The record-union., 1899-02-15

4 -.
be hired, and that it should be part of
compile information. He said there
were many subjects that new towns de-
sired to be guided in-such as the wages
of city employees, etc, as he had found
to his sorrow when helping to incor-
porate Palo Alto, Of which he is City
Attorney. He thought the Central So
ciety should be somewhat of bureau
of information for all cities desiring
information.
SUPPORT OF THE LEAGUE.
In conclusion, the speaker offered the
following resolutions, which We're
adopted:
Resolved, That the Executive Com
mittee be and they are hereby requested
to arrange as soon as possible for the
establishment of headquarters for the
league in San Francisco and for the
employment of promoter, whose du-
ties shall be to visit, before the next
annual meeting, every municipal incor-
poration of the State in the interest of
the league, with view to obtaining
as large as possible number of sus-
tanning members; to maintain at said
headquarters a bureau of information
as to municipal Incorporation, and to
take such other steps as may be by
the Executive Committee deemed best
to increase the growth and effectiveness
of the league
Resolved, That to meet the neces-
sary expenses of promotion and main
tenance the Executive Committee be
and they are hereby authorized to OBJ
tain list of sustaining members who
shall subscribe towards the running ex-
pense fund such sums as they may de-
sire, or monthly dues not to exceed so
cents per month and also to take such
steps as may be practicable to obtain
from the various municipalities such
amounts as may be collectible there
from by way of assessments graded ac-
cording to population or otherwise
Secretary Mason said he had drawn
a BILL which had been instrusted to
Senator Taylor. The purport of the
bill was to allow municipalities to ex-
pend money for the support of the
league. He said the bill had been re-
ported back by the committee. without
recommendation. He thought the
league should do, all in it's power to
have the bill passed, so J. r. Richards
II. A. Mason and B. F. Lamborn were
appointed a committee to visit the va
rious legislative committees and urge
the passage of the bill. Besides that
service, the committee was Instructed
to use it's influence in furthering all
legislation recommended by the league
The entire membership was requested
to use its power with Senators and AS
semblymen in matters of interest to the
league.
CITY LIBRARIES, ETC.
The league voted to approve all bills
that go to make the work of City Ii
braries more effective. especially sth
that makes it misdemeanor to fail to
return books. They recorded their op-
position to proposed bill for the pen
sioning of municipal firemen.
Assembly bill AL, relative to the an
nexation of territory adjacent to cities,
resulted in quite a discussion. Mr.
Snow of Oakland said there was a strip
of land which both Alameda and Oak
land claimed. The bill proposed to
give Alameda the right to annex the
land and the city of Oakland did not
passed without the expression of any
opinion by the league.
Assembly bill 43O was declared by Mr..
Lamborn and others to be good meas
ure in that it corrected defects in the
law governing free municipal libraries.
1t was said that under the law of 1850
all libraries are running under uncon-
stitutional provisions.
Mr.. Snow of Oakland said there was
something strange about that. as Oak
land had believed it's library was all
right. Under the proposed bill the Su-
pervisors, he said, would have the right
to interfere in library matters. which
would be a misfortune in many towns.
Attorneys Hayne of Berkeley, and
Kirkbride Of San Mateo assured the
members of the league that many IL
braries of the State were running under
void laws. as the Act of 1880 had been
held void in the case Darcy VS.. San
Jose, and in other cases. If the various
cities of the State desired to get on a
sound basis, he said, it would be nee
essary to straighten out the laws.
which were pronounced to be in a very
bad way. At the. request of Mr.. Snow
of Oakland, action on the natter was
deferred until to-day.
LOCAL OPTION.
The subject of giving cities power to
sell light and water was laid over until
to-day, as was discussion on the local
option law
Mayor Burke of Santa Barbara de-
sired to see a law pass that would COM
pei trustees and Supervisors to submit
the question of licensing saloons 10 the
people, provided third of the voters
should petition to have the matter sub
mitted at elections.
PERSONAL MENTION.