The record-union., 1898-01-22
ASKED TO EXPLAIN.
THE LATE SECRETARY OF THE
YOSEMITE COMMISSION.
He Claims That Everything Will
be Satisfactorily Ex-
planned.

The books and accounts of the Yose-
mite Valley Commission, as kept by
General John +. Sheehan. who. up TO
January 1st, was Secretary and Treas
urer of that body, are to be officially in
vestigated. No formal charge has yet
been preferred but Commissioner w
w. Foote has called the attention OF
Commissioners Clinch and Givens to
certain alleged irregularities in the ac-
counts OF the retired Secretary and the
three viii hold conference preliminary
TO the calling of a special meeting OF
the commission.
Mr.. Foote says that when Mr. Shee-
han turned over the cash book and
ledger TO the new Secretary he did not
turn over the deposit book. claiming
that it was his private property. He
further says that bills have been pre-
sented which Sheehan's books showed
to have been paid and he demands an
explanation.
The Chronicle yesterday, after
enumerating the bills referred to, says:
Charles G. Clinch and Charles S.
Givens, both members of the commits
sion, are positive that Sheehan will be
able to explain every seeming mac
curaey in his accounts when he re-
turns to this city from Sacramento on
Saturday morning Clinch is partic-
ularly certain that matters will be
Strengthened out all right He said
yesterday:
" General Sheehan has been sick for
some months and it is possible that he
has not given all the attention that was
necessary to the bookkeeping details of
his position, but feel certain that there
is nothing in the shape of a shortage
| understand that General Sheehan has
bten asked to turn over his books and
accounts to the new Secretary on Sat
urday, and | have no doubt that he will
make all reasonable explana tions at
that time. | went over all the books in
Mr.. Foote's office this morning and
failed to find anything in the shape of
shortage. In fact. to my surprise, all
the vouchers were brought up to De-
cember 81, 1897.
Some salary that is due the General
still remains in our hands and has not
| yet been called for. There is a whole
lot of popular error about the funds
handled by this Yosemite ard Mariposa
Commission. The appropriations of
$3.50 for Yosemite and Of $500 for
Mariposa are both handled through the
State Treasury. and all the bills passed
on those amounts have to be handled
! through the Board of Examiners. The
only amount received by cur Treasurer
outside of these sums is about 50 600
per annum from rents and tolls in Yo-
semitic Valley. Very few of these are
yet due or have been paid for the past
| season 7 a NOT y
to speak absolutely, I don't think there
is a shortage. The books seem to me
to be all straight -
| Mr.. Sheehan was in Sacramento yes
terday but left on the afternoon train
to meet the Commissioners to-day. Be
! fore his departure he was interviewed
! in regard to the statements made by
Mr.. Foote but said he did not care to
! discuss the details. He declared that
he would explain everything to the sat
/ isfaction'o of the Commissioners and that
there was no shortage in his accounts
| When asked why he had not turned
over to his successor the deposit book.
he said: The reason I did not turn
over the bank book is that / am respon-
| sible for deposits made in my name
All checks for claims are issued, and
when cashed they must be returned to
! me, in order that Cancelled checks shall
serve as vouchers to me that / have
paid all claims. ! have done just as
my predecessor, Colonel John p Irish,
did. However. / have nothing to hide
from the commission. as all checks will
be paid when presented"
| Mr. Sheehan's many friends in this
| city are confident that the apparent
Irregularities in his books will be sat-
I isfactorily explained when he meets the
Commissioners to-day