The San Francisco call., 1899-07-31
FAMILY PARTY
QUICKLY GOES
TO FRAGMENTS
Mayor Assumes That
Old-Tine Smile.
MOTT is TO BE C0MMIsERATED
he AND GIRARD NEED MUCH
WATCHING.
Big Rumpus Caused Because King
David's Advice Was Ignored to
''Put Not Your Trust in
Princes"
MOTT is TO BE COMMIsERATED
he AND GIRARD NEED MUCH
WATCHING.
Oakland omce San Francisco Call

That little combine among the Council
men has gone to pieces, and the frag-
ments are to be found in a dozen different
places. That meeting Of the committee Of
The whole was a revelation. No one was
prepared for the display of bitterness an
the innuendo that was hurled by one
member at another. 1t explained much
that for a few weeks had been rather
obscure, 1t dispelled some rumors and
added strength to others, and to those
who took the leading parts the incident
of last Monday night seemed TO afford
marked relief, as though the many ebul-
Htions had been corHed up for a long
time.
The events which led up to the many
outbursts of personality have been for
gotten, but some of the remarkable
speeches will influence every vote
taken in the Council till the end of its
term. The manner in which the Council
was taught not to put its trust in princes
especially in Prince PoniatowSki-is a
past incident. 1t will be catalogued with
many other little affairs OF the same kind,
but the debate over the report will live
as long as there are Cuvelliers or Rowes
or Girards or Motifs in the City Council.
AS IS usual in such incidents, there was
absolutely no need for it. The fact upon
which the present agitation for a munich
pal water plant was founded had been
exploded weeks before and all the Coun-
Cilmen knew it. When Mr.. Cuvellier ex-
hibited his extraordinary haste to have
the whole matter referred to his commit
Cee he had something on which to build.
The Prince had talked facts and figures
and presumably meant business. Before
Mr.. CUVellier prepared his report it was
known that the Prince had fallen down;
that he had hedged the whole scheme
around with so many impossible cOndi-
lions that it was a fiat failure so far as
Oakland is concerned. This was all known
and every member of the Council had read
n NFglI HG~s 1TtFa M
need to have called a meeting of the COM
mittee of the whole to discuss Mr.. Cuvel-
Hers report. because it was known be-
forehand that any discussion would be
UnproduCtiVe Of result. Under these cir
cumstances the Councilmen were to be
pardOned for not becoming enthusiastic
over proposition already dead.
There was much that was commend
able in the position taken by Mr.. Rowe
He objected very fOrcibly to the Council
taking up every old water scheme and ad-
Nertising It for its owners, well knowing
that no good would come of it. Whether
hc meant to infer that the Prince had al
ready worked the Council via CuYellier,
or whether CuVellier referred to Rowe in
his remark about insincerity, are points
Tor the two gentlemen to decide between
themselves. 1t is clear, however, that
Mr.. Rowe wants no more rainbow chasing
in the matter of municipal water plants.
There may be water enough in the arte-
sian belt that runs through Roberts
Landing 10 supply ten Oaklands or not
one San Leandro, but no actual good can
come from the visit of a few Councilmen
last Saturday. The most that could be
done would be the sampltng of the water
and anything else that Captain Roberts
might present for Sampling This could
just as well be done by any one member
Of the Council and better still by the
City Chemist. who could tell of what the
water is actually composed. Nothing but
d thorough survey by an expert could re-
veal whether the supply be large or
small or whether ii might not be entirely
cut Off by some little meteorological freak
in the Sierras. A junketing trip by a few
Councimen cannot prove of any value,
and it is these nOn-productive affairs that
draw out the ire of the CounCilmen, the
disgust Of the public and that lay the
foundation for all the talk about playing
TO the gallery. All this buncOmbe has
long since ceased to deceive, and the
sooner this fact is appreciated the sooner
viii the history of the rise and fall of
mushroom office-seekers be materially
abbreviated.
And the Mayor-who can blame him for
the self-sa tisficd smile that crept over his
face while those Councilmen were per
spring blood arguing over goats wool?
That little dinner party where a type
written list Of appointments was present
ed 10 him must have appeared to him
last Monday night rs nightmare:
Where was the harmony that nine out Of
the eleven CoJncilmen had shown regard
ing those appointments? During the heat
of the 9reilreuts had the Mayor intro
dIced n resolution declaring that Mr.. Mil
Ter was the worst superintendent of
Streets that Oakland had ever known
he would probably have got eight votes
for It. even if the resolution were to be
rcscinded at the next meeting Never
again need the Mayor feel that a ma
ilpon 10 follow q programme. The chains
are broken. The leashes have been
slipped and each of the eleven Councllmen
Is evidently al liberty to make the race
f1r Mavor il he chooses and TO do II in the
manner most pleasing to him.
AIr. Mott is to be pitied. He has an idea
a large one He believes that If Oak
land were 10 do something, something
might be done Mr.. Mott has exposed
himself 70 the shafts of every obstruction
isl and siurIan that exists, and will per
lars be adiudgcd by some to be lit sub
ieCt for an asylum lie is engaged in
business and has discovered that WharYes
arc necessary adjuncts to water front
that expects to be the scene OF cor coIi'IISI III
cial development. Mr.. Mott believes mat
q bond issue for the purpose Of building
WharVcS and docks IS worthy OF the con con-
sideration Of Oakland Every man VINO
knows enough of this city to justify MN
In expressing his opinion knows that this
is true. 4 million spent on docks ana
million in park and permanent Improve
nents would do more for Oakland than
Vised
But Mr.. Mott is, to be pitied fol. having
such an advanced idea He must be an
ego that has skipped ii few re-embodf-
ments aud come back half a century too
soon. What can he be wanting? I'm
doubtedly he, too, is in the race for
Mayor.
Mr.. Girard also has an idea that
sounds as strange and foreign as that of
Mr. Mott. Mr. Girard believes that city
should encourage industries to locate in
its midst He believes that what is worth
having il worth seeking and worth work
ing for. IIe has asked the City Council
20 undertake an inYestiga ton along these
lines Mr.. Grard is aware of the fact
that q Texas city recently sent circulars
to ever manufacturing concern. in the
power and exemption from taxation for
ten years to ali who would remove their
plants to Texas. 1T is not generally
turing plants in Oakland is at this hour
negotiating on just such an offer Mr..
Girard believes that what Texas can offer