The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-01-21
THRIFT SHOWN BY
ASYLUM MANAGER
/. S. Montgomery C0rrals Pat
ronage of Seventy Dollars a
Month Clerk Hire
No Suspicion of Graft Is Hinted,
but Shrewd Work Is
Done
Especial Dispatch 10 The Call


SAN JOSE. Cal. Jan. 2O-"Thrifty
Tom" Montgomery Is the new title
now being worn by one of the
wealthiest business men and most
prominent church leaders in San Jose.
In political circles the story goes with
dig in the ribs and a slap on the
thigh. When it is whispered in the
street they crack a smile that ripples
through the group. All the merriment
hinges on the neat way in which T. S.
Montgomery, member of the state board
OF managers of Agnew asylum, has
corraled the patronage of $40 a month
clerk hire allowed the board. No sus-
picion OF grating is limited at, for
the state unquestionably gets it's full
moneys worth by Thrifty Toms" sys-
tenn. But SO does Thrifty Tom" He
plays both ends against the middle, and
neither the tax payer nor himself loses.
montgomery has been secretary of
the board of managers of the Agnew
asylum for more than IA years. Up to
the time Governor Budd took the exec
utfve chair in Sacramento the job paid
300 a month. The bourbon administra-
ton paid him $40. There came a va
cancy in the board about year ago
and Governor Gillett appointed Mont
gomery. The other five members of
the board, not being particularly inter-
ested In the selection of new secre-
tary, asked Montgomery to fill the post.
The place became a family heirloom, SO
to speak, and Montgomery picked a
man from his own office staff. This
was w. M. Sontheimer Sontheimer
was installed as secretary of the Ag
new board and at the same time kept
books in Montgomery Office. He was
made secretary of the Mutual building
and loan association. owned by Mont
gomery. 1t is said, and not denied, that
Sontheimer's principal pay for his
varied duties was hts Agnew job OBJ
tanned for him by Montgomery.
About a week ago Sontheimer re-
signed to go into business for himself.
This vacated the board secretaryship
again and once more the selection of a
successor was left to Montgomery.
Thomas Simonson appeared in his Of
fee seeking work. He was an expert
book keeper. Here is the burden of
and which was later car
rted out:
I'll hire you; you'll get $3.50 month
from this office. / will have you made
secretary of the Agnew board, and you
will have your Office here and also do
the book keeping for the Mutual build |
ing and loan association. OF which 1
will make you assistant secretary. You
will get $40 month direct from the
state treasury and I will pay you $50
a month. Thus you will get your full
$3.50 a month"
Neither Simonson nor Sontheimer |
would affirm or deny these facts. but |
they were naively confirmed by Mont |
gomery himself to The Call.
Taara Sfartad IN hiq pvaS when he |
was told of the rumors-
I'm a sensitive man." he said, land |
for SO years I've lived here with never
a slur on my honor. If you can show
the slightest proof of any grating I've
ever done I'll give you $1,000. I've got |
the money and I'll do It. Why should
/ steal few paltry dollars? l have
all need now-all 1 want"
Simonson was called In from his
book keepers stool in the Office Mont
gomery asked him questions and he an
swered faithfully.
I'll give you affidavits from every |
body concerned If you want Them con-
cluded Montgomery.