Los Angeles herald., 1890-06-24

an announcement of its expectations
and plans for the disposal of the sewage.
The protest of the property owners on
Second street, between Main and Los
Angeles streets, against the laying of a
sewer, was referred to the city engineer.
An ordinance granting permission to
property-owners on New High street,
between Temple and Bellevue avenue,
to pave with porphyry, was read and
adopted.
The city attorneys report was read
and adopted. He reported that the
street superintendent had not the right
to order sidewalks on Main street re-
constructed with different material than
originally used. If new sidewalk was
to be constructed then an ordinance of
intention would have to be passed.
Further time, to the extent of thirty
days, was granted to the Laborers' Co.
operative Union to complete it's con-
tract.
The finance committee recommended
that 81 900 be appropriated from the
cash fund for the Fourth of July cele-
bration, and that the fireworks be pur-
chased in this city. Adopted.
The sewer committee reported as fol-
| lows:
May 10Th, 1890, the mayor returned
unapproved two contracts for sewer pipe
because the price of the pipe was 'far
in excess of it's value" June 9th he
returned two similar contracts because
he was Sin entire ignorance of the cost"
On investigation we find the reason
given for the non-approval of the con-
tracts not based on facts: We generously
cOncede the truth of the position taken
relative to the last contracts, but think
the conclusion arrived at unjust, as long
delay in building on sewers should
not depend on any one mans ig-
norance. The communication under
consideration says: 1.-The committee
did not ask me for proof of single fact
from which have right to infer they
did not want to know" This imputa-
tion on our motives calculated to lead to
suspicion whether made unthoughtfully
or Extensively is unworthy the man who
so fippantly made it. Our exhaustive
report is sufficient evidence that the
best sources of information were sought.
The mayors clerk and confidential ad-
wiser was interviewed and an invitation
was sent to the mayor himself to attend
the meeting of the committee. 1t is the
sheerest nonsense to say that the agents
representing eastern firms were paid for
not bidding, and it is still more
nonsensical to say that "sewer pipe has
a fixed market value" We know of no
article of commerce where value is not
changeable, and if the mayor will but
take the pains to inform himself he will
see that it costs three times as much to
make pipe in Los Angeles as at such
eastern points as Akron or Columbus.
His honor in calling attention to the
fact that he had been misrepresented,
misrepresents the sewer committee, and
not being content with this, occupies
large space moralizing on what that COM
mittee is wrongly accredited with say
ing, which is in fact only an emanation
from his fertile brain.
He says "a decent respect should be
paid to all suggestions looking to the
protection of the public interest" And
why should not such suggestions be
made in decent way? If the mayor
knows where cheaper pipe can be OBJ
tanned, having such a solicitude for the
public good, why does he not make it
known, instead of writing sensational
messages casting a stigma upon the
council, and particularly upon the sewer
committee, by holding out to the pub
lie the idea that we are guilty ofneglect,
honest man in the city government.
Again the mayor says, "My recon-
mendatlOns We're not made in fun to be
laughed out of countenance by the
sewer committee" Probably not, but
in the same spirit of demagogy that
prompted him on certain occasion to
pledge himself that $50 long as he is
mayor of this city he can be relied on to
oppose every crooked transaction that
comes to his attention" The animus
of the message appears in this extract,
"nor is it the intention to investigate
this matter openly"
We would most humbly suggest that
honorable preferment is not made by
traducing others and that there IS dig
nifty belonging to the high Office which
he holds that should not be dragged
down to the level of the demagogue to
make capital for him who holds it, but
that should lift the demagogue up to
higher place and nobler purpose.
For the same reasons given in for
mer report, that of May 26th, we recon-
mend the approval of the contracts not
withstanding the mayors objections, and
that the city attorney be requested to
sign in behalf of the city.
The report was adopted.
Mr.. Hamilton moved that an ordinance
of intention to sidewalk Main street from
Ninth to California be prepared. Car
ried.
The report of the sewer committee, as
published in the HERALD, was read and
adopted.
Mr.. Hamilton moved that the street
superintendent see that all the sidewalks
on Hill street are properly constructed.
Carried.
The council then adjourned.