The record-union., 1898-09-07
WHO OWNS THE STREETS?|

SUPERVISORS DECIDE TO TEST
THE MATTER.
They Will Investigate the Plan of
Abandoning the Bridge at
Benson's Ferry.
The Board of Supervisors met yes
terday in regular monthly session, Su-
pervisors Morrison, Dreman, Curtis,
Mclaughlin and Jenkins being present.
w. H. Devlin said that his firm and
Rogers, Slack & Paterson of san
Francisco wished to make a continuous
contract in relation to the collection
of moneys due from the State. He
said that the laws of the State are not
uniform, different counties having diff
ferent rates allowed for the Assessor s
and Collectors services in collecting
the State taxes. For this reason a
great many counties, not being fully
aware of their rights in the matter,
have not received the amounts due
them. He did not know whether or
not there is anything due this county,
but if there is the county should lose
no time in trying to collect it, as the
next Legislature may repeal the law OF
1898, under which the collections may
he made, and in this way the county
would lose all that may be coming to
it.
All the counties are concerned in
this matter, and those who do not take
action will find their claims barred il
the law Of 1893 is repealed, and can
then only get their money through an
Act of the Legislature.
The contract specifies that the firms
shall assist the District Attorney in
the matter. as he has plenty to do be-
sides attending to this matter. His
firm had before made a contract with
the county and recovered claim for
it.
Chairman Morrison said he was not
on the board when the former contract
was made, but he understood that the
District Attorney objected to it. He
might object now, and it would be bet
ter to secure his approval of the con-
tract or his objection to it before the
board took any action.
Mr.. Devlin said that was perfectly
proper, and he had no objection. 1t is
certain that if anything is due the
county will not be able to collect it
without a suit
The matter was taken under advise
ment until the District Attorney could
be consulted.
FOR SWEET CHARITY.
Mrs. William Doyle, on behalf Of
the Catholic Ladies' Relief Society,
asked the board for monthly dona-
ton to help them in relieving distress
in the city. She said that in giving as
sistance to the needy the society took
no heed of sect or creed, helping all
without distinction.
Other ladies Of the committee spoke
to the same effect. and Chairman Nor
rison asked the pleasure of the board,
saying that he knew the good the So
ciety has been doing, and felt that It
ought TO be given assistance.
Supervisor Curtis said he thought
the object a worthy one. and he
moved that $25 a month be appropri-
ated for the society. He amended It
to $50
Supervisor Mclaughlin said he ap-
preciated the fact that the society is a
worthy one, but the board is paying
out a great deal of money to the vari-
Gus charities, and he thought it better
to make it S25, and have it continue.
than to make it $50 and run the chance
of having it cut off if money was short.
BY unanimous vote the board al
lowed SO month, and the members
Of the committee expressed their thanks
for the society.
WILL THINK OF 1T.
District Attorney Ryan appeared be-
fore the board and stated that in the
lecting the money due the county from
the State one or two contracts had been
made. One Of the firms contracting
did not win its suit AS for himself,
he did not think there was much
chance Of collecting anything, but
these attorneys think they have a point
they can win on. The board has power
to make the contract, and the county
has no expense to pay.
Supervisors Morrison and Curtis
thought that if anything could be col
lected the county would get two-thirds
of it and be so much ahead, and cannot
very well lose anything or be put to
any expense.
Mr. Devlin said that Amador, Yolo.
Yuba and San Francisco have already
made contracts, and Alameda will
probably do So
Supervisor Mclaughlin moved that
the matter be laid over until the end
Of the week.
Supervisor Jenkins said he favored
lected in a similar way for the County
Hospital, and $4,000 for the county
at another.
The matter went over till Saturday
morning.
SIXTEENTH-STRE ROAD.
The matter Of laying out a road on
Sixteenth street to the American
River came up.
District Attorney Ryan said that the
parties who have inclosed the streets
through which the proposed road would
run intend to litigate the proposition
He had searched the records. and could
find nothing to indicate that the streets
had ever been abandoned. The prop
erty has been assessed in blocks until
lately, when it has been assessed in
acres.
1t was decided that the best way to
settle the matter would be to bring it
into court in an injunction suit. The
Surveyor was instructed to make a sur
vey of the streets and set his stakes,
preparatory to removing the fences,
and let the parties in possession bring
an injunction if they wish.