The San Francisco call., 1897-03-14


and the expenditure of $1,000 Of Willie
Hearst's good hard gold there leaked the
following telegram:
SACRAMENTO, Cal, March IL, 1897.
Btodgett Bake sfeld: Three thousand dol
lars viii save Bert on reconsideration.
Blodgett is an officer in the Bakersfield
Bank, which institution holds several
tens Of thousands worth OF coyote claims.
As-emblyman Emmons is from Bakers
field, and it was through his efforts that
Guys bill was passed to enable the Safe
Board of Examiners to settle the just
claims and reject the bad. Among the
Berts known here are Senator Bert from
San Francisco and Bert Packard of Ba-
Christian name around the Capitol.
Ever since the coyote claims were pre-
sented to the State Board of Examiners
two years ago persons with an eye to the
main chance have been proffering tn ir
services to the holders OF coyote claims
for a consideration-the consideration
sometimes taking the shape of commits
sion of so much per cent and sometimes
OF lump sum.
The story is old, but the fact that propo-
sitions of that kind have been made to the
holders OF claims is no evidence that these
propositions have been accepted.
The last man who made an overture was
promptly exposed. He was Deputy Sec
retary OF State McCalvey and was dis
missed from his Office for demanding
$4,000 on the assumption that be could
manipulate things so as to have the claim
fiji d.
The undercurrent of the present story
10 that the dispatch, copy of which the
Examiner secured al an outlay OF con-
siderable coin, was bait set for that fake
journal. The bait took, but experience
mad made the managers OF the Monarch
of the Sums more wary. and they did not
charge bribery as they did in The case OF
Democ at Caminetti's bill.
Here is the way the Examiner puts it.:
ut is not alleged that all the gentlemen
who voted for the coyote-scalp bill did so
because of dishonest motives; nor is it
even coniended that everv man who
changed his vote did so because he ac-
cepted bribe; but there are few men con-
versant, with legislation and legislative
methods during this thirty-seconC session
who do not feel morally certain that
money was used"
In order to have respectable backing,
that portion of the Examiner staff which
happened to be ont of Jail shared the
secret with the Chronicle, but the Chreni-
Gle did not make SO much OF afuss over it
as did the jute mill organ. No notice was
taken of the matter To-day in the A SEM
bly, and il is not likely that that body will
advertise the fake journal by calling an
Investigation to unravei the m aning of
an anonymous telegram VIII ch would
never be admitted in evidence in any
court in the land.
Assem- blyman Arnerich of Santa Clara
said to CALL reporter to-day that after
he had EXPRESSED his intention to vote
against the biii Emmons came to him and
reminded him Of the fact that he had
helped Arnerich with the agricultural
district association bill and pleaded with
him, ''Now for Gods sake help me with
mine" $50 C anged my vote and the
rest also changed after me-" added Ar
nerich.
Assem- blyman Jack Powers of San Fran
cisco denied the statement at ribu ed to
him by the Ex miner. III said: Il had
inquired OF Emmons as to the purpose OF
the bill and he said To me that the Board
of Examiners and the Governor would
have TO pass on all those claims before
they would be paid. l remarked to Ar
nerich that there was q good deal of
money involved in tho bill. and he re-
marked that if there was sufficient pro-
lection around the measure so as to pre-
serve the rights of the people he would
vote for it.
.Emmons had voted with me in the
election, and had voted for me and was
friendly to me and helped TO give me a
fair deal. An Examiner reporter came to
me last night and said: i heard that you
paid out money for those votes; that two
or three men told him so. l said: They
are liars and You are liar, too. l never
had talk with Bert Packard-only know
him by sight. / never spoke to him be-
hind the screen. That is lie.
II consulted Guy about the bill, because
1t called for such q large amount OF money,
and he told me that it was good and just
claim, and that the bill had been intro
duced at the request Of Governor Bndd
and the remainder OF the Board OF Exam
liners. | have con >ulted With my lawyer
in relation to the matter, and if he advises
me that there is sufficient grounds In the
Examiners article for libel salt will
Immediately prosecute the paper, because
l didn't come up here to jeopardi Ze my
reputation by taking bribes."
The screen referred to is the most public
place In the Assem bly, chamber outside OF
the Speakers desk. 1t is just inside the
big carved doors which guard the main
entrance. People are passing in and out
all the time, and no one would care to talk
private matters while standing in public
doorway.
The fake was got up BY the Examiner
for tho purpose Of tending color to its
libel, for which the key OF the Jail was
turned upon Long Green and his hired
man to-day.
NO TASTE Oh ExTKA ATAGANCE
An Elaborate Report 1v the Printing
Inressi0ators.