The San Francisco call., 1907-02-10
Parker Dinner
Affair of Note
Railroad Boss Liberal
in Feeding Los An
geles sLegislators
GALL HEADaUARTERs,

SACRAMENTO, Feb. s.-Considerable
talk Is being heard about the after
dark dinner given at French restau-
project of swelling the payroll of Los
Angelesaand enable him to provide Jobs
for some OF his tmportuning lieutenants
ton.
The Southern Pacific boss wanted to
obtain the unanimous consent Of the
Los Angeles delegation to this plan
of making the county defray the ex-
pense of his political obligations, and
the dinner is declared to have been
conducted In q manner that illustrated
that the host did not believe in par
simony when entertaining law makers
who enjoyed plenty to eat and drink
when discussing municipal improve
ments.
Senator Charles w. Bell of Pasadena
was the only member of the Los An
geles delegation who cared neither for
a French dinner nor Parker's schemes
as a constructive politician. The exact
language Bell used in roasting Parker
was learned this afternoon, when tho
correspondence that was exchanged be-
tary of the Los Angeles delegation, was
made public
Thompson wrote:
Senator Charles w. Bell. Sacra-
mento-Dear Sir: BY order of the
chairman. meeting Of the Los An
geles County delegation is hereby
called to be held Wednesday, Febru-
ary 6. 1907, at $50 o'clock p. M. at
the French restaurant on x street,
near Fifth. This is an important
meeting, and 1t is imperative that every
member should attend, as the new
county government bill will be con-
sidered.
'Tt is equally important that each
member should attend promptly. that
the work may be finished, and MEM
bers thereafter may attend the recep-
ton to be rendered to Governor Gil
lett or the open meeting of the tax
revision committee
Bring your appetite and come pre-
pared for work Very truly yours,
IN. w. THOMPSON, Secretary"
Here is Bells reply:
SACRAMENTO, Cal, Feb 6. 1907.
Mr. N w. Thompson. Los Angeles
County Delegation, Sacramento. Cal
Dear Sir: Replying to the call for a
delegation to be held Wednesday, Feb
ruary 6, 1907, at $50 o'clock p M.
at the French restaurant on K street.
near Fifth, I viii state that I regard
this an important meeting and impera-
tive that every member should attend,
as the new county government bill
affecting Los Angeles County Is to be
considered at said meeting.
'I have been informed that Mr..
Walter Parker is to be the host, and
that he Will also be there acting In
an advisory capacity; and I regret to
state that for two good reasons it will
be impossible for me to attend said
meeting. In the first place. I do not
care to partake of Mr.. Walter Par
ker's hospitality. In the second place.
there is no good or sufficient reason
why any one outside of the Los An
geles County delegation should be
there in any capacity whatever.
whatever may be agreed upon at
said meeting shall carefully consider,
and If the action taken at said meet
ing meets with my approval I shall
be glad TO act with the delegation; II
not, I will take the matter UP before
the committee on county government
and there state my views.
'T also wish to express at this time.
without any bitterness whatever. that,
in my opinion, the Los Angeles County
delegation should be fully competent
to arrange matters relating to our
county without the advice OF any one,
unless It might be the legal advice
of some one competent to give the
same. Very truly yours,
CHARLES w. BELL"