The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-19
TAXPAYERS UNION.
President w. II. Byington and Other
Members Criticize the Mayor
and Council.

ana COUNCIL.
at was q reckless and irregular piece of
work from first to last, this action of the
Council and city officials in placing the
bonds and letting the contract for the new
water works." said W. H. Byington, who
Is one of the larger property holders at
Santa Rosa and president of the Taxpayers
Union.
"In the first place the present water sup
ply is ample for this city and there never
has been need for another plant 1t is a
piece of municipal extravaganza that will
be sure to have bad effect upon the future
of the city.
at is probable that no city in the State,
or any other State, of the size of this city,
has had so many suits tried and pending
as Santa Rosa has had during the past
year. 1t becomes necessary to inquire as
to the cause, at least, of some of them. II
the action of its Mayor and Common Coun-
Gil has been within the limits fixed by law
for their guidance, as the agents and trus-
tees of the city, then the bringing OF the
suits should be condemned by every per-
son having knowledge of the suits, and the
Mayor and Common Council should re-
ceive that support and praise to which
merit and integrity are entitled.
"If, however, the Mayor and Council,
knowingly and purposely, met in secret
session, or outside the Council chambers,
arranged matters that would come before
them officially, as such agents and trustees
if they concealed from their principals,
the people, SO long as concealment were
possible, their official actions; if repre-
sensations have been by them made to the
public which were intended to misead; ii
they knowingly attempted, not once, but
more, to exceed their power, and only de-
sisted when compelled to by DEGREES of
court; if they have placed the people
money where it is liable to be lost, without
taking security-then, in such case, their
action is a matter for serious consideration
and should be fully inquired into. We
claim that all of these things have been
done, and for this reason the Taxpayers
Union has felt in duty bound to bring the
matter to the attention of the courts
COLONEL J. D. MCDONALD, president
and chief owner OF the Santa Rosa Water
Company, takes similar view of the stu
alton. Our water system is perfect" said
he, ''and there was no need for another
plant. More than this, the contract has
been let for about $4,000 more than the
work would have been done for by another
party, [ am informed. There appears to
be an element IN this city which is reck-
less of expenses entailed upon the prop
eIly -ON HeIS. 1HeN nave llIJle or nOtDlHS
to risk themselves, and no appreciation OF
the burdens imposed upon taxpayers by
municipal extravaganza.
y. z. OVERTON, president of the
Savings Bank of Santa Rosa, which insti-
tuition is credited with being a holder of
some of the stock in the old water com
pany, said he did not approve OF the course
pursued by the proponents of the new
water system.
Il have no specific charges to make
said, "but in my opinion they acted reck-
lessly and illegally, to say the least. 1t is
true that in going to the courts for an
adjudication of the matter we are taxed
for counsel fees and legal expenses of both
sides of the issue, and it appears that the
work will be finished before the courts
have decided the issue. In view of these
facts / am not certain that it is wise for US
to continue the legal battle at present,
though we have justice and principle on
our side
ANDREW MARKHAM, a director of
the savings bank, was very positive in his
assertions that the actions of the Mayor
and the Council were illegal and should be
the subject of judicial Investigation.
81 believe the Taxpayers Union has
taken the proper stand in the matter"
said be, ''and that we are bound to press
the suit now IN the courts. We represent
the heaviest taxpayers of Santa Rosa, and
consequently the men who are most inter-
ested in checking this eXtravagant tendency
of the present city officials. We are bound
to get to the bottom of this whole matter
and see that justice is done to all con-
cerned in it.h