Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-11-13
THE COUNCIL.
The Call for the City Elec.
tiOn in December.
THE PINE-sTREET RIGHT OF WAY
Councilman Mathews Resigns-POst
ponement of the Sewer Sys-
TEN Matter.


ponement of the Sewer Sys-
TEN Natter.
The City Council met yesterday morn
ing, President Humphreys in the chair,
and Councilmen Book, Barrett, Moriarty,
Cohn, Lowell, Hanley, Hitler, Collins,
Bosbyshell, Chandler, Mathews and
Gibbs present.
Mr.. Cohn suggested that the city be
divided into twenty-five precincts for the
city election to take place on the first
Monday in December, and he moved
that the City Attorney be instructed to
draw the resolution calling the election
in accordance to the plan he suggested.
Carried.
Mayor Workman called attention to
the fact that work on the construction OF
the bridges was not progressing as
rapidly as could be wished, and said that
the contractors would probably ask for
an extension of time, which he thought
should not be considered. He urged
that more action should be insisted upon
by the Council. Received and filed.
Captain Barrett stated that all the cast
ings and material for the bridges would
be shipped Immediately to the city by
special train, and the bridges could be
completed in time.
Mayor Workman reported that he
could not recognize the Messrs. Crawford
in the matter of the fine which the Supe-
rior Court ordered to be returned to two
vagrants who were fined by the JUSTICE g
Court. He would sign warrant payable
only to the defendants in the case.
Mr.. Lowell said that the Finance Com
mittee would recommend that the war
rant be destroyed.
The message was received and filed.
Mayor Workman also sent in the fol-
lowing communication:
In replying to the matter referred to me by
your honorable body. relating to the applica-
ton Of d. d. Morton, to have his warrants
signed by some other officer of the city for the
stated reason that the Mayor refused to do so,
would say that l notified the Superintendent OF
Streets, on November 7th to discharge Mr.
Morton, and that, while l would sign his war.
rants for his payment up to that date, should
not authorize his employment after that time.
l am informed that my request has not yet
been complied with.
In my opinion it is highly dangerous to the
best interests of the city that Mr.. Morton, who
is performing the duties of Foreman of Sewers,
should be permitted to remain. His position Is
ration service, and find that he has for some
time past, and is yet. working for his individual
and private use although drawing salary
from the city. for doing the, work, full
record of sll of the work under his
charge, but is making no such record for
public use. l am informed that there is
past. a public record of the many pipes and
'Y's" where placed underground, and unless
the private record kept by Mr.. Morton is tran.
scribed on the public records of the city, it will
be impossible for his successor or any other
persons to ascertain the exact location of the
various sewers and sewer connections under
the public streets without expensive digging
and interference with travel and further; by
the peculiar knowledge thus gained and with
held, any man could, by virtue oi his Office,
make himself indispensable to the city and
practically dictate his own salary. As san evil
dence of Mr.. Morton's thorough appreciation of
the importance of his private knowledge of sew
recently in my office acted in a most unbe-
coming, insolent and Independent manner and
ask that he be compelled to turn over to the
city the books or private record he has been
Keeping and any other in formation obtained by
him of matters relating to sewers, since he has
been in the city's employ, and also that he be
di charged,
Mr.. Lowell did not think that Mr..
Morton should be discharged just at
present, as he was possessed Of valuable
information about the sewers.
Mr.. Cohn said that the Charter pro-
vided that any information or papers in
the possession of an employee should be
turned over to the city.
Mr.. Book asked that the matter be
laid over until the Street Superintendent
could be heard on the matter.
Mr.. Cohn moved that the matter be
referred to special committee of three
to investigate the charges preferred by
the Mayor.
Captain Barrett thought that there was
no man whose services could not be dis
pensed with. There was no question but
what Mr.. Morton had used language
against the Mayor which was repre-
hensible.
Mr.. Cohn's motion was carried by a
vote of to 3.
President Humphreys appointed as
the committee Messrs. Cohn, Chandler
and Bosbyshell.
Justice Kings report as to business
was referred back to him to make out in
separate statements of his business for
the city and county.
Mr.. Book said in reference to the
storm water drain on Second street that
it was time to take action in the matter
The city had been maintaining nuisance
and no action had been taken in the
matter. People had died there from
malaria and nothing had been done ex-
cept to lay the matter over. The nuis-
ance was caused by the overflow of city
water at the Second-street Park.
Captain Barrett said that there was no
need of drain there and there was no
need of any stagnant water.
Mr.. Book said that there would be no
nuisance there if the city would take
care of its own water.
Mr.. Collins said that city sold water
to the Second-street Park and if the
water was cut off from the Second-street
Park there would be no nuisance.
Mr.. Hitler moved that the water be
shut off from the Second-street Park, but
there being no second to the motion the
matter was referred to the Board of Pub
lie Works.
The recommendation to construct a
stormwater drain on Second street, from
Bunker Hill avenue to the Arroyo de los
Reyes, was laid over on account of a
lack of funds.
On motion Of Mr.. Bosbyshell the light
at the north side of the Sixth street park
was ordered moved to the center of the
park.