The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-04
elaborated until it made several long col

elaborated until it made several long col
umns.
In fact it is stated that the ordinance was
written by one of the most prolific space.
writers on this coast-a man who was in the
employ OF the Times at the time.
And it was to be printed and charged for
by the square.
This advertisement and others in the
same connection appeared In the Tribune
and the Times, though there was no earthly
good in its duplication. and the city received
no benefit from It.
When the job was all done the bills began
to come In.
There were actually 100 bills from the
Times Publishing Company and the aggre-
gate was Sl5,8l6.
1t made the taxpayers stand aghast.
They've charged us 200 per cent more
than they get for the average run OF adver-
Using for something we didn't want. any
way" they said.
The bills were presented to the Council
In small chunks, running from 500 TO $780,
as the Council cannot spend by ordinance
more than $500 in any one transaction
under the city charter.
The Finance Committee thought Mofitt
had presumed little too much upon it.
There will be an awful howl If we let
this thing 60, said the members.
80 they had the bills cut down to S9706,
which was still eXtoTtionate, and would
have been so much money thrown away.
The bills We're then presented TO the Coun-
Gil and an ordinance by which they were
ordered paid was adopted. Although the City
Attorney declared it was illegal, Mayor
Chapman let the ordinance 60 withou; his
signature under the Today provision OF the
city charter. 1t was then virtually law.
The bills went TO Auditor Snow.
II Will draw no warrant for S9706 TO go TO
the ringsters," said he. They shall not get
their hands in the city treasury through any
fault of mine"
"Why no:?' asked the friends of the
gang who were waiting for their share OF
DOODLE.
For four reasons. First-The ordinance
is in violation of the charter under which
the bill was incurred. SecOnd-The charge
is excessive. 1t is 100 per cent more than
any other newspaper in the city would ask.
Third-The ordinance is Illegal and invalid.
FOurth-There would be lack of funds to
pay the bill after the settlement of other
claims having priority against the city"
But nevertheless the ordinance with the
big bill tackled to ii epassed the Council with
rush and it is now in the Mayors hands.
What will his Honor do with it?
He hardly knows himself.
Some of the bills have been hypothetical,
and their holders are clamoring for their
money.
1t would make MOffitt i'll to see them fail
OF approval after all
But IN spite of that the Mayor Will be
held resDonsibls 10 the city for the loss Of
funds If they are thrown away in this man
ner, and great storm of remonstrsnce will
rise should he sign the ordinance or let it go
through by default.
Should he veto ii he would gain some
thing Of the respect which the people have
lost for him because of his connection with
the waterfront gang.
Here is his chance.
Auditor Snow was asked yesterday il he
would let the ringsters have the money in
case tho ordinance became a law.
NO. sir" he said, while a determined
look came into his eyes. 81 am here TO help
me il other officials look at this matter
lightly. | will not pay those monstrous
bills until l am ordered TO do SO by the
highest court in the land"
Yes. while she has a SnOw-one man
among toyshop full of things-there is yet
hope for Oakland