The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-11-16

The POSt=Street Jobs Are
Ventilated.
MAYOR ELLERT TO THE FORE.
He Receives the Plaudits of the
Property-Owners for His
Manly Stand.

The lobby of the Supervisors chamber
fairly swarmed with indignant property
owners last evening. They had come q
protest against the confirmation of the
report of the commissioners for the exten.
sion OF Post street from Central TO First
avenues.
Mayor Saneerson presided and Supervis.
ors Antiques. Burling, Coffee, Curtis, Ebert
Heyer, Hunt, Taber and Wilkinson were
in their seats.
MT Iaber introduced resolution pro-
vlding Tor amending the resolution Of inten-
TON TO close certain streets in the Mission
bay tract so as to make it clear that Six
teenth street, where it is crossed by Ten
nessee and Minnesota streets, is not TO be
closed; also to begin the vacation of the
TWO last named thoroughfares az Mariposa
instead of at Solauo street
Upon Mr.. Ellert Directing to action
thereon on the ground that the meeting was
special and only the protests against the
Post-street extension could be considered,
the resolution was Withdrawn to be brought
up at the next regular meeting OF the board
Cierk Russell thereupon began calling the
names OF pr0testants from portentous list
One by one they stepped inside the rail,
men and women. and demonstrated against
what tDey conceived 10 be great wrong
As each retired, the applause from their
iellow-snherers made the windows rattle.
Most OF them complained that they were
hard-working people and could not stand
the severe exaetions imposed by the assess
ment.
Charles ii. Hupp said the extension was
neither anecessity nor a convenience; that
the commissioners had not been legally ap-
a lie
Elizabeth Needles declared that the re-
port IL confirmed, meant for her cpnfsea-
tion and eviction. and she had eight children
10 support.
Benjamin F. Woods and Henry Stewart
objected that the street did rot run straight,
but took diagonal direction, which made
much OF the land valueless. Mr.. Stewart
added that il was taxation without repre-
sentatlon. as none of the prOperty-owners
had been consulted.
ID. b. Collins stigmatiZed lt as a scheme
10 enrlch the commissioners at the expense
OF the property-owBers. No man would
live, he said. on the cemetery side.
James Brady remarked that there was
onIy room on that side for ghosts to walk
James X. Watson proclaimed his assess
ment to be nothing but downright robbery.
lie would rather. he said. be held up by
highwaymen. For six months the commits
sloners had done nothing but draw their
salary Of $3.50 a month.
Among others who used plain speech in
remuneration OF the job were Ludwig
Altschull, p. j. Ryan, b. F. Stone, Angus
Mckilip, }. c. Sharpe, James Dixon,
William Mclaughlin, NJ. O'keefe and Mrs
Porter.
When the-list was exhausted one of the
commissioners asked TO he heard but Mr.
Ebert vigorously objected.
Both Supervisors Buring and Taber
urged that the gentleman should be heard
and Mr. Taber reminded MIR. Ellert that on
former occasion he had contended that
both sides should have a hearing.
To this MI. Ebert replied that he had
consented to an attorney being heard. who
had very tlmsly warned the board that it
| would nut itself in contempt of court in the
event OF taking certain action.
A motion by Mr. Burling 10 permit the
commissioner 10 speak was rejected Messrs.
Bntilne, Curtis. Hunt. Coffee, Taber,
Wilkinson and Coffee voting in the affirma-
| tive and Messrs. Antiques, Ebert and
| Heyer In the negative.
Mr.. Burling then moved to refer the re-
| port back 10 the Street Committee.
Mr.. Ellert saw no reason for this The
| property in the district was owned mostly
/ by poor people. and they had heard from
| them. They had all given very clear rea-
sons for rejecting the report.
Mr.. Burling said he did not believe iG
convieting anybody before trial. He
| wanted TO hear from the commissioners
| If the report was not right he would be the
| first to vote against it. He had only heard
| one side.
Mr.. Ebert said they had heard from the
most important side He would not SIT
there and see large number of people
bankrupted for the purpose of paying three
1 or four men.
| Mr.. Burling replied that rejecting the
| report would not kill the commission and
| Mr.. Ebert knew such 10 be the fact. His
| only object in referring back the report wa;
TO have fair play.
| Mr.. Taber said he also desired to look into
the matter. He did not believe Pos
1 street had been extended in the proper di.
| reetlon. lie thought If the report was re-
| ferred back such action might result in cut
ting down the assessments fifty per cent
| IL might make great difference in the DO.
| sltlon OF the opponents 10 the extension, ii
they had some assurance that good street
| caT-line should be built on the line of the
| proposed extension. Unless something OF
| this kind were done he would oppose the
| confirmation of The report.
The motion of Mr.. Burling to refer tbs
| report back to the Committee on Streets
| prevailed, Messrs. Antiques, Ebert and
| Heyer voting no.
Mr.. Ebert sent to the clerks desk a reso.
| luton sustaining the objections OF the pro.
testants and requesting the Legislature tc
| repeal the law providing for street exten.
| sioDs by commissioners and to provide for the
payment of all just ana proper claims OF
! commissioners.
Mr.. Burling inquired when the resolution
was written and who had signed il.
| Mr.. Ellerts retort was that this did moi
concern the gentleman. He assumed all th,
| responsibility for il aud he asked for the
| calling OF the roll.
The lobby loudly applauded this utter
| ance. and Mr.. Burlng remarked, as he
looked defiantly at Mr.. Ebert, that he die
not believe In playing 10 the gallery.
Mr.. Eilerts resolution was rejected by
| five noes TO four ayes, Mr.. Wilkinson vot
ing with Messrs. Antiques, Ebert and Hever