The herald., 1897-01-09
Fully Explained From Its Incep.
lion to the Close
1T WAS FULLY JUSTIFIED
The Proceedings for the Proposed I'm.
provemcut Will Be Abandoned
PROVIDED the Properly Owners viii Pay the
Expenses Incurred 10 Date
First Meeting of the New Board OF Pup-
lie Works-.The Mateo Street Fran
chise-Kecomnren ndations Adopt
ed--City Hall Notes


The city council met in adjourned ses-
sion Yesterday afternoon to hear the re-
port Of the special committee in the mat
ter of the Bellevue avenue widening
President Silver presided. and all the
members were in their places exceps
Councilman Hutchinson of the Eighth,
who came in shortly after the meeting
was called to order. The lobby was well
filled with the Interested property own
ers.
The report of the special committee,
signed by Messrs. Baker, Hutchison and
Grlder, was as follows:
First-We find that a majority of the
property owners representing more than
half of the property in the assessment
district concerned in the widening Of
Bellevue avenue from Upper Main to
Castelar, street are dissatisfied with the
assessments levied by the commission
ers and the district outlined by the
council.
Second--We believe that the district
in question is not justly and equtably
laid out.
an absolute necessity fcr the improve
ment of much of the adjacent territory,
and Ii should be prosecuted to compile
ton, at uhe earliest possible moment
Fourth--We recommend that the ex-
penses already accrued be paid by the
people of the assessed district, If the pro"
ceedings are abandoned.
Fifth--We find that al. the proceedings
in this matter have been legal and regu
ho ba MI la int 10 in Fta.-
gard 20 the discrimination concerning
the boundaries of the assessment dis
trict
On motion Of Councilman Ashman
the report was received ard ordered
iiyad, after which Councilman Blanchard
moved that the proceedings be abaEdon-
ed on the property owners paying the
expenses already incurred.
This motion was duly seconded, ard
The matter was laid before the council
for argumer'
Major w r. Burke, representing the
property owners. took issue with the re-
port He said that he had p.ainly eX
pressed himself on the matter before the
council. and repeated that one of the
principal grounds of complaint was the
outrageous ard excessive charges of the
commissioners for the services rendered
by them. He wished to again protest
against these excessive charges, and he
hoped that the new courcl would not
perpetuate this abuse. which had caused
SO much trouble to the people in the
past.
Councilman Hutchinson said that he
cid not agree with Major Burke in
his remarks. He thought that If the re-
port was read carefully it would be seen
that the points in controversy had been
covered. and 1t was thought that the
further facts would be brought out in The
general discussion.
Councilman Baker said that he had
2 been told by the cCmmis sioners that
they had put in forty-one days each on
the work. and if this we's the case thay
had not been overpaid for their work
Mayor Snyder, who had been criti-
cised rather sharply by one of
the protesting property owners
aadressed al ne prss'us se eoura %fe'nF at nse
length, explaining his position. He
stated how the matter was first brought
before the council. detailed the open
manner in which 1t had been conducted,
and denied that there had beer any un-
derhand proceedings. He said that he
was surprised that any citizen should
have seen fit to take advantage of
mans absence and impugn his motives
He could only say that the statements
made enanated from either malice or
ignorance. He explained the reasons
why the Vickery block and other prop
erty was left out of the assessment
district, and demonstrated that every
legal requirement had been carried OUT
Mayor Snyder closed by saying that he
had done nothing that he was ashamed
OF, and nothing that he would not do
again under similar circumstances.
The mayors remarks were received
with applause, which was quickly
checked by the president, who annonnc
ed that no demonstration would be per.
mitoed. and that on repetition he would
order the lobby cleared
Councilman Hutchson. on the part
of the council, Gtlacraimed any responsi.
bility for the structures passed on the
mayor. No remarks had been made by
any member of the council against the
mayor. and the remarks complained of
We're the utterances of but one of the
protesting property owners, for when
the council should not be held RESPONSE
Bile.
Major Burke further explained his po-
s1tlon, and said that he had only appear.
ed to give certain facts in connection
with certain property which he repre-
scented.
Mr.. Stratton of the Northwest I'm
provement associations made plea Tor
the proper compensation of the conf
mlssi0ners. The men had done the work
Tor which they We're appointed honestly
ard conscientiously, and they should
receive their pay.
councilman Baker and T. F. Laycock,
representing some of the property own
ers favoring the proposed Improvement,
spoke briefly, and then Attorney Ladd
spoke at length against going ahead
with the work under the present assess
ment. which he said was excessiye and
unjust. He Thought that the railroad
company. which received the greatest
benefit, should pay at least one -falf OF
the expenses incurred.
City Attorney Dunn briefly explained
the legal status of the case, anS pro-
tested against the attacks made upon
the commissioners. These gentlemen
had done their duty and they should be
protected.
Councilmen Ashman and Hutchison
also spoke briefly, and then a vote wa 9.
taken. when Mr.. Blsnchard's motion
that the proceedings be abandoned pro-
penses incurred within thirty days. r,rf.-
vailed by vote OF to- 2.
Councilman Grider moved that the