The herald., 1898-12-11

COUNTY SALARIES
reviewed BY LOS ANGELES
LEGISLATORS
ANY. CUT IS OPPOSED
BY THE MEN RECENTLY ELECT
ED TO OFFICE
PLEDGED TO RETRENC CHMENT
But I1ad Not Read the Platform
to Which They Had Subscribed
Last August

AdSL x1uS uSI
When the county legislative delegation
met yesterday morning at 1890 in the rooms
of the chamber of commerce there was an air
of subdued expectancy on the faces OF most
of the recently elected Republican officers.
This air was not unmixed with gloomy fore
bodings of severe cuts which might be made
in their official salaries. The meeting was
called to order by Assemblyman Melick,
with Senators Bulla, Currier and Assembly
men Melick, Valentine, Mead, Huber, Mil
Ter and Conrey present. Senator Simpson
did not appear until afternoon.
Some little preliminary business was tran
sacted, Professor Foshay appearing before
the Legislators to plead the cause
of the deaf and dumb children of
the county, whom he would edu-
cate from the common school fund by special
4 teachers, thus obviating sending them to the
institute at Berkeley during the time
when they should be under home influences.
This could be done, he argued, at cost OF
$3.50 per pupil, whereas the cost at the
institute is 1915. Professor Foshay's pro-
lators, Senator Bulla, and Assemblymen
Iuiiiei anu NoHley ePedkliiS III lawn VI tHc
idea.
George H. Peck and Mrs. H. r. w.
Strong appeared, the first in search of relief
from the storm water in the San Gabriel
river. Mrs. Strong wished some definite
action taken on state flower that the floral
emblem might be completed.
RETRENCHMENT REFORMS
Then each legislator took long breath,
and Chairman Melick read the retrenchment
plank as follows from the Republican county
platforms:
Assemblyman Huber wished to present a
schedule, prepared after careful investiga-
tion, which would save the county $4,000.
THE FIRST VICTIM
County Clerk-elect Bell was the first
official to appear, with manifest reluctance,
Huber was read to him, and he was asked if
he had any objections to its active operation.
He most decidedly had, and gave them. Ac-
cordng to his views the county clerk is the
center around which all things revolve, and
any other office could be cut with profit
except his own. He proceeded to catechse
Huber, but Senator Bulla promptly sat upon
him, reminding him that the legislators were
not on the carpet.
Great surprise was shown by Mr.. Bell when
asked if he had not been nominated on the
/ understanding that his salary and expenses
: would be reduced. lie said he did not know
! anything about that, had not read the reso-
lutions, and did not believe that he ought to
suffer. According to him no reduction
had been made in assessments of candidates
by the central committee. With due re-
gard for his friends he thought that if
economy was necessary, it should, if possible,
be exercised in other departments.
When asked where the knife could be ap-
piled he thought that in the matter of minor
supplies the county was too generous. All
the legislators had turn at Mr. Bell, but
could get no further satisfaction from him.
Then DR.. Crawford of Pasadena, who
drew up the resolution under which the
present meeting was held, made an argument
for economy. As he sat down Assemblyman
Miller proposed that the legislators draw up
an authorized schedule to govern their ac
tions. This motion did not pass.
Supervisor Davis presented reasons why
why the present road laws compelling the
board of supervisors to have plans made and
bids advertised for all work costing over
$500 be changed to limit of $1,000 Ad-
journment was then taken till l:30. During
the interim the legislators were in executive
3 the present laws compelling the board
OF supervisors to have plans made and
session on the salary list question, which
was to be resumed in the afternoon meeting
First appeared DR.. Beach, who advocated
the appointment of first assistant woman
physician at all insane asylums.
AGAIN ON THE RACK
Mr. Bell was again placed upon the wit
ness stand, and said that as a further proof
that his clerks would be over-worked he
would say that the present number of depu-
ties was the same as eight years ago, with
an increase in business of forty per cent. His
office was then dismissed, and the investi-
gators went searching for the man who re-
ceived too large salary, since Mr. Bell did
not consider himself such.
Supervisor Hubbard believed that four
courts were sufficient to transact the county
business, and had been so informed by a
leading lawyer, whose name he did not
desire to mention. He also suggested that
reductions could be made in the auditors
office by the abolshng of the duties of a re-
demption clerk. TO this the recently elected
auditor made reply that this clerk was an
essential with the present volume of bust
ness. supervisor DAVIS contented himself
by responding Possibly" and remarked
that the supervisors also needed deputies, at
which Mr.. Melick looked aghast, and re-
marked that it could not be done, and that
the presently poorly paid supervisors would
have to struggle along
THE UNDER-PAID SHERIFF
Mr.. Hammel, sheriff-elect, was asked as
starter how he would like hisIsalary reduced
To this facer he replied that after the past
hard-fought campaign it would be ruinous
and should not be thought of for an instant
How about prisoners feed?" asked Melick
Does the sheriff make anything?" Mr.
Hammel believed that affairs should be left
in statu quo, but admitted that the sheriff
looked to making profit from such feeding
and maintaining that such was his right.
AT this point Senator Simpson entered
and before taking his seat asked if the sheriff
did not charge mileage from Los Angeles
when warrant was sent by mail to dis,
tant point to be served. Itwas drawn from
the witness that such had been the practice
Another schedule drawn up by the cham.
ber of commerce was here introduced, which
the legislators used henceforth as a standard
bo L