The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-22
By A NEW Iron FENCE.
Guarding Lick Statuary in
City Hall Park.
OFFICES NOT GIVEN OUT.
An Unexpected Hitch in Appointments
in the Board.
LOST RECORDS OF FITZHUGH'S TINE.
The Street Superintendent Ordered to
See That Trolley Poles Are
Properly Erected.
LOST RECORDS OF FITEHUGH'S TINE.


terdav with ofice-seekers. Although few
places were left to be disposed Of yet the
press of place-hunters has not diminished
to any appreciate extent. They were
packed together like sardines, and were as
good-natured as possible under the cir
cumstances, when the nerves OF all were at
high tension. They waited patiently until
the resolution affecting positions was
read. As soon as that was disposed OF,
out they tramped into the dark corridors
of the municipal labyrinth, and thence out
into the storm, and departed, sullen and
disappointed, to their usual haunts Tor
solace.
The reason of so much chagrin was the
failure of the resolution, introduced
by Supervisor Hughes, providing for
the following changes, to 60 through:
Engineer and bridgekeeper at Fourth-street
bridge, c. J. McDermot, vice P NJ. Hendry,
removed; bridgekeeper at Fourth street
bridge, John Corson, vice John Z. Mitchell;
bridgekeeper's assistant at Fourth-street
bridge, +. Peterson, vice David Capuro;
bridgekeeper at Sixth-street bridge, Wit
liam O'Leary, vice G.. Toffanelli; keeper at
Sixth-street dumps, Frank Coppelli, vice
G. B. Canepa; keeper at the Street Depart
ment Corporation Yard, Frank Taylor, vice
?. Flood.
When a vote was taken on the resolution
it was suddenly discovered that two of the
Republican members were absent-Super-
visors Spreckels and Taylor, who had asked
to be excused. The Democrats all voted
against removing members OF their own
party, who thereby will have anotherweek
In office. The failure of the resolution to
pass is not due TO any disagreement. The
following was the vote: AyeS-hIng, BEN
jamin, Hughes, Bunker, Morgenstern and
Hobbs; noes-Scully, Hirsch Dimond and
Wagner; absent, Spreckels and Taylor.
The mem bers of the board have quickly
familiarized themselves with the detailed
procedure in the transaction of public
affairs. Usually it takes Boards of Super
visors three or four months before the
members become sufficiently acquainted
with the complicated rules, and before they
display ease in their new positions.
The Committee on Public Buildings,
through its chairman, Supervisor Hobbs,
reported on taking inventory of the articles
necessary to carry on the cleaning of the
haIl. it was found that mops, brooms, coal
scUttles, buckets and various other articles
necessary to the City Hall cleaning depart
ment had disappeared, and that new ap-
pIiances would have to be purchased before
the hall could be cleaned. 1t was also
recommended that some distlng gushing
mark should be adopted for the City Hall
At present 1t is hard to find a janitor when
one Is wanted, though he may be passed IN
the hall dozen times.
With reference to the grading of D
street from Eleventh to TWenty-fOurth, the
Finance Committee reported that there
was some trouble over the assessment
owing TO a discrepancy as to the amount of
cubic yards OF sand removed. In the con-
troversy over the matter it appears that
the field book of the City and County Sur
Fevor cannot be found. The Finance Conn
mittee recommends that the City and
County Surveyor prepare a new estimate
from all the data obtalnabIe, and on the
issuance of this certificate the committee
viii recommend the making of a new and
correct assessment according to law. This,
1t is thought, will remove any objection
that could be urged against the assessment
not being based upon certificate OF the
City and County Surveyor, and at the
same time enable the prOperty-owners who
have paid amounts IN excess of their Just
liabilities to obtain the refunding of the
same from the contractor, as well as deter
mine the correct amount due by the city
and county.
Touching this matter a communication
was received from City and County Sur
yeyor Tilton, stating that Level Book No.
IT'S, made in Fitzhugh's time, and which
contained the original field notes for the
grading OF d street, done under contract, is
not to be found in the Surveyors office,
nor has it been in the Office since the pres
ent Surveyor took possession on June Z.
He stated that he could make an estimate
from the profile, but would not consider it
accurate owing to the drifting sands. So
the Finance Committee viii again take up
the subject.
Attorney Y. s. Writ addressed a legal
communication to the board on the subject
OF the Police Commission. According to
theory advanced by him the Supervisors
have the power of removing and appoint
ing Police Commissioners. In his paper
he says:
He is informed and verify believes that
the Governor of the State has no constitu-
tional or legal authority whatever to APP
point any, all or either Of the Police Com
missioners of the said city and county on
the ground that by virtue of Article Y,
section g. of the constitution, and sections
$780, S75 and 500 of the Political Code, the
Governor can only appoint when there is
no mode provided by the constitution or
law and there is a vacancy or no incumbent
in office.
''Y Jour petitioner further shows that by
virtue of said constitution and law said
Board of Supervisors has the power and
authority to appoint said Commissioners,
and in support of the proposition cites a
ton and codes and decisions of the Su-
preme Court. The constitution fixes the
term of said Commissioners at four years
and provides that the term of any such
officer shall not be prolonged or extended
at all after his term has expired.
.sThe late Samuel NJ Wilson" SAYS At
torney Writ, "for years distinguished
member of the bar, drafted an ordinance
providing for the appointment of Fire Com
missioners, which was adopted by the
board in 1899 Edwards was appointed by
virtue of that ordinance, and the Supreme
Court held that he was entitled to the
office, and Parsons had to vacate from it.
OF course the doctrine here contended for
by the common law and the authorities
would make all the offices of said commits
sion vacant, for the terms of two of them
expired in the year about 1882, and there
was vacancy upon the death OF the other
one.n
The petitioner asks that an ordinance be
passed providing for the appointment of
all the Police Commissioners required by
law and fixing their terms of office, con-
sistent with the constitution and law, and
asks that committee of counsel learned in
the law be appointed to confer on the SUBJ
ject.
The communication was referred to the
T44dioiarxy Com tfoq for hJ17ial ba C11-