The record-union., 1894-06-29
CLEAR WATER Is KNOCKED OUT.
Trustees Pass Three Ordinances Oyer
the Mayors Veto.
The Board Will Lease No City Parks
Except For Placing Factories
Upon Them.

AleeI1nR last nlEnt, trustees Law LOHi
Wachhorst, Kent, Davis, Bragg, Tozer,
Leonard, Devine and Pennish being
present.
Davis called up the ordinances for 1H-
ing water rates and collecting them,
which were vetoed by the Mayor on the
23d. He moved that they be passed over
the veto, as it is nearly the lst OF July.
Tozer asked to hear the Mayors rea-
sons for the veto read, that he might vote
understandings.
Iawton said in relation to the bakers
rates. that there might be a little mis-
take on the rate for four barrels, but
he doubted if there were any bakers
in the city who used that much.
The city needs an effective ordi-
nance and has already lost So,OO0 while
the ordinances have been under consid-
Grafton. If little amendments were con-
tinually made and resubmitted, the city
will never get one. There is scarcely an
ordinance in force in this city that has
not one or more mistakes II it. and the
ones in this are very trivial and are
nothing in comparison with the benefits
the city will receive from its adoption.
The ordinance was then passed over
ing no.
The ordinance for the collection of
water rates was then taken up, and Law
ton moved that il be passed over the veto.
1t was then passed by eight affirmative
votes, Bragg not being present.
Wachhorst moved that the ordinance
with relation to repairs on sidewalks be
taken up and passed over the Mayors
veto.
Tozer objected, on the ground that it
was incomplete, hard to understand and
did not cover the ground fully enough.
1t was passed over the veto by vote OF
to l, Tozer voting no.
Lawton moved that the Clerk supply
the Collector with copies Of the water
ordinances and notify him Of the boards
action.
Davis moved that the ordinances be
also published, and that all ordinances
passed hereafter and all those heretofore
passed by this board be published IN the
newspapers Immediately.
Devine moved to amend by appointing
a committee of three to consider the most
economical mode OF publishing them.
Devine's motion was carried, ana the
Chair appointed Wachhorst, Devine and
Tozer as such committee.
THE GAS SUPPLY.
Frank Miller then read a communica-
ton to the board, on behalf of the Capital
Gas Company, on the subject of supply
ing gas to the city, as follows:
10 the Trustees Of the City of Sdcrd-
geeat0-GENTLE A meeting of the
directors Of the Capital Gas Company
was held yesterday for the purpose Of
levying assessments to the limit of $780,,
600, which is required for the rebuilding
of our plant recently damaged by fire.
At that meeting. for the first time in
many years, we discussed the supplying
of gas to the offices and buildings which
are used by the city. No trouble has
ever been brought to our notice until
within the past few days We learned
recently Of some dIsagreements and l
was instructed to appear before you to
make certain statements.
1t seems to me, gentlemen, that only
two points need consideration. The first
is this: Can the city get cheaper light
than that which we are supplying? You
have advertised for bids, and l have only
to say that the Capital Gas Company has
no bid to offer.
The quality and price of our commod-
itv will remain unchanged, and the man
ner OF selling il Will be the same in the
future as in years past We have spent
thousands OF dollars in experiments with
gasoline with unsatisfactory results, and
thousands OF dollars in trying other ma
terials to supplant coal. As soon as we
can recover from our disastrous fire we
shall spend time and money in testing
water-gas with view to lower rates and
increased service. We have an invest
Inent OF 100000, and cannot let anyone
give better results than we do for the
same money.
What we desire tonight is to replace
ourselves in position where we can sell
you gas at any time when you wish it,
Other kinds OF light may prove insult
able, and we wish now to establish the
fact that you can legally take our supply,
at a days notice, as before.
This brings us TO the second PROPOSE
ton. Because Mr.. Steinman is President
of the gas company and also Mayor OF the
city, it may seem to some of you that
bill TOR gas is illegal. Allow me to call
your attention to Section 211 of your char
ter and to remind you that all of that sec
ton, except the last two lines, relates
only to the duties of officers Of the city,
and that there is no prohibition against
buving supplies from officials except in
the last two lines. Those two lines state
that all contracts granted IN violation OF
this section shall be void.
1t is admitted that we have no contract
with the city. Our goods are on tap. The
article has been drawn off from your
chandeliers for years-long before Mr..
Steinman became Mayor. In no way
does he. for us or for you, regulate the
price or the quantity or the quality. The
the chandelier and take what they need
in their respective Offices; the quantity is
measured by machine and the city pays
the bills.
Let me remind you that if a company
shall supply this city with clear water, ii
may happen that some city official will
become director III that company. The
question may then arise whether TO pun
ish the offender or 10 shut off the water.
Thus il is clear that the precedent estab-
lished tonight is likely 10 become very
important.
Ii is true that Section 81 says in effect
that if the Mayor becomes interested III
the sale OF supplies to the city he shall be
forever debarred from holding Office; but
| respectfully submit that 1t Is your duty
TO enforce that punishment and not ours;
we shall not defend him and we must not
be made has prosecutors.
Ifyou reject all bids tonight and con-
tinue to use our gas, Mr.. Steinman's
profits in this matter, for one year, will
be less than 8.
In spite Of the insignifcance of this
sum l am not here to defend him. sanl
here to represent eighty-one sharehold-
ers, OF whom many live in this city;
represent 100000 of capital invested
within the city-a corporation which
spends nearly $4,000 year in this town
for wages and supplies; a concern which
has not cut down the wages of its men
for twenty-five years. respectfully ask
that our right to supply gas to the city
shall be conceded.
Finally, gentlemen, to cover all possible
doubts l am directed to deposit with you
a bond and resolution of our board which
is intended to protect and indemnify the
CITY and each of the Trustees from loss on
bills which may be paid to the Capital
Gas Company. FRANK MILLER.
Sacramento, June Is, 1894.
Tozer moved that the communication