The Nevada County picayune., 1912-09-20

wanted 10 do the second. The com i mission finally told them if they were not satisfied with the first proposi- ton, some one else could be found who would be. and then they agreed tc the third.
 The propositions were not 'aine." says Mir. Gates. They were the un- auimous and emphatic judgment of the entire commission, Any intima- tioa CT statement made to the con- trary by any one is unqualifiedly 1 false.
 It vas the plain duty of the com mission to have adopted arrangement No. 1. We would thereby have saved all quibbling and would have avoided the possibility Of the states paying more than it should pay for clerical force. But we were human and let the financial conditions of the parties concerned outweigh our better judg- ment.''
 MT. Gates says his son vas employ ed by Commissions Brown and Burge; he had worked for the state two years on credit and was ac- knowledged the most efficient man for the place.
 Complaints About Griffin's Work.
 MT. Gates says the work done by MT. Griffin on the railroad assess ments of 1911 was so full of errors that complaints were received from almost every county, and the lists had 70 be carefully rechecked. As early as Janu- ary, 1912, the three commissioners agreed that a competent man must be employed to do the work that had hitherto been entrusted to Griffin. Errors were found in the lists of every county through which the Iron Noun tain runs, although Griffin had seven months from August l in which to do nothing but verify his figures.
 The matter was taken up by the commission" says NIT. Gates, and 1t was unanimously agreed that Grf- fin was absolutely unfit for the work and should be replaced. When inform. cd by Chairman Burge, he went al most into tears and pleaded that 1t would ruin him if he were removed. He did not deny his iucompeteney, and asked to remain until January l, 1913, agreeing to have some one else do the railroad assessing and pa% for it him. self"
 Through sympathy for him, the commission agreed to this except that it should select the man to do the work, having no confidence in Grif- fins ability to select his assistant. s. NJ Gates, who had not been con- nected with the commission for nine months, was selected by Messrs. Brown and Burge, although he dld not want the job, having been offered d more congenial position at a better salary. In conclusion, Mir. Gates says:
 Commissioners Unanimous.
 T have no unkind feeling toward Mr. Griffin. I had no desire to ad vertise to the world the fact that he is incompetent for the position 10 which my vote elected. But his state ment from beginning to end is un- truthful The truths he has told are told in such a way as to make them untruths. My associates on the com. mission will verify the truth of every statement I have made. Mir. Griffin very generously in terms absolves Messrs. Brown and Burge of any wrong doing in connection with the transaction of which he complains. : When, however. it is considered that an but one of three, and that what he terms as the yilest blacKmail' could not possibly have been accom- plished by me unassisted, it will be seen that in spite of his statement to the contrary. he makes Brown and Burge 'particeps criminis' with me. 1 am not finding comfort in the fact that others, if Griffin's implied threat is carried out, will be in trouble with
 me, but it must be conceded that If
 anything actionable has been done, : had two able-bodied companions In crime"
 : MT. Gates offers to submit the : question of the legality of the pro ceedings to Attorney General Nor. wood, and if that official says the l contingent fund was illegally depict. , ed or replenished, he will himself re. fund the $500 paid his son for work , actually done. Or he will consent to } case being made up and carried through the supreme court to deter l mine the question.
 This proposition Is made regard : less of the fact that my son by honest and efficient service was conceded by
 all to be absolutely necessary, and l that the other two commissioners were : with me equally responsible for the 5000 being drawn from the contingent : fund. So far as the transactions In 7 the summer of 1912 are concerned } Mir. Griffin has not paid any of the amount he agreed to pay. The com l mission has not and does not intend ' in any manner 10 try to hold him Co