The morning call., 1893-06-18


decided to add .021S for judgments against
the city. and this brings The tax up TO 1.03
on the 500. Chairman James stated that
the committee had kept inside the dollar
limit outside OF the appropriations for the
park and the new City Hall. He said that
last year the appropriation for the new
City Hall was only cents. while this year
the appropriation was 10 cents, the addi-
tiOn of cents being the cause of passing
the 81 tax on the 500 valuation.
When the committees figures became
known. eX-Justice Thornton asked leave
to address the committee. He said he ap-
peared in no other capacity than as clti-
zen and as such he desired to protest
against the making of any special levy for
the payment of the Indebtedness of the
city amounting to 100000. He called the
attention o. the committee to a declso on of
the Supreme Court in the gas company
case reported in 62 Cal, page CT. He also
quoted from article II, section Is of the
constitution, under which the decision had
been rendered which provides that the
revenue raised for year must cover all
the Indebtedness of the year He claimed
that the committee had no right to make a
levy for The payment of a deficit. it would
ne illegal and void. and would invalidate
the levy.
Supervisors James and Kennedy asked
how the creditors of the city were to be
paid. The courts would order the money
paiu, ana Ine supervisors would nave 10
provide the money in some way.
Justice Thornton replied that the only
way an Indebtedness of a previous year
could be paid was by the assent OF two
thirds OF the qualified electors at an cleo
ton to be held for that purpose. He said
the demands might be just, but it was the
plain duty of the Supervisors to follow the
law.
Attorney Carter, In answer to Justice
Thornton, argued that the debts were due
to the carrying out of the election under
the new law; they had been created by
the Legislature, and it was the duty of the
Supervisors TO make special levy for their
payment.
City and County Attorney Creswell
called attention to one of the cases in
which the city had confessed judgment.
II was the case of eX-Surveyor Tiiton for
S24l4 against the city. He said that there
vas suit in court on this claim and the
court had sustained the city.
SUI eTvisor Denman Immediately saw he
had been misled in the matter. and he
ordered his name stricken off the docu-
ment. Supervisors Kennedy and Jacobs
did likewise.
CresSwelI said he had allowed Judgment
TO be taken against the city in the various
Claims Tor material furnished at the order
of the Board of Supervisors, and he obeyed
because he was subject To their orders
FATHER Montgomery addressed the com
mittee on behalf of the Almshouse, and
urged the EeceS sIty of making a special
small appropriation for chapel addition
| 10 the institution, where religious services
could be held according TO the denomina-
! tlons of the inmates. He said il q suf-
! hclent sum could not be appropriated for
! the purpose. the religious denominations
would guarantee 10 raise the rest by sub
! scriptlon.
The School Department appropriation
was next taken uD. Director Ames pro-
tested against any reduction from the
Auditors estimate, as the department re-
| quired all the money it had asked for.
superintendent John SWEET said there
was something of delusion in the Finance
! Committees estimate. The surplus sup
! posed 70 be on hand was about $40, 900 less
than the figures furnished by the Auditor.
as there was S25, 900 of debts outstanding
because they were in litigation.
The committee next listened to Colin NJ
! Boyd. who made stirring speech on be-
half "f the Free Public Library, in which
he asked the committee to reconsider its
action about reducing the lbrary's fund
! by $4,000. He said the library would
move snortly into the new wing of the
City Hall, which would entail considera BILE
expense. Besides it was absolutely neces-
sary to establish two new outside branches
this year. He said the trustees of the IL
brary challenged any department of the
city on its record for economy.
Deputy Jones OF the Coroner's Office ap-
pealed to the committee not to use its knife
too harshIy in looping off dollars from his
department.
Supervisor James informed him that the
Coroner had gone to Sacramento and got
| bill passed increasing his deputies with
out consulting the Supervisors. They had
given him what the law allowed. They
took away the COroner'S stenograDher ana
JanitOr to make up tor the increase of the
extra deputies.
Deputy Jones informed the committee
that stem ograDher WAS absolutely neces-
sary In holding inquests in order to
facilitate business. but the committee told
him the Coroner should appoint deputy
who was also shorthand man.
QIite tilt took place between City and
County Surveyor Fitzhugh and Super
VISOR Denman. The Surveyor claimed that
his appropriation had been cut down to
$4,000, while The expenses of the office
were from $500 to $1,000 month.
"Oh. yours is fee office" said Denman.
FItzhugh fired up and said that Depman
had always treated him unfairly. Shut
up my office at once" be said. IF you are
going to act that way. | am the only man
who has no consideration at your hands,
though L am regularly elected officer
under bonds. You give all the money to
other men who have no bonds"
John T. Greaney, representing a sta
tionery firm. wanted to address the com
mittee on the subject of bill, but James
told him the committee had no time.
| "1 on give MS horse when we want an
AK" said Chairman James, not wishing to
be bothered with bill
Il am glad | did not bring an ass" re-
turned Attorney Greaney, and everyb body
laughed.
James got as red as a lobster, and Dem
ian told Greaney he should treat the co m
mttee, with respect. Greaney attempted
to apologize, but James would not listen
and ordered him to take his seat
| superintendent of Police and Fire
Alarm Wires Tarpey protested against a
| $4,000 reduction in his department. He
said that the wires Of the fire alarm were
rotten all over the city and should be re-
plac ed. About fifty of the 100 miles of
wire would have to be rep aceG. Besides,
! II the Supervisors were going to establis h
! five new engiue-houseS new connections
would have 10 be made and rev gongs and
tappers bought, which would increase the
expenditures. These things were necessi-
| ties.
Fire Commissioner Maurice Schmidt and
! Chief Sullivan thanked the committee for
| the appropriation given the Fire Depart
ment. and said il would be expended in a.
way of which the citizens would not COM
| plain.
Saver Com mmissioner Marsdeu Manson
also said he was satisfied with the $50. COO
incorporated in the Street Department
fund for the purpose OK reconstructing the
sewer system.
The committee took under advisement
! all that had been stated When the room