The herald., 1897-01-01

proved.
We find that the bonds of w. A. Hart
well. city treasurer. and John H. Drain,
street superintendent, do not comply
with the requirements Of the city charter
as to the sureties being upon the assess
ment rolls for the amount for which
they justify; we therefore recommend
that these officers-elect be requested to
file additional bonds to supply the de-
flciencies.
In the matter of the bond of L. S. Sea-
mans as city assessor elect we find that
number of his sureties do not comply
with the charter requirements, and that
the bond Is not in form as required by
law. We therefore recommend that the
same be rejected and the assessor elect
be instructed to file a new bond COM
plying with the law.
In the matter of the bond of Charles
H. Hance, city clerk elect, the city at
torney has refused to approve this bond
as to form until the council decides
whether 1t will accept the bond Of a
trust company, and thereafter make an
examination as to the authority of those
signing the bond to do so. We therefore
return this bond to the council without
recommendation.
In the matter of the bond of Captain
Hance. that matter was referred to the
finance committee of the new city coun-
Gil. Captain Hance, instead of filing a
personal bond, as is customary, simply
went to a trust company and was bonded
by them. This Is a new departure, so
far as Los Angeles city officials are con-
cerned. The great express companies
banks and other institutions require
bonds of this character. which are re-
garded by business men as the best pos
sible security against loss. but as the
matter never came before the city attor-
ney, he declined to approve it until he
could look up the authorities.
ELECTRICIANS SALARY
President Teed presented a resolution
requesting the incoming council to in
crease the salary of the city electrician
to an amount commensurate with the
work performed. The resolution pays
a high compliment to Mr.. Francis. the
electrician, for the manner In which he
has performed his duties. 1t further
states that the work Of the department
has been largely increased without any
corresponding increase in compensation,
and further that the amount now paid
Mr.. Francis was far lower than that paid
by other cities on the coast for like serv-
ices. Mr. Teed said 1t was recognized
fact that Mr. Francis was one of the
most competent men in his profession,
and that he had brought the fire alarm
system up to state of efficiency such as
it never was in before. Without criti-
cising the action or motives of any men,
Der of the council. he thought Mr.. Fran
els ability should have been recognized
before. and he hoped the new conucil
would increase the salary
A vote was taken and the resolution
was adopted with but one dissenting
vote, Mr.. Stockwell
MATEO STREET FRANCHISE
M. w. Conkling, representing the pro-
Nv,,o oto,xr 80 H.kA rA-~ 1I1 A%~..-
franchise, addressed the council Mr.
Conkling said that the advertisement of
the franchise as now being published
con ntained a clause which had not been
recommended by the board of public
works which had evidently been inserted
by mistake. This clause would work a
hardship upon the company. and he
asked that the present advertisement be
discontinued, the franchise amended and
Conkling explained that as rec
ommended by the board of pub
lie works and as it was agreed to by
the company, clause was inserted pro-
viding that the Brooklyn avenue and
Ninth street lines should be built before
any part of the system should be ope-
rated. This was all right. but as now
published the entire line must be con-
structed before the franchise became op-
had evidently been inserted by mistake
in copying the form of some other fran
chise. and would work a hardship ON his
company. For instance. the franchise is
for a parallel line on Main and Los An
geles streets. OF course the company does
not wish to build on both. but there
may be legal complications in the way
on Main street. and II these cannot be
overcome the road would be built on Los
Angeles street. Their, too. If the matter
got tied up in the courts there might be
such delay as to invalidate the entire
franchise. Mr.. Conkling explained that
the reason he brought the matter up at
this time was because the whole mat
ter had been gone into thoroughly by
the present board of public works and the
members understood it, whereas if it
went over to the new council it would
have to go through the same routine
again.
Coucilman Munson of the board of
public works said that while he did not
recollect the matter clearly. the fact that
a provision had also been inserted pro-
viding that the company should have
right of way through Rosedale cemetery
whereas the proposed line does not go
anywhere near that place, looked to him
as if some mistake had been made and
clause from some other franchise in
serted.
President Teed, on the other hand, in
sisted that no error had been made
The ordinance as presented was the
same one presented by the petitioners.
and he had personally shown the clause
referred to to Mr.. McCutcheon, the attor-
ney representing them. and that gentle
man had said that while he did not like
il, he supposed they would have to stand
it, Mr.. Teed insisted that no mistake
had been made ard that he couldn't
vote for the amendment until he got
more light on the subject
Mr.. Conkling made another strong plea
for the amendment asked for pointing
out the items that proved conclusively
that an error had been committed
Councilman Savage corroborated Mr..
Teed and moved that the whole matter
be referred to the Incoming council,
which motion prevailed by. vote of
seven to one-Mr. Pessell.
On,mOtion of Coucilman Stockwell, the
city attorney was instructed to so amend
the contract for the East Side park
bandstand as to provide for payments
to the contractors as the work progress
es. after which the council adjourned
till Monday morning when they will
met and formally turn over their offices
to their successors.
pOT TCE COTTDT CATENnAD