The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-09
Mayor Sutro objects for the
Last Time and Everybody
Is Happy.
BOARD ADJoURNs SINE DIE
The Rails to Be Shipped to Stock
ton and Work to Commence
at once.

Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway
Company was signed yesterday, and the
bssin is now the terminus of the road in
San Francisco. At the meeting, the last
TO be held, there were present Governor
Budd. Mayor Sutro. President Z. L. Col
non. D. T. Cole and F. D. Chadbourne,
Harbor Commissioners, representing the
State. and acting President Robert Watt,
Secretary Mackie and Thomas Magee of
the Valley road. Governor Budd had the
usual struggle to get through a mob of
ofice-seekers, but finally reached the
rooms of the Harbor Commissioners with
out damage.
1t was thought that everything had been
cut and dried, and that all that would be
necessary would be to call the meeting to-
gether and sign the lease. But as there
never had been meeting without an OBJ
lection being raised, so it was in this in
stance.
Mayor Sutro did not think that the GER
tifcate authorizing Messrs. Watt and
Mackie to act was properly drawn, and
considerable time was lost in discussing
the matter, and finally the minutes of the
meeting at which the resolution appoint
ing the gentlemen named was passed were
produced. Another certificate was drawn,
and, on a resolution introduced by Attor-
ney F. S. Stratton, formerly attorney for
the board, the lease was signed. On mo-
ton of the Mayor, seconded by Commits
sioner Chadbourne, the meeting then ad-
iourned sine die.
President Colnon broke in on a confer
ence of the Governor with several poll
ticians to call the meeting to order. The
minutes of the preceding meeting were
then read, and Mr.. Colnon declared that
the board was ready to proceed to busi-
ness. Acting President Watt said that he
and Secretary Mackie had been authorized
to execute the lease by the board of Gi-
rectors, and offered the following certifi-
cate of the passing of the resolution to that
effect:
SAN Francisco, May %, 1895.
At regular meeting of the board of direct
ors of the san Francisco and San Joaquin
Valley Railway Company, held this day, the
following resolution was. unanimously
adopted:
ResoIUed, That this corporation, the San
Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Railway
Company, do lease from the Board of State
Hsrbor Commissioners the lands in the City
and County of San Francisco forming a part
OF China Basin, subject to the covenants, con-
ditions and limitations contained in form of
lease OF said premises submitted to the board
of directors of this corporation upon the 28th
day of May, 1895, by the Board OF State Harbor
Commissioners, and the acting president and
the secretary of this corporation are hereby
authorized to execute said lease in the name
of this corporation under the corporate seal
thereof.
certify that the above is a true copy of the
resolution adopted by the board of directors of
the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley
Railway Company. Respectfully,
ALEXANDER MAcKIE, Secretary.
At the conclusion of the reading of the
certificate Mr.. Watt explained that the
president and attorney of the board of
directors were out of town and that he and
the secretary had been appointed to act.
Mayor Sutro objected to the form of the
certificate.
"Why, this shows nothing" said he
at does not show who was at the meeting
Of the directors.
at was a regular meeting" said acting
President Watt, land we never do any
business unless there is a majority"
"But there is nothing to show that"
urgsd his Honor. "The certificate should
show who was present and that all had
been duly notified
eve have regular NEE tings every Tues
day." replied Mr.. Watt. "At this meeting
my recollection is that there was a full
quorum, and the action of the directors
was unanimous"
"When a corporation acts it is necessary
to show who was present. In the present
- tI
81 agree with the Mayor" put in Presi-
dent Colnon. THE certificate should be
more explicit"
LAS a matter of fact" returned Mr..
Watt, ''there was a quorum, but if you
like 1 will send for the records of that
meeting"
II think that is right" said the Mayor.
I have had fifty years experience with
corporations, and we cannot be too
careful"
what do you think of this, Mr.. STRAIT
ton?" asked Mr.. Colnon.
THE fact that the corporate seal is
affixed to it" said the former attorney of
the board, "is prima facie evidence that
the resolution has been passed. If the
certificate is spread on the minutes of this
meeting IL Is dIoo pIllud 4dCAS SN4uehCe VI
the same thing"
Suppose the books of the Valley road
were destroyed?" suggested the Mayor.
"That would make no difference" re-
piled the attorney, ''for then the burden
Of proof would rest upon any one who
sought to disprove it ="
Still the Mayor was not satisfied, and it
was concluded to send for the minutes of
the meeting. While Secretary Mackie
went after the minute-book the lease was
read and pronounced to be satisfactory to
all parties.
The minutes of the meeting of the
board of directors were then produced and
read, and new certificate was drawn up
by Mr.. Mackie, differing only from the
first In that it named those who had been
at the meeting. The list was as follows:
Robert Watt, first Vice-president; A. II.