The herald., 1896-01-17
Walking IS PRETTY GOOD
Leg Service at the City Hall
Yesterday Afternoon
1T MADE THE MAYOR MAD
And He Ordered a Little Sign Taken
Down
The Fuel Yves About to Give Out In the
Building but the Contractors Stand
Ready to Renew the Supply

There was no elevator service in the city
hall after IL o'clock noon'yesterday. The
fuel supply had about given out and En-
aincer Story soon found City Clerk Luck
enhach, who is the custodian Of the build
ing. The clerk informed Story that he
would look into the matter as soon as he
returned from lunch.
A notice was then posted bearing the
legend: Elevator not running because of
no fuel" The mayor saw the sign on his
way to luncheon, and it caused the execu-
tive ire to rise to boiling point. The
mayor inspected the bit of paper bearing
the upwelcome intelligence of the city's
fearful poverty, and then he gave his rage
full play. He tore the offending
sign into little bits, and ordered that an
other must under no circumstances be put
into its place. Then the mayor sent for
the city clerk and the latter was instructed
to forthwith draw a requisition upon the
emergency fund for enough money to cover
the expense of replenishing the city hall
tanks with crude oil, which is the fuel used
a. power in the building.
City Clerk Luckenbach is blamed in a
great many quartz rs for having permitted
the matter to go on as far as it did. He
defends himself with the statement that
his orders from the council are of such an
imperative character that he was COM
PEELED to act as he did.
The emergency fund yesterday con-
tanned just exactly $2O4.35. This was be-
fore the Luckenbach requisition for crude
oil had been drawn. The ordinance Great
ing the fund says:
Section 1. There is hereby created a
fund to be known as the emergency fund,
the money in which may be used in pay
ment of such claims against the city OF
Los Angeles as the emergencies of the
public service may from time to time re-
quire, when the immediate payment OF the
same is of 20 urgent a nature as to render
1t impracticable to obtain the money there
for in the usual way; but in no case shall
any claim be paid out of said fund that
could be provided for in the usual way.
sec. 2. There is hereby appropriated
the sum of 5000 out of the sslary fund to
be paid to the city clerk on presentation of
q demand therefor by said clerk in the
usual manner. which money when SO
drawn shall be deposited by said clerk
with the city treasurer, and shall be known
as the 'semergency fund. and shall be paid
out ON the check of said clerk, which check
shall be drawn in favor of the person hav-
ing the claim against the city,
when practicable, upon application to
said clerk by any official, to
pay some immediate claim made against
said city, the neglect to pay which immedi-
ately would be detrimental to the public
service, but in no case shall the amount of
any one check exceed the sum of $25; this
claim shall be approved by Endorsement on
the check issued therefor by the mayor,
and in case of his absence by the president
of the council, and in case of his absence
by the chairman of the finance committee.
If in the Judgment of the city clerk, or any
one of the officials above named, the claim
II not of such an immediate and urgent q
character, or if there be any doubt as to
whether the same is n proper charge against
said city, or if it could be presented and
city, the claim shall not be allowed"
The contractors who supply the oil to the
city say that they are perfectly willing to
continue furnishing 1t and take chances
upon payment. Every councilman but
one, the clerk says, advised him to act as
he did.
The mayor said yesterday that rather
than have the elevator service shut off
again. he will advance the money for the
fuel bill himself.
Late yesterday afternoon the city clerk
forwarded to President w. B. Cline of the
Los Angeles Gas company the following:
SIR:-The council has failed to approve
my requisition for gas for the city hall for
the month of January. Under the instruc-
tons of the council am prohibited from
incurring any expense without first obtain
ing such requisition.
While feel sure that the council will
ultimately approve these accounts, beg to
say that any delay in the payment must
not be attributed to neglect upon my part,
and that in furnishing gas at the city hall
you do so at your own risk.