The record-union., 1894-06-15
TEE CLASH OF LOCAL AUTHORITY.
Mayor and City Trustees in Conflict in
the Matter.
Both Branches of the City Government
Claim the Right TO Purchase
Municipal Supplies.

As the result of what transpired at the
sessions of the City Trustees this week.
whose proceedings developed clash OF
authority between that body and Mayor
Steinman, in regard TO the matter OF the
purchase of supplies for the municipal
departments, the Mayor yesterday pub
lished the following circular for distribu-
tion among merchants and others:
SACRAMENTO, Cal, June 18th.
To Whom 1t Hdy Concern: The City
Charter makes me the chief executive
officer of the city, requires that l should
appoint the various officers not elected,
demands that l shall vigilantly observe
the official conduct of all officers, not
even exempting the Board OF Trustees,
gives me by special terms supervision
over the Water Works, City Cemeteries.
Police Department, Fire Department and
all other branches of the City Govern
ment | am required TO give an official
bond in the sum of 5000 for the faith
full performance Of my duties. 1t is my
duty to see that the government OF the
CITY in all it's branches is economic
ally conducted. The Board of Trustees
are the auditing BODY 10 review my acts,
and as such are authorized to pass upon
the bills which are contracted by the
executive branch. They certainly are
not authorized to pass upon their own
acts Their bonds are 900 each. 1t
is their duty TO act as check on me
and the purchase of materials and sup
plies made by me and the executive otfi-
GERS under lne.
In accepting the Office of Mayor, I did
80 fully understanding its duties and in
tending to give the city clean and eco
nomical government, and to endeavor to
correct the abuses which existed under
the old charter.
Some OF the members of the Board of
Trustees, for reasons not known TO my
self, and in violation of the spirit and
evident intent of the new charter, desire
to do the purchasing of supplies of the
city, and in other respects TO usurp the
prerogatiyes and powers OF the Mayor.
While they receive practically no salary,
some of them are willing to give nearly
all their time to the affairs OF the city. L,
and my appCintees with my approval, are
fully competent TO perform that duty ,and
in doing so supplies will be bought at the
cheapest prices, and any person, be he
high or low, discovered receiving a com.
mission on purchase of supplies, or upon
anything else, will be instantly discharged
and prosecuted TO the full extent OF the
law.
therefore wish to notify the merchants
OF Sacramento, and others, that no one is
authorized TO purchase any materials or
supplies or to incur any expense for any
department of the city without an order
from me, and if any such Indebtedness is
incurred without an order from me, the
payment of the bill will be stopped. /
will not permit the powers of Mayor to
be usurped by other officers.
You will govern yourselves accord
ingly. Is. I. STEINMAN, Mayor
REPLY OF THE TRUSTEES.
The Mayors circular has brought out a
CifIr fTrncteac I'M nhliShad
in another column), in which they quote
from the charter as follows:
Section 62. The board shall have charge
and superintendent of all public work
of every kind not otherwise controlled by
general law to be done for the city, and
also Of furnishing all material aud sup
plies for public use. except as otherwise
provided in this charter. 1t shall be the
duty OF the board TO vighantly inspect all
parts of the city, and cause to be done
from time to time such work as it shall
deem necessary or proper"