The San Francisco call., 1898-04-23
EX-CITY TREASURER CHRISTIAN RES. At Meeting of the Board of Supervisors Called for This Morning Mr. Refs Will Probably Be Elected to Fill the Vacancy Caused bu the ReSigndtOn of Treasurer A. [, Widb6r

will probably be filled this morning by the appointment of Christian Refs to Serve for the unexpired term.
 Widber's resignation was the result of a suggestion made to him that he could by voluntarily surrendering his author ity, save the city and the authorities much inconvenience and unnecessary trouble and delay. Under the provisions Of the consolidation act it becomes the duty of the Mayor, Auditor and one Su- perior Court Judge, when for any reason the Treasurer shall have been charged with a violation of the law, to immediate ly name a temporary Treasurer, who shall perform the duties of the office un- til such time as the charges against the Treasurer are disposed of in a proper court of justice. The act further pro- vides that the temporary Treasurer shall provide good and sufficient bond for the proper discharge of his duties.
 In view of the fact that Widber had confessed his crime and thereby left no doubt as to the outcome of the criminal proceedings that have been begun against him, the appointment of a temporary Treasurer, which would inevitably be fol- lowed by the naming of a permanent Treasurer, appeared to be an unnecessary formality, particularly as it would in Volve double delay in the preparation of bonds. To overcome this difficulty it was QeClOeQ 10 present the matter to WlODer and suggest that he solve the difficulty by handing in his resignation. Widber' s resignation would leave the office vacant and thus permit the Board of Supervisors to achieve the ultimate at once by ap- pointing his successor.
 When the matter was presented to Widber he expressed a willingness to sim plify by any means within his power the tangle into which he had thrown the city's finances. At noon his resignation was filed with the clerk of the Board of Supervisors.
 Mayor Phelan called a special meeting of the board for o'clock. At that hour the Mayor called the board to order, after making brief address, in which he out lined the object of the meeting and the circumstances that made immediate ac- tion necessary. There were present Su- pervisors Devany, Haskins, Sheehan. Lackman, Rottanzi, Morton, Britt, Smith and Rivers.
 Smith moved that the matter of accept Ing Widber' s resignation be laid over un III the next meeting for the reason that there had been, so he believed, contribu- tory negligence on the part of others be- sides Widber, and he would like to see the whole subject investigated. Britt con- tended that the resignation should be ac- cePted al once, as the city's business was being blocked by the enforced closing of the Treasurer's office. The motion to de- fer action was lost. The question of the acceptance of the resignation was then put and was carried, there being but one dissenting vote. Nominations being in or der Britt took the floor and presented the name of Christian Refs. He dwelt briefly on the fact that Refs, having served two terms as Treasurer not only had the con- fdence of the people but was prepared by past experience to take up the duties of the office at a moments notice. The nom ination was seconded by Haskins and Rottanzi. Smith. on behalf of the Repub- lican minority, nominated Henry s. Mar tin. The roll was then called, Lackman, Morton, and Smith voting for Martin. and Devany, Haskins. Sheehan, Rottanzi, Britt and Rivers casting their ballots for Refs. As it requires a majority vote of the entire board to elect, and as there was no prospect of securing the attend ance of the absentees, an adjournment was taken until 10 o'clock this morning. AS the three remaining members of the board are Democrats there is no doubt that their votes will be cast for Refs
 The work of counting the money in the treasury vaults was continued all day yesterday and will probably be completed to-day. Yesterdays count disclosed no further shortages, and 1t is now believed that the full amount of Widbers steal ines is represented by the sum named Wednesday,. Sl14 199 80.
 Both the Surety Company and the city authorities are leaving no stone unturned to protect themselves against loss by req son of the Treasurer's dedication. Yes terday the city filed an attachment for SIG 900 against Widber's ten-acre fruit farm at Mountain View At the same