The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1910-02-17
GRAND JURORS TO
TEST BOOK KEEPING
County Auditors Office Under
Investigation on Charges of
incompetence


petence on the part of the employees in
the office of County Auditor George S.
Pierce will be the subject of inquiry at
tomorrow's session OF the grand jury.
Book keeping experts have been sum-
moned to testify, as well as county
| officials familiar with the workings of
Pierce's Office
The investigation was started months
ago but was not prosecuted because of
other business and Pierce stated today
that District Attorney Donahue was at
the bottom of the whole trouble and
that Donahue's motives were political.
This was denied by Donahue, who said
that the grand jury was making an
invests cation into charges that have
been brought to its ears and that
| there is no aninus whatever behind the
move.
Experts have been put to work on
Pierce's books and accounts, though
not with the idea that they will re-
veal any evidences of dishonesty. The
charge is that his deputies are incom-
petent, that there is no system in the
Office that is intended to check the
errors. clerical and otherwise, of other
county Offices, and that its affairs have
at times become so muddled that other
county officials have complained.
ACC 0UNTANT TO TESTIFY
An employe of the accounting firm
of Lester. Herrick & Herrick of San
Francisco has been working in Pierce's
Office for several days. He will give
testimony tomorrow before the grand
jury. AS yet neither the expert nor
District Attorney Donahue viii make
any statement as to what has been
found bv this Investigation
Pierce and his chief deputy, Harry
]. Rogers, have also been cited to APP
pear before the grand jury tomorrow
morning. So has Myron Whidden, who
was the first auditor of Alameda
county and who served as a deputy
for many years and under different
administrations until he became thor
| oughiy familiar with the details of
| the Office
At the beginning of his term Pierce
| caused Whidden TO resign on the
ground that he was disloyal and was
| talking against Pierce. Rogers took
! his place.
Others who have been asked to APP
pear and give testimony before the
grand jury are Charles Husband, for
merly deputy in the office of the
county treasurer; County Clerk Cook,
County Tax Collector Barber and
County Expert Sabin.
Douduu6 Is Il candidate Tor re-efeC-
ton. Opposed to him is Justice of the
Peace W. r. Geary of Brooklyn town
! ship, who has always been a CLOSE
| political ally of Pierce. The latter says
that Donahue is trying to get at Geary
behind Pierce's back. Pierce also says
| that Harry Rogers will be harmed by any
| disclosures of tangled business in the
auditors office, as he is a candidate to
succeed Geary as justice of the peace.
| STATEMENT By AUDITOR
Pierce issued the following state
ment in regard to the investigation:
In regard to the proposed inves-
legation of the conduct of my Of
nee, desire to make the following
statement:
Ever since the commencement
of the term Of my Office 1 have
endeavored to perform my duties
as auditor to the very best of my
abilities, and l believe that l have
within the law, and l have nothing
TO fear from any person. And [ am
ready and willing and desire that
a full and complete investigation
should be made of all my official
acts as we'll as the acts of my
deputies, feeling that the result
thereof will be an Endorsement of
my administration.
My official acts have required me
to allow or reject claims aggregat-
ing the expenditure by the county
sequence 1t has been my duty to
criticize and reject certain claims
as asa matter ma OF duty, and in per-
have antagonized certain political
interests. Some time ago refused
to audit Certain claims of Cotton
brothers, bridge contractors, in
large amounts. These claims were
afterward presented to the grand
cation and at the suggestion of
the grand jury were materially
reduced.
RESENTS UNJUST CRITICISM
My acts in these matters have
engenderea many any bitter feelings
of, much unjust criticism as a re-
suit. 1 believe that the attack on
me at this time is direct result
of my support and affiliation with
Judge William r. Geary in his
candidacy for the Office of district
attorney, in conjunction with the
In the course of my official con-
duct / have become cogniZant of
certain claims which / believe to
be illegal. at least in the presenta-
ton of an assignment of one par
ticular claim. This claim was
withdrawn from my office several
ney, and up to the present time, to
the best OF my knowledge, no ac-
ton has been taken by the. district
attorney relative to the said claim
and the assignment thereof.
MAY SEEK REELECTION
have taken this matter up
with my personal legal represen-
tative, Attorney George F. Witter,
and have instructed him to make
thorough investigation, and if
he deems it advisable to request
the attorney general of the state
Of California to present the facts
- the grand jury of this county
for a complete investigation.
Up to the present time it was
nv intention to retire from public
life and devote my energy and time
to my business interests, but since
these charges have been made +.
many of my friends have come to
me insisting and urging me to
become a candidate for re-elec-
ton This matter L will determine
in a very few days, and If l believe
it is necessary to protect the in
terests of the tax payers of Ala
media county l will become a candi-
date believing that | will be vim
dicated by the people at large.
POLITICAL ANIMUS DENIED
.Pierce is out of his head today"
was about all that District Attorney
Donahue could be induced to say
| 10 o,,difnr He ia 49, ~.