The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-01-22
FRBEHOLDERS AT WORK.
Matters of Importance Discussed at
Last Nights Meeting.
DR.. Simmons Argument in Behalf OF
the Funded Debt Commission-Re-
plies OF NIessrs. White and Hall.

caIied 10 order until after 8 O'Clock. y
quorum was present by this time, and
Nice-President Green called the meeting
TO order. There were present Messrs.
Green, Smith, Hall, Weinstock, Johnson,
White, Knox, Simmons and Hubbard.
Secretary White stated that the reports
OF the Executive and Revenue and Taxa
ton Committees were completed and in
the hands Of the printer
DEBT COMMISSION.
Mr.. Hall, of the Committee on Bonded
Indebtedness, reported that he had not
had time to examine the work of the
Funded Debt Commission for ten years
back, and he thought it was useless to do
So He had looked over the books of the
commission and examined the work that
was done in the last two years and half.
The commission now had to pay par for
1903 bonds.
DR.. Simmons moved that the meeting
take up the recommendation Of the COM
bnlttee on continuance of the Funded
Debt Commission.
Mr.. Johnson thought the matter
should not be voted on until there was a
fuller attendance of the members Of the
board The subject might be discussed,
however.
MIR. Smith said he was not even ready
TO discuss the subject. 1t was a very inn
portant matter and he was very much in
terested in the report of MIR. Hall, who
bad examined the work the commission
mad done for the past two years. He
wanted the books examined for five
years back
DR.. Simmons said he made his motion
LOT several reasons. People were asking
what was to be done with the commits
sion. There was not the enthusiastic
charter that might be expected, and
there was no doubt but that the grave
question which was agltating the minds
OF intelligent people was that in regard TO
the continuance Of the Funded Debt
Commission. There were people who
believed with Judge Beatty that the
adoption Of the new charter would abol-
ISM the commission. This question over
Swallowed everything else. The people
expected the Freeholders TO consider
this, and if that body determined that the
commission was useless and of 10 i'm
portance, 1t ought to tell the people So
Continuing, Or. Simmons said he re-
membered the time when the commission
was formed. He remembered that at
that time
THE BEST FINANCIERS
On the coast said the city could never rid
herself Of her debt. The condition of the
debt at the present time, hewever, showed
expressed themselves in such manner.
If there was any danger OF the abolish
ment OF the commission, he for one was
opposed to the adoption Of any charter at
all, and until this question was decided
TO certainty he believed the work OF
the ch8rter-makers was altogether pre-
mature.
Mr. Hall said that as Mr.. Smith desired
Il. he would examine the work of the
commission for the past ten years 1t
would take 4 days hard work to do it.
but ne would volunteer.
IN reply 10 DR.. Simmons remarks, Mr.
hall said he believed in going right
ahead and making a charter. He wanted
TO preserve the Funded Debt Commits
sion, it possible, but he was willing to
take the chances and adopt a charter
Even though the commission was abol-
ished the city would lose only $50 000-a
mere trifie.
Or. Simmons then read a communities
ton from Judge Beatty, published in the
-Ne2Cs.
Mr.. White claimed that DIR. Simmons
was wrong in his views. He, for one,
did not care anything about the COM
mission. Ii was not a good thing for
Sacramento TO retain. He believed in in
sorting clause in the charter providing
that the Funded Debt Commission should
cease to exist after a certain date. If
people could only understand how small
the real debt OF the city was, and not the
fictitious debt they could more readily
comprehend the situation.
Mr.. White moved that the discussion
be postponed until the next meeting, and
the motion prevailed, DR.. Simmons Vot-
ing no.
LEGISLATIVE WORK.
The meeting then proceeded to consider
the report Of the Legislative Committee
by sections. a portion the report had
been revised at a previous meeting.
In the fifth subdivision, under Section
Is, defining the powers of the board, Mr.
Johnson suggested that the Trustees not
only have the right to lay out, extend and
alter streets and alleys, but also to choose
them.
The clause was amended in accordance
with Mr.. Johnsons suggestion.
In the same section DIR. Simmons
thouglt the clause, provide for the
grading, draining, cleaning, repairing,
widening, lighting, or otherwise improv-
ing the streets and alleys could be made
somewhat stronger. Grading sometimes
meant only throwing up earth, and he
suggested that it would be we'll to insert
the word permanently between the
words otherwise and improving"
The section was so amended.
Upon motion of DR.. Simmons, it was
ordered that the clause in subdivision
ten prohibiting the exhibition or show of
any animals, be stricken out. The doc
tor observed that such a provision would
prevent circus or menagerie from show
ing in this city.
The consideration of subdivision
twelve, empowering the board to estab-
liSh Board of Health and TO prevent the
introduction and spread of disease, and
TO establish q City Intirmary and provide
for the INDECENT sick, was POSTPONED
until the next meeting at the request of
Dr. Simmons.
At the suggestion of Dr. Simmons it
was decided TO draw up q subdivision re-
curing that the books and records of all
city officers be thoroughly Kept, and that
they be always turned over TO their sue
c1SsorS in Office.
DR.. simmons said it was the custom,
until late years, Tor the City Surveyor TO
take his books with him when he went
out of Office, and this was the reason why
there We're so many disputes as to bound
airy lines in the city.
TRUSTEES RESPONSIBLE.
An amendment was made to subdi-
vision -, making the Trustees personally
responsible for allowing warrant to be
drawn against any fund beyond the act
Ual amount of money existing in such
fund. such conduct shall be considered
as malfeasance in Office, and a Trustee
upon being convicted shall be removed
from Office.
The meeting then adjourned, upon mo-
ton of Mr.. Smith.
At the next meeting of the board Mr..
Smith will introduce the following
amendment to subdivision - of section 26:
''To grant franchises for a term not ex-.
ceeding twenty-five years for the con-
struction and operation of street railways
on and along the streets of the city, upon
the following terms, VIZ: Whenever the
Board OF Trustees shall determine that
To 1Sfr = 4