The San Francisco call., 1897-08-08
The Friends Of Devany and
Haskins Will Be the
Sufferers.
MAYOR MAKES A DECIDED STAND.
Fat Street Contracts That We're Not
Given Out in Accordance With
the Law.

The Devany- Haskins com blne IN the
Board of Supervisors, that has been deal
ing out public pap to its friends to the ex-
clusion OF those local hrms that would bid
honestly and openly for public work, was
brought to a sudden halt yesterday by
Mayor Phelan by means OF a couple OF
veto messages that are iar-reaching in
their effects.
In its efforts to get everything In slght
the comb bine utterly ignored several laws
that were framed to protect the public
treasury by having public work go to the
lowest responsible bidder in open public
competition and handed the tat Jobs to
their friends AZ ANY old price.
So open and avariCious was their grab
bing that the matter could not escape
pubic notice, and the Mayor recently be.
gan to investigate.
He did not have to go far, for in his
hands for signature were a number OF bills
that had been presented by some of the
favored ones.
A very short inquiry showed the Mayor
that the law had been grossly violated in al
most every instance. and he promptly We
toed big batch Of the authorizations. The
Mayor does not go into the matter of the
prices charged, but rests his objections on
the laws relating to public competition tor
public work.
Mr.. Phelan first takes up the work OF
the Printing Committee, OF which Has
kins is chairman. As is customary, the
patronage of the committee was left in
the hands OF the chairman, and the
friends he favored had many and healthy
bulls awaiting his Honor 5 signature. This
is the way the first one read and consid-
cred was handled:
SAN FRANCISCO. Cal, Aug. Z, 1897.
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors Of the
City and o1tHty Of San Frdnctsco-GEN ENTLEMEH:
l herewith return 10 you msnd on the
treasury IN favor of Phillips & Smylh for
printing, amounting 10 $2S7. without my ap-
provaL The bill is as follows:
$50 copies schedules for fire Department,
snnnies consisting OF % pp and cover and
Kes-ttng and reprintiug IA PIP. after WORK
was completed Observation-Disclosures. 81
TX IRA changes from original cop after proofs
we're su bmig gted-S4 hours at so CENTS. 40
Iotal .............. ..................-,--- S2SI
This is clearly a bill for printing. I also hold
that all acquisitions for boaks blanks and ste-
Iionery must be considered as printing within
the meaning of the law. The only authority
the board has for ordering such work IS con-
t ined in section of an act CT the Legisla ure
Ii, proved May II, 1861, apd section SO OF the
Consolidation Act Section of the EcJ OF May
II, 1861, eduires thai all ouisltionS for sta
uontTy, etc. be made BY the City officers u Don
The Supervisors, wEo ehall order the cost OF
the Same paid out OF the special fee fund; and
section 90 OF the Consolidation Act says that
all contracts for printing to be done for the
said City and County must be given by The
Board OF supervisors to the lowest bidder
Offering adequate security, after due public
notice. The efore, the board having failed to
invite proposals for public printing. as re-
quire by law, the demands do not constitute
valid ella IN against the City an County,
and hence cannot be allowed.
l recommend that the clerk classify the
printing Tor the fiscal year according 10 the
requirements of the several departments, an d
that proposals be invited Tor the same.
have not been unmindful of the equita bic
rights OF the contract RS, but my pub &c duty
requires that this stand be taken. 1t can be
dohe now, at the beginning OF the fiscal year,
with less hardship TO the printers, who nigh t
be unwittingiy led into large and Illegal con-
tracts, AID also with the less inconvenience to
public officers than at any other time.
The principal regret in taking this neces-
sary course pointed out by the law is that
the Supervisors are Obliged 10 advertise in
three daily papers, which constitute a con-
siderable item OF expense and is entirely mn
necessary. The official paper, which does the
advertising of the City Tree, should be alone
sufficient. AS there are six daily papers, how
ever, / recommend tnat proposals for the
printing of the advertisement for those sup
plies be also invited. which would seem to be
Ihe logical requirement OF the law. Respect
fully, JAMES d. PHELAN. Mayor,
Then the Mayor calmly dlsposes OF the
remainder as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO, Cal, Aug. 7, 1897
To the Honorable Board Of Supervisors of the
city and County # San Observation-Disclosures:
! herewith return 10 you, without my ap-
proval, demands on the treasury as follows:
Phillips d Smyth 81 49 90
Phillips & Smyth lO3 81
Pail ips & Smyth. ............ ....... 2 3 so
Phillips IL Smyth ............ ........,..... 42U 90
H. ). Crocker Com pany ....,.......... 2Og 20
II. =. Crocker Company ............... lao 20
j. b Mcintyre. ......,. 1876 so
J. B. Mcintyre. ..... 2 b 55
j. B. Mcintyre. ATS 25
My reason for Withholding approval of these