The herald., 1893-05-18
THIS HOUSE is NOW FOR RENT
The County Tax Agent and the
Supervisors.
The Contract with the Agent Official
ly Rescinded Yesterday.
Chairman Cook introduces the Resolu-
tion-Advice of the District At
torney-eome Discussion
on the Subject.

Frank House, delinquent tax collector
by the grace of Attorney General Hart,
has parted company with the board OF
supervisors.
He will no longer draw down his lit
tie ID per cent by authorization Of the
board under the contract which they
made with him some time ago.
The reason for this sudden change in
the juxtaposition of the board and Mr..
House is due to positive action by that
body at their meeting yesterday.
Late in the afternoon, after all other
business had been transacted, Chairman
Cook handed over the following reaolu-
ton to Clerk John Dunsmoor, and he
read it out loud:
RESOLUTION TO REscND.
Whereas, resolution WAS heretofore,
to-wit: on the 2Sth day of December,
1891, adopted by the board OF supervis-
OF Los Angeles county, wherein it was
provided that the county OF Los Angeles
should pay to one r. F. House certain
commissions for certain services therein
provided for, provided such compensa-
ton could be lawfully made, and
Whereas, said resolution was based
upon a certain contract entered into be-
twreen said r. F. House and the attor-
ney general and controller of the state
OF California, and
Whereas, The board is advised by the
district attorney of this county that
said contract is illegal and void, there
fore, be it
Resolved, That said resolution here
inbefore referred to and now OF record
in minute book Ia, on pages 254 and 255
OF the records of this Office, be and the
same is hereby rescinded.
When the resolution was read there
was some little discussion between the
| members OF the board as to the legal
effect of resembling the resolution, and
Deputy District Attorney Utley WAS sent
for to explain the law.
When he arrived he stated that tho
board would be perfectly safe in passing
| gard it as particularly important. The
effect OF the resolution would be to stop
! hereafter the payment of the Is per cent
commissions to Mr.. House. If the con-
| tract between him and the attorney
general and state controller should be
held to be Illegal it could do no more
than that, as what has been paid in the
past cannot be remedied.
Mr.. Utley further said he did not
consider that the claims which we're in
| Mr.. Houses hands were any good any
how. They were most of them for the
delinquencies accruing before 1885, and
the pay nents were made by persons
who were frightened by the notices re
ceived by them--for each of which Mr.
House gets Sand, fearing that they
would lose their property, walked up
and paid the money.
Supervisor Forester said he had orig
inally voted for the contract between the
board and Mr.. House, on the statement
| by Attorney-9eneral Hart that it would
| save to the county come $50, 900, and he
also understood the attorney-general to
say th At there would be no contract be-
tween himself and Mr.. House.
Supervisor Hay asked if resembling
the contract would complicate matters.
In reply Mr.. Utley taid it would not
in the least.
Chairman Cook remarked that the
boards contract with Mr.. House con-
tanned clauses providing that it should
be legal to make such contract.
Supervisor Hay ssid that if what the
district attorney says about the illegal
ity of the contract is correct the board
had no right to continue to pay Mr.
House.
Thereupon vote was taken upon the
resolution, and it was adopted by a
unanimous vote of the board.
ROUTINE BUSINESS.
The board transacted considerable
routine business during the day.
The petition for street railway fran
chise at Azusa was continued until May
"a for further hearing.
The application OF Domingo Bazholo
for saloon license was continued until
May "a; the applications of Maruis
Blanc and Lewis Smith for licenses were
denied.
A proposition of Lewis Stengel to
transplant two palm trees to the court
house grounds was accepted by the
| board.
E. @. Barnett was allowed $3.50 on his
contract for the construction OF High
land avenue bridge, the balance to be
paid on approval of the work.
The board authorized contract to be
made with Geo. r. Grow to sprinkle
| Washington street from the city line to
| the foot OF the hill at Rosedale cemetery
for $24 per month.
| A motion for the vacation of streets
in the Lick tract was granted.
A petition for the vacation of streets
in Minneapolis WAS set for June 1st.
The county assessor was granted two
additional copyists from date to the
completion OF the assessment, at salaries
OF $50 per month, and the county clerk
an additional clerk for recording and
comparing, at salary of 800 per month.
The clerk was directed to send notice
to the trustees of the Ocean school dis
trict bonds,of the opinion of the district
attorney that they are illegal.
Supervisor Hay was granted 80 days'
leave OF absence from May 23d.
The application OF McGinnis & Basler
for saloon license on Catalina island
was set for June 1st for hearing.
Dangert
If you have feeling of oppression and un-
! easiness little above the dia phragrn and inst