The San Francisco call., 1897-05-21
KAHN WAS PAID
FOR LOBBY ING
The University Regents
Allowed Him the Sum
of $3.50.
Treasurer Louis Sloss Paid the
Money and Took Julius
Kahn's Receipt.
Governor Budd on May "a Signed the
Check to Cover the Advance
Autloriz ID by the Regents.

1t may be long time before the Univer.
slty Regents hear the last of the allowance
of $3.50 to Julius Kahn for services rem
dered at Sacramento during the recent
session of the Legislature. No one who
was there can call to mind that Kahn per-
formed any service for the regents.
Yesterday a reporter of The CALL asked
Major Mhoon. attorney for the regents, if
he knew what legal service Mr.. Kahn had
performed for the board, and he replied
that he was not informed as to the service
Mr.. Kahn rendered.
did he assist you in any cases for the
Board of Regents?" asked the reporter.
mo, he did not assist me-" replied
Major Mhoon.
Inquiry has disclosed the fact that the
Kahn allowance was paid from the current
expense fund of the university. The de.
mand therefore was not presented to the
State Board of Examiners for approval.
Here is how the money was paid:
The finance committee of tn regents, of
VIII ch A. S. Hall lie is cn airman, author
IL, d Loris Sloss. the treasurer, to advance
the sum nam, to Junus Kahn. This ac-
lion OF the finance committee was subse-
essiOn, maj rity OF tie members voting
on the appropriation. Governor Budd was
not IN the room when the roll was called
on the finance committees report at the
last meeting, but before he left he session
he said he was OPP osed to the allowance of
that money TO Mr.. Kahn. Speaker Frank
l.. Coombs voted IN the negative on the
cali of the roll.
The fact is now established than the
sum of $3.50 was advanced to Julius Kann
by Louis Sloss, treasurer, on the order of
the finance committee. Mr.. Sloss ex-
planned yesterday that he had no discre-
tionary power in the premises. He was
ordered by the regents in accordance with
the prescribed methods of disbursing the
funds of the university to pay this am mount,
and he accordingly paid the money, tax
ing Kahn's receipt therefor.
w hen the treasurer makes an advance
of this kind he receives few days later a
check signed by the president and secre
tary of the Board of Regents, to cover the
amount advanced. This check is made pay
able TO the treasurer.
Whatever Governor Budd's views may
have been on Tuesday, MAY II, when the
regents held their last meeting, it is GER
tain that he approved, as president Of the
board, the advance to Kahn as early as
May IA. Louis Sloss, treasurer, holds a
check dated May IL, 1897 duly signed by
James h. Bud and the secretary of the
board for the amount advanced to Kahn.
THE CALL requested that one of its
ar lists be perm tied to N axe tracing OF
this check bearing the Governors sigma
ture, SO that fac-simile could be pre-
sented, but the treasurer held that the
paper was the property OF the regents and
it's reproduction could not be allowed with
out the consent of the finance com mitee
OF the Board OF Regents.
Among the regents themselves there is
a disinclination to talk about the matter.
Several of them admit in private CONVEX
sation that mistake was made in
authorizing any outsider to lobby at Sac
ramento. When the Rev. DR.. Bonte was
secretary OF the board, he went to Sacra-
mento as occasion required and kept the
board informed regarding the various bills
introduced. After his death it W as thought
advisable TO have a man on the lookout,
and Regent Reinstein's influence caused
the appointment of julius Kahn.
Mem bers of the Leg islature assert that
Kahn did not do anything to promote the
passage of the bill allowing The university
an additional tax levy of l cent. There
were graduates of the university in the
Senate and Assembly, and they were so
eager to obtain credit for serving the
college that quite a rivalry sprang up
among them. Assemb yman Wright OF
Alameda guided the bill in the Assem- bly,
and Senator Stratton of the same county
rushed it through the Senate.
The payment OF $3.50 to julius Kahn is
likely to cause an ugly scandal which may
be thoroughly investigated at the next
session of the Legislature.
Governor Budd said last night that he
was compelled to sign the check to cover
the amount paid to Kahn. AS president
OF the board his function was only cleri-
cal