The herald., 1894-01-11
WORK FOR THE UNEMPLOYED,
Interesting Adjourned Meeting
of the City Council.
The Street Superintendent and City
Clerk Lock Horns.
The Sewer Committee Reports on tho
Defective Outfail Sewer Work-A
Gratifying Showing Made.
A Busy Afternoon.


There were present President Teed
and Councilmen Gaffey, Campbell, In
mes. Munson, Rhodes, Strohm and
Nickel.
The gallery and lobby were crowded
with working men interested in the
measures to be taken to give employ
ment to the unemployed.
The unfinished business left over from
MoLd days session WAS fret taken up.
CITY CLERKS REPORT.
The city clerk reported as follows:
First-In the matter of the grading,
curbing and sdewalking with cement OF
Omar avenue from Third to Fourth
streets. notice of street work was pub
lshed December 13, 1898. Time for pro-
test expired December %, 1893, No
protests have been received. On Janu-
ary S, 1894, cluncil acquired jurisdiction
to pass the final ordinance.
1t will now be in order for your hon
orabe body to pass the ordinance order
ing the work, if you so see fit, which
said ordinance is herewith submitted.
Ordinance adopted.
Second-In the matter OF the grad
ing, graveling and curbing with cement
anu blO6Whihlhb Vi ioA]ApCchbh ptACOot
from Vernon street to Union avenue,
notice of street work was published
December 10, 1898. Time for protest
expired December rs, 1S92 No pro-
tests have been received on January s,
1894, and council acquired Jurisdiction
to pass the final ordinance, and it will
now be in order for your honorable body
to rass the ordinance ordering the work,
if YOU so see fit, which said ordinance is
herewith submitted. Ordinance ad-
opted.
STREET SUPERINTRNDEN" VS.. CITY CLERK.
Street Superintendent Watson pre-
sented communication in which he
said: II would respectfully request that
you instruct the city clerk to either re-
place in the files of his Office, where we
may have access to same, the record of
street incidentsls, or turn the book over
to my office. This record, kept under
directions OF the council, has been ab-
stracted from the files of the clerk g
office, so that we are unable to ascertain
the amount of incidental expenses due
on any street"
THE CITY CLERKS wARLKE REPLY.
CITY Clerk Luckenbach read the fol-
lowing reply:
In the matter OF the communication
OF the street superintendent signed with
fac similie stamp by Harmon, deputy,
and by way of explanation thereof, l
desire 10 say that when he states that
have abstracted from the files of the
clerks Office any official record or any
document which they are by right en-
titled to. or that am trying to prevent
him from obtaining the amount OF incl
II 4.xa ~ he
states that which is false, and he would
come nearer correct statement OF the
matter did he allege that he is endeav.
oring to excuse the non-ful6llment OF
his sworn duty by insnuating that
desire to avoid mine. He states that
the memoranda which he desires have
been kept under the directions of the
council, which iH also incorrect, and
defy him to produce any such directions
and / would further state that while
am willing at any time to comply with
the wishes of your honorable body,
whether given in session or individual
ly, that the charter provides that in
addition to the duties therein pre-
scribed, / shall perform such other
duties as the council may by ordinance
direct. The council did, however, direct
how money for incidental expenses
should be paid into the city treasury,
(see volume 3S OF records. page lS9)
which the etreet superintendent has
refused to comply with, and which re-
fusal has cost him several hundred dol.
lars.
The memoranda which the street SUI
perint1ndent desires me to furnish him
are compiled statements OF incidental
expenses of streets improved under the
Vrooman act. Why he should desire
this from me, when il he has performed
his duty he has it on file in his own of
fee, cannot conceive.
Subdivision third of section 34 of the
Vrooman act, after stating what shsl
be included under the term incidental
expenses, provides that sail demands
for incidental expenses mentioned in
this subdivision shall be presented te
the street superintendent by itemizsd
bill duly verified by oath of the deman.
dant."
And surely the street superintendent
with that intimate knowledge of the
legal proceedings for the improvement
of streets which he claims to possess
has not overlooked this provision.
In addition to this. the official records
OF these incidental expenses and of the
amounts paid therefor, are on file in
street superintendent can obtain them
in the same manner that have com
piled the memoranda which he desires
furnished him in order to save his over.
worked deputy from the annoyance and
Inconvenience for which he is paid.
In view OF the fact that have here
tofore informed the street superintend
ent that did not believe that he wat
entitled to this memoranda, but that az
matter of personal and official courtesy
was willing to give it to him to m Ike q
copy thereof, which offer he has refused
with the statement that Mr.. Watson
would not allow him to accept it excep,
as matter of right and compulsion.
cannot see any basis for his communica
tion to the council.
1t is not my desire to enter into any
personal controversy with the street
superintendent before your honorable
body, but do not propose to have the
impression 60 out that l am tamperine
with any official record. or that ] an
unwilling at any time to conduct mysel
in an obliging or accom- modating man
ner land whenever the street superin
tendent or his deputy applies at my
office foF any information or accommo
dation in gentlemanly manner it will
be Cheerfully furnished him; but wher
he c0rnea in tha pnouuar thot ha n 90 IN