The herald., 1898-10-20
MONEY COMING IN
Supervisors Employ Counsel to Prose-
cute State Claims

~~ss~>AS
Some time ago the board of supervisors
received a communication from a nrm OF
San Francisco lawyers, in which informa.
ton was given that considerable sum OF
money was due to this county from the state
on account of over payments of taxes made
during a term of years. The exact circum-
stances the firm carefully concealed, claim
ing, by reason of special facilities, to be able
to recover the amounts due, not only to Los
Angeles county, but to other counties as
well in various parts of the state. An in
timation was had that an attache of a state
office, who was related to the firm, had i'm
parted the secret of these financial condi.
tions, possibly with view to personal re-
ward, should the firm profit from his s,ig-
gestions, and the monopoly thus acquired
BY the lawyers was apparently complete.
That the supervisors have an idea there
may be something in these claims of special
by the board yesterday of the following
resolutions:
"Whereas, it is claimed that there is due,
owing and unpaid to the county of Los An
geles. from the state OF California, certain
moneys in connection with and pertaining
to the matters hereinafter referred to, which
said claim is disputed by the state of Cali
formal and
Whereas, it is necessary to employ coun-
therefore, be it
1 "Resolved, That Messrs. Rodgers, Pat
erson & Slack, and Messrs. Devlin & Dew
lin, attorneys at law, be, and they are, here
by retained and employed to assist the dis
trrict attorney Of this county in the develop
ment, prosecution and collection, by suit or
otherwise, of any claim that this county has
or may have against the state of California
in connection with overpayments heretofore
Jo hx-i or; tic Offinarc To tho said state in
connection with the settlements as to state
taxes and revenue, and also for any com
pensation to which the said county was, or
is, entitled, for services rendered in con-
nection with such revenue and taxes,
and the disbursement of public
moneys, and also in connection with the
state allowances for this county for school
purposes. That the said attorneys hereby
etained and employed shall receive and re-
tain out of all moneys so collected from the
state of California, by suit or otherwise, fif-
teen (l5) per cent thereof; provided, how
ever, that the said county shall be at no ex-
pense in the prosecution or collection of the
said claim That the said employment
shall continue for the period of two years,
unless the said claim shall have been fully
collected before that time; provided, how
ever, that if any litiagtion is then pending
in connection with the said claim, or in de-
termining its validity said employment shall
continue until the said litigation shall have
been finally determined.
1.-The district attorney of this county is
hereby directed to commence and prosecute
all actions or suits that may be necessary to
enforce the collection of the said claim, and
in all such actions or suits the attorneys
above retained and employed shall assist the
said district attorney"
The resolutions above quoted were en-
dorsed on the back, over the signature Of j.
A. Donnell, district attorney, by G. NJ. Hol-
ton, deputy, as follows: "To the Hon
orable Board OF Supervisors: recommend
the adoption of the within resolution"