The San Francisco call., 1909-01-13
WASTE OF PUBLIC
MONEY DEPLORED
InquisitOrs Declare City Fathers
Guilty of Many Useless
Expenditures

OAKLAND. Jan l2.-Excessively
high tax rates. extravaganza in the
purchase Of supplies, waste of public
money and a woeful lack Of business
judgment are charged against the Ala
media county board Of supervisors in
the anal report OF the grand jury sub
mitted today.
Unhinching in fixing guilt and plac-
ing responsi ibility for the rottenPess
Of conditions uncovered. the report
concisely points out the usefulness OF
local relief measures and advocates a
crusade at Sacramento. where the de-
fective laws were made.
The report is a monument TO the
natriotisn Of Foreman Herman Ben
Gel and his associates. Their good
citizenship was not confined 10 abstract
discussions: they drew from their own
pockets more than $4,000 with which
a firm OF accountants was employed TO
make a systematic probing Of county
affairs. The reports submitted by the
accountants enabled the grand jury TO
accurately scan the real conditions and
10 base their recommendation on facts.
SUGGEST FUND FOR EXPERTS
Though willing TO shoulder this
financial burden. Bendel and the oth-
ers were unwilling 10 pass such an
obligation to succeeding grand Juries-
4 suggestion was made that the state
law be amended 10 allow $1,000 yearly
from the county treasury with which
10 defray the expense. The present
law allows s. q day for expert services.
The printing graft scandal, as ex-
posed by The Call in its Ions night
for good government in Alameda coun-
~. was given emphasis in the report.
r1-s rstrr -
matter in the basement Of Tie hall OF
records was itenized and as the stuff
is now useless its removal Tor valuable
space was advised.
The printing rates schedule, which is
annually fixed by the board OF super
visors, was pointed 10 as demanding
great care BY The supervisors, and in
the opinion Of the grand jury, formed
after close investigation, the rates can
be materially lowered.
The folly Of undertaking projects
like the foothiu boulevard, which is
well on the way to ruin. and the new
county jail without consulting the
wishes of the voters Of the county, was
shown in strong terms.
The boulevard. costing S400. 000. is
nearly worn out but because its first
cost was excessive the grand jury hesi-
tated 10 advise the expenditure Of
more good money to redeem bad.
COUNTY JAIL CONTRACT
The county jail. costing $3.50, 900,
should be finished according 10 the
contracts in order to head of the pos
sibilIty OF 5obs The installation Of
the third tier Of cells in the completed
south half OF the building was ordered
stopped because the tier cost too much.
The jail and boulevard were causes
for excessive tax burdens being laid
within a period OF a few years. and the
supervisors were warned Of the folly
of undertaking permanent improve
ments at the expense Of the tax paying
public of the present day. The bur
den should be distributed by bond is
sues, says the report.
Supplies should be purchased by COM
petitive bidding instead Of the old con-
fused methods. The device OF a pur-
chasing agent which was adopted in
October after a partial report had been
submitted was held 20 be a satisfactory
solution If the supervisors watched the
expenditures, and the purchasing agent
continued TO do his duty.
The gross overcharging for repair
work about the county buildings. re-
Gently made public in partial report,
and the absence OF proper care Of coun-
~ buildings by the janitor force were
referred TO again.
ROAD MONOPOLY CHARGED
Road fOremen employed by outside
supervisors were accused of forming
a monopoly OF county work by fur
nishing their own teams and supplies
and this was deprecated as a bad
practice
The city OF Oakland was advised to
pave the road to the city wharf without
waiting for the approval of a bond
issue for general scheme of i'm
provements.
The report was submitted to Superior
Judge z. j. Brown, who ordered II
filed and then discharged the jury
The grand jury was impaneled Feb
ruary II Of last year. The next grand
jury viii probably not be formed until
late IN February unless an emergency
arises.