Los Angeles herald., 1890-05-22
CITY MATTERS.
Adjourned Meeting of the
Council.
The Mayor Thinks Sewer Pipe
is Too High.
He Hints That There Was COmbina-
ton of the Bidders.
The Police Board Discusses Saloon
Licenses-Other Matters Brought
Up for Consideration.

An adjourned meeting of the council
was held yesterday morning, President
Frankenfeld in the chair, and Messrs
Bonsall, Brown, Shafer, Hamilton, Van
Dusen, McLain, Summerland and
Wirsching present.
The recommendation of the fire board
that three Richmond fire alarm boxes
be purchased was adopted.
Mr.. Van Dusen moved that flag be
purchased for the city hail. Carried.
Upon the request of Mr.. Frankenfeld,
Mr.. Brown moved that Sixth street be
swept twice week. Carried.
The matter of extending the franchise
of the East Side Water Company to fifty
wears came up on the report of the fire
and water committee, which recon-
mended that the request be denied, as
the present franchise has twenty-seven
years yet to run.
Mr.. Wirsching moved that the matter
be deferred until Monday. Carried.
The following message was received
from the mayor:
return herewith without my signature con-
tracts with the California Sewer Pipe Company
and the Pacific Clay Manufacturing Company,
as the price which the city will be compelled to
pay under these contracts for sewer pipe is far
in excess of its value. Sewer pipe is and has
been an article of commerce for years and has
fixed market value, or did prior to the sewer
bond election, represented by printed schedules
of prices. known to all persons dealing in sewer
pipe. The same pipe that will be delivered to
the city under these two contracts could have
been bought at retail for the sum $24, ,573.75 be-
fore the sewer bond election, for which the city
is now required to pay tie sum OF SIC, 20,
an advance OF over 70 per cent. by the retail
price-a difference in this lot of pipe Of
$6,21445, not to mention the difference in the
branches, which will still further increase it.
The last contract entered into was an uncon-
still further advance, and think it advisable
at this time to make determined stand against
this unwarrantable raise in the price of sewer
pipe.
will be manifest that there was no competition
in the bids, but rather combination to obtain
from the city an eXorbltant price Tor TINS pipe.
AS evidence of the fact that there was com
bination before submitting these bids, look at
the schedule of prices outlined in these con-
tracts
sos; ls-inch, s113; branches, $4,34.
California Company 20 inch, S31;
branches, s5O7; 1s-inch, s1.14; branches,
A35.
Moreover, why should we pay for 20-inch
pipe sl32 to the Pacific Clay Company when
we can get it from the California Sewer Pipe
pay the California Company 81. IA for 1S-inch
pipe when we can get it from the Pacific Com
pany for $l.13.
The city should not, nor should property
holders required to pay for sewers, be victims
of a corner in sewer pipe just as we are entering
into extensive .ower improvements. would
recommend rejection of all bids for furnish
ing the city with sewer pipe, and again re-
advertise for bids fixing in the bid fair price,
and to that end l think it would be well for the
committee on sewers to ascertain what is a
good, fair, remuneratiye price, and after ascer-
tanning the same, provide that no bid shall be
considered in excess of the price so fixed.
The message was referred to the
sewer committee on motion of Major
Bonsall.
A contract with Mr.. Macdonald to
construct portion of the Arroyo de los
Reyes main sewer was approved.
A map of Walters street, presented by
the city engineer, was declared official
and an ordinance of intention to change
the grade of Lopez street was adopted.
The council then adjourned.