The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-15
Mayor Phelan Vetoes An
other Batch Of Illegal
Bills.
City Supplies Must Be Bid For
in Open Public Compe-
tition.
The Devany-H askins Com bine in the
Board of Supervisors Comes in
for Another Scoring.

Mayor Phelan dealt another blow at the
schemers in the Board of Supervisors yes
terday when he vetoed a batch of bills
that had been contracted without au-
thority of law.
The Mayor is determined to see that
the law requiring the public supplies to
be furnished by those who enter into pub
lie competition for the contracts so that
the City shall receive the benefit OF the
lowest prices obtainable is observed, and
during the past few days has sent back
large mum Der of illegal bills.
The Printing Committee combine got a
setback yesterday as shown by the follow
ing veto message:
AUGUST IS, 1897.
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of the
City aud County Of San FraRctsco-GENTLE-
MEN: l herewith return TO you without my
approval two demands on the treasury ior
printing notices aud specifications supplied 10
the City, one in favor OF the Daily Report Tor
1902 AZ and the other in favor OF f. q. Fall
for $3.50 35
My objection to the demands is based upon
the same reasons urged against other printing
demands in my communication 10 the board
of date August 8. namely that the consollda@
ton act (section go requires that Work Tor
City printing must be given 10 the lowest bid
der. and that in neither OF the above cases
were bids invited or received. h enee they do
not constitute legal demand upon the treas
ury. l recommend that this WORK be included
in proposals to be invited Tor City printing.
AS these supplies are OF no value TO the
printers ii returned, the non-pay ment OF the
demands is a hardship, especially as the Gus
tom has been for many years TO give orders Tor
such Work without competition. But no one
can justly dispute the poiicy OF returning to the
plain requirements or the law Respectfully
JAMES D. PHELAN, Mayor,
Other infractions OF the law the Mayor
treated as follows:
SAN FRANCISCO. CaE, Aug. Is, 1897.
To the Honorable Board of Supervisors Of th6
Ctty and County Of San FTdncisco--GENTLEMEN
/ herewith return 10 you without my aP-
proyal two demands on the treasury IN ayd
of the Goodyear Rubber Com pany-one Tor
$431 20 and the other for $30S, Tor garden
hose furnished the Street Depar TINE emit Tor JET
ferson square. The reason OF my objection TO
the payment % these demands is that under
the act of December 81, 1877 (erroDeously
printed Decent Der 81, referred 10 as the au-
thority OF the board, proposals should be IN
vited and the award made TO the lowest bidder
offering adequate security. No proposals pave
been invited for furnishing hose tor the Street
DEPARTING nj, and hence the demands are llie-
gal.
l also return without my approval the FOL.
lowing demands on the treasury: IN favor or
Golden West Iron Works. for one dozen man
hole rims or covers, 1929 80; in favor OF
Golden West Iron Works, for three dozen man
hole rims or covers and six cesspQol plates
! S341 04; in favor OF Bennett Brothers, 1or
various hardware and suppnea, SloZ o4-
| The reason for my objection TO the payment
| OF these demands is as follows:
These bills are for material or WORK on Sc
copied streets, ordered by the Street Commit
tee of the Board of Supervisors. The sections
of he Vrooman act referred 10 as comforting
general power on the Board of Supervisors to
repair accepted streets are controlled by the
specific provisions of the act OF December q,
1877 consolidation act, p. 214), requiring ma
terials to be purchased from the lowest bid
der AS no pro posals were made, or bids re-
ceived or awards given, these demands on the
treasury are W tbout authority OF law
recommend that the clerk be instructed 10
advertise tor such proposals, as required by
law. As this is the beginning Of the fiscal
year, this action can be now taken with the
least hardship to the m erchants. and will put
them on notice. 1 recon mend that the sup
plies be returned Respectfully,
JAMES D. PHELAN, Mayor.