The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-14
MAcKENzIE'S SOFT SNAP
GETS A NICE RAKE-oFF IN SAL
AIRY AND EXPENSES.
Jim Rea's Lieutenant, However, Is
Not Satisfied and Is After
the San Jose
Postoffice.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, Sept 13.-Although Santa
Clara County is becoming accustomed to
the raids made on her treasury under
gang rule, the people are beginning to
clamor for the adjustment of the office
of game warden. This sinecure is filled
by no less parsonage than John D. Mac
kenzie. Rea's trusted lieutenant. Just
why the taxpayers of Santa Clara Coun-
ty needed game warden has never been
fully explained by the Board of Super
visors. OF course Mackenzie had to be
cared for, but there were other jobs that
could be given him where he would be
of some use TO the people. The office OF
Game Warden is a worthless expenditure
of the peoples money, and Santa Clara
is about the only county that has one
Several of the counties appointed one at
the time the Legislature passed the bill
creating the office. but they were soon
dispensed with. Injunctions were brought
TO prevent Auditors from signing claims,
and the wardens resigned. Not so here.
At the end of the year Mackenzie was re-
elected for two years. The salary is $75
per month, with an allowance for ex-
penSeS not to exceed $25 per month.
This last proviso is carried out to the
letter, for during all the time Maczen-
Zie has been in Office he has drawn the
full expense allowance His bills, al
though in stereotyped form month after
month. will serve to show how he uses
. the peoples money. The one given be-
low is falr sample:
April "Trip to Guadaiupe. 90
April 1e-Trip to San Francisco (Fish
NOIll.) 80
April ls-Postage on game laws.........., i o.
April 20-keeping horse and buggy......, is 90
April -Horseshoeing -four shoes. ...... i 50
Iotal 90
The principal item in each months bill
is SB. While he gets a monthly salary
and is peid for a horse and buggy, he
makes the charge of 81 for a trip to
guadalupe. Mackenzie has a ranch at
Guadalupe, and his frequent trips to that
place are evidently to look after his own
interests. The horse and buggy that the
county pays for also does good service
on election days in drawing gang votes
to the polling places. Mackenzie is sup
posed to make frequent trips about the
county looking after the game, yet school
teachers, hremen, policemen and others
looking for positions can find him every
day around Boss Rea's office.
what Mackenzie does. Mad 5fRen7Is } Was
Board of Supervisors, about half Of which
has expired Already a movement is on
foot to have the office abolished at the
now up for office should be pledged to
abolish the sinecure. The Populists' con
vention week ago adopted resolution
favoring doing away with the office of
Mackenaie's report for the quarter end
ing June 80 10 given below, and shows
that time:
The birds that were placed In the woods of
this county during the last year have increased
in numbers to a considerable extent as much
in fact, as could have been expected.
This is particularly true to pheasants.
They have mated, and the young ones have
grown and are themselves in turn mating this
year.
The skylarks have been most prolific and have
reported from all parts OF the valley. They have
evidently acclimated here and are doing we'll
This has been very unfavorabe year for
fishes that have been placed in the streams.
Almost a dearth of water in all the mountain
creeks has caused great losses among them.
ascerained after the freshets of next winter.
ton cost the county $500. Other reports
are even more ridiculous than this Sew
eral Of them end with this phrase: mo
money has come into my hands"
This same man Mackenzie wants to be
Postmaster of San Jose. To head him
off In this latter aspiration petitions bear
ing between 5000 and 5000 names of the
best citizens of San Jose and Santa Clara
County have been forwarded to Wash
fngton. The petitions state that Mackerl-
Zie is an unfit person for said office and
we, the signers, solemnly protest against
the appointment being made"
Mackenzie comes from an office-seekina
family. His brother, Andy Mackenzie Is
Police Commissioner, and a sister. Miss
Belle Mackenzie. Is supervisor Of kinder
gartens. This latter Office is as much OF
a sinecure as that of game warden. An
other sister Is In the School Department
This family record in office is only beaten
by Trustee Graham and his relatives.