The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-11-11
LAGUNA SURVEY.
Rather Queer Financial
Transactions.
THE CITY THE SUFFERER.
Result of Chairman James
Investigations.
A PIECE OF SHARP PRACTICE.
The Board of Supervisors and
$4,000 Warrant 1t Would
Like to Recall.
A PIECE OF SHARP PRACTICE

The members Of the Finance Committee
OF the Board of Supervisors are greatly
perturbed over a transaction arising out
OF the Laguna survey and the passage by
them OF a claim against the city for &c.
$50.
The Laguna survey. relating to the ex-
tension of Van Ness avenue and sundry
cross streets. has been a constant source OF
trouble not only to the present Board OF
Supervisors, but also TO its predecessors.
The expense of opening the streets was
fixed by the commission at $162, 600, and an
assessment covering this amount was
levied. When the Commissioners came to
close up their labors they found that this
sum was insufficient. and the Board of Su-
pervisors determined in their last tax levy
to appropriate the amount necessary in
order to save the expenses and delays con-
seduent upon the levying of second as
sessment in the district benefited. 1t was
represented by the Commissioners that
$40, $50 would pay all expenses and permit
the opening of the streets.
About three weeks ago the amount of
money became available. and accordingly
warrant was drawn against Ii and given
to j. G. Bates, the attorney for E. w.
in the march Of progress.
w. nj. Pierson. HoraceG. Platt, attorney
for the commission, and j. G. Bates, at
torney for Burr, represented that this
amount would settle everything, says Su-
pervisor Jefferson G. James, chairman of
the Finance Committee.
In accordance with this idea," he says,
latter letting the demand go through the
regular form, it was audited and given to
Mr.. Bates. A few days after this, Mr..
Hester, newspaper publisher, came to
me and presented a number of bills for
advertising contracted by the commission.
which he claimed should be paid out of
the last appropriation.
I'VE to Id him we had nothing to do with
that, that he would have to look to the
commission for his payment. AT the
same time we commenced an examination
of their books, and found that there was
outstanding some $4,000. T.. w. Burr,
for whose claim the warrant of SIC, $50 was
drawn, owed almost $4,000 of this amount.
Bates represented to US that the money
had to be paid intact into court in order
to settle the matter, but we do not see why
we should pay Burr the full amount of his
claim, when he is indebted to the city. or
the commission, which is the same thing.
for $1,000. If the proper representations
were made to us by Bates and the Com
missioners, instead Of having to appro-
pirate nearly $1,000 tU settle the matter,
$4,000 would have been enough.
This morning at II o'clock we propose
to see what we can do to get back the
money thus obtained. Mr.. Bates has al
ready sign fed mis- intention to return the
warrant. and we hope he will do it. pend
ing further Inquiry into the matter"
In this connection It will be remembered
that Burr. not satisfied with the damages
awarded by the commission, commenced
proceedings to have the amount increased.
Instead of this the verdict was against
Burr, and the court awarded him a sum
about equal to the amount of the warrant
now in dispute
The mem bers of the Finance Committee
are determined to thoroughly investigate
the matter and endeavor to secure the re-
turn of the demand. They allogs that
Misrepresentation have been used to Sc
cure this money. They are at the same
time anxious to close up the work Of the
commission and get rid of its annoyance.