The San Francisco call., 1906-08-10


- with leading the forlorn hope of
the meter tax against the
property-owners Of PaIo Alto,
thereby breaking one Of the State
statutes, J. T. Parkinson, president Of
the Board Of Trustees Of the town,
stands convicted by one of his part-
sans Of having used his position to
further his own private business inter
ests as well as having broken sol
emn prediction pledge. Parkinson,
who is a candidate for Senator, stands
10 pay $500 70 charity for his latest
slip or be impeached for violation Of
his word.
Professor Fernando Sanford Of
stanford University is the authority
for the charge against the president
Of the town board. Sanford is one Of
the supporters OF the Parkinson fac
tion. To secure the nomination for
Trustee Parkinson was obliged to
make solemn pledge TO his partisans.
This pledge was that if Parkinson in
his capacity as a member OF the board
attempted to sell any Of his own
goods TO the town for every dollar that
he received in payment he would con-
tribute 500 TO charity
PROMINENT MEN HEAR PLEDGE.
This pledge was taken before large
gathering OF inAuentiaI and reliable
friends and voters. AS Professor San
ford recalls the scene Professor c. D
Marx, the head Of the civil engineer
ing department Of stanford University,
Edwin Duryea Jr., E. Curry. DR.. c. G.
Baldwin and Professor Show Of Stan
ford were present
At the regular meeting of the board
Monday night Parkinson passed the
following bill. submitted by W. W.
Truesdale. superintendent Of Streets.
for goods purchased OF the J. F. Park
inson Company Of Palo Alto:
one wheelbarrow, So; two barrels
Of cement and carriage, s6.25; one pick
handle, % cents: one push broom.
81. ten bundles shingles and carriage,
s625. Total, sl7"
For this bill Professor Sanford OF
Stanford University declares Parkin-
son should pay TO charity $500, or
500 for every dollar Of the bill.
which was passed without notice. The
investigator will look for other
bills Truesdale is a partisan Of Park
inson and naturally went TO his chief
for his supplies.
PARKINSON GUILTY BEFORE.
Parkinson now has three serious
blots upon his record. His initial
dsbble in peculiar deals was while
serving upon the board of trustees
; for the Palo Alto schools. While
acting in this capacity he saw an op-
portunity as a hardware and lumber
merchant to sell quantity of material
TO the schools The prices were up
10 the standard and Parkinson & Co
- prohted. At the time that deal was
= engineered through by Parkinson Pro-
fessor Show and Frank Cramer. his
colleague. objected strenuously. Bear
ing Parkinson's past conduct in mind,
show enforced the pledge which has
now been brought to light and which
stands 10 be fulfilled
The Daily Palo Alto Times in re-
viewing the latest revelation says:
. Seventeen times 800 is s170o-a
good start toward a Rockefeller or
: Carnegie career Of benevolence. The
?. columns Of the Times are open to sug-
gestions as to what charities are
worthy OF help from the Parkinson
conscience fund. The knowledge Of
the pledge has come so suddenly that
the Times force has not been able to
suggest anything for consideration. un-
less it be q home for disappointed poll
ticians"
Parkinson's partisans have answered
the meter graft charge by attempting
10 prove the legality Of the act. They
admit the purchase Of the meters.