The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-24

benefit or the puhlc tnat councilman
Noting, together with the other three
members of the Council, voted to award
a contract for sweeping the streets to
Nash & McReynoldS, the highest bidders,
for the sum of $195 per month over and
above the lowest bid, and that four bids
were over 500 per month lower than the
bid of Nash & McReynolds.
Consistency, thou art jewel.
THOMAS BODLEY.
Reuben Burdett submitted the fol-
lowing:
1 beg leave to submit the following an
swer to NoltingS prattling: The dlStln-
guished gentleman says that he has been
uniustly assailed by the basest element
of our city Now, who are those very
wicked individuals? Can it be possible
that his own old political safeguards, who
have long used him as tool, have eX-
hausted his merit and discarded him as
a good mechanic would useless auger!
They must be the ones poor Noting re.
fers to. Who else could be so ungrateful
of his faithful, honest and dilligent serv-
ices as a CITY father? Could it be Rea,
Mckenzie or Charlie Knapp?
Mr. Noting tells us his mother believes
him to be an honest man. Now, If man S
mother cannot say that she KNOWS her
son to be honest, who can!
Then he tells us that the office OF Coun-
GILMAN and other offices are more remu-
nerative under the new than they were
under the old charter. Does he mean TO
tell us that the Office of Councilman I'M
der the old charter was not in fact simply
an office of sacred honor? 1t would I'M
ply from his statement more remuner-
alive under the new than under the old
charter" that the gentleman has received
just little compensation for his services
of sacred honor
Perhaps his cunning for silence and Sc
crecy failed him when he stated that, or
did he mean to tell the truth and say that
he does receive just a little indirect pay
from the office he holds, in the way of ex-
changing cocktails and groceries at hand
some prices with the poor helpless office
holders of the city for good coin. Charles
Riddell, the man who keeps the dogs in
their places, as a city officer, says: Il am
afraid l will have to give up my Office for
Nolung's groceries come higher than his
vote. What do you think of one sack of
potatoes costing 81 so in the summer time,
when the regular price is about half that
amount ?"
Did Mr.. Noting, the unduly censured
gentleman, consult his mother before let
ting the contract for the main outlet
sewer to Charles Wehner, in which he al
lowed Mr.. Wehner extra compensation
for doing extra work. for which under the
charter he was not entitled to a cent?
The amount allowed Mr.. Wehner was $780,
After you, Mr.. Noting, had found that
by the charter you could not legally pay
that $3.50 at one time, did you not divide
said sum up into seven bills and pass each
bill through the Council separately at one
meeting, so as to keep within the limits
of the charter, and yet defeat the objects
gence of the taxpayers for their consider
alton as to its honesty.
The gentleman refers to the fire engine
property on Third street that was pur-
chased during Schilling's administration
and says that the costs of repairing the
old house on the property was far in ex-
cess or what under proper management
the costs OF new engine house would
have been. Answering that ] will ask
the learned gentleman if he is aware that
there was a motion made and carried by
the Council at that time, and that James
Stewart was then appointed to do all
work needed thereon under the SUPER
vision of the fire and water committee?
l myself, having been chairman of that
committee, aver and stand now ready to
prove that every cent that was expended
on that building was judiciously and eco
nomically spent.
In reference to the gentleman's asser-
ton that the Charter Club is formed for
the purpose of promoting the interests
of the San Jose Water Company and
maintain the high rates of water I ask
the gentleman if he has not been a mem
Der of the City Council as a representa-
tive of the people for four long years
and If he has ever espoused the cause of
the people by even trying to have the
rates of water reduced?
l submit this statement simply to vindi-
cate my action while in the Council and
to defend the integrity of the Charter
Club, of which l am a member. and be-
cause ! know that that club is comnosed
of the honor and intelligence of the citv'
REUBEN BURDETT