One of the most progressive and capable men in public life in Alameda county is E. F. Garrison, who, in 1910, was elected to the office of county auditor. He was born September 7, 1873, in Sacramento, where his family had settled two years previously. The father was connected with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as engineer for over thirty-two years. His death occurred in Oakland in 1904.
The Garrison family moved to Oakland when E. F. Garrison was a child of five, and he has since remained a resident of this city. After completing a public-school course he finished his education in St. Mary's College and then secured a position with the California Door Company. He began in a humble capacity, but being ambitious and attentive to his work, he soon mastered the details of the business and rose, step by step, through its various departments, becoming first timekeeper and finally estimator.
Mr. Garrison began his public career in November, 1900, when he was appointed deputy city assessor and auditor under A. H. Breed. In this position he did efficient work for ten years and at the end of that time was elected to his present office. Since his installation as county auditor he has thoroughly systematized the work of his department and the results are seen in the promptness and dispatch with which information may be had on all matters coming under Mr. Garrison's official jurisdiction. He has a selected staff of assistants whose past business experience has especially fitted them for their present duties, and he is already in a fair way to realize his ambition of making his office one of the best conducted in the state. Something like sixty thousand warrants for salaries and other expenditures go through Mr. Garrison's hands during a year and no funds are paid out without his signature. The great responsibilities of his position are most apparent and Mr. Garrison is keenly alive to the importance of his work, always scrutinizing all of these warrants for the expenditure of public funds before affixing his name. One of the notable and commendable features of his incumbency is his adoption of a new system of accounts in the office of auditor of Alameda county, making it dovetail with the state accounts in accord with the requirements of state laws. It is largely due to his efforts that the system is such a success and of this he is justly proud. Alameda county is the only one of the fifty-eight in California that has such a thorough system of accounts. The auditor's department is able at all times to know the true condition of the funds of the county. A trial balance is taken off each month and a report of the exact condition of the county funds is made to the public through the press. Another point in Mr. Garrison's service that is equally commendable is that he has always notified the taxpayers when there has been a refund due them on the tax on personal property unsecured by real estate, and he has likewise notified them when their property has become delinquent, thus doing work never before done by any auditor of Alameda county. He has discharged all of his duties in a thorough and businesslike manner, and it is to be hoped that further political honors will be accorded one so worthy.
Mr. Garrison is prominent in fraternal circles, his connections being extensive and important. He is a member of Oakland Tent, No. 17, K. O. T. M., and is also state auditor of the Pacific jurisdiction of the same order. He belongs to Oakland Lodge, No. 171, B. P. O. E., and is chairman of its finance committee. He likewise belongs to Athens Parlor, No. 195, N. S. G. W., has been financial secretary of the Native Sons for the past twelve years, and was chairman of the state board of relief and treasurer of the Native Sons Hall Association of Oakland. In addition to this he belongs to the Young Men's Christian Association and the U. P. E. C. and is financial secretary of Live Oak Council, No. 1102, National Union. He is a likewise junior past president of the Audit Association of California. It has been said of him: "He is a man of fine personal appearance, but, more than that, of fine character." He is alert and enterprising and ready to meet any emergency that may arise with the consciousness that comes from the right conception of things and a just regard for what is best in the exercise of human activities.
Past and Present of Alameda County California, Vol. II
Published in Chicago by The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company
1914
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 7/2/2008, Pages 388-392
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