The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-02-29
Litigation Over Printing Over
charges Quietly Dropped Year
Ago Back on Files
Action Renewed by District ATT
tOrney to Recover Funds
FiIched on Contracts
Judge Ogden Sets Date for Ar
gument on Proper Date
for Trial

OAKLAND, Feb. zs.-Two suits
that had been filed by the county of
Alameda against the Tribune and En-
quirer publishing companies to compel
the refunding of heavy overcharges
for public printing, and then dropped
from the calendar of the superior
court nearly a year ago, have beer
quietly replaced upon the files. The
action which was taken today indi-
Gates the determination of District
Attorney Brown to recover large
part of the county money that went
into the hands Of Dargie and others
that have fattened on public printing
contracts for so years.
The suits were fled by District At
torney ! J. Allen in May. 1906, after
demands for the return OF the over
charges, which had been refused. The
complaint against the Tribune speci-
red that on May ls. 1904. the county
had paid a demand for. s51s.5s for
printing the primary election procla-
nation for 1904 It was alleged in the
complaint that the demand was for
1858 squares Of printing. when in
reality only z46 squares OF space had
been occupied The overcharge claimed
was sSg.os On July 2s 1904, it was
alleged the Tribune company demanded
s5s5s7 Tor ssLs4 squares, when, ac-
cording to the complaint. 27Ls3 squares
vas the true measurement For this
refund OF s119s4 was demanded
On October IS. 1soz, sz,Os5.s7 was de-
fnsndeo BY the Dargie company for
printing the county election proclama-
ton. This was scaled to SS,71SSs,
which was paid November %, 1904. The
complaint alleged that .Dargie had IN
sisted on being paid for 7oLs7 squares
when there were but 57z.s6 squares. ac-
cording to the county figures. This
should have netted $2,ss2.SO, according
70 the complaint, but, instead, even
after the scaling of the claim. Dargie
was given s7sL5s too much. it was
stated
In each case the complaint alleged
shat W. A Grahns treasurer for the
Eribunes had falsely sworn to the sums
R5th intent TO DECISIVE the board.
The case against the Enquirer was
similar, but more modest This paper
charged s57s:35 for 2s7 squares when
only s<s.ss had been. used. for which the
charge should have been $z3Los. This
was for printing the primary election
proclamation for 1904 Again, in July
OF the same year, it was alleged. the
Enquirer had charged s56s.so for print /
ing Sz4.7S squares, when the bill should /
have been s472 for the real total OF
2se.E7. AS the third count against the
PAPER, SC was set forth that on Novem-
Der Il. 1904, there had dNbeen presented /
= claim for s4,z14.7o for printing the
county election proclamation. This bin |
was cut to sS,7SL57. The charge was
Tor $3.50 squares. which had been ex-
panded from an actual 500 squares. |
which should have cost the county
sz.sIs.sL
A few half hearted demurrers and
notices OF motions to set for trial |
marked the legal life of the suits
After dragging along on the calendars
for two years they were dropped.
Arguments viii be heard on reset
ting the cases in a week. The suits are
now IN Judge Ellsworth's department +
but Judge ogden, sitting for Judge I
Ellsworth, today granted the motion Of |
Deputy District Attorney Leon Clarke
70 have them r.svivifed