The San Francisco call., 1898-01-30
Raids on the San Jose Treasury Not Yet
 Checked.
Four COuncilnen Who Are Not in Accord With the
 People.
Vote Solidly on All Deals and Brazenly Set Mayor Koch's Veto at
 Naught.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SAN JOSE, Jan. 29.-San Jose is at the mercy of it's poodle Councilmen, and unless drastic measures are adopt ed to check them in their extravaganza they will have footed the treasury dur ing the next two months that they are to be in office. At present there is $S3,- 557 in the city treasury, and the four Councilmen have evidently banded themselves together for the purpose of spending all of this they can get their hands on. Never before have Council men of this city so recklessly expended the peoples money, and never before have charges of poodle been so openly made
 The disclosures of irregularities in city affairs, made by The Call some weeks ago, is being verified. At that time the local press took the part of the city officials, but now the work of the Council has become so rank" that the papers and people of the Garden City are on the verge of taking steps to remove the four Councilmen before the treasury is entirely depleted.
 A few months ago the Council was divided-Fay and Noting on one side and King and Dittus on the other. While they thus opposed each other,
 
 nothing was accomplished. and the citi- zens felt that the treasury was secure, as. thus divided, it was impossible for them to vote away the money. But the four Councilmen patched up their diff ferences a few weeks ago. and now all is serene at their meetings. They vote solidly on all questions, and announce insolently that if Mayor Koch vetoes their jobs they will pass them over his head.
 The first outrageous act of these four Worthies after combining to plunder the city was the awarding of the street sweeping contract. In this it was in tended to mulct the city to the sum of about $4000 a year for three years. The Council called for bids for doing the work and received five. They were from L. Hewlett, Richard Farrell, M. c. Cheney, Nash & McReynolds and D. A. Bollinger and Thomas Bodley.
 L. Hewlett's bid was the lowest, and Nash & McReynolds the highest The two bids were as follows:
 Nash & McReynolds-.0 -.0052S2 cents per square yard per month, six times a week for two-year contract; 0O264 three times g week. Two per cent discount for con- tract for three years. These contractors promise not to send any or the money L. HeWlett|.OO3a5 cents per square yard per month, six times week, two year contract; one-half of the, above
 
 cent off for three-year contract.
 Instead of awarding the bid to L. Hewlett. the lowest bidder, the COun- cil, by unanimous vote, gave 1t to Nash & McReynolds. The only reason it gave for it's action was that Hewlett was only a speculator bidder, but this is not so. Anyhow, there were the bids of Richard Farrell, M. c. Cheney and Bollinger & Bodley, all lower than the figures of Nash & McReynOlds, and they are all residents of this city and taxpayers.
 Under the present contract the city sweeping is done for S595 a month. The contract was let three years ago to L. Hewlett. but a few months later the contract was transferred to Nash & McReynolds by Hewlett. The bills each month are made out in Hewlett s name, but Nash & McReynoldS draw the money. At that figure there are such profits in the street sweeping that Nash & McReynoldS pay Hewlett $7E a month for the contract This leaves them $520 a month, and this is con- sidered a good price and one from which a fair profit can be realized Under the contract recently awarded them it would cost the city about $400C year more than under the old con- tract.
 It was plain that some one was going to get that extra $4000 if the contract stood.
 Following right on this the Council decided to let contract for a new fire alarm system. Bids were called foI and figures were submitted by the Gamewell Company and the United States Police and Fire Alarm Com pany. The United States company's bid was for s2400 not including s20( worth of extras that would be needed The Gamewel Company's bid was $3300. Instead of going according tC the bids the Council gave the contract to the Gamewell Company for s39OO.
 The four Councilmen-Fay, Dittus King and Nolting-at first wanted tc give the bid to the Gamewell company at s33OO, but Mayor Koch refused tc sign the contract. Bids were ther called for, and after receiving a bic from the same company for S3300, they awarded the Gamewell company the contract for $3900, $600 above its bid, This would not be the only cost of the fire alarm system, for the city would have to be rewired and new batteries purchased at the cost of additional thousands of dollars.
 It is believed that 5000 of the s39OC contract awarded to the Gamewel company was to be placed where il would do the most good. The contract is now in the hands of the Mayor
 The latest job is the making of ar engagements for the purchase of a com bination chemical engine and hose cart The price Is understood to be $2500 The arrangements are all completed, and before the wave of indignation swept over the city it was agreed that the resolution for the purchase of the ma chine should be introduced next Mon. day night.
 Mayor Koch stated to The Call repre- sentative to-day that he positively would veto the street sweeping con. tract, which would be returned to the Council Monday night. The fire alarm contract will receive the same treat. ment at his hands.
 Although the Council has boldly as. serted that it will pass these over the Mayors head, it is thought it will not dare to in the face of public opinion. Ii the officials do, it is stated that in, New Charter Club will take steps look ing to their removal. Not only that but Mayor Koch says that he himsel, will stop them in their rash expendi lures by injunction. This desire b, Mayor Koch to hold the thrifty four ir