Sacramento daily record-union., 1890-04-15
HAMMER AID TOHGS.
ANIMATED BOND DISCUSSION BEFORE
THE CITY TRUSTEES.
enator Dray Goes for Commissioner
Beatty Rough-Shod, but the Judge
Holds His Ground.

IL 0ihiLuOus, ". a. LuuTS uuu v. o. 1hC-
Clatchy, of the Improvement Association,
were present, and the matter of issuing
bonds to raise money for the grading of the
streets was discussed at length.
Mr.. Dray was the first to address the
Board. He said he appeared as member
of committee of five, selected at recent
meeting of citizens. to bring the matter of
street improvement before the City Trustees.
Every one was familiar with the condition
of the highways of this city, and the unan-
imous sentiment was that they be put in
better condition. He favored the issuance
of 100000 in bonds, bearing, say, per
cent interest," and hoped the Board would
submit the question to a vote of
the people. The cost of improy-
ing graveled streets would be from
81 so to 81 60 per front foot, and the total
cost per block would amount to ST. .O25.
The proposition was that the Trustees
should pay one-fourth of the cost of such
work. and thus their proportion per block
would come to almost $500. To grade ten
streets running to the suburbs of the city.
each street having an average of twenty
blocks, one-fourth of the cost (or the citv's
share) would amount to about $50, 600.
Figuring at the rate of 81 81 per foot the
expense 10 the city in the grading of the
same number of streets would foot ND
about $4,000. He-and undoubtedly
everybody else-wanted to see them put in
such condition that they could be travelled
at all times of the wear. When this was
done, and done well, the annual expense of
keeping these and other streets in condi-
tlon would be deprecated, for the roads
that were not graded and graveled would
be travelled over less and consequently not
require so much attention in the way of
filling up and leveling. The people were
continually being taxed for improving
streets that are already graded, simply be-
cause they were not as well graded or gray
eled as they should be.
Referring to the matter of the Trustees
defraying one-fourth of the cost of the
work, Mr.. Dray said the proposition was
reasonable one. Property-owners were now
not only paying for the grading of the
streets in front of their property, but they
paid also for the intersections. He did not
think this was just, and it was not done
before the passage of the original Vrooman
Act. Before that law was passed the city
always paid for intersections, and the
amount paid out of the treasury for such
work was not very much less than the
share that the Trustees were now asked to
pay for the grading of each block.
Continuing, the speaker said he believed
that If buyers could not be found, the peo-
pie OF Sacramento were patriotic enough to
take $50 600 in bonds themselves, in order
to beautify their city. There are property
owners, said Mr.. Dray, "who have lately
graded their streets, and if the Board
should resolve to pay share of the cost of
improving, these people who have done the
work, and others who are now about to
grade, should be given rebate. 0 street is
about TO be improved, and the city ought to
bear part of the expense-in fact it would
beproper that all owners of property who
had done grading since January lst should
be given the benefit of the resolution,
should the Board see fit to pay one fourth
of the expense.
S. McClatchy said Mr.. Dray's explain.
alton was very clear. He believed there
was no question as to public sentiment in
regard TO the fairness of the city's paving a
portion of the expense. He also consid-
cred 1t unjust that property owners should
be made to pay for intersections.
Trustee Mclaughlin asked the speaker
II he did not think that people who had
graded their streets some time ago would
ONJSSs W ahc 1tOdlu ally SHARE
of the cost at this time.
Mr.. McClatchy said he did not believe
they would object, and Mr.. Dray remarked
that he didn't see why they should object
According to the proposition before them,
the Trustees were practically coming to
the old law, because heretofore the CITY
had paid for the intersections. In the
matter OF issuing bonds he did not wish to
bring the Bond Commission before the
Board in any shape. They could purchase
the bonds or do otherwise as they might
seeIfit.
DIR. G. l.. Simmons said that he for one
had paid for considerable grading in times
past, and was not one of those who would
object If the city chose to bear part of
thelexpense of improving streets hereafter.
He was convinced that the plan would
result in great benefit to all. The condi.
ton of the streets of Sacramento at pres.
ent was simply retarding prosperity and
preventing investment in this city.
Judge Beatty, who was present, ad-
dressed the Board. He did not think the
measure proposed would carry without a
struggle. If put TO vote of the people it
would no doubt be favored by majority.
but would require two.thirds vote, and
woald have TO De made a popular measure.
Helhad been spoken TO by four prominent
citizens, who were averse to the Trustees
Issuing any more bonds. They had better
let the streets remain in their present bad
condition than issue more bonds. The
Funded Debt Commission was not willing
to lend any money unless on good security,
for they dio not want to sacrifice the fund.
They were always willing, however, to aid
thelcity, and would do what they could
without material injury to the fund. They
might be able TO lend $50 600 or $50, coo this
year, and il would be TO the interest of the
city if the bonds were sold to the Commits.
sion, as then they really belonged to the
city, and when the Commission sold them
they were really diminishing the debt. The
speaker then cited case decided by State
Supreme Court, to show that bonds were
often Illegally issued, and that there was
considerable risk.
AT this, Mr.. Dray stepped up and said, in
vigorous language, that he was tired of the
Funded Debt Commission being brought
up every time as against the interests OF
the city. ut comes up" said he, like the
Ghost in Hamlet, and wants no action
taken unless in its interest. We cannot
turn about unless we find the Jagged poin,
of the dagger ready to pierce our bodies
i say the Commission should attend to its
own business. The bonds, if they arf
issued, will be legal and salable anywhere
and L do not recollect at any time this veal
that Judge Beatty has appeared before this
Board other than to antsgonize the CITY.
interest. The Funded Debt Commission
are benefited by the improvement of tn.
city, and Its members ought to be aware o
the fact. They come here, and although
they do not directly so assert, they leave
the impression that the money raised
should go through their channel. l an
one of those who are not afraid of bond
and ii doesn't make bit of difference L
me whether the Bond Commissioners hole
the bonds or any other person."
Judge Beatty said that he was never more
astonished in his lite than at what Mr.
Dray had said. The Bond Commissioners
were working always in the city's interest
and if the people knew that the bonds
would be sold TO the Commission it would
strengthen the proposition, and the meas.
ure might be carried. He came to aid the
matter and help secure the necessary vote
He did not see why Mr.. Dray should have
made such a personal attack on himself
and the Commission when every person
with any brains knew what good they had
done for the city. Sacramento was abso.
lutely insolvent before the Bond Commis.
sion came into existence, and it was fact
that in 200 years the debt of the city would
have amounted to more than that of the
United States were it not for the Commits
g.