Los Angeles herald., 1892-10-20

interebt, mas put up the money necessary
to undertake these proceedings against
the city 2"
"Well, )" stammsred General Hart, IT
want you to understand that they cost
no money, go far as am concerned"
The mayor was not content to let the
matter drop here, however.
"Surely there is some motive, gen.
eral, for this singular procedure-some
motive beyond the issue of these bonds
and the protection of some property
holders interest; and having it's credit
assailed in this manner, the city ought
to be apprised of such action, Its off,
cials ought to know on whose complaint
you have seen fit to do as you have
DONE"
The attorney generals reply was as
vapid as most OF his official acts, save
that he affected ignorance of the underly-
ing motive aside from stopping the sale
of the bonds. He said: "You will
know who the man is when the case
comes into court"
I'm most of such cases." said the
mayor, drily: "'the plaintiff is generally a
ayes, added Mr.. Mcfarland, sin such
cases he is seldom, if ever the real party
in interest; and the suit might be on
trial for year and not then disclose his
identity"
THE DEUS Ex MAcHINA.
When further questioned upon the
matter, the general admitted he had
conversed with Col. J. H. Woodward.
He said that the subject was one of gen.
eral discussion.
Haven't you discussed this matter
with Mr.. Stephen H. Mott or his broth.
err" asked the mayor.
"N-no; scarcely know him, and we
have had no conversation about it,"
Right here the HERALD is compelled
to ask stay of proceedings. Mr.. Nick
ell, councilman from the Firet ward,
says that General Hart told him that
the information upon which he based
his letter to the mayor and council was
received from Mr.. s. H. Mott, so it be-
comes a question of veracity between
Mr.. Nickel and the legal officer of the
state cabinet; and go far as the people
OF Los Angeles, who have known Mr..
Nickel long aud favorably, are con-
cerned, the burden of proof rests upon
the encouragement
is it not trifle singular" resumed
the mayor, "that you, as attorney-gener-
al of this state, should use your official
position to declare illegal an issue of
bonds, when our people are so in need
of an outfall sewer as a sanitary meas
ure? 2"
HOW HE PUT HIS FOOT IN IT.
My letter has not declared that" re-
torted the general, testify. II did not
say the bonds were illegal, and your
saying that shows you have not read it
through"
The mayor admitted he was dumb
founded at the receipt of the letter, and
did not give it as mature perusal as he
would have done had he been lees sur
prised, but insisted that the letter did,
in so many words, declare the issue of
bonds to be illegal.
"You should remember, general"
said Mayor Hazard very calmly, "that
our people have been at great expense
to construct miles upon miles of an in
ternal sewer system, and that, too, at q
time when money was none too plenty,
to provide for proper local drainage.
This has cost half million dollars, and
these sewers now lie unused for want of
an outfall connection, while our people
are clamoring for one. What could your
motive have been"
"You cannot say I declared the bonds
Illegal" snapped Mr.. Hart.
THE LETTER READ.
The mayor looked at the city attorney
for moment, and then said quietly:
Charley, hand me that paper"
Mr.. Mcfarland passed the paper con-
tanning the letter over to the mayor, who
handed it to the general. The latter
gentleman then read it over slowly, and
said that he was sorry; and further ad-
mitted that he did not know that his
letter had declared the bonds to be lille
gal. He said: "lf this is the manner
in which you treat my endeavors in your
behalf, might as we'll proceed with the
suit"
Mr.. Mcfarland then inquired if he, in
his official capacity, was inclined to pre-
cipitate litigation, involving great issues
of law law like this, on account of per-
sonal spite.
The general replied that he was "not
that kind of man." and took from the
city attorney and mayor memorandum
OF the various evils likely to accrue to
the city from delays in the completion
of work 30 essential to the health of
the city as the outfall sewer. He then
promised them that, before any action
wac taken in the matter, they should be
duly apprised OF the same by him. The
interview, which had lasted about so
minutes, then came to- an end,