Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-16
PETE WILSON'S
ROAD BILL ONE
MONTH $4,000
BIG SUM EXPENDED ON EVE OF
HIS RETIREMENT
GRAND JURY CALLS SUPERVISOR
TO INoUIsIToRIAL ROOM
Automobiles, cuIvert Pipes and High
way Machinery Subjects for IN
Vestigation - "Autograft"
Joins "Smokegraft"

NOUNTY automobiles, culvert pipe
and road machinery clanked
~ against each other during the in
vestigation carried on by the grand
jury yesterday. P. ]. Wilson, former
supervisor from the Fourth district,
was the first and principal witness. Mr..
Wilson cooled his heels in the corridor
for an hour after the session began
and he occupied exactly the same time
in answering questions. G. E. Patter-
son, former chairman of the board of
| supervisors, was the only other wit
ness. He was in the secret chamber
more than an hour during the after
noon, emerging about o'clock, a half
hour before the jury adjourned until
Monday.
The second hand automobile recently
obtained by the old board of supervis-
ors for the use Of the highway commits
sion and for which a bill is held UP in
the Nauditor's office, was the subject
of inquiry, it is said. Why a pur-
chase of $4,000 worth of steel culvert
pipe was made without the formality
of bids is also mystifying the jurors
and they wanted to have their curiosity
satisfied. The pipe was purchased from
Henshaw, Bulkley & Co. and was dis
tributed in the districts represented
by Supervisors Wilson, Patterson and
Eldridge, the late solid three" The
bulk of this pipe was sent to Wilson's
district.
Auditors Report Perused
Then there is the machinery question.
This matter has received the attention
of the jury before this. The investiga-
ton received a new impetus yesterday,
it is understood, after the members of
the inquisitorial body read the semi
annual report of the county auditor.
During the six months ended De-
cember 81, according to this report,
more than 100000 had been expended
on roads in the First, Third, Fourth
and Fifth districts. The average was
about $4,000 a month.
In the Fourth district, over which
Wilson presided and in which he had
built UP one of the strongest political
machines ever known in the countyS
history, the enormous sum Of $94, S16.71
was expended during the half year.
But what caused the greatest sur
prise yesterday was the fact that
$41, ,44430 of this amount was spent in
December, the last month of Wilson's
official connection with the county.
Where did all this money go, and what
was the reason for the apparent frantic
rush to deplete the county treasury,
are questions that caused some COM
ment yesterday.
The money expended in Wilson's dis
trict during the six months lacked only
$4,000 Of eating up the apportionment
for that district from the collection of
taxes for the first half Of the year.
This apportionment was $1O4,1OS.04.
Where the Money Went
Following is a list showing the diff
6
trict where the money was spent and
the amounts supplied to each during
December:
Artesia district, $1,2OS.59; BaIlona,
s13. .336.73; Catalina, S1,S3O.75; Centinela,
S3,05456 Compton, $1,022.S2; Clear
water, $5S4.70; Downey, $1,526.51; Flor
ence, 81, 1915; Fruitland, $1,147.S0; Gar
dena, 81, ,725.07; Green Meadows, S938.60;
Hyde Park, $1.464.15; Lomita, $S7; Los
Alamitos, $SS719; Montebello, $SS6.65;
Long Beach, $3,779.3 80; Norwalk, $1,71S.-
OF: Redondo, $105.37; San Antonio,
81. .253.O9: Santa Monica, $614.S0; Will
mington, $612.75; Wiseburn, $1,019.03;
Moneta, $924.98.
Demands for machinery in various
road districts were handed to the
grand jury yesterday by County
Auditor Dow. These demands were
twenty-six in number and many are
for purchases from Henshaw, Bulkley
& co. In Wilson's district during the
last month Of his service as super
visor this company presented six bills
for machinery, ranging from $40 to
$500, and totalling 1883. This machin-
cry was distributed as follows:
Ballona road district, $500; Fruit
land, 1915; Hyde park, 1915; Montebello,
two lots, 1915 and $23S; Wilmington,
$40.
Oil for the Fourth district in De-
cember cost the county $4770.
No reports have been received from
road foremen in the Fourth district
in regard to the amount of money on
hand from their apportionments. These
reports will be received during the
coming week and will be made public
| Immediately by Wilson's successor, G.
J. Nellis.
The Ffiht district, formerly repre-
sented by G. E. Patterson, expended
$SS97. SO during the last month Mr.. Pat
! terson was in office. This is little more
than an average for the six months,
$44,54S having been spent for road
work during that time.
Autograft and Smokegraft
The disclosures made yesterday of
the tactics of the former solid three,
coming as they did on the day that
| The Herald had shown the close con-
nection between Mayor Harper's city
hall machine, Walter Parker's Southern
Pacific machine and the "solid'' super
visors, created q; great deal of comment
not only at the court house but at
many other places where men congre-
| gate.
In inner circles there was not much
surprise at the part taken by the super
visors in sewing up the meat situa-
ton in Los Angeles city and county.
A prominent restauranteur said: II
am glad this automobile exposure fol-
| lowed so closely upon The Herald's
article regarding the Southwestern
! Packing company. 1 am one of those
| who.was shown how to buy meat as
well as cigars; 1 have a nice little
| block of oil stock; [ am sweetened a
bit on the sugar game; my fire insur
ance is right; I am safe on accident
insurance, and in one or two other ways
which The Herald has not yet broken
y c.e4 I l.. =