The herald., 1898-03-10
THE LIMIT REMOVED
FIRE coMMIssIoNERs PUT RE
sPoNsIBILITY ON COUNCIL
TO FIX THE BOUNDARIES
Councilman Baker Appears for the OIL
Men-Cable Permit Wanted-City
Treasurer's Report

xcStcTQdy mcctiu8 "a AA0 SSSe - - - =
commissioners was enlivened BY general
discussion a. to tho advisability Of grant
ing a permit to the Combination OIL COM
pany to bore for oil In block % OF the An
gelina Heights tract. The application had
been denied last week, because Its grant
would conflict with the order Of the COM
mission that no oil wells be permitted to op-
crate within $50 feet Of the Los Angeles
infirmary, and because the applicant re-
fused to guarant that he would not bore
within the $50 foot mark.
Councilman Baker appeared to plead the
cause Of the petitioners. and insisted that
as the company owned the whole block. for
which It had paid ri, 900, the necessary per-
nit ought to be granted. as oil wells are
In full operation through the neighbor-
hood and the oil In the block Is being
sucked out by others than the owners. He
told the commissioners that their or
der was discriminating, and that they had
no right, In his opinion, to pass any such
regulation merely on the recommendation
Of the health board. The councilman
made a vigorous assault on the action of
the board, claiming that the council made
the laws, and that the commission was
merely creature Of the council, and must
carry out its intent. He declared that he
had drafted The ordinance, and knew that
its intent was not to bar applications: and
that by making 1t such a. bar the commits
sioners were exceeding their powers.
Commissioner Sinsabaugh declared that
he was opposed to the grant as a matter Of
principle. The board of health had re-
ported that the health Of patients In the
hospital would be endangered by the work.
ing of wells within $50 feet Of the building
On that recommendation the fire board had
consistently acted, and had steadily re-
fused to grant any permits within the
prescribed area es
Mr.. Kuhrts intimatedt that IL the COM
mission was bent on falling down on its
adopted rule, 1t might appear less ridicu-
lous by first resembling the rule. He was
opposed to granting the permit unless the
fire board would rescind its former action
prohibiting wells within the prescribed
district. a The former action Of the board
was rescinded, Commissioner Sinsabaugh
alone voting no.
Then Commissioner Kuhrts moved that
the permit be granted. Mr.. Sabichi sought
to amend by having the council enact its
own legislation on the subject. Commis-
sioner Sinsabaugh wanted another weeks
delay, owing to the absence Of Commits
sioner Wells, but Councilman Baker in
sisted that action must be taken at once
Mr.. Sinsabaugh was not SO easily dis
posed Of, however; he was satisfied, he
said, to let the council settle the matter as
to limits, but he was opposed to turning
over the application of Mr.. Flint and d.reia-
tive mattersito that body.
This suggestion finally prevailed on mo-
tion of Mr.. Sinsabaugh, who remarked that
Commissioner Wells should be present be-
fore the board took action on matter of go
much Importance. ~3f u
F. w. Corey was granted permission to
erect and operate a steam boiler and en-
gine on lot O. block 8. Flemming tract, East
Los Angeles. The grant was on recon-
mendation OF the chief.
Chief Moore reported that practice drills
were held on the 9Th inst. at $50 a. M, ell
gine companies Nos. and taking part,
at els North Main street.
James L. Todd;s application for appoint
ment as callman was received and filed.
PERMIT FOR A CABLE
The. Big Five Oil company applied to the
council for permission to maintain the
pumping cable across lockwood street to
their we'll on lot Al. for the reason that 1t is
impossible to connect with any pumping
plant without crossing the street.
NEW DEATH CERTIFICATE
A new form of death certificate has been
prepared by the health department, which
1t is thought will be vast improvement
over the old blank. In the amended form
spaces are provided for showing not only
the direct cause of death, but contributing
and consecutive causes, and the duration
Of each. Besides this a number of addi-
tional questions are to be answered, all of
which will throw light on the causes Of
mortality and enable the death of any
person to be traced with certainty.
TREASURER'S REPORT
City Treasurer Hartwell has filed with
the city clerk for presentation to the council
his report for February, showing the con-
dition of funds to be as follows:
On hand Jan. 31......... $15S. 40. 40
Transfers and appor-
tionments ............. 27,2o3.1 IS
Cash received 92,424.oS