The San Francisco call., 1908-10-07
SUPERVISORS
ARE COMPELLED
TO ABDICATE
incompetence and Revelations
of Graft Cause Alameda
Board TO Yield
Grand Jury and District AttOr-
ney Assume Government
of the County
Purchasing of Supplies and the
Printing Contracts Placed
in Experts Hands

OAKLAND, Oct GA situation
fraught with deepest significance for
the tax paying public of Alameda
county was revealed today Incom-
petence and the revelations of graft
have virtually forced the board of
supervisors to abdicate their powers,
and the government of the county, in
every important feature, is now in the
hands of the district attorney and the
grand jury. Initiative has been sur
rendered by the supervisors and every
action performed by the board origi-
mates with the grand jury and the dis
-trict attorney and like good dogs.
the supervisors obey.
There are five supervisors at a
straight salary of 1925 a month each,
with liberal allowances for mileage
Supervisor n. D. Rowe has been iso-
lated by the others because he was
honest and conscientious. He is not
consulted under any condition. Chair-
man John Mitchell. for eight years the
leader Of the board, met with political
f.sath following the exposures of his
, record in the columns Of The Call
BOARD WITHOUT 4 LEADER
Neither Rowe nor Mitchell. whose
terms expire at the close of the year.
is in a position of command. Bridge
and Horner, the county supervisors.
fail entirely in qualifications of lead
ership. and except for their votes are
ordinarily negligible
OF the i've supervisors Kelley re-
mains. He is engrossed with seeking g
petty patronage and in passing out
small contracts for repairs about the
county buildings.
II the supervisors are inert and apa-
thetic for one reason or another, Dis
trict Attorney Donahue and the grand
jury are capable of directing their
actions. Two important measures
which passed through the lifeless board
today bear testimony TO this fact.
All purchasing OF county supplies in
GLIDING the letting Of printing con-
tracts, has been placed in the hands OF
2 purchasing agent. Dex,ere McLaren
who was appointed today at a salary OF
$500 month. He viii appear before the
grand jury tomorrow morning and be
instructed as to his new duties. Bet
ter proof Of the transfer Of authority
by actual superiority and fitness could
not be required.
The second act was the authorization
Of the accounting firm of McLaren &
fSoode Of san Francisco TO devise a
new and up TO date method of keep
lng the books Of the county. The Sc
nior member of the firm, Norman Nc
Laren, is no relation of Devere Nc
Laren, the purchasing agent
NO CHECK ON EXPENDITURES
The grand jury made out partial
report at its last meeting. and Dis
trict Attorney Donahue read it at q
secret meeting Of the supervisors to-
day The report follows:
The grand jury. as result of fits
I investigation in county affairs finds
that the present system of the ad-
ininistration Of the business affairs OF
the county is very poor; that the coun-
~ can not get value received, or keep
eny check upon expenditures. by rea-
son Of the extremely poor system; and
the grand jury believes, in the first
place. that the firm Of McClaren &
Goode should be employed by the board
Of supervisors. at an expense not to
exceed $1,000 to recommend and devise
a proper system in handling this mat
Ter.
The grand jury furthermore believes
that the board Of supervisors should
select a competent and able man, al
4 salary say Of $500 a month, to i'll
the position OF purchasing agent; that
ali supplies for All county Offices
printing Of blanks, of books, etc.
should be handled through the pur-
chasing agent that the purchasing
agent should have clerk who could
assist him in the manual labor at
tached 10 the office; the purchasing
agent should keep a complete set OF
books and file monthly detailed com
paratfve report, each month, with the
board Of supervisors; that county Of
through the purchasing agent
EXPERTS ARE EMPLOYED
The grand jury believes that if this
position is created and sufficient power
given TO the purchasing agent, together
with the assistance 10 be rendered by
.McCiaren & Goode, that Alameda coun-
" will be greatly benefited thereby
McCiaren & Goode are grand jury
experts employed at the private ex-
pense Of members Of that body to in
vestigate the condition of county af-
fairs A partial report submitted ear
lier revealed the thoroughness of their
research. and they asked TO be allowed
to suggest an up TO date system OF
book keeping.
Devere McLaren was deputy in the
county assessors office several years
and bears a high reputation for probity
and business ability.