The herald., 1896-05-05
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS

by the proceedings in detail as given be-
low.
COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
The Eighteenth Street OpenIng-Reports Of
Committees-Routine Business
The city council met at 9:45 o'clock yes
terday morning. with Councilman Stock
well presiding. President Teed and
Councilmen Blanchard and Savage were
conspicuous by their absence.
Councilman Munson moved that the
parties holding the Scott electric fran
chise be- notified to thoroughly light
every room and corridor In the city hall
or that the franchise. would be Cancelled.
Councilman Pessell thought that this
action Of the council might cause some
complication in the legal proceedings
now in the courts, but Councilman Mum
son said that he had consulted with the
city attorney in the matter, and that Of
ficial did not think that any trouble
would be caused by his motion. He
thought 1t necessary that decisive and
positive step should be taken in the mat
ter.
The protest from property owners on
Wall street, between Third and Pico,
against the confirmation of the report
Of the commissioners for the opening
and widening of said street, was taken
up. The protestants allege that in many
cases the assessments exceed the mar
ket value Of the land taken, while in
others 1t is much below 1t, SO that cer-
tain property owners would have to pay
an exorbitant price for the benefit of
others. who would be equally benefited.
Judge Gottschalk. representing some
OF the property owners, asked that the
matter be laid over, as a case in which
some of the property Is involved Is set
for trial in the superior court on May
7th. and, on motion Of Councilman Pes
sell, the hearing was continued until
May 18th at 2 p. m.
EIGHTEENTH STREET OPENING
The protest against the confirmation
of the report Of the commissioners for
the opening of Eighteenth street, from
Grand avenue to Hope street, through
the st. Vincent college property, next
came up. The protestants object to the
opening Of the street because no petition
was ever circulated asking for 1t, and
they further object to paying anything
for the land because other property own
ers gave the land for the street, and the
owners Of the property through which it
Is now desired to open the street had
promised to open the street, and to pay
them for 1t would be giving premium
for bad faith and want of public spirit
A discussion ensued, participated in
principally by w. Wright. who owned
the property formerly and who opened
the street through his holdings, and Isl
dore Dockweiler, representing the st.
Vincent people, Though whose land it
Is now desired to open the thoroughfare.
The debate waxed warm, and at one
time 1t looked as though a direct ques-
tion of veracity had been raised be-
tween the two gentlemen. Mr.. Wright
made a positive assertion, which Mr..
Dockweiler as positively denied, but
after some more or less emphatic talk
the matter was automatically settled.
30 far as the personalities were con-
cerned. and the parties in interest gath
cred about Mr.. Kingery's desk, where
the discussion proceeded in an infor-
NAL and somewhat desultory manner,
the protestants giving their views in ex-
tense as set forth in the protest Several
property owners insisted that the prop
erty to be taken had been assessed
"out of sight" and greatly in excess Of
the market value, and instaSced cases
where they had been unable to make
bona hde sales at figures much below
the assessed valuations It was further
alleged positively that Father Meyer
had personally agreed to open the street,
and therefore was not entitled to COM
pensation. Councilman Kingery finally
brought the discussion to a close, re-
viewing the matter from both sides,
and giving some matters publicity that
ne had ascertained on his own account,
saying that he thought the street should
be opened, but that he could not make
the moral and the legal sides of the
controversy hitch. AS a compromise,
nissioners be so modified thatNthe St.
Vincent people should receive 500 bene-
mt instead of $1,000, which he thought
was all that they were entitled to.
Mr. Dockweiler wanted the matter to
20 over, so that the commissioners could
De neard as. II the council seriously con-
sidered the matter at this time, it would
cast slur on their work, and they
should have an opportunity to explain.
Mr.. Wright insisted that Eighteenth
street only existed because of the prom
!se Of Father Meyer to open the street
through his property, and on this prom
ise he had so changed his maps as to
provide for the street.
Councilmen Munson and Pessell
thought that 1t would be setting bad
precedent to instruct commissioners
what to do. as 1t would be virtually TAX
ing away their powers.
Councilman Kingery said that If he
could not get second to his motion he
would certainly move that proceedings
De abandoned, and he made such mo-
tion, which was seconded by Mr.. Mum
son. Mr.. Blanchard moved to amend
. ny apandoning the proceedings pro-
penses, in which position he was sus-
tanned by Mr.. Stockwell.
rms turn IN the matter was not satis-
factory, and another running debate
Followed. the result of which was that
the protest was sustained, and the re-
port was referred back to the commits
sioners for a reassessment
BIDS OPENED
"A number Of bids for street improve
ments were opened, read and referred
TO the board Of public works.
To sidewalk Ninth street, from Main
TO San Pedro streets-C. Leonardt pro
posed for the sum Of 12 cents per square
foot; David Mulrein proposed for the
sum of IA cents per square foot; Conrad
6cheerer proposed for the sum of 1872
cents per square foot; Gray Bros. &
Ward proposed for the sum of 12s cents
per square foot; Frank Gillespie pro
posed for the sum of 12A cents per
TO improve Cummings street, from
Michigan to Brooklyn avenue-L. c.
Palmer proposed: Grading and gravel
ing, LBS per linear foot; curb, each
side. 20 cents per linear foot; cutters.
each side, 20 cents per linear foot; cross
walks. 81 per linear foot L. l. Wall pro
posed: Grading and gravelinR. 81. 80
~ Linear foot; curb, each side, 20 cents