Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-09-22
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

At the session of the Board OF Supervisors
held Yesterday the full Beard was present.
The Clerk was instructed to advertise for
bids for stationery, printing and binding lthe
Great Register not included, bids to be
opened October Z. 1881. at Ham.
An appropriation of $50 was made for the
relief OF sylvia and family. Also claim Of
50 in favor of Il. johnson, and S96 81 for j.
s. Williams were allowed.
Mr.. Cadwalader appeared before the
Board with the contract, which was read.
MIR. Blair moved to lay the matter over
until next Tuesday. to give opportunity to
consider the mater and ascertain If the prep
ositioD was the best that could be had.
MIR. Butler seconded the motion.
MIR. Wilson said he was ready to vote on it
now If the minority was not ready to vote
they could vote no. He thought the fee too
small. He would vote for more.
mr. Bailey said he was ready to vote. He
thought the fee small enough.
On call Of the roll the motion of Mr. Blair
to postpone was lost. Ayes-Butler, Ch-isty
and Blair. Noes-Wilson, Dreman. Bailey
and Buckley.
DIr. Christy said that in his opinion the
thing was all wrong. There are now two suits
pending-one in the United States District
Court and one in the Supreme Court OF this
State. Either Of these will settle the whols
mining question. If the Courts deciee that
the miners cannot use the beds of the streams
for the deposit of tailings, that ends the whole
question. If they decide against the miners,
then the District Attorney, who is paid
yearly salary to attend to county business,
can bring all necessary suits, and as the
Courts will have decided the law of the cases
to be brought, the rest will be easy. We can
save twelve thousand dollars and other
thousands for costs, OF the county money.
He was in favor- of waiting because the
necessary.
Mr.. Wilson said he was in favor OF voting
the matter through now.
The vote was then taken, and the contract
to pay Mr.. Cadwalader $4,000 wss passed
by the following vote: Ayes-Bsckley,
Bailey, brennan and Wilson,. Noes
Blair, Butler and Christy-3.
The minority say that the action was forced
upon them by the indecent haste Of the
Board. They represent that the question OF
the right of the county to bring action is be-
fore the Supreme Court, and if the Court
should decide against the right to do so
Cadwalsder would get his So. 600, and yet not
be able to do anything. The minority say
that these unnecessary suits will cost not less
than $4,000 The Board well know that q
contract with as good attorneys as Mr. Cad.
walader can be made for less than half the
sum agreed to be paid him. One of theBoard
says he has the assurance of Just as good at
torneys for s., eco. It will be remembered
that sometime since Mr.. Beckley stated that
Cadwalader was to carry ell the cases
through for the single fee of $1,000 Mr..
Beckley shows how much he believed his own
statement by voting to pay him Sl2, Geo.
The minority claim that the Board had no
legal right to take this action that there is
already floating debt against the county
OF over $50, coo, exclusive of a large
debt against the hospital fund. They cite
Section 1910, Political Code, which reads
" The Board must not for any purpose con.
tract debts or liabilities, except in pursuance
of law, or under ordinances of their own
adopted in accordance with the powers herein
conferred and whenever debts and liabilities
have been created which, added to the sala-
ries of county CfiiceTs and other estimated
liabilities fixed by law for the remainder of
the year, equal in the aggregate the revenue
Of the county for current expenses, no further
allowance of any account shall be made.
Three thousand dollars of Cadwalader's
fee is dus and payable now. and
three thousand more January lst next.
There is not a cent in the treasury TO pay
Mr.. Cadwalader He viii file his demand
and get his warrant, which will draw interest
at the rate of seven per cent. per annum, The
debts Of the county are now drawing interest.
There is no doubt but that the Board is now
beyond the limit allowed by law to create
liabilities Contrary to law the Board has
been paying for road work out of the general
fund The entire financial condition is in 3
worse state than were those of New York
city under the Tweed ring rule. And,
finally, the majority know that their action
will not be approved by one-tenth of their
constituents. The action of the msjority IS
in cool defiance of public option. AS to the
amount of the fee to be paid-if expressions
are to bs relied upon as indicating public
opini 1n-Mr. Wilson is the only man in Sac
ranento county who believed that S12, 600 is
too little. and there are few to believe that he
believes i himself.