Los Angeles herald., 1891-06-16
City Sinecures and Salaries
Severely Pruned.
Proceedings Yesterday Of the
City Council.
The Ordinances Presented by the
Retrenchment Committee.
Considerable Routine Business Trans
acted-The City Attorneys Report.
Councilman McGarry's
Explanation.

studied the same until they knew it by
heart, were prepared to follow cues ant
carry out the programme to the letter.
The first business done was the read
ing of the mayors message returning
the demand of j. L. Bates for the con
struction of the State-street bridge
This demand was for $1053.75. The
mayor recites that the contract was fol
building the bridge and the construction
of earthern approaches. The approaches
have not been built, and the lowest bic
therefor is $99S. The contract was for
$94l and extras, amounting to $11275.
The mayor quotes the language Of
President Bonsall in support of his state
ment that the earthwork approaches
were included in the contract, and ad-
vises the construction of brick culvert
at this point, instead of an expensive
bridge. He urges the council to gain
the consent OF the property holders be-
fore any more money is spent on the i'm
provement.
On motion of Mr.. Rees the vote by
which the demand was passed, was re.
considered and the consideration of the
matter deferred one week.
The finance committee ordered the
sum of $S6. 40 to be returned to R, M.
Widney because OF an overpayment OF
taxes because OF clerical error.
The city clerk was ordered to adver-
tise for bids for one or more chemical
engines to be furnished the city.
The finance committee recommended
sustaining the mayors veto of the de-
mands of the commissioners for opening
OF Sixth street, they being 5000 each.
1t stated, however, that demands for
$3.50 each would be approved. The re-
port was adopted.
Bids for constructing the Walnut
street bridge approaches were received
from =. K. Fox for $2290, from j. l..
Bates for $2456, from A. f. Meiggs for
$2S50. from J. d. Mercereau for $4,000
and from M. H. Ledbetter for $2S57. 70.
The bids for the city lumber, upon be-
ing opened, gave evidence of "com-
bine" among the lumber men, the low
est bidder only offering per cent. dis
count from retail prices. After several
severe comments upon this fact, by the
councilmen, the entire batch was re-
ferred to the supply committee.
The street superintendent made a
requisition fcr typewriter, but the
COuHCii ic u6eQ IL, anu
firmly took stand on the side OF econ
omy.
Councilman McGarry, of the Seventh
ward, rose to question of personal
privilege. He said an attack, filled with
malicious and misleading statements,
impugning his integrity and official
character, had appeared in the Times,
in the shape of communication from a
Mr.. Weiss.
The communication said that he had
used his office as chairman of the board
of public works to repair Alameda street
between Eighth and Ninth, 30 as to
throw the storm water off his premises,
which are on the west side, on to the
property of other persons.
Mr.. McGarry stated that there had
been ditch running on Alameda street
parallel with the front of his property,
and that it was dangerous, and great
obstacle to public use of the street. The
part OF the ditch between the zanja and
the railroad switch had. been filled up
with clay by the sewer contractors, and
the board of public works after an in
spection by the whole board and other
members of the council had unani-
mously recommended that the ditch be
filled up and the street put in repair.
This report was adopted by the council
without dissent.
Mr.. McGarry said he should be very
sorry to use his position in the council
to repel an attack of a pirate nature,
but this was public attack striking at
his official character, and he thought it
should be publicly and officially re-
sisted in order to make his action clear
to the public.
Mr.. Weiss, who was present, at
tempted to reply, but was rather unun-
telligible, and the council referred the
whole matter to the committee of the
whole.
The city attorney presented his report,
which was acted upon as follows: His
request for an accurate description of
the land between Tenth and Eleventh
streets, proposed to be abandoned, so that
he could prepare the ordinance regard
ing the same, was fled. A recommends
tion that the money collected on the
Third street opening be returned owing
to mistake in the assessment, which
could not be corrected, was referred to
the board of public works and the city
engineer. His statement that the coun-
Gil had the right to remove fruit inspec-
tor Weiss resulted in the appointment
of @. M. Heintz, on the recommendation
of the county horticultural commission.
A lease for land in East Los Angeles to
B. Weller was presented and approved,
and an ordinance granting property
owners permission to grade and curb
Fourth street between Wall and San
Pedro was passed.
Hof, Maple street, Chavez street,
Byron street, Georgia Bell street, Griffin
avenue. Flower street, Lucas avenue
and Macy street, all streets upon which
ordinances have been passed to open
and widen them, were made the subject
of another ordinance repeating and
abandoning all proceedings taken con-
.cerning them, which was referred to the
board OF public works.
A recess was then taken to o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The first business done by the council
was the appointment of commiss toner's
for the opening of Santee street.
A representative of the Santa Fe rail-
road company spoke by permission, pro-
testing against the suit brought by the
city against his company for damages
to the Buena Vista street bridge. He
!, asked that in justice to the company the
: suit be dismissed. The matter was re-
ferred to the city attorney.
Councilman Rees gave notice of three
Joint meetings OF the city council with