The morning call., 1894-09-19
GOOD DAYS WORK, HOWEVER
The Merchants Specifications
Are Approved.
TO CHANGE MARKET.ST. GRADE.
Friendly Suit to Test the Law I'm
der Which 1t May Be Put
Through.

The Supervisors were a little tardy
about getting together yesterday and
basty about adj urning, so that the bust
hess before them was dispatched in good
order The before and after" proposition
in politics, with the Democratic municipal
convention in progress, probably eX-
planned the hurry.
That to which most time was given was
the Street Committees report on the plan
submitted by the Merchants Association
for street cleaning. The committees re-
port approved the specifications of the
Merchants Association and favored an
immediate advertisement for bids underit.
Supervisor Dundon provoked a speech
from nearly every member, and two or
thee from few (Of which he was 0ne), BY
1T Oton To stimulate in the contract that
81 80 be the miUimum Of wages paid IL
the men employed. He thought men with
families could not live on less. and that
married men should be given the prefer
ence In employment. This motion was In
recognition of a petition from an organ
iZa'iOn of lahOIiug men, asking that such
limit be fixed in the wages.
Mr.. James. in secODding the motion,
talked in ne same strain,
Mr.. Kennedy could not see why the
association should be hampered in such ii
manner. They have taken up very i'm
portant mater in a manner showing 4
pride in the city and desire for its better
ment, giving their time, not clone, hut
money to the sum of 40,000. for the pur-
pose OF demonstrating Tor what sum and
how well the streets could be cleaned
The board could rely upon the association
10 do the best it could with the money and
TO report upon IL afteTWard for their
future reference.
dc To- 7r,l,t h. ord I,oA ~
right TO lay any stipulations upon the as
socialion any more than upon any other
contractor and thought the motion out of
order.
Mr. Denman had studied the question a
great deal, be said. The Merchants As
ISOLATION had proven itself one of the best
organizations ever formed in the city. Mr..
DOhrmann had explained that he WAS con-
stantly besieged by men looking for work
and in distress. Many of them were old
and decrepit and could not ear 81 80 and
did not expect it. These were nearly al
ways given something to do and paid in
proportion. He (DOhrmaln) wanted TO pay
proper wages and would do so, as he
stated to the committee, so long as they
could.
Dundon's motion was lost and the report
approved. Advertisement for bids will be
made at once.
a communication from the Mayor, Sur
veyOr and Superintendent OF Streets re-
turned the papers with the change In the
grade OF Market street, submitted to them
as a commission, and gave notice that they
could not act for want of jurisdicti on
The City and County Attorney had adj
vSed them that they could not compel
property-owners, under the law, to pay
the assessments
A resolution was read inStructing the
City and County Attorney to bring suit
and test the matter. This met with some
opposition, on the ground that the at
tOrney had already given an opinion
against the law, and il was not just ;he
thing 10 expect him TO enforce j..
Mr.. Deuman explained that the matter
was very important one 10 the city, and
the proposed sui was friendly one TO get
a Judgment from the court upon the law.
Tue Mayor suggested that provision should
be made for counsel if the matter was
TO be thoroughly tested. The resolution
passed.
A communication from the City and
County Attorney in answer to a request
for an opinion Oh the legality and efficiency
of a resolution empowering ana directing
the Board of Election Commissioners 10
cause to be printed on the ballots to be
used at the next general election the Ques-
ton for submission to the electors ''for the
construction and ownership of a'er
works" stated that he was unable to dis
cover any legal effect which would result
from the passage of such resolution.
The matter of the garbage crematory,
for the building of which there was but
one bid, Was referred back to the commit
tee with instructions TO further advertise
for bids.
The report of the committee adverse to
the petition of jerome Willard, that no
Chinese court interpreters be employed in
the courts, etc, was approved.
repor' of the burning of the South
Har5Or police station was received, and
the chairman of the Police Committee
and the Chief of Police were empowered
to select new site in accordance with the
Chiefs plans previously published.
The Finance Committee favored the
transfer OF 5000 from the general fund to
the support of the POirerO branch of the
Free Public Library, as the committee was
convinced that the appropriation was not
sufficient for the present year to maintain
and extend to the public the facilities
which have heretofore been extended, and
so initiates and prevents the working
classes from using the various branches to
which they are accustomed to resort for
in formation and benefit"
The Finance Committee in its further
report took occasion to come back" at
morning newspaper for certain objection
able publications i'll the following emphatic
language:
Your committee begs to refer you to
report OF Its expert with results OF an ln-
gestigation made by him as to the pay
ment of certain bills by your honorable
board, which were stated by morning
paper to have been illegally paid and
which were found to be correct and passed
in due accordance with law.
Regarding this matter your committee
wishes TO further remark that this state
ment. headed illegal Payments in which
il accuses the Board of Supervisors Of
countenanciag the payment OF Illegal de-
mands, is tissue of falSehoods from be-
ginning to end.
TINS malicious, lying and misleading
statement is but the counterpart of vaIi-
Gus other statements which have appeared
from time TO time in the columns of the
same paper criticZng the financial report
of the board for the fiscal year ending
June so, 1894.
"The paper has had so much experience
in juggling with figures that il can make
them lie Ike Ananias and Sapphire when
ever it suits its purpose.
1.-The financial report of this board speaks
for itself, and challenges the closest in
vestigatiOn. But suffice it 10 say that the
Board OF Supervisors has lived within the
strict letter vi the law.
The Supreme Court of the State of