Imperial Valley Press

BUCKLIN DEMANDS DETAILS BARTON REPORT: SUPPOSED TO REFUTE JURY'S CHARGES

The following letter, addressed to four members of the board of directors of the Irrigation District is self-explanatory and is signed by A. N. Bucklin, foreman of the 1923 grand jury, whose report embodied many charges of mismanagement and extravagance by the irrigation board.

Messrs. Pound, Rose, Brockman and Trentham, of the Board of Directors of the Imperial Irrigation District.

"Gentlemen:

"The public in general, and the 1923 grand jury in particular, have been watchfully waiting for many days for the publication of your recently employed expert's report. It has been broadcasted over the valley that when this report was completed it would immediately be given equal prominence through the newspapers of the county to that given to the 1923 grand jury report.

"This report has now been in your hands for many days. It is understood that Mr. Barton has been paid in full for his work, the amount being the sum of $485.00, and that he has been discharged.

Why then all this delay in publishing the results of all this investigation? Why continue longer to withhold from an interested public, who have had this bill to pay, the facts so laboriously gathered and compiled by Mr. Barton, your own selected and picked expert.

"It is known that citizens and taxpayers who have requested the privilege of inspecting this report have been peremptorily refused and have been told that they not only cannot see it now, but that at no time shall they be allowed to do so, notwithstanding that this report is now public property, having been paid for by their money.

Nasty Accusations

Since Mr. Rose returned from Washington, he has ranged up one side of Main street and down the other, in El Centro and other places, button-holing all whom he can induce to listen to him, vilifying the grand jury and pouring forth a tirade of abuse against the members thereof. On March 15, in an interview in the Imperial Valley Press

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Bucklin Demands Details of Report
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he was quoted as saying "that the members of the jury were either deliberately lying or that they were grossly misinformed and did not trouble themselves to investigate the situation."
"Is it possible, gentlemen, that the expert picked out and employed by you, for the very evident purpose it is believed, to whitewash your official acts and incidentally to score and condemn the grand jury report, failed to live up to your expectations?
"Is it further possible that in your judgment he also has deliberately lied in his report, or did he likewise get misinformation as to the facts?
"Will you give to the public the facts as to your attempts to induce Mr. Barton to rewrite his report along the line more satisfactory to your desires, and upon his refusal to do so your further attempts to force him to cut out from his report certain portions which were considered by you as a statement of facts of which you did not desire to have the people become cognizant?
Is it not a fact that Mr. Barton, as an honorable man, refused to do either of these things, so earnestly urged by you?
"Will you further please inform the public why you have had burned or otherwise destroyed nine of the ten copies of the Barton report (the typing of which was an extra cost to the taxpayers) and why you have also given instructions to Secretary McIver to burn or destroy the last and only remaining copy immediately after it was read by the other member of the board, Mr. Aten, who was not present at the time the report was filed and read by you?
Demand 'Light of Day'
"Gentlemen, the people of this valley demand that the light of day be let in on these vital matters. The ugly word of 'liar,' 'undesirable citizen,' 'traitor,' and many other epithets have been used and hurled at the members of the recent grand jury. The public demand the right to know if the calling of these ugly names constitutes the only arguments which you are going to be able to use to refute the findings of the grand jury report
The writer suggests that you try again to find another expert. Possibly you may be more successful next time in finding some man whose sense of honor is not so high as that of Mr. Barton, and one whom you may induce to do your bidding. However, in case no such individual can be found, allow the suggestion that you undertake to perform the job yourselves.
"A. N. BUCKLIN.
"Foreman 1923 Grand Jury."