The San Francisco call., 1909-12-10
UlTIMATUM TO
TREASURER IS
NOT effective
San Mateo County Official
Makes No Effort to Call in
Public Funds
District Attorney and Judge Adj
wise Grand Jury That 1t
Has Exceeded Law


After day devoted to an inquiry
county affairs, the San Mateo county
grand jury adjourned last night to
await the call of the foreman. No pro-
vision was made for receiving the
county money which County Treasurer
Chamberlain was called upon by a
resolution adopted Wednesday to pro-
duce within As hours, and though
Chamberlain's time limit will expire
by this afternoon there is no possi-
bility of him making the least effort
to comply with the letter of instruc-
tions given him by the grand jury.
Instead of making efforts to collect
the 100000, approximately, deposited
in various banks in this city and in
San Mateo county, Chamberlain devoted
himself to explaining his attitude in the
matter of the county deposits. He said
he would not attempt any such action
until the grand jury had assumed the
responsibility for the safety of the coin
in transit and after its arrival in Red
wood City.
Acting upon the advice of his attor-
AiCS 1Il6lHDcTldln wrote TO every bank
In San Mateo county yesterday asking
each if it would accept the county de-
poslts according to the conditions i'm
posed by the municipal deposit act
he conndently believes that every bank
Will refuse or be unable to accept a
deposit under those conditions.
As OTHERS HAVE DONE
In discussing Chamberiain's position.
George c. Ross. his attorney. said:
treasurer Chamberlain has fully
complied with the law, which provides
for three methods of caring for, county
FUNDS He can not maintain them in
MS own possession, as the county has
no vaults; no banks will accept them on
special deposit, and no bank will take
tnem under the conditions of the mu-
nlclpal deposit act. He is doing what
every other treasurer of the county has
done and what is being, done in almost
every other county"
The tables were somewhat turned
yesterday IN regard to the order for
the production of the money. District
Attorney Bullock appeared before the
grand jury and stated that by his in
depreciation of the law a grand iurv
had no right to require a treasurer to
produce the funds in his possession. but
could only demand an accounting. Su-
perlor Judge George III. Buck was asked
also to advise the grand jury on this
point and gave the law a similar inter-
pretation.
KEEPS PLANS TO HIMSELF
Foreman Kertell of the grand iury
refused to say what action would be
| taken by the grand jury in the event
OF Chamberlain's noncompliance with
the order to produce the county funds
within the time specified He limited
that the action that would follow would
be against Chamberlain, but did not
SOY how the latter's arguments relative
10 the lack of vaults and proper safe
guarding would be answered.
Justice of the Peace Walter G. Love-
land was called before the grand fury
in regard to the transaction of busi-
ness in his court and asked why GER
tain bail money had not been turned
over to the county and as to the ac-
tivities of certain attorneys practicing
before him. He was questioned out
right as to whether or not Attorney
]. S. Henderson had acted as dummy
in several cases. Loveland emphat-
;cally denied that he had.
JACOBS MEETING HELD
The meeting called by Adolph ia
cobs, president of the South San Fran
cisco league of justice, was held in San
Mateo last night, despite the protests
of Foreman Kertell of the grand jury.
1t ended in farce. On learning that
Jacobs insisted on holding the meeting
Kertell warned the members OF the
grand jury to absent themselves from
it, which they did.
The meeting was held in Athletic
hail and Jacobs was the principal
speaker He devoted himself In the
main to ffaying WI. Martin of South
San Francisco. who, he declared, was
the representative of the Swift pack
ing company and of every otner cor
porat tion Interested there
.sDespite this fact" said Jacobs 'the
state board of equalization appoints
him to assess the property in South
San Francisco. which he does to suit
himself and the corporations employ
ing him..
sixth" member of the board of super
visors, saying he was as much part
of the board as any of the nve regular
members.
TERMINATES IN FUN
on concluding the speaker offered the
privilege of the platform to any per-
son who might wish to refute his argu-
ments. His invitation was accepted by
" Senniman editor of promotion
paper Seminar, after declaring him.
self in favor of what Jacobs had said.
declared that 1t was necessary above
all things to boost San Mateo county.
ssThe news has just been published,
he said. "of San Francisco having a
big fair Let us write to our con-
gressman asking that similar fair
be held in San Mateo county-one of
the Sc. GOO 900 kind" Continuing with
ont a. smile. Seminar moved the adop-
tion of a resolution whereby the meet
ing would be called to the attention of
President Taft and his influence be
asked for in securing the fair In San
Mateo county. The audience, enjoying
the humor Of the situation. gave a
standing vote in favor of the resolu-
ton and the meeting broke up in dis
order and laughter
The next meeting of the grand jury
probably will not be held until the
middle of next week.