The San Francisco call., 1897-02-06
]. Brooks by Bettman.
Charles Forbes By Senator VOORHEES,.


Jones admitted that in the cases of j. P; De-
vine A. A. Friedlander, s. VoorsanCer and R.
Blakeston he authorized them to use his name.
We think the mem bers who requested ap-
po1ntments or lent their names TO justify
them specially deserving OF censure- Yet
1t Is 10 be said in their defense that they had II
right to make requests for appointment
knowing that some should be made, and that
they had right to presume the chief clerk
would do his duty and make no more appoint
ments than were actually necessary tor the
public service. With much more force IL may
be said in defense OF all the members that
they were occupied largely i'll the conSidera-
ton of the Senatorial contest and in the eX-
animation of the numerous and voluminous
printed reports OF public officers preparatory
TO the commencement OF their legislative Ia
bors.
trust the chief clerk to attend 10 the details of
the organization. He had nothing to do but
to organize the House. His mind was free
from other cares He had been a member of
the Legislature aud had served as chief clerk
at the last "eSSiou. 1t was fair TO presume that
he was familiar with the duties OF his office,
ana would honestly perform them.
We are of the opinion, and SO find, that the
chief clerk deliberately and Intentionally ap-
polnted the aforesaid unnecessary attaches
He offers no excuse for his conduct, except the
desire to reward the persons appointed for
their political services. He has even declared
to representatives OF the press that if the law
is not changed, he Will at the next session of
the Legislature pursue the same course, even
to the extent of exhausting the contingent
fund of the Assembly by appointing, If re-
quisite for that purpose. 1000 attaches.
This is the unfortunate elimination of bad
practice, which has increased session after
session. in consequence of the importuuities
OF people who come to look upon politics as &
trade-a means of gaining a living. They
seem TO forget that the members OF the Legis-
lature are but the people themselves,
sembled in their representative capacity
for the purpose solely CT legislating
for the common good of the whole State They
disregard the fact that representatives are
trustees. and have no right to expend one
nf hn rNTahl lin ftNr, dc o. f,E-
equivalent In service or material; that every
dollar paid out from the public treasury for
an unnecessary servant is money deliberately
perverted in violation OF a sacred trust.
They work for their party, IL is true but
should, if they are good citizens, do so be-
cause they believe that the success of their
party is necessary to good government, in
which they, as well as others, are concerned.
In other words, they work for themselves
when they work for their party
The chief clerk is q man OF unusual intelli-
gence, and no one understands better than he
how indefensibe is his conduct. We are
happy 10 say that the evidence does not dis
close any attempt on his part TO profit finan-
cially by his appointments; but this fact by
no means jusIifes his conduct. BY the un-
necessary appointments he has made he has
enabled others TO abstrac: from the public
treasury a large sum Of money which it will
be difficult if not impossible to recover. His
example, if unrebuked, would be initiated by
others in the future, and this disgraceful
abuse, instead of being stopped at once and
forever, as il should be, will go on increasing
ments of The public service 1t is not neces-
sary 10 multiply words in condemnation OF
his action. While we believe com plete rem
edy Will require e2islation, either in amend
ment TO the statute or OF the constitution,
both, we think also that ii is necessary that
the one who, by showing himself unworthy of
! the trust repased in him, has brought about
| this unfori unat. state of affairs should be
made TO suffer AS we have already stated we
! find no authority in the resolution under
which we are acting 10 authorize us 20 recon-
mend any specific punishment, and we must
leave that 10 the judgment of the House.
We are also of the opinion that steps should
| be taken 10 recover from the alta ches now in
| the service all the mileage paid them, and we
specially call the attention of the House to the
case of Mr.. Hooking, 10 whom has been paid
! the sum OF SLY 60 for mileage. He is now
| acting in the capacity Of bookkeeper to the
| sergeant-at-arms.
Waymire, on behalf of himself indi-
vidually, and not as q mem Der of the com.
mittee, introduced the following resolu-
ton:
WHEREAS, The committee heretofore ap-
| pointed by this Assembly to investigate the
Irregularities attending the temporay Organi-
zation of the Ass sembly have, after a patient
consideration of all the facts found that
100 attaches in excess OF those
tually required were appointed 10 assist
in the emporary organization, thereby
leading to an unnecessary expenditure of
$4215 80; and whereas said committee has
also found that the said attaches were de-
liberately and ntenuonally appointed by the
were not necessary, and for the avowed pur-
pose of rewarding the persons so appointed
for party services; and whereas. The said COM
mittee has further found that the chief clerk
has declared that unless the law shall be
changed he Will at the next session OF the
Legislature appoint enough attaches at the
temporary organization to exhaust the con-
ungent fund of the Assent bly,, even if. for that
purpose, it be necessary to appoint thousand
attaches; now therefore, be it
ResoLued That in the opinion of the Assem-
! bly, s. ]. Duckworth, chief clerk of the Assem-
bly,, is guilty OF violation of the trust re-
| posed in him; that it is unwise 10 continue
| him in office, and that he is hereby removed
| from office from and after the passage OF this
resolution.
Neither the report nor the resolution
was read to the House, there being evil
denced disposition on the part OF the
majority to dispense with the reading
| thereof 1t was decided 10 have both
printed in the journal tomorrow morn
ing, and to make them the special order
for next Wednesday at 2 P. NJ