The San Francisco call., 1909-01-28
IRREGULARITIES IN
CONTRACTSCHARGED
Expert Says ALI Branches of
San Mateo County Govern
ment Involved in Scandal
LSpecial Dispatch 10 The Call


the county government there has been
some abuse or irregularity OF more
or less serious nature was the gist Of
the sensational report made today TO
the grand jury by E. J. White, the
expert accountant of San Francisco,
who has Overhauled all the county
books. Whites report shows directly
where evil. practices have cost San
AIateo county $4,000, which may be
recovered.
The disclosures contained in Whites
report. that is 70 be adopted by the
grand jury tomorrow. viii possibly lead
TO the beginning Of an action by the
present board of supervisors TO abro-
gate three of the contracts in the ag-
gregate amount Of $4,000. The con-
tracts that, in the opinion Of members
OF the grand jury, were entered INTO
improperly were:
$4,000 contract awarded Hainey q
Phillips for StOneworIN.
$1,000 contract awarded the >. j.
O'Brien construction company for addi-
tionaI braces placed I'm the courthouse
$500 contract awarded the III. :.
CrocIer company OF san Francisco fOr
furniture for new courthouse.
FLAWS IN CONTRACTS
The other contracts on the new
county building. including the sle0,OoV
contract awarded the O'Brien company
for the complete" construction OF
the building. the $4,000 contract with
the Gilfoy cornice works for cornices'
end another contract for about $4,000,
contain flaws. in the opinion OF EK-
pert White, but are legally sound
Architect Glenn Allen VIII be an
anxious witness before the grand jury
tomorrow and win be one Of the last TO
he called. for the jury confidently ex-
meets TO complete its work and submit
its hnaI report tomorrow afternoon.
Allen viii be asked to refund TO the
county the commission Of Sl4s he re-
ceived on the s2,99l contract for steel
work that is 70 be Cancelled by the su-
pervisors on the recommendation OF the
Grand Jury. Allen viii also be eX-
arnfned regarding the $4,000 initial com
mission he received on his courthouse
contract. G. A. Dodge, Aliens associate,
and Thomas OterO, another architect
have been summoned as witnesses IN
the case. It is reported that Aliens
books do not show any accounting Tor
the 81. 600 that was paid 10 him, and
this tends TO furnish corroboration
Of the rumor that Supervisors Black
burn. Coleman, Debenedetti and Eiker-
enkotter had something 10 say regard
ing the commission.
INQUISITORs HEAR REPORT
Part Of Expert Whites report was
read before the grand jury today. This
covered the exporting of the Offices OF
the superintendent Of schools, the audi
tor. tax collector. county clerk, treas
1Irer and the affairs of the county farm.
The statement showed that District At
torney Bullock had not filed report
since he had been in Office, a direct vio-
Ia -F ia Ii q q
county farm under the management of
Al EIkerenkotter were found TO be in
z bad tangle.
More than an hour was devoted by
the jury to a discussion Of County
Treasurer 2. P. Chamberlain's violation
Of the law in depositing county funds
IN the First national bank Of Redwood
without receiving 2 per cent interest
thereon for the county, as provided by
law, and also depositing the same with
out receiving bonds from the bank
White reported that at the lowest esti-
mate S6 400 was due from the First na-
tional bank Of Redwood and 500 from
the Bank Of South san Francisco.
Chamberlain will appear before the
grand jury tomorrow 20 respond to
the question OF how much he and the
banks VIII voluntarily pay TO make
good the interest due on sums de-
posted. II the sum is not considered
adequate suit viii be begun by the
county TO recover the fun amount Of
interest that would normally accrue.
The books of the county Jail. the in
stitutiOn under the control Of Sheriff
Chatham and Jailer Turner. were ex-
amined this afternoon. Turner showed
that the records were right and that
the jail had been properly conducted.
SAYS PROSECUTOR LAX
Ed Heany. who was beaten at the
prizefight at Colma by Police Sergeant
Shanahan Of San Francisco. testified
before the jury today that District At
torney Bullock had not prosecuted the
case with energy. The case had been
dismissed IN a justices court with Bull
locks consent.
Justice OF the Peace Arthur McCor-
mick Of Pescadero. who has failed for
six months 10 make a report Of hts Of
hcial business, viii be before the grand
jury tomorrow morning. A. group of
witnesses. including John Bennett of
Pigeon point DR.. Bank Of Pescadero
Carl COburn. an ex-supervisor, and John
Perry, Benefits brother in law, along
with ,. +. Blackburn, a supervisor,
have been subpenaed for tomorrow,
They were TO have been called TO-DAY.
but through the tardy tactics of Bull
lock, according to grand jurors. the
rAbp0AdS were not ISSUED. They have
been called to testify in the matter Of
the reputed traffic in liquor licenses
alleged TO have been conducted bv
Blackburn.
Judge Buck declined today to dis
cuss the possible appointment Of an
elisor 10 take the place Of accused
Sheriff Chatham.
Supervisor Is Sued
REDWOOD CITY, Jan. 27.-Dr. d. z
Blackburn, coastside supervisor. who
has burst into the limelight through his
connection with the graft investigation
IN san MateO county and alleged sale
OF a liquor license for 5000 has been
sued by his landlord. John Montevaldo-
for three months rent and pOssession
OF the supervisors temporary Pecadero
home. Montevaldo alleges that he has
been trying TO obtain possession OF his
properly since last November as he
had obtained a client who wanted TO
purchase it. bat was unwilling to have
the dentist thrown in as a part CT the
bargain.
BOY KICKED BY HORSE
A n-~r pOCA f,