The record-union., 1897-03-30
sewerage and storm waters

The sewers We're all connected directly
with the pumping plant and the guam
tity of water to be handled and the ca
pacity of the pumps to discharge were
unknown. For a time the pumps were
taxed to their utmost capacity, and we
could not stop to clean up or make re-
pairs, as we had to keep the flood wat
ers out of the city, which we did. We
have demonstrated to the citizens that
they have made judicious investment,
and the statement that it was costing
the city about 81 800 per month was
made without ascertaining the facts.
1t is true, we have been at the mercy
of the Sacramento Coal Company which
has furnished poor quality of coal at
an exorbitant price, but we were not in
position to help ourselves. Here
after we can procure coal at a reason
able rate and can operate the plant
systematically and economically.
Fifth-The Board of Trustees have
the power to make contracts and agree
| ments for the benefit of the city, but
such contracts or agreements shall, in
all cases, specify the fund or funds out
of which payment for the same is to
be made, and that the same shall be
such fund or funds for the fiscal year
during which such contract or agree
ment shall be entered into Subdivis-
| ion % of Section % of the charter,
| among other things, provides:
In no case shall a liability be Gre
ated, or a warrant drawn, against any
fund beyond the actual amount of mon
ey existing in such fund wherewith to
| meet the same; provided, however
should the board, or a majority there
OF. contract or create any debt against
the city contrary to the provisions of
this charter, such debt, claim or obli-
cation shall be null and void as against
the city or any Of it's funds; but every
trustee voting in favor of the contract
| ing or creation of such illegal debt shall
be held personally responsible jointly
| and severally, for the entire debt so
created or contracted, and shall be
deemed guilty of a malfeasance in Of
flee, and upon conviction shall be re-
moved therefrom.
| 1t is apparent, therefore, that you
have no right to anticipate the moneys
which will come into the sewer fund
| during the balance of this year, or the
| following year. but that you must be
| guided, in making a contract of any
kind, by the amount existing in the
| fund at the time when the contract is
| made. There was in the sewer fund
on the 22d of March, 1897, the date on
which you entered into said proposed
contract, the sum of $500, and on
the same date you transferred $1,000
| from the general fund to the sewer
fund, making total of 1900 1t is
evident, then, that there was not suffi-
| clent money in the fund then with
which to meet the amount of So 145
| the price mentioned in the said pro-
| posed contract, and is, therefore, lille
gal.
In conclusion, / simply desire to say
that, as Mayor of this city, it is my
duty to see that the provisions of the
charter are strictly complied with, and
L shall endeavor to do my duty in this
respect. Respectfully submitted,
c. II. HUBBARD,
c. H. HUBBARD, Mayor.
l.. t. Hatfield said that the contract
was originally drawn by the Corpora
ton Counsel, and that the only change
made was that he. as Mr.. Campbelrs
counsel, had eliminated provision re-
trio, Gas and Railway Company. he
said, has nothing to do with the con-
tract, and the only thing that he had
to do with it was as Mr. Campbells
attorney. He was satisfied that the
Mayor could not buy coal cheaper than
electric power.
Devine moved to lay the matter over
for week, to let the Mayor show that
he could run the plant cheaper than
the contract would.
Davis moved that the contract be
adopted over the Mayors veto.
Kent said that he could not vote for
| Davis motion as long as there was
not enough money in the fund. He did
| not propose to pay it out Of his own
| pocket.
| A resolution was adopted transferring
81 800 more from the general fund
to the sewer fund, and Davis renew ed
| his amendment to adopt the contract
over the veto.
| Bentley said the point with him was
whether the board was going to dis
| penSe with steam and use electricity
/ or not. The plant at present is not
run at all economically, the engineers
not seeming to be competent, and un-
less the plant is going to be run some
what on civil service principles he
| should certainly favor a contract
Leonard said in relation to the part
of the message concerning economy in
coal that the Mayor expected this week
to get some cheaper coal to experiment
| with that is highly spoken of.
| G.. H. Lawrence said that the Elec-
| tric, Gas and Railway Company had
nothing to do with the contract Mr.
Campbell had simply got terms from
the company as to prices at which it
would furnish electricity to him, and
| if he had to run by steam he would
| lose a large amount. When the rain
comes next winter he will have to run
both the steam pumps in order to keep
the water down for the four winter
months. The other months he will
| have to run by electricity, and he will
not make $500 out of the contract
Devine thought if the Mayor could
run the plant for 5000 a month, it
would do no hunt to let him try it for
another month, in the interest of the
taxpayers.
Davis spoke for his amendment, and
Kent asked that Mr.. Campbell be
! heard. as he wanted all the light on
the subject he could get.
Mr. Campbell said he had for the past
nine years been interested in the sew
erage question, and had presented plans
| on it two years ago. He thought he
had accumulated some knowledge on
the subject. He did not think that, at
this late date, any one would question
| the stability and efficiency of electric