The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-05-26
GOVERNOR CAGE
WATTS TOO LONG
Loses Chance to Make
Appointments.
Special Dispatch to The Call,

LOS ANGELES, May 25.-Fortified by
a research of the Political Code of Cali
fornia, certain politicians, not all Demo-
Gratis have to-day come to the conclu-
sion that Governor Henry T. Gage is con-
fronted by a condition and not theory.
They say that the Governors procras-
tination in the matter of dispensing of
patronage at his disposal may cause
trouble for him and many worthy citi-
zens eager to succeed others in good jobs.
Some good lawyers in Los Angeles
unite in the opinion that the patronage
club that Governor Gage held over the
late Legislature is likely to remain in
mdair. They say that he held it up so
long that now he is unable to bring it
down with effect
1t is to-day said that the incumbents
of those offices that are appointive, sub
ject to the confirmation of the Sen
ate, may stay right where they are re-
gardless of the Chief Executives desire
to dislodge them to make places for per-
sons of his own choosing.
The Whittier Reform School trustees
may, by simply insisting upon their
rights as defined by law, retain their
places until the Legislature shall again
meet and the Senate shall have an OPP
portunity to confirm the appointment of
their successors
So it is with the trustees of the High
land Insane Asylum. These two institu-
tions are named because they are in
southern California. consequently the i'm
portant facts referred to are brought
closer to home.
Those who have studied the situation
insist that the law says that the trustees
of these and other State institutions shall
be appointed by the Governor with the
the Senate Is not in session vacancies
may be filled by the Governor to be CON
firned later. But these vacancies they
say, cannot be made by the arbitrary act
of the Executive. They must result from
death. resignation or disqualIticatlon;
Trustees Mitchell. Lindley and Rowland
of Whittier have not died, resigned or be-
come disqualified, therefore the legal alb
solute necessity for the appointment MN 10, oa
may be said of Highland and of other
institutions.
''The Governor held off his appoint
ments to the last moment, sald Well
known Republican manager to-day, but
the last minute was not long enough Tor
him to carry out all his plans me CLOS
ing day of the Legislature was wholly
taken up with other matters and more
appointments could not then have been
confirmed The Governor got In his APP
pointments of Harbor Commissioners ana
they were confirmed, but other appoint
ments have been made since then With
out the advice and consent Oh the SEN
This Republican found by reference to
the code that even the appointment of
ex-senator Stephen M. White as regent
of the State University should have been
confirmed by the Senate.
Those persons in Los Angeles that nave
either partisan or personal interest IN
keeping track of events as they slowly
develop agree that the Governors pres
ent diiatory policy in naming appointees
is occasioned by the realization that he
waited so long when he could have hur-
ried that now he must wait longer Wnen
his inclination is to make haste. Inc ie-
gion of aspirants for office under the
State Trusteeships are worried half sick
to-day. The people that want to be Trus-
tees cannot afford to wait until Governor
Gage may legally appoint them.
Grant men and some others that are
not in the Governors confidence look with
euuanimity upon what they consider the
executives lost chances. They take much
stock in the opinion of Attorney General
Ford that appointments under the law
providing for Senate confirmation made
So far by the Governor were null and
void. and that as there were no vacan-
clos by reason of death or resignation the
present officials could hold until the next
session of the Legislature They argue
that Ford's opinion was really against his
own interest and must therefore have
double weight. What Governor Gage
thinks about it all no man has any means
of knowing 1t is asserted that since the
publication of the Attorney General 5
opinion many men have been particularly
anxious to see the Governor, who has
been secluded in his private sanctum in
tha Douglas building.