The record-union., 1894-06-12


William II. Devlin, Clerk to the Mayor.
read the following messages from that
official:
DECREASE IN REVENUES.
TO the Board Of Trustees: Pursuant to
your request l herewith submit the fol-
lowing partial report as TO the state OF the
city. shall direct my observations TO-
ward the collection of water rates and IL
censes:
During the first five months Of last year
there was collected from water rates the
sum Of $50, Ia, and from city licenses the
sum of S23, 754. During the same period
OF this year there has been collected from
water rates the sum of Sd ,039, and from
city licenses the sum OF SIS, us. That is TO
say, that thus far there has been de-
crease of s., ,075 in the amount collected
for water rates, and a decrease of 50, OBS IN
licenses, making a total decrease OF Sl3,-
III. Forty-tive per cent. of all water rates
and licenses collected is apportioned to
the general fund. while the remaining
90 per cent. is apportioned to the sink
tng and interest fund.
If this ratio of decrease continues
fear that the general fund will be depleted
before many months. There is no reason
why there should be decrease. A strong
endeavor should be made to increase the
collections. but l know of no way unless
the City Collector, instead of waiting for
people to come to his otfiOe, will send out
his clerks and collect all he can. This has
been the practice OF the City Collector and
the w ater Collector in the past. am
aware that the ordinance in effect con-
templates that water takers shall call at
the Collectors office and pay the rates,
put II seems difficult to educate the peo-
pie to this practice. Meanwhile the city
Is losing portion Of its just revenue.
therefore recommend that your board
give this matter your careful attention
and enact an ordinance making it the
duty OF the Collector to send his clerks
out Tor water rates and licenses, in case
the same is not paid within ten days
after they are due, and it might be well
10 add fine for the delinquency.
have other matters under considera-
ton upon which l am not able as yet to
report; but deeming the foregoing to be
very important, and requiring immedi-
ate action, have made this partial re-
port. Respectfully submitted,
b. L. STEINMAN, Mayor.
SPECIAL POLICEMAN WANTED.
To the Board Of Trustees: 1 herewith
transmit to your honorable body COM
munication received by me from J. B..
Wright, the Division uperintendent OF
the Southern Pacific Company, asking
that the position of special policeman be
created for the locality of the car repair
shop and the passenger coach yard of the
company. l recommend that the request
be granted. Respectfully submitted,
B. U. STEINMAN, Mayor.
Distribution OF STATIONERY.
10 the Board of Trustees: As the differ
ent officers and departments of the city
use great deal OF stationery, | deem ii
advisable to recommend that instead OF
each buying his own stationery, as is
done at present, list of articles needed
for year be made and that thereupon the
city proceed to ask for bids and make a
contract with the lowest bidder. By the
adoption Of such a course the city would
annually save much money. The sta
tionery should be delivered in large
quantities to your Clerk, who then could
parcel them out upon proper acquisitions
therefor being made.
This system is adopted by the Board of
Supervisors of this county. and in my
judgment should be used by the city,
Respectfully submitted,
b. Z. STEINMAN, Mayor.
A THREATENED BOND SUIT.
To the Board Of Trustees. 1 have re-
ceived from Messrs. Freeman 81 Bates,
attorneys-at-law, letter wherein they
state that they represent the owner of
three bonds of Sacramento City, issued at
different times in the year 1884. aggregat-
ing S2, 544 10, bearing interest at the rate
OF 10 per cent. per annum, and that un-
less these bonds are refunded or some
settlement made before July lst they
Will bring suit III New York against the
city Of Sacramento therefor.
l have delivered the letter to Il. T. Dew
lin, corporation counsel, requesting him
to give the matter his attention and to
advise the best course to be pursued.
1 viii suggest that you have a confer
ence with me at some early date so that
nltpFmIna the hot q
shall follow, and instruct Mr.. Devlin ac-
cordingly. Respectfully submitted,
B. u. STEINMAN, Mayor.
OPPOSED TO CLOSING ALLEYS.
To the Board of Trustees l received
message from your Clerk of June 5th.
inclosing an ordinance providing for the
closing of the alley in the block bounded
by NJ and n, Twenty ighth and Twenty
ninth streets, in which he stated the mat
ter had been referred to me in conjunction
with the Street Committee, and requested
that a report be made on the same on
June llth.
The Street Committee has not called at
my Office and has not offered to consult
with me in reference to the matter.
Nevertheless, l am of the opinion that the
ordinance should not be passed. as it is
bad policy to encourage the closing up
OF alleys. The citizens are entitled to
have all alleys open, and no alley should
be closed under any circumstances.
/ am, therefore. opposed to the passage
of the proposed ordinance, and so advise
you. Herewith l return the proposed
ordinance. Respectfully submitted,
b. y. STEINMAN, Mayor.
FURTHER TIME WANTED.
Trustee Devine reported that he desired
weeks further time in which 10 investi-
gate the proposed opening of the alley in
the block between Twenty-eighth and
and Twenty ninth, NJ and \ streets. A
protest was read against the opening OF
The alley.
NO MONEY FOR A wATER-MAIN.
Trustee Kent of the Water Committee
said there was no money in the fund for
placing the main on Front street asked
for by Thomas Hague, and that action
would have to be postponed until August.
HOME FIRM GETS a CONTRACT.
A communication was received from
Crane Company OF San Francisco in
reference to furnishing SO feet OF casuron
pipe to be laid in the alley between Sew
enth and Eighth. l and J streets, asking
when the city desired the pipe.
The specifications call for the delivery
of the pipe in thirty days from the time
the award is made; but the Crane Com
pany wants TO make the shipment i'm
mediately. on account OF the price being
affected by strikes in the East.
The communication caused consider
able discussion because, as it now stands,
Crane Company cannot ship the pipe
within the specified time.
Trustee Leonard moved that the action
of the board In awarding the contract to
Crane & co. be reconsidered. The mo-
ton was carried
The board then rejected the bid. and
awarded the contract to the navt Lowest
bidder. Holbrook, Merrill a Stetson of
this city.
TENTH-sTREET IMPROVEMENT.
a communication was received from, T,
T. Hatfield. stating he wo,ald h ,,ral.i.