The morning call., 1895-02-13
Reproduced from a photograph ]

a member of the board for the purpose at
issue then it follows that I am, and he will
notify me, no doubt. 1t seems that the
law is clear enough, and l am expecting
advice to that effect at every mail. l think
it wouldn't do any harm if we would look
into the matter little, do you? You may
rest assured that if have any rights in the
premises I will assert them, but have no
personal knowledge of the merits of the
case"
7. C. Coogan, formerly attorney for the
Board of Harbor Commissioners, is given
credit for having started this story that
the Governor of the State and the Mayor
of the city of San Francisco were members
of the board for the letting of contracts for
the ferry foundation. 1t appears that he
was consulted by Governor Budd in the
matter and the advice as stated was given
in answer. Mr.. Coogan is now in Sacra-
mento and has been for two days. At his
Office they say that he is called there to
argue about something before legislative
committee. The CALLS correspondent at
the capital put the question to him as to
whether he had really so advised the Gov
ernor and he answered promptly:
I
my mind, the Governor and the Mayor are
ex-oficio members of the board with the
full powers of other members in matters in
relation to the seawall, which includes the
adoption of plans and the letting of con-
tracts in this matter of the ferry founda-
ton"
The question was raised at meeting of
the commission yesterday afternoon, and
the present attorney, Mr.. Stratton, gave it
as his matured opinion, after looking into
the matter carefully, that they are not
members.
s'There are two duties in which the Gov
ernor and Mayor are required to act with
the board, and only two. The law is
specific. One of them was the fixing of
the line of the seawall which was COM
pleted some seventeen years ago. The
other is letting the contracts for the build
ing of the wall.
"Now this is not the seawall that is be-
ing built; simply ferry depot on the
waterfront. If they are required to act in
this matter then they should have acted
with the board in letting contracts for all
the wharves attached to the wall Coogan
has always held that this is so and can
not believe that he has given any opinion
to the contrary. The seawall has long
been built all along where the ferry build
ing is going up. The building itself, you
understand, is being constructed under the
provisions of a special act, as was shown in
the recent decision of Judge Sanderson,
which allows the letting of the contract in
bulk. etc. That act says nothing about
the Governor or the Mayor acting with the
board, so Coogan's judgment must be
based upon the old law referred to-"
Expert Donahoe was seen last night. He
said: "I received telegram to-day from
Governor Budd which was intended 20
reach me on Saturday. 1t asked me to
meet him at noon yesterday, but as
didn't get the telegram l didn't do it, of
course. 1 have heard nothing from him.
1 am through with my tests at the water
front, and for that reason was not there
to-day, but have been at work on my re-
port, which 1 shall 90 right along and
complete. My relations to the affair are
unchanged. was engaged by the Cover
nor to do this work, have had no further
word from him and the work is done.
Ihat IS all have to say"
Arthur Brown, the retired engineer who
originally laid out the plans for the ferry
depot, knows nothing regarding his ap-
polntment by the Governor as an expert to