The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-05
CAN EMPTY THE VAULTS,
Rem arkable Authority of City
Engineer-CommiSsioner
Wilson.
HE PASSES ON HIS OWN ACTS.
Auditor Snow Opens the Eyes of
the Council to Queer State
of Affairs.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,
O0Q Oct {

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALI
90S Broadway, Oct. 4.
The startling statement made last night
by Auditor Snow that if City Engineer
Wilson presented bills for $4,000 properly
Endorsed by the Board of Works he could
secure the money without hindrance has
placed that body in an entirely new light,
and an attempt will be made to declare
that its present formation is illegal.
The main point urged against the legality
of the Board of Works is that it passes
upon its own acts, something that is not
permitted any public body. Another point
is that as regards the City Engineer-he is
personally and financially interested in
the letting of public contracts, inasmuch
as he is paid by fees for his share of mu-
nicipal work.
At present Engineer Wilson and City
Attorney Peirsol constitute the majority
of the Board of Public Works, and conse-
quently do as they please. Mayor Davie
is the silent minority. Should the board
require any legal advice on any point, City
Attorney Peirsol, one of the majority,
must render it. When any work has to be
accepted City Engineer Wilson, who has
probably drawn some fees from the work
must accept it. AS all work has to be
done to the satisfaction of the Board of
Works and as the board audits the bills, it
will be readily seen that the grounds for
contesting the legality of the constitution
of the board rest on more than gauzy
foundation.
When the Council passes an ordinance
authorizing the board to do anything, If
1t be not satisfactory to Mayor Davie, he
vetoes the ordinance and then. as a men,
Der of the Board of Works he does not
have n aTJfhnri1n that IF which he does
not approve as Mayor. The dual capacity
of each official has already caused much
conflict and unpleasantness, but not until
last nights discussion in the Council
chamber was the position fully realized.
The discussion was upon the Mayor s
message. He advocated the reduction of
the item for help for the engineers office
by $1,000. Mr.. Wilson said it was not suffi-
cient, though whether he spoke as the
City Engineer or as Public Works Com
missioner was not apparent. 1t was evil
dent that Mr.. Wilson was not agitated
over the proposed cut. Councilman Towle
asked Auditor Snow if Wilson as City En-
gineer handed in bills signed by Wilson
as Commissioner and the other two Com
missioners amounting to $1,000, when the
Council only appropriated $1,000, they
would be paid.
eyes, if they amounted to SIC, OO0," said
Auditor Snow. 1.-THE only authorization
l am required to have by law is the in
dorsement of the board. With that am
at liberty to empty the treasury. The re-
sponsibility is theirs"
Councilman Towle stated that the ad-
mission of the Auditor was somewhat of a
surprise, and said that it really appeared
as if the City Council had very little to do
with the apportionment of the revenue, as
the Board of Works spent it all.
The Board of Works has exclusive
control of the street, police and fire de-
partments, and with the present combina-
ton against the Mayor, Messrs. Peirsol
and Wilson, two men never heard of be-
fore the last election and without one
weeks experience in municipal govern
ment, absolutely dictate the entire policy
of the city as regards Improvements, pat
ronage and finances.