Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-01
CLAIM ELDRIDGE
SHOWED FAvORS
TO BIG MILL co.
SUPERVISORS FRIENDS MAY
HAVE PR0FITED
OVER $4,000 PAID BY COUNTY TO
ONE FIRM
InquisitorlaI Body Is Believed to Be
Investigating the Contracts for
Work Done at Poor
Farm

Expenditures of S16,S24.29 paid to one
company by the county of Los Angeles
for improvements at the county farm
from April, 1907 to April, 1908.
The Eureka Planning Mill company,
off1cered by George H. Vosburgh, A.
O. Dolson, w. H. Wilkins, M. ]. Vos-
burgh, S. T. Davidson and P. e. Will
kins.
Supervisor S. T. Eldridge, related by
marriage to four members of the plan
ing mill firm.
These three connecting facts and
the apparent favoritism shown by Su-
pervisor Eldridge in letting contracts
to the Eureka Planning Mill company
to the exclusion of others is believed to
be the cause for the present line of
investigation being carried on by the
grand jury.
Eldridge was again before the grand
Jury yesterday. Preceding him in the
fury room was A. o. DolSon, secretary
of the Eureka Planning Mill company,
who was questioned during the greater
part of the forenoon session. When
the Jury convened following the noon
adjournment, Eldridge, George H Vos-
burgh and w. H. Wilkins assistant
secretary of the Eureka company, were
on hand awaiting a call to the jury
room Both Vosburgh and wilkins are
related by marriage to the supervisor.
Wilkins was the first man to enter
the Jury room in the afternoon, re-
manning a little more than half hour.
He was succeeded by Eldridge, VINO
remained but a few moments, Vos-
burgh taking his place before the III
vestigating body.
NTopa of +Ia witnesses would d1VllPe
what took place in the jury room. Il
have sworn secrecy" was the only re-
ply that would be vouchsafed to ques-
tions. Eldridge, however, with his
usual frankness, admitted the tnves-
tigation being carried on concerned
work done at the county farm.
us it in regard to any faVor1tlsm
shown by you in letting out work to
the Eureka company he was asked.
"Weu. why should / not show ia
voritism?" he demanded. 81 raised
George Vosburgh, taking him into my
home when he was boy of IL years,
and I am naturally anxious that he
shall do we'll"
did the jury go so far as to inquire
whether or not you derived any benent
from the letting of the contracts to the
mill companyp
Now; if 1 answer that question 1t
will be followed by another, and you
will learn all about the investigation,
replied Fldridge. "I will say, however
that everything done by me as chair
man of the county farm committee has
been open and above board
Experts Examine Books
Expert accountants are still examin-
ing the accounts of the county, eSpe-
cially those in connection with the
county farm. The vouchers for these
expenses are still in the hands of the
experts and the nature of the work
done by the planning mill company for
which an average of s1402 was expend-
ed monthly during the past year could
not be learned.
Attached to these vouchers are
number of memoranda, noting facts
CLEANED by the experts during their
examination and which were consid-
cred of sufficient Importance to have
the attention of the grand jury called
to them.
An examination of the books in the
auditors office, however, discloses the
fact that a total of $35,510.27 has been
paid out to six different firms for coun-
ty farm improvements during the year
ended in April last. The Eureka Plan
ing Mill company was the recipient of
the largest part of this amount, the
books showing that $16,S24.29 was paid
to this firm during that period. j. Mel
son, a contractor, received the next
largest sum, sS051.35; Howe Bros,
plumbers. $443620; Armstein, cement,
$327S.12; Hudson & Munsell, architects,
$676.6O, and the Grifiths Lumber COM
pany, $193.7S.
One other witness was before the
grand jury yesterday, A. A. Hubbard,
chairman of the board of public works.
who went of his own volition and to
present some matters which he declined
to discuss publicly.
The grand jury adjourned about 4:30
O'CLOCK to meet again FridaY morning