The herald., 1897-03-26
COUNTY'S HONOR SAFE
MEMBERS NOT IMPLICATED IN
SACRAMENTO SCANDALS
Assemblyman William Mead Talks
Concerning the Recent Investig-
ations at the Capitol

William Mead, one OF the aeSemDlymen
from this district, returned from Sacra-
mehto several days ago. Mr.. Mead is
the only Democratic assemblyman from
Los Angeles county and was one of the
most ardent opposers of the practices to
which the past Legislature lent itself.
In a brief interview with Herald
representative yesterday he expressed
himself in regard to the legislatures
course as follows:
"The recent assemblage," said he, "has
been generally regarded as a tough one.
but think there has been considerable
exaggeration INDUCED in. Most of the
bills passed were good ones. and the
people of Sacramento, who witness and
crlticise the personnel of every session,
unhesitatingly declare that the mem
bership of the one just ended was above
the average in intelligence and respect
ability.
1.-The several blunders committed were
mainly Republican ones, and I have no
reason to complain If, in consequence,
the Democrats get the benefits of their
opponents errors. was not present dur
ing the discussion of the Caminetti
bill and did not vote upon 1t. After 1t had
passed the assembly l was appointed
one of the committee to investigate the
charges brought against its passage by
the Examiner. We asked the Examiner
people to give us any evidence they were
possessed of in the matter, but they re-
fused to do so. We then requested them,
IL they could not betray confidence, to
give us pointers which would put US on
the right track; they, however, would
give us nothing tangible whatever to
work upon.
1.-The committee then subpoenaed all
the witnesses requested by the Examin-
er, besides putting the entire eighty as
semblymen on the stand. and requiring
the Western Union Telegraph company
to produce certain identified kilograms.
The telegraph company at once pro-
duced all of the messages, four in num-
ber. but we found nothing discriminating.
when the members of the assembly
were put on the stand, A. ]. Clune. coun-
sci for the Examiner, stated that the
charges did not refer to 75 out Of the
so. and then almost Immediately af-
terwards from his remarks conveyed the
idea that he wanted to exonerate the
assembly. and that the papers action
was principally against certain members
of the senate.
I'm the coyote scalp affair. it was the
general impression that money had been
blyman Powers of San Francisco spe-
cifically and intimated that several
others, who changed their votes af-
ter the first roll call from no
to aye, were also implicated. The
committee, OF which Walter Melick
was chosen chairman, made an investi-
cation, but it was then too late in the
session to sift the matter thoroughly.
THE committee seized some kilograms
bearing on the subject, which the West
ern Union was trying to Ship out of the
state. These kilograms seemed to prove
conclusively that Assemhlyman Pack
ard had received some $1,000 from GER
tain people in Kern county. 1t was
proved that Packard gothic money, but
whether he put the entire amount in
his own pocket is an entirely different
question.
''The Duckworth affair was one of a
decidedly nasty character. Duckworth
appointed Ill men for temporary organi-
cation, and then under oath on the wit
ness stand stated that three men could
have done the work. OF the entire Ill
men these who only worked two days
were paid for a whole week l voted
to remove him from office. What feel
proud of is that in all the Investigations
no charges were brought against any
member from Los Angeles county
Touching the franchise bill, affect
ing all kinds of franchises granted by
any city in the state. which was intro
duced by me and is,pow a law, there
seems to be an erroneous impression re-
garding one of it's features, Some have
the impression that persons who want
to shut out competition can bid high
percentage and then not construct the
plant themselves. This is not so. The
act provides that every bidder must ac-
company his bid with a bond for an
amount to be fixed by the city council.
the full amount of the bond to be con-
sidered liquidated damages and shall be
collected by the city If he fails to COM
ply with the terms of the franchise"