The San Francisco call., 1896-01-25
His Signature Wanted on the
River Improvement AS
SeSSment.
CAN FIND NO LAW FOR IT.
The Finance Committee of the Board
of Supervisors Approves the
Demand.

The California River Improvement As
sociation will probably be disappointed in
its hopes of receiving financial aid from
the City and County of San Francisco to
assist in sending its delegates to Washing
ton to urge the passage by Congress of the
bills for river improvement now before
the National legislators.
The association, which represents nine
teen of the richest counties in the State,
including San Francisco, at its fifth bien-
nial session, held in this City recently,
assessed each OF the various counties from
500 to $500, according to population and
benefits to be derived. San Francisco
County was the only one which was asked
to pay the maximum assessment.
The committee appointed to urge upon
the Supervisors the necessity of approving
the assessment promptly and forwarding
the same to Colonel H. Weinstock OF Sac
ramento, the assistant secretary OF the as
sociation, called on the Finance Commit
tee of the board yesterday and argued the
matter at length.
Senator G.. II. Rose, chairman of the as
sociatiOn, and Senator J. NJ. Gleav es, the
secretary, told the committee that the
presence of the delegation in Washington
was absolutely necessary, as without the
strong arguments which would be brought
to bear on Congress the bills were likely to
fail TO pass and the State be done an almost
irreparable injury. They called attention
TO the TACT that the necessary funds to de-
fray the expenses of the delegation must
be In hand al an early date and to the
action of the previous Board of Super
vlSors IN ordering the assessment paid for
the delegation from the association that
went to Washington some years ago.
The Finance Com mittee decided that
the assessment is Just and proper and
voted unanimously in favor of paying it.
Thus far the committee from the asso-
citation has Jared well, but when it comes
TO an interview with Auditor Broderick to
ascertain whether he will sign the warrant
for the assessment it will strike snag and
unless the mem bers can bring some law or
convincing argument to bear 10 make the
watchman OF the treasury see that he is
justified IN signing. the association will
get no money from San Francisco.
1T may DE that the assessment is all
right and that the Supervisors have a legal
right to order it paid" said Mr.. Broderick
yesterday, "but in the light of the facts as
L now see them do not think that would
be justified III signing the warrant L
signed 1t the last time 1t was presented to
me, to be sure, but the matter was rushed
through in hurry l had no time to look
VIC AASit w IAiOtOuSl49 dhh L lave DSSll
sorry ever since that l did not stand the
warrant up when it was handed to me for
my signature.
LAS far as L can see there is no law for
this appropriation. If it il paid it must
come out of the urgent necessity fund and
l do not believe the law will permit the
urgent necessity fund to be used for this
purpose.
Il shall certainly look into the matter
very carefully and unless these gentlemen
assessment is perfectly legal and just the
warrant will go unsigned"