Brown

The petitioner, as public guardian of the county of Los Angeles, seeks through the office of the writs of mandate and prohibition to have determined the respective duties and obligations of the petitioner as public guardian, his predecessor in office the respondent Chas. L. Overshiner, *434 and the respondent superior court, upon the consolidation by the county board of supervisors of the offices of public guardian and public administrator.

Effective December 1, 1945, the board of supervisors by ordinance established the office of public guardian pursuant to section 5175 of the Welfare and Institutions Code. The respondent Chas. L. Overshiner was appointed to that office, whereupon he subscribed to the oath of office and furnished the required official bond. He entered upon the discharge of his duties and during his term of office obtained upwards of 750 appointments of himself as public guardian.

On May 15, 1951, the board of supervisors adopted ordinances designed to effect the consolidation of the offices of public administrator and public guardian pursuant to the Welfare and Institutions Code, and to establish the position of head deputy public guardian. On June 27, 1951,…