The San Francisco call., 1899-07-20
COUNTY CLERK
MUST FURTHER
REDUCE FORCE
Refused Rehearing by
Supreme Court.
FIRST DECISION WILL STAND
RELIEF WILL BE ASKED OF THE
BOARD OF sUPERv1soRs,
They Have the Power to Grant an
Additional Appropriation,
Which Is All That the
Office Needs.
FIRST DECISION WILL STAND
RELIEF WILL BE ASKED OF THE
BOARD OF SUPERV1SORS,

Confident that its decision was in aC-
c0rEa7ce with the law. the Supreme Court
has refused 70 grant . rehearing in the
action recently decided, limiting the force
Of the County Clerk. It has been said
that this action on the part Of the Su-
preme Court has filed the office with dis
may. but this is an error. as County Clerk
Ieaue. in whose administration the null
-trudil0us errors Of past regimes have
vent their effect, has determined TO work
within the law; but with what effect re
mains 10 be seen. It was thought that
on proper presentation for a rehearing
the Supreme Court would find points upon
which To reverse itself, but ii has not,
and in consequence the box must again
twirl and The heads OF many fall.
After M Deane had been apprised Of
the action Of The Supreme Court upon the
application for a Tehearing, he said: I'm
der the decision of the Supreme Court l
am allowed force Of thirty-two men.
OF this number nine are courtroom clerks
and they must. If possible, accomplish the
work heretofore requiring twelve men
These men get $40 month, as do nine
cepuon Of three, who Will be paid $3.50 a
month Seven assistant register clerks
viii be paid $50 month. one copying
clerk $lop month, two record clerks $50
a month aRd three copyists at cents per
folio. whose earnings are not to exceed
5000 a month. Just how the work is to
be performed under the decision I am
unable 10 tell. It takes ten copvists alone
70 do the work OF the two probate de
paTtments Of the Superior Court. SO nat
uralIy, with the reduced force. the public
must suffer.
AN incident occurred yesterday which
Is one of the best Illustrations OF the evils
. which may result from a reduced force.
Mr.. Monroe. an attorney. called at the
once and said that he desired to take an
appeal from an order of sale of real es-
tate in a probate matter. He informed
me that h. could not perfect his appeal
in the Judgment book and recorder. and
that the same could not be done within
ten days: and that, therefore, his appeai
would be ineffective and would result in
great loss to the heirs whom he repre-
sented.
In order to oblige Mr.. Monroe ana I'm
order that the heirs might not suffer. l
placed a special man on the matter and
had the judgment recorded at once so
that Nh Monroe could take his appeal
within ten dayS allowed him by law. Now
the proposition is that this being vaCa-
tIon time and the work of the office slack,
We could do this favor. but suppose there
were several OF the same kind OF appeals
pending. ii is plain that the result would
be disastrous On these lines an effort
viii be made 10 better the conditions by
effort TO secure an increased appropria-
ton. but whether or not we will be grant
ed the relief sought is another question
Acting Chief Deputy Goddard was busy
during me day preparing figures and facts
upon Which 10 make a proper showing be
fore the Supervisors next Friday. al
though the Supreme Court has affirmed
the decision heretofore rendered. said
Mr Goddard we have another lire upon
which 10 work The decision of the court.
although limiting the number of officials
Of the Office who, under the statute, may
draw salaries, it does not say that we
must limit ourselves TO that number. 1t
recognizes the necessity of d larger force
in the office. but sets forth that we must
find a way 70 pay them. This way rests
with the Supervisors. If the board will
grant US a further appropriation the Au-
6itcr will act upon increased demands and
the Treasurer viii honor them. This is
all we ask. We ask sufficient funds upon
WIlch 10 cohQucl .Ie, the ONCE IN a proper
The matter brought about by the case in
the hands Of Attorney Monroe is sufficient
10 demonstrate the evils which may result
through a reduction Of the force, and on
such cases we will work. Friday I will 20
before the Supervisors and again present
facts and figures TO sustain our applica-
tion for an increased appropriation, and
l hope for success"