The San Francisco call., 1899-07-16
COUNTY CLERK
SWINGS THE AK
UNW|LL|NGLY
Is Forced to Reduce
Regular Staff.
TWENTY-FIVE HEADS FALL
ALL TRUST TO LUCK IN A GAME
OF DRAW.
If the Supervisors Grant Additional
Moneys to the Office All Men
Dismissed Will Be Re
appointed.
TWENTY-FIVE HEADS FALL
ALL TRUST TO LUCK IN A GAME
OF DRAW.

ton for a rehearing of the issues involved
in the case recently decided limiting the
number of under-offfcials in the County
Clerks office, action has been taken and
the heads OF twenty-five have fallen into
the basket. Yesterday afternoon it was
announced by County Clerk Deanc that
the force of the office must be reduced
10 meet the present conditions lie also
announced that in order to be fair TO all
concerned that the names of all copyjsts
and deputies would be placed in ballot
box. with the exception of those of Joseph
Goddard acting chief deputy, and Joln
Flood copyist and private secretary
sufficient would be drawn to allow the
office 10 run within the appropriation
made by the Supervisors, and those un-
fortunates whose names remained within
must step down and out
The remaining hours of the day were
in consequence. hours of suspense for the
host of under officials. Five o clock came
and the entire office force adjourned 10
the court room of Department Six. Jo-
seph Goddard carried the box containing
the names. and when all were seated Mr..
Deane began his remarks.
Gentlemen. you all know why we are
here he said. This seems to be the un-
fortunate year for the office of the County
Clerk We have been made to suffer for
the good of all other offices in the city
and county government, II seems. I on are
all. OF course familiar with the decision
I.
is in allegiance owing 10 the TACT that
petition for a rehearing is at present be
fore the court but you all must know that
The Supervisors have taken action against
our office without giving us an opportu-
nity TO finally determine just what laws
govern our affairs. l have been before
The Supervisors and have quoted law and
facts. ! have shown them tnat IN past
administra tions the sum OF $1l0,O0O year
has been granted with which to run the
County Clerks office. but still they have
a
$36 900 is for the first six months, giving
lust $4,000 month with which to conduct
the office. OF this amount $500 must be
expended for stationery, and hence but
5000 can be expended for salaries. Ihe
remaining six months must be conducted
at an expense somewhat under $500
month. and, as you all know. the efficien-
cy of the office cannot be Kept up on that
basis.
board of equalization, and they could have
easily taken up q communication which l
sent them and granted me the proper ap
preparation for the office. All asked was
$50 600 and from this l agreed to pay all
salaries, purchase stationery and conduct
the entire business of the office As they
would not grant my request it IS there
fore necessary that the force Of the office
be reduced to suit the condition, but
promise that in event the board at sub
sequent date allows the proper appropr1a-
tion | will again appoint each and every
man that the present unfortunate circum-
stance deprives of position.
\
present faces US when we consider the
decision of the Supreme Court. Under
this decision the force of the office is re-
duced TO thfrty-tWo men, AT the present
time as you all know, there are twelve
courts, and under the decision L can en-
ploy but nine courtroom clerks. There
are at present thirty-SiX cOpyiStS to do
the work of the two departments of the
Probate Court, and the decision only al
lows four. If this decision prevails the
efficiency of the office Will be paralyZed.
Serious trouble will result. The Probate
courts will be at a standstill, criminals.
who have a right to be tried within GER
tain period, Will have to be freed and the
public will suffer to an unlimited degree.
The Supreme Court has seen fit to rele-
gate the affairs Of the office to a decision
OF tWenty-seVen years ago, when the city
was practically village. Still, We
must abide by the law, and we will do
best to conduct the office on the limited
appropriation; but I am afraid that our
best will accomplish but little toward the
desired result.
To-day the three courtroom clerks who
must step down and out under the deci-
sion of the Supreme Court will not be re-
moved from their positions. Before we
determine by ballot who must go we will
await the remittitur from the Supreme
Court, which will arrive on the 21st inst
If. however, in the meantime the Supreme
Court will grant q rehearing these men
may not OF necessity be removed, and,
again. the Supervisors may be induced
TO grant further appropriation which
will enable the immediate reappointment
Of you who must step out after the names
have been withdrawn from the box"
At this point Mr.. Goddard, whose eff
cheney as chief deputy resulted in County
Clerk Deane refusing to risk him to the
chance of the box, started to take the
names from the box calling them off as
crowd that watched the proceedings but
when it was over all. even those to whom
fortune had been unkind, breathed easier
The suspense was at an end and all knew
just where they stood.
The names of the copysts who will re-
N0lTf IN hn fFtr.a
the box by Mr.. Goddard. They are:
George Chenowyth. Frank Williams L.
G. Bertz. d. G. Van Nostram. Fred NJ
Kay, j. McAuliffe, H. c. Brown, George
J. Ulrich. Phil Herleman. Isadore Erp.
H. Larsen, Leo Mcdonald, Oscar Heroid
and j. V Harrison.
Next came the drawing Of the deputies
the fortunate ones being Y. F. Northrup,
George c. Covey. w. H. Pendergast, +.
Angelo, a. s. Levy. Al Houston. A. B.
Mahoney, \. Doolittle, w. r. A Johnson.
/. r. Danforth, J.. B. Reilly. G. Vallero,
Walsh, Joseph Riordan, Thomas A
Davies, ]. j.. Cassidy, T. l.. Doran, f. NJ.
Thompson, J. A. Whiteside, w. B. Lee
The copyists whose heads toppled into
the basket are: George H. Martin, G.. L.
White, George Monnier, J. NJ. Bethel, w
NJ. Knox, F. Koment, Charles Jameson.
George Z. Gowman, George Hemtz Jo-
seph F.. Mogan, James J; Bagley, NJ. j.
Kelly; G. p. Brown, William t. Cleary
The deputies who the fortune Of the
game of draw decapitated are: John
Houston, L. n. Jacobs, o. c. Lewis, j.
2. Bacigalupi, George S. McComb. p w
Lannon. John a. McKenna P. McGuckin,
John Duff and Joseph Cunningham
The court room clerks. three of whom
must go in event the Supreme Court re-
fuses to grant rehearing, are: Frank
Grimes, John A. bunker, w. c. Raisch,
W. s. Fitzgerald. r. A, Fitzgerald. Am
brose Watson, Benjamin l. Solomon. c.
c. Morris. r. j. Welch, J. B. Martin.
James r. McElroy, William r. Jost and
O. O. Tolle.
AS soon as the labor of reducing the
staff of the office by the chance system
Instituted by Mr.. Deane had been con-
cluded. he again announced that IN the
event a further appropriation was granted
he would reappoint all whom adverse for
tune had removed. This settled, the
meeting broke up, and now comes the
wait for further developments.
Cut by Bottle.
Rudolph Wortinger. a bartender in the
Imperial saloon, SIT Market street, was
,rros+ed Yesterday afternoon on n charge