Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-08-20
BOARD OF CITY TRUSTEES.
DRAINAGE CANAL MATTERS-iHE
DIVES TO BE CLOSED. =
A New Interpretation of the Ordi-
nance Regulating and Licens-
ing Gambling.

| The Board of City Trustees met in extra
session at 10 a. NJ. yesterday all the mem
bers present. Senator Johnson of Richland,
appeared before the Board to ask assistance
toward the rebuilding of the John Anderson
levee, some three miles below Richland,
the putting in of tide water gates, and the
improvement of the lower part of
the city drainage canal, where
it empties into Snodgrass slough
He said the farmers in that section held a
meeting Saturday, August 9th, for the
purpose of considering the propriety Of
making the necessary repairs, and to make
arrangements for collecting $4,000, which
would bereouired to make the contemplated
| improvements. The farmers down the
river this season had Il very poor fruit crop,
in consequence do not feel able to DO all
the work themselves and ask that the city
| contribute $1,000 for that purpose. The
Senator said he had recently had the lower
| end of the canal at Snodgrass slough sur
veved. and FROM that survey ascertained
| that there was at least tive-foot fall i'll the
last few hundred yards that could be uti-
! lied and made of great value to the canal,
by the use of a properly constructed flood
gate, which would keep out the high tide.
| He also said there were few humps, or
| high places, in the canal, which should be
| cut down. With these improvements the
canal would be made TO flow, and carry off
decaying mater that now stands stag
which is so loudly complained of
| by the farmers who reside in the section
it passes through. He said the old gate
was in very good condition, but was not
| large enough nor deep enough to do the
work effectively. He said the levee needed
| the addition of about 1900 cubic yards of
| earth to make it as strong as it was before
| the Lovedal break, which caused it to
wash out.
l.. f. Bassett, City Engineer, said he APP
! proved of the hoodgate; itwould only cost
| about $500, and would greatly assist the
| lower end of the canal. In answer to a
query as to the amount of work that had
| been done ON the levec lately, he said no
money had been spent there since 1882,
when s.. 500 was expended. Last year the
| Trustees had expressed a willingness to as
| sist in doing the work now proposed, but
| ut that time the farmers We're not ready.
Mayor Brown said he was satisfied that
the Senator's views as to the necessity of
the work being done, and tht good that
would be accomplished thereby, were cor
rect, but, owing TOT the present financial
condition of the city, he could not see how
the Trustees would be able to assist this
season. They could see the benefit that
would be derived from such action; they
were willing, but unable He could not
see where they could get the funds, as no
provision had been made for that purpose
Trustees Nielsen and Gutenberger agreed
with the Mayor The Senator started to 90
away, remarking that he regretted having
10 make such an unfavorable report. He
was told to remain moment.
The Trustees retired to Il private room,
and after an executive session of fifteen
minutes, returned and told Mr. Johnston
that they were willing to do all in their
power, and would endeayor to devise means
for that purpose. He was requested 10
ascertain Just what the farmers would do.
and report TO the Board at as early day as
possible.
WAR UPON THE DIVES.
Trustee Nielsen moved that they take up
for consideration the petition of property
holders on X street. between Fifth and
Sixth, who desired the closing up of the
two dance-houses or beer dives in that
locality.
Mayor Brown said he would like to have
the attendance of the City Attorney and
Police Apdge. This was Il matter that, in
his opinion, should be blotted out at once
There should be perfect understanding
between the officers of the Court and the
Trustees. They should formulate Il plan Of
action that would be legal and effective,
and then proceed along the whole line at
once Sacramento he thought had enough
sins to answer for, without going down to
history as the modern Gomowah.
Trustee Nielsen said he would wait upon
tho palipa T1tf,ro and Cit,- ttc,-,, a,,J ~,
quest their attendance
Trustee Gutenberger, during the absence
of the Street Commissioner, said he had
been in favor Of q high license but from a
reading Of the ordinance he was convinced
that owing to the fact that they " charged
no admission fee license could not be
legally imposed under the present law
However, if they cannot be suppressed in
any other way, he was willing to enact an
other ordinance imposing q tax of $1,000
per quarter if necessary.
THE CITY ATTORNEYS OPINION.
City Attorney Anderson said that a num-
Der of citizens who reside in the neghbOr-
hood Of those dives had complained to him
of the loud noises, boisterous conduct and
indecent jests and songs heard nightly
They had asked his advice as 10 petitioning
| the Trustees to withhold license from such
to be palmer specdier and more adequate
remedy in the law itself, and that COM
plant to the City or District Attorney,
based upon Section 3l6 of the Penal Code,
would be more effcctual in abridging these
| nuisances. This section reads as follows
Every person who keeps any disorderly
house, or any house for the purposes of as
| signation or prostitution, or any house of
public resort, by which the peace, comfort
or decency of the immediate neighborhood
| is habitually disturbed, or who keeps an
| inn in disorderly manner,
| Is guilty OF a misdemeanOr." 1t has been
often decided by Courts and juries that any
| house kept in such manner AS TO annoy
or scandalize the public generally, or as a
| resort for thieves. drunkards or other idle
and vicious people, Is public nuisance.
| 1t is sufficient if the disorder be frequent
and ii IS not necessary that all persons re
siding near or passing il are annoyed. The
| acts must be such rs tend to annoy good
| citizens The license in these cases is no
protection. Some doubt may exist as TO
whether the Board of Trustees could legally
| decline to issue a license to conduct any
| business, on the ground that such Board
| could not judicially determine the character
| of the business. The best course for those
| citizens who are subject to this dive nui-
Sancc IS to at once apply to the Courts for
! relief, and furnish the evidence, whereupon
| the same can De abated with little trouble,
| and should he speedily.
Mayor Brown then, on behalf of the
| Trustees, instructed the City Attorney to
make complaint against the two houses
| complained of, and summon as witnesses
! the parties who signed the petition declar-
! ing them nuisances.
The City Attorney said he would 60 to
| work Immediately and do as requested.
Judge Henry was of the opinion that the
| City Attorneys advice in the matter was
! the right one. There was plenty of law on
the statute books for the punishment of
| that class of peace disturbers, and he was
| OF the opinion that the policemen could
| check 4 great deal of it by a little extra
! cxcrtiou. When they get too loud in their
| concert saloons the police should march in
and take the proprietoTs and the actors and
! actresses-as they are called--to the city
| prison, and lock them up. A few nights
| in an iron tank would have the effect of
| toning down their noisy procliyties-at
| least It would have the tendency of clip
| ping some of their high notes.
A NEW INTERPRETATION.
Last fair time all licensed gambling had
TO be done in the second stories of build
| ings, and III that way were kept out of sight
| from the people who travel on the side
walks, \ great many business men who
! had rooms to rent on the first floor and who
usually rented them for fabulous prices,
| were thus cut out of their usual revenue