Los Angeles herald., 1892-02-09

pany can hardly be held to answer for
the Southern Pacific's bridges coming
down against ours, and in turn causing
the damage to the city's bridge"
Mr.. Rees moved that the city attor-
ney be instructed to dismiss the suit IN
question, provided that the railroad
company pay the costs. The motion
prevailed by a vote of seven ayes and
two noes-Messrs. McGarry and TUFTS
voting in the negative.
MOTIONS OF coUNcILMEN.
Mr.. Innes moved that the city engi-
neer be instructed to prepare design
for pipe to drain the ravine running
into Pink street west of Beaudry avenue.
Passed.
Mr.. Rees moved that the city engineer
prepare grades for streets aligning the
Hollenbeck. park. Referred to the
board of public works.
Mr.. Rees moved that the city clerk
advertise for proposals to rent reservoir
No. 6 for one year. Adopted.
Mr.. Summerland moved that cross
walk be placed at Commercial and
Alameda streets; also at Upper Main
and Alameda streets. Board of public
works.
Mr.. Rees moved that an invitation to
the council to visit the exhibition of the
Poultry association be accepted.
Passed.
Mr.. McGarry moved that crosswalks
be placed on the west side OF San Pedro
street, crossing Seventh and Sixth
streets, and across San Julian street, on
the south side of Sixth street. Board
Of public works.
Mr.. Rhodes moved that committee
be appointed to consult with similar
committee appointed by the board of
supervisors to discuss the question of
cutting down the hill at the city bound
ary, between Sixth and Seventh streets.
Passed. and Messrs. Rhodes Nickel and
Tufts appointed.
| jections to the opening of Los Angeles
! street have been overruled, the report
of the commissioner be adopted and
confirmed.
Mr.. Summerland moved that lease
from the city to the Southern California
Railroad company of the East Los An
geles stockyards be granted at
rental of $50 year for three years. The
lease was read and approved, and the
motion passed.
The former rate of rental was $500
per annum, and the railroad company
has paid this enormous sum for four
years for land which is not worth more
than $1,000 in the market today. The
gauge of the high rental was based on
the inflated values of boom time, and
has obtained ever since.
Mr.. Rees moved that Col. G.. Wiley
Wells be heard on petition now in the
finance committee, demanding refund
ing of certain taxes paid under the
horizontal raise.
Colonel Wells declared that his clients
were all respectable, law-abiding citizens
who had paid their taxes under the
horizontal raise under protest
Those who had not paid the tax had
brought suit, and the decision of the
court had been against the city. Con-
sequently those persons who had refused
to pay the tax were now enjoying an
unjust advantage. Therefore, said Col
onel Wells, it would be only ordinary
Justice to decide upon refunding the
money paid in. The amount, he said,
would be from $1,000 to $4,000.
Mr.. Summerland moved to refer to
the city attorney.
Mr.. Rees acknowledged that he was
personally interested, and therefore
could not vote, but declared that the
city, in all honor, should not resort to
filibustering, but should acknowledge
the rights of people who had paid taxes
not legally collectable.
Mr.. Rhodes thought the proper thing
to do would be to allow the claims, and
consider the payment in the next tax
levy.
City Attorney Mcfarland said that
sany such proceeding might invalidate
the whole tax levy. Mr.. Mcfarland
also declared it as his opinion that the
claimants have no legal hold on the city
whatever. though an equitable or moral
claim may exist. He was not prepared,
Colonel Wells then, at length, reiter-
ated the demands of his clients, and said
that if the city did not recognize the
justice of these claims his clients would
resort to the courts in order to make a
test of the case.
Mr.. iSummerland's motion then pre-
vailed.
PETITIONS AND PROTESTS.
The following petitions and protests
were presented and referred to the ap-
propriate committees:
Bradshaw Bros, agents, want the red
wood curb on Thirtieth street extended
in front of the northwest corner of Thir-
tieth and Hope streets.
a. A. Judson wants two crosswalks at
Casco street, from the railroad track to
the north eide OF Temple street.
Jean Sentous wants a crosswalk laid
at Fifth and Olive streets.
Jacob Baruch ct al. want a sewer,
sidewalk and cement curb from Fifth
street to Pico street on Olive street.
N. J. Newmark ct al. want the city to
accept the strip of land called Negro
alley as public highway, to be called
Ferguson alley.
]. W. Potts wants croEswalk at Tenn
pie and Casco streets.
j. M. Lashbrooke ct al. want cement
sidewalk laid on Besudry avenue be-
tween Temple and Court streets.
John s. Hess ,et al. want Twenty
seventh street between Main street and
Grand avenue graded and cement curb
put in.
George E. Childs wants $29.53 and
$11 .33 returned him on double assess
ments, he having purchased tax titles.
f. H. White ct al. want Mateo, Bay
and Sacramento streets "roaded up"
j. Myron Cheesebrough wants to ex-
change fifteen and one-half acres of land
owned by him adjoining on the east the