Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-04
The Office OfSealer of Weights
and Measures.
One Month Enough in Which to
Do the Work.
The Mayor Turns in Several of His
Customary Messages.
The Meeting of the City Council Yester-
day-A Lot of Routine Business
Transacted-The Vote to Be
Canvassed Today.

message from the mayor, yetoing
the demands of Justice w. G. Lockwood
for the months of September and Octo-
Der, was read and referred to the city
attorney.
Two other messages were received from
the mayor, vetoing the ordinances pro-
viding for the improvement of Teed an d
San Fernando streets, and both were re-
ferred to the board of public works.
A fourth message, vetoing the ordi-
nance providing for the cementing OF all
reservoirs used for the storing of water
for domestic purposes, was read. The
whole matter was then referred to the
board of public works.
The mayors message, vetoing the
ordinance providing for the changing of
the names of certain streets, was read,
and, on motion of Mr.. Brown, the ordi-
nance was passed Notwithstanding.
The monthly reports of City Justice
Austin, the clerk of the police court,
water overseer and chief OF police were
read and referred to the city auditor.
The canvassing of votes were then
taken up and tellers were appointed;
but before the work of canvassing pro-
ceeded with j. Marion Brooks appeared
and requested the council to defer action,
as there was some alleged inequality in
the Ninth ward ON the councilmanic
vote. The Democrats claimed Mr..
Cobb was elected. He would be pre-
pared to file properly formulated pro-
test at 2 O'Clock in the afternoon.
The city attorney was questioned as
to the propriety of deferring the can
vassing as requested. He replied that
the law required the vote to be canvassed
at a regular or special meeting. This
meeting being neither, but an adjourned
meeting OF regular meeting, he thought
the canvassing of all the votes should be
put off until tomorrow.
The president wanted to know if this
was not splitting hairs.
Mr.. Mcfarland said perhaps it was,
but he didn't want to take any chances.
The canvassing was accordingly de-
terred, the president giving notice that
tomorrow, at 10 o'clock, a special meet
ing would be called for this purpose.
An ordinance of intention to improve
portion OF Pearl street was passed on
motion of Mr.. Brown, the rules with re-
gard to printing having first been sus-
pended.
The report of the board OF public
works, as already published in the HER
AID, was read and the recommendations
contained therein adopted.
An ordinance of intention to open and
extend Macy street, from Main to Upper
Main streets, and fixing the limits of
assessment for the payment of the costs
and expenses of the same, was read, and
on motion of Mr.. Brown, adopted.
The following message from the Mayor
was read, and on motion, the action
of the mayor was sustained:
To the Honorable City Council of the City of
Los Angeles:
GENTLEMEN The office of sealer OF
of weights and measures is one of the
offices provided for by the new charter.
The little good it does do is out OF
proportion to the cost incurred in main
tanning it; under the charter the APP
pointment is made by the mayor, with
salary provided therefor, by ordinance,
of $500 per annum. Under this ordi
nance, providing for the duties OF this
Office, the sealer is required to collect
from the merchants and others, certain
fees, which are onerous and work hard
ships in many cases, and notwithstand
ing these fees, there is not revenue
enough collected to pay the salary and
expenses of said officer, and it is there
fore paid out of the salary fund.
On the 2Sth OF last October Mr.. Frank
Marsh, who was appointed sealer of
weights and measures, said he preferred
to resign rather than again enforce pay
ment of the annual fees required by the
ordinance, which in his judgment was
unnecessary at that time, and in this |
agreed with him, whereupon he pre-
sented to me his resignation, which was
duly accepted by me on that day to take
effect on the first day of November, 1890,
| which resignation is herewith enclosed,
and the salary provided for by said or
dinance Is hereby returned unapproved
for the month of November, 1890.
delayed transmitting any communi-
cation on the subject at that time for
reasons manifestly apparent to your
honorable body, and now refer to the
same in returning the accompanying
| demand.
There is certain amount of good ac-
complished by the sealer OF weights and
measures in inspecting all weights and
measures and sealing the same. 1t
might, therefore, be well to retain the
benefit thereof, but one month in the
year will be ample time to enable the
sealer to discharge the duties OF his Of
flee. will therefore refrain from MAX
ing any appointment to said Office, ex-
cept that some time during the wear,
when the public service demands it.
will appoint sealer OF weights and
measures to the Office for one month
only, subject to the approval of your
honorable body. Respectfully, etc.
HENRY 7. HAZARD, Mayor.
The report of the zanja committee,
which was published in the HERALD on
Saturday last, was read and referred to
the city engineer.
The report of the city tax and license
collector was read and his request for
three assistants was granted.
The matter of changing the rates of
saloon licenses was referred to the in
coming council.
1t was also moved that the city attor-
ney be instructed to present an ordin-
ance providing for the gradual reduction
of the police force, as vacancies occur,
until the number OF footmen be reduced
to sixty men. The matter was referred
to the board OF police commissioners.
The council then adjourned to meet in
special session at 10 o'clock this morn
ing, for the purpose of canvassing the
returns from the municipal election held
| on Monday last.