nurseryman refused to sign 1t or
the ground that he was under a little
obligation to the nursery Mr.. Rust acts
as manager for.
Mr.. Rust's statement that the man
whose name appears at the head of the
list is not an American citizen Is mis-
take, as every one of the petitioners,
with the exception of myself, is an
American citizen, and my name appears
listed under most of the Los Angeles
nurserymen.
When he says I cannot be recognized
Rust that this honorable board has al
ways recognized me, and has given to
me the same great privilege that is ac-
of paying my taxes every year at the
court house in Los Angeles. Having
however, only declared my intention OF
becoming an American citizen, and hav-
ing no personal friend on the board oil
supervisors, I could not in justice to
older politicians expect the board to put
me in a position of $4 day. Unfortu-
nately, being Scotchman, have been
educated in. the wrong school. 1t was
always impressed upon. me that mans
abilities were like water, and would al
ways find their own level. But accord
ing to the appointments being made for
horticultural commissioners and in
spectors, this must have been some su-
perstitious idea, originating with the
Scotch
However, for the benefit of Mr. Rus,
and his friends, I will assure them that
I will be full fledged American either
in time to vote for gentlemen to fiji the
vacancies of the two members of the
board of supervisors whose terms mex.
expire, and will keep guardian eye
over the rest of my brother horticultu-
rists and see that they do their duty.
T. CHISHOLM.
Pasadena August 10