The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-18
CITY CREDITORS
RELY ON A VOTE,
They Will Lay Their
Claims Before the
People. J
THROUGH LEGISLATION.
Their Just Bills Were Repu-
dated on a Legal
Technically.
TWO YEARS IN THE STRUGGLE.
At Last the Creditors Decide on a
Course of Action With Much
Enthusiasm.
TWO YEARS IN THE STRUGGLE.

The merchants who have long standing
claims against the City. through which
they have become known as the City IS
associated creditors, met yesterday after
noon IN the assembly hall of the Board OF
Trade at 2O2 Market street. J. P. LIE Count
occupied the chair.
Mr.. LIE Count, representing committee,
presented an exhaustive report which re-
viewed the situation in detail, how the
debts were incurred by the City and re-
pudiated on mere legal technicalitles.
He said that two years have passed since
the "City's creditors" commenced active
measures to secure recognition of their
Just claims against the City, two years OF
continuous effort to secure the satisfaction
OF these claims. And though no tangible
results have been accomplished yet he felt
that the work has not been done in vain.
On the contrary he could assure his fellows
that strong public feeling has been
aroused by the constant agitation that has
been kept up.
"The people, said he, "are fully aware
that there is a large debt hanging over the
City due to its tax-paying citizens and
that they feel it to be disgrace to our
City and citizens"
Continuing, Mr.. LIE Counts report stated
that there are LA associated creditors who
have spent their time and money for all
the creditors, aggregating 800 to 700. Their
claims amount to $45, 600 out of total OF
$3.50 900.
A review of the work done looking to-
ward collection OF these debts was pre-
sented in detail. This included the legal
contests for the claims, action of the Board
of Supervisors last year and rejection of
claims by the court, all of which has been
published in THE CALL.
With regard to remedy the report
says: "We certainly are now compelled to
seek other methods than those we have
employed. Neither time nor money has
been spared in the prosecution of the
work thus far, and at the present time we
seem to be meshed in a net of legal tech
nicalities, but there is yet hope that by
an appeal to the people direct we may at
tain our ends.
GAS / before remarked we have ample
evidence that the people are with us: that
they will come to our support when we
provide the opportunity.
"a vote of the people authorizing the
payment of our demands would put the
matter beyond the pale of technicalities,
and we then might expect to find our long
and continuous struggle at an end.
ITO submit our case to q vote of the
people would necessitate legislative aid.
A bill would have to be passed authoriz-
ing the submission of this question to a
popular vote. believe the people are
with us, and believe it is due ourselves
to make this final attempt to secure the
satisfaction of our demands"
A suggestion was made from the chair
to the effect that an executive committee
of five be appointed with full power to
act, and to appoint auxiliary committees
if NECESSARY, the ultimate purpose to be
to present the case to the people for q
popular vote.
F. w. Eaton, treasurer of the telephone
company, made motion that the sugges-
ton be adopted, and l.. Battles of the
light company seconded the motion,
which was carried unanimously.
The chairman announced he would
name the committee in few days, where
upon the meeting adjourned.