The record-union., 1893-08-15
TRY IT ON," SAID THE MAYOR.
He Dares His Colleagues to Authorize
Narrow Sidewalks.
The Sixth-street Growl Again-The
Eight-Hour Law on & Street
The Dog-Catchers.

lt iAltcLlnss VI lue AlLy IIuSlebS uu-
der the present administration are earn
ing quite a reputation for being breezy
and interesting, and in consequence they
are always well attended. This is mainly
due to the aggressive methods of Mayor
Steinman. Whenever he is opposed to
anything be ''spits it out" without hesi-
tation and without apparent concern as
to whose toes he is treading upon or
whose feelings are being hurt. If he
favors any proposition he is equally as
forcible in his advocacy of it.
Yesterdays session was no exception.
1t was lively all through.
THOSE THEATER LICENSES.
The proposition to reduce the theater
licenses was the first matter taken up.
Major w. A. Anderson appeared before
the board as the attorney for the local
theater management. He presented an
amendment to the present ordinance fix
ing the theater licenses. The amendment
provides that hereafter the license shall
be $40 a month for permanent shows, in
stead of $40 as at present, and 50 per night
for stragglers.
Under the rule, the proposed ordinance
went over for week, and there was no
discussion of the matter.
G.. j. Cross, the house-mover, handed
in bid TO remove the buildings from the
plaza at Fifteenth and p streets to the
new hay-market, offering to do the work
forSl50.
You're too late" said Mayor Stein
man, addressing Cross. I'VE gave out
the job a weel, ago for S75.''
w WhewW said Cross. That fellow will
lose S75 them"
'W ell. as long as the city don't lose it
we won't worry" replied the Mayor, and
that ended the matter.
1t atterward developed, however, that
the Mayor was ''otf'' on his figures Trus-
tee Green had contracted TO have the
work done for $50.
DoG-CATCHERs' TROUBLES.
The complaint of John Mcnamara, that
on August Sth one of the Poundmaster's
deputies went into his yard and took
dog, was next heard.
Gus Sprout, the offending deputy, made
statement about the matter. He said he
chased dog for three blocks, and was
just about to catch it when lady opened
a gate and let it into the yard. Just at
that moment another dog ran out of the
yard. The dog-catcher then wired" this
dog. 1t was close TO the yard, but still the
capture was made on the sidewalk.
That's just as bad as if you went into
the yard, said Trustee Conklin, warmly.
he declared that he was tired of hearing
these kind of complaints.
Trustee Green also thought the dog
catchers were TOO fresh"
Mayor Stelnman, however, sympa-
thlzed with the poundmen. He said they
had a great deal to contend with and
were unnecessarily abused. In the case
on hearing ne could not see where there
had been any breach of the law. Me-
Nanara Tad not even redeemed his dog,
and had told the Poundkeeper that he
didn't care - if they killed it, 1t
was evident that the man did not care
much about his dog.
The dog-catchers were acquitted, but
were warned to be careful in the future
Poundkeeper ONeil evinced premoni-
tlons OF making a speech, but he was un-
tremendously squelched by the Mayor.
on, you needn't put your oar in,
O'Nell," said Mr.. Steinman. There has
been no complaint about you. You never
DO any work, SO nobody gets chance at
you"
O'Nen grinned and saluted the Mayor.
and then took his departure.
EIGHT-HoUR LAW on * STREET.
c. w. Baker addressed the board once
more in regard TO the number of hours
the men are working on the k-street
paving contract. He said all he Wanted
was an expression OF opinion from the
board. The law said that eight hours a
day should constitute a days work on
municipal contracts.
This matter had been referred to Street
Commissioner Green and he said he had
asked William Mullenev. suueriutend-
ent of the work, to Oe present and make
a statement. MIR. Mulleney was there and
said that the men We're working by the
hour, and 1t made no difference to the
contractors whether the men worked four
hours, six hours or eight hours a day.
The men were only too anxious to work
xarhn
work to do the men would ask for it.
Mayor Steinman said men were very
glad nowadays TO get extra work to do
lie did not see why there should be auy
disposition to keep men from making a
living for themselves and families
J. d. Jost, OF the Federated Trades,
said that the contractors had imported a
lot of cheap laborers from San Francisco
TO do the work. The contractors who
had bid against Mr.. Mcdonald for the
k-street work took into consideration the
law making eight hours a days work,
and it was not fair to them to let McDon-
aid violate the law. If the eight-hour law
was enforced more men would get en-
ployment.
Contractor Mcdonald said that to en-
force the law would cut down the wages
of his men, they being paid by the hour.
In reference to the charge that he had inn
ported his laborerS, Mr. Mcdonald
pleaded guilty. The laying of bitumen
paVements, he said, was a new thing for
Sacramento, and he could get no men
here who understood the work. He
therefore had 10 bring experienced men
here. The eight-hour system would not
increase the number of laborers, because
only so many could work at one time.
The only effect would be to cut down the
wages of his men and delay the work on
the street.
Mayor Steinman said he has satisfied
with the way the work was going on.
and would not vote To interfere with the
contractor Mr.. Green said he was salts
fed, too, and so the matter was dropped.
MAY WANT MORE TIME.
There was some more talk about the X
street paving contract, then, but it was
not about the eight-hour law this time.
Superintendent Mulleney informed the
board that the contractor had run against
a snag in attempting 10 use the basalt
blocks already III the street. The speci-
fications read that the blocks could be
used by the contractor. provided the con-
sent OF the property owners was obtained.
and if the Street Commissioner was
agreeable. Mr.. Green had objected to the
Old blocks as being unfit for use i'm the
new cutters. The result was that the
contractor had not made provisions for
enough rock and would have to ask for
an extension of time on the contract.
Mr.. Mcdonald spoke to the same effect.
and added that he had not expected to
have the city against him in the basalt
block business. He had been told by
some property owners that the Street
Commissioners had bought up the old
blocks.
Mr. Green denied this emphaticalIy.
and Mayor Steinman declared that no.
body had been authorized to buy any