The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-18
SQUARING ACCOUNTS.
Fourth of July Committee Emp
tying the Treasury.
Denuncistion Of the Pyroterhnic Display and
Accusation of overcharge in the
Account.

A meeting of the Executive Committee Of
the Fourth of July Celebration Committee
was held last night in Department Of the
Superior Court in the new City Hall, J. f.
Smith presiding.
Captain Swasey rose to question Of privi-
lege. He desired the committee to take cog
nizance of the fact that on the 18th of last
month a member. who presented himself
as ''pitiful specimen of juvenile senility,"
had reflected upon his character in language
such as only an "insignifcant, finic al,
granulated manikin" could utter. He
placed the as persion in the hands of the
committee to deal with it as was deem ed
proper.
The Captain had reference to E. P. E.
Troy, with whom he has had several dis
agreements, in one of which he dubbed him
him an 'unfiedged young man."
The Treasurer stated that the Finance
Committee bould only report progress, be-
cause the $4,000 appropriated by the Super
visors would not be paid for ten days yet.
He believed the funds at their disposal
would pay all bills.
THE FIREWORKS CONDEMNED.
After discharging several commit
mittee brought James II. Barry into
forum attitude. He demanded an in
vestigation into the account of $500 for
the display, asserting an Oyercharee OF $780,
He characterized the piece portraying
pugilistc encounter between Sullivan and
Jackson as an outrage upon the citizens,
and declared ii was time to put stop TO the
custom of allowing dealers In fireworks TO
take such disgraceful advantages OF COM
akNa orr n ma
celebrations.
P. Lynch said the pyrotechnic display was
one of the biggest frauds ever known in
this city, and If the bill was only $500 1t
would be a coed stiff price.
President Smith invited d. 4. Mcdonald
to the chair in order that he might take part
in the discussion. He remarked that if it
had not been for the " fireworks business
he would not have taken any part in the
deliberations of the committee. He was
certain Che Fireworks Committee conducted
their affairs with all honesty and should
not be ceDsGred in the least. Then he
poured forth his wrath upon the California
Fireworks Company. He produced the
schedule OF the display submitted by that
firm, in which the Objectionable exhibition
of pugilism was entitled Manly Art, and
tina portrayal of two cats fighting in back
yard, with boOtjack flying through the air,
WAS termed "A Midnight SeTenade lie
reasoned that the committee could not have
known that the first piece was intended for
a representation Of q light between Sullivan
and jackson.
PRESIDENT SMITHS IDENTIFICATION.
He then hurled invectives against the
firm for cutting down in size all the pieces
set of, and denounced the supposed piece
de resistance-the American shield-which
lasted only forty seconds and cost 500. de
charged the firm with carrying out this
petty policy at any and all times, and vowed
it was time to call halt. The Fireworks
Committee, he claimed, had by this means
been unjustly blamed for many years.
Evidently feeling that he had not been
foreible enough in his deuunciaiion, MIR.
Smith insisted that the display OF fireworks
on the Fourth was a barefaced robbery,
which the firm dared not perpetrate upon a
private individual, and which Should EOS ue
allowed to be foisted upon the citizens of
San francisco. The display, he declared,
had been dwarfed into insignificance, and
the material used was such as any boy
would be ashamed to set off before his
| fathers door. He did net consider that
more than $500 should be paid the firm,
and he strongly objected to allowing $500
to be scooped in so ingloriously. In the
recent representation, he argued, OF the
Siege Of Sebastopol at Central Park, the
fireworks were very much larger and
grander, and although they lasted one
hour and half each evening. yet the cost
READY TO STAND A LAWSUIT.
James H. Barry moved to approve the
bill, with a reduction of $500. He said if
the committee was sued for the balance he
was ready to bear his share of the costs.
P. Lynch was furious over the account,
and declared that only writ mandamuS
would compel him TO sign his approval of it
in full.
d. A. Mcdonald moved in amendment
that President j. +. Smith, Grand Marshal
j. 81. OBrieD, Treasurer +. Kaufman, d.
a. Mcdonald, P. Lynch and j. II. Mahoney
be appointed special committee to settle
the fireworks account.
Mr.. Barry proposed in another amendment
that the special committee be instructed to
settle the bill for a sum not exceeding 800.
E. w. Williams urged that no sum be
specified, as the committee after investiga-
ton might be willing to pay only $50 or
possibly $500. The amendment to appoint
a committee was adopted.
Mr.. Lynch explained that he had no per-
sonal feeling in the agitation, but he really
believed there had been either a misunder-
standing or steal in the fireworks bust
ness" He was present at the display, and
everyone was eXclaiming: What tizzle !
What fraud! What stealF"
SOME MORE STEALS.
The question of salaries to be paid the
Secretaries was next discussed because Mr..
Lynch wished to know the exact amounts
to be approved by him. He moved that the
salary Of the Chief Secretary be $50 per
mon tn, the Secretary of the Grand Marshal
$50, Assistant Secretary 500 and Sergeant
alarms 500, and that The month COM
mence June 4th.
d. A. Mcdonald said there would not be
sufficient money TO pay these salaries IN
less the fireworks account was reduced,
but the motion was adopted
The Secretary produced a number of
copies of the resolutions concerning the
French Memorial Fund, and asked for in
structions as to their disposal. He was en-
powered to use his own discretion in the
matter, and the documents will now be for
warded to certain State and city officials
and the daily papers.
A vote of confidence in Captain Swasey,
in view OF the attack upon his character by
Il. I. Il. Troy, was unanimously adopted,
and the Captain expressed his thanks
therefor.
The new flag purchased by the committee
was ordered presented to the Native Sons
of the Golden West, and Mr.. Williams was
requested to make the presentation.
The meeting adjourned to the call Of the