The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-07
LAMBORN DEFIES
THE CITY FATHERS
OBJECTS STRENUoUSLY TO A
PRESS CENSORSHIP.
The City Clerk drilled for Three
Hours for Giving Information
to Reporters.

ALAMEDA, June 6.-The City Trustees
attempted last night to establish strict
press censorship on all municipal matters
that pass through the office of City Clerk
Lamborn. That their plans miscarried is
due TO no fault of theirs.
The City Clerk was grilled by the TruS-
tees for three hours because he had not
hidden from the newspaper reporters
every official document that had been filed
in his office since the new Board of Trus-
tees took office. This board has been
making a record for star chamber meet
ings, but little bird has reported all
their secret sessions and the public has
heen informed of the proceedings
through the papers as promptly as pos
sible.
Not being able to close the leak the
members undertook last night TO make
an order forbidding the City Clerk TO
open any official letters or allow the re-
porters to inspect any, official documents
until the board had looked them over in
executive session and decided whether or
not they We're proper matters Tor the tax
payers to know.
The resignation of ]. o. Messer, ex-en-
gineer of the electric light works, was
printed in the papers while the Trustees
were giving out the statement that the
employees of the city light plant were as
happy as turtle doves and that the story
Of Messer'S resignation was a fairy tale.
That was one of the incidents that pre-
cipitated the row last night.
After Chairman Brick had warmed up
to The situation he glared down upon the
CITY Clerk and in the angriest tones at
his command said:
Sir | want to know by what authority
YOU gave out to the newspapers that
Messer had resigned, and ] want to know
how they got a copy of his resignation
before ! knew it was in existence. This
SORT of thing must stop right now, and
the chairman upset a pitcher of water as
he pounded on his desk to emphasize his
remarks. Hereafter alone will open
letters addressed to this board and
nothing must be given out to the news
papers from your office in connection with
our business until we have first considered
1t in executive session: Do you hear, sir?
Trustee Alexander Mackie was also
against publicity in the management of
public affairs, for he agreed with Chair
man Brick. He wanted communications
addressed to the city dropped into a
sealed box, to be opened only In executive
sessions
say and gracefully admitted that the
City Clerk would be pretty good fellow
ii he would not talk TO the newspaper
Mr Larnborn was not crushed by the
prilling and when he was given an OPP
portunity to be heard he did not waste
words He said:
II want ii understood that the City
Clerk of Alameda has mind of his own,
and is not afraid to speak it out. have
done nothing with the idea of satisfying
personal ENDS. HegarulnB my treatment
of the newspaper reporters, | insist that
every document that comes into my office
becomes public property as soon as II is
filed. and as such it is open to inspection,
and will continue to be. There has been so
much tomfoolery around this board that
am naturally suspicious of everything
that is done. L want you to understand
that / am a free-born American citizen,
and always hope to enjoy the privilege of
free speech, and will not be muzzled."
The Trustees scolded until they grew
sleepy, when they adjourned and went
home.
To-day City Attorney Taylor advised the
CITY Clerk that his course with regard to
public documents was correct.