The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-10-17
ABOLISHING THE OFFICES
The Special Committee fleets Behind Closed
Doors

Doors
The special committee OF the council
having in charge the ways and means for
putting inro effect the new law which
aims to abolish the off ces of city tax col
| lector ana city assessor held a three- b our
session last evening, the first since its ap-
pointment, nearly three weeks ago.
CITY attorney Dunn was called into the
conference, which was held in his Office
behind closed doors.
The meeting, although it was a very
lengthy affair, accom- lished absolutely.
nothing. When the com mittes adjourned
after $50 O'Clock, its members were no
nearer to a solution of the problem
which had called them together than they
had been at the beginning of their seance.
There were present at the meeting, be-
sides City A torney Dunn, Councilmen
Munson. Kingery and Snyder, who con-
stltute the smelling committee, Council
man George Pessell, whose interest il
the subject Is purely platonic affair,
and Tax Collector William Gish and AS
SCISSOR George Hull, who both have more
substantial reasons for feeling anxious to
know what is going on.
Everyone present had their own solu-
ton OF the pending problem to advance.
all being found, after mature delibera-
non, Tor some reason or other impractical
Bile. 1t looked for time as if sugges-
ton that the attorney general of the state
ion upon the constutiJnality OF the law
authorizing the proposed change would
be adopted. The gossip about the city
hall is that Judge Fitzgerald has been
privately requested either by Assessor
Hull Or Tax Collector Gish for such an
opinion and that it has been already YER
bally presented and is to the effect that
the law from its opening chapter to it's
final paragraph Is invalid and void. Both
OF the ofhcials interested deny most
complacently that any such opinion as
the one rum ored to bs 10 existence has
been either asked for or furnished.
The story, as being told, is that several
days ago one OF the chief deputies in Tax
Collector Gish's ocffie wrote to San
Francisco for official information. The
letter was opened by Henry Z. Carter.
formerly of this city, who was ono of
Judge Fitzgerald's deputies. The latter
is alleged to have made an exhaustive
examination of the matter and his reply
was that the law is not constitutional.
Carter, in due course of his duties, is
stated to have submitted his opinion to
his chief for the latter's approval and
subsequent official signature.
Judge Fitzgerald, so the story is being
related in official circles, after making a
personal examination of the facts and the
law upon his own part, conceded with
the views OF his deputy upon every
point made by the latter. The attorney
general. however, refused to permit his
opinion to be forwarded to this city as
1T had not been requested by either the
city attorney or the council He is said
to have sent word to this city that If
the matter was submitted to him by
either of tie two authorities quoted, he
would unhesitatipgly go on record with
an oihclally written statement that the
law, so far as its enforcement is concern
ed, is not worth the paper upon which
its provisions were originally typewrit-
ten.
City Attorney Dunn has not yet made
an official declaration upon the subject.
He has, however, advised with the best
legal talent in the city upon the matter
and Gays that some lawyers think the
law is all right, while others of equal
reputation are certain that it is legally
all wrong.
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