Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-23
ALL EYES FIXED
ON SUPERVISORS
AND BOND SALE
PUBLIC WATCHES OUTCOME IN
SUSPICIOUS MOOD
DISCOVERS HOW LARGE PROFIT
WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST
Promise by Farmers and Merchants
Bank a Bombshell-Injunction
Suits and Stoppage of
Work Possible

ILL eyes in Los Angeles county are
IA focused on the board of super
A visors today. What action that
body will take in the matter Of dis
posing of $3500,000 good roads bonds
and, especially, what attitude will be
assumed by the majority of the board.
the "solid three" is the question upper
most in the minds of citizens generally
and taxpayers in particular.
The earnest protestations of these
three men that they believed the offer
made for the entire issue, September g.
when they acted favorably on propo-
sition to take a premium of $3.50 for
the bonds. was the best obtainable,
caused some persons to believe that
their action was taken in good faith
Many expressed the belief that the fill
ing of the injunction suits. with their
charges of hypocrisy and unfaithful-
ness, was step in the wrong direction,
bringing discredit upon the county, and
that any effort to stop tie sale would
mean the usurpation by the court of
the board S power as an administrative
body.
After a superficial inquiry into the
value of the bonds, the SAFE was made.
but public opinion compelled the board
to rescind it's action
Then the solid three" violated the
promise to consult with the advisers
appointed by the board ito aid in the
good roads work. 1t was understood
that these advisers would be consulted
as to the manner in which the bonds
should be sold. Two members of the
board, Supervisors Alexander and Man
ming, carried on a strenuous battle in
their efforts to carry out this plan
The majority, however, was against
them, and, September 2S, Supervisor
Eldridge introduced his resolution call
ing for advertisements for bids. This
was adopted. Injunction suits Fol-
lowed, taxpayers claiming that certain
restrictions contained in the call would
mean a low premium. Still the solid
three" contended they had acted in
good faith.
Resolution Rushed
Then came the action of Wednesday,
when the "sold three" rushed through
a resolution changing the terms of the
advertisement in a manner providing
that any knud of a bid might be
offered at o'clock today, and that they
would accept the best" bid.
Alexander and Manning fought for a
readVertisement pleading first for ten
days time, and then for a week Not
supported by the boards lsgal adviser
Hartley Shaw, chief deputy district at
torney, they lost the fight.
Then followed the little bombshell III
the shape of a promise by an agent
of the Farmers and Merchants bank to
give 100000 premium under the terms
Of the sale as advertised When it ex-
ploded. the ptotestations of good faith
so earnestly uttered by the solid
three" were cast to the winds. Sus-
picion that the solid three" had de-
ceived their constituents changed into
conviction, and persons once inclined
to be charitable in their views on the
action or Supervisors Patterson, ED
ridge and Wilson began asking the
question. rs it possible that the coun-
ty by tiae secret sale, was on the point
of losing $91 ,250 in good hard cash?"
The answer was in the Affirmative.
The putlic was astounded still further
when Il was indicated that a bid of
315 per cent, or $192,500, might be
offered Monday.
Suits May Follow
If a bid not in accordance with the
terms OF the advertisement of Sep
tember 2S be accepted this week, it is
freely predicted that injunction suits
will follow, and work on the good roads
be postponed indefinitely.
Suppose" said one man who has
taken deep interest in the good roads
bond matter yesterday. "a bid not in
accordance with the terms of the ad-
vertisement but fulfilling the require
ments of the resolution adopted
Wednesday, should be accepted. What
is to prevent a purchaser who has pre-
sented a bid in line with the limitations
of the advertisement, and who may
claim ignorance regarding the resolu-
ton, from going into the courts in an
effort to stop this sale? Absolutely
nothing!"
1t was also predicted that the bond
question would yet be taken into the
grand jury room for investigation. In
fact, it is understood that the matter
already has received consideration at
the hands of the grand jury, and that
Supervisor Eldridge was questioned
closely in regard to the secret sale of
September 8. How deeply the grand
jury probed or the reason for aban-
doning the inquiry, if it was aban-
doned. are questions yet to be made
known to the satisfaction of the gen.
eral public.
While bids will be received at 2
o'clock today, it is not believed the
board of supervisors will act upon them
inside of three days, and it is thought
the meeting of the advisory board
scheduled for Tuesday, will be post
poned until later in the week. If the
Supervisors accept any bid which, in
the belief of the advisory board, is not
for the best interests of the county, 1t
is expected that the latter body will
act promptly in an effort to set it
aside.
Friction between Supervisors Patter-
son. Eldridge and Wilson and certain
members of the advisory board has
reached a high point and FOR several
days a rumor has been in circulation
that the "soIid three" after the sale
of the bonds has been effected, will
make a strong effort to oust such mem
bers One of the persons against whom
to have been aroused is S. A. Butler.
chairman of the advisory board, who.
with several other members, has been
particularly active in exposing the Sc
cret sale and the award to the w. p.
Jeffries company of the bond printing
contract