The San Francisco call., 1899-11-17
Used His Position to
Line His Purse.
TRIED TO WORK FRUIT MEN
PARIS COMMISSIONERS WoR-
RIED OVER EMPLOYEES ACT.
Circular Letter Sent to Growers by
Head of the horticultural De-
partment Soliciting Com
pensation.

L. A. Emlay, head Of the department Of
horticulture OF the California-Paris Expo
sition Commission, has succeeded in
bringing serious discredit on the work Of
the commission by the peculiar methods
he has pursued in seeking to induce the
fruit growers of the State to exhibit their
products at the great international expo
sition. Whether Mr.. Emlay erred through
ignorance or whether his action was the
result of a deliberate attempt to use his
official position to line his purse Is not
"a question of great moment. The fact
remains that he has succeeded in creating
a feeling OF distrust among the growers
which threatens TO seriously interfere
with the success Of the California exhibit
at the French capital in 1900.
short time ago Emlay sent out 4 cir
cular letter to the horuculturists of Cali
fornia, in which he practically offered to
take charge of their interests at the expo
sition for a consideration, citing his posi-
ton as the official head of the department
of horticulture TO show that he was in
nosition to render valuable aid In the
nlacing of exhibits and thereby earning
The remuneration asked for. AS Emlay Is
drawing a salary from the commission
out of the funds appropriated by the state
Legislature for the express purpose of
looking after the interests of the horti-
culturists, his explanation that he had no
intention Of grating when he formu-
lated and dispatched this circular is de-
cidedly weak. The circular has already
caused the commission no end Of embar-
rassment, and although the commission
promptly made every effort TO remedy the
evil by gagging Emlay and assuring the
intending exhibitors that they would not
be expected 10 pay for the care of their
products intrusted to the care of the COM
mission, the suspicion that all Is not as 1t
should be has not been altogether oblit-
Grated.
President L. w Runyon of the Cali
fornia- Paris Commission is very much
put out over what he charitably terms
Emlays indiscretion.
terday, that one OF the leading horticul-
turists of the State, after making ar
rangements to send an exhibit to Paris.
requested Mr.. Emlay to dispose of the
same at the close of the exhibition, at the
same time informing him that he would
be paid for his trouble. The exhibitors
able from his point of view than to incur
the expense of shipping the stuff back to
California. Mr.. Emlay accepted the prop
osition and after thinking the matter over
came to the conclusion that il would be a
good idea to make similar arrangements
with other exhibitors. He accordingly
sent out the circular, which has caused
all the trouble. 1t was bad mistake,
very much regretted. which we had recti-
fled as far as possible as soon as the
matter was called TO our attention, but |
do not think Mr.. Emlay had any criminal
intent to mulct the growers"
OF course the Commissioners would
nave demanded the resignation OF Mr.
Emlay at once had they thought for a
moment that he was grating" Some
people there are, however. who think that
II Emlay is not guilty of grating" his
action certainly proves him to be wholly
untitled for the important position he
holds, because Of his want of tact and
lack Of intelligence. In either case they
believe that the interests OF the State de-
mand his removal. 1t is said that other
subordinates on the commission, holding
similar positions TO that of Mr.. Emlay,
have shown an inclination to use their
positions TO their individual profit, but
ly out with a letter soliciting patronage.