The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-25
Question of Funds
May Defeat 1t.
ENGINEERS WANT THEIR PAY
POWER OF SUPERVISORS IS
QUESTIONED.
Transfer of Money While Creditors
Remain Unpaid May Precipitate
Long and Acrimonious
Legal Controversy.

The Mayor and the Board OF Supervis-
ors have declared in favor OF a bond issue
to provide funds for the establishment of
an improved sewer system, but there is a
strong probability that the question will
not be submitted to the people this year
on account of lack of funds to insure the
performance Of the necessary preliminary
work
The Board of Supervisors yesterday
passed to print an ordinance declaring the
intention of the board to appropriate the
sum of $50 600 for the purpose of defray-
ing the expense Of preparing the neces-
sary plans and estimates for the proposed
sewer system prior TO the submission of
the question to the people. 1t is stated in
this ordinance. or resolution, that the
money cannot be appropriated for this
purpose until the end of the present fiscal
year. at which time a surplus in the
street lighting fund can be transferred
TO the street fund and thus become avail
able. 1t is on the question of the ability
of the board to transfer this money from
one fund TO another as intended that the
whole question hinges.
Marsden Manson and G. E. Grunsky,
who have been named as engineers to
conduct the work Of perfecting the plans
for a sewer system and who are 70 be
upon Auditor Wells yesterday and asked
his advice as to what course they should
pursue. They declared their unwilling
ness to proceed with the work unless they
We're assured of compensation and they
wanted 10 know what prospect there was
Of getting the money that the Board of
supervisors promised TO appropriate at
the end Of the present fiscal year
Auditor Wells Informed them that there
was a large deficiency in the Street De-
rsF 4 -
his hands many demands against that
fund. some of them dating back far as
January OF the present year, which re-
main unpaid for lack of funds. The con-
tractors who hold these demands have
been patiently waiting for their money
with the understanding that at the end
OF the nScal year the surplus in the street
lighting fund would be transferred to the
Street Department fund and their de-
mands against the latter fund would then
be audited and paid. The Auditor said
that If the Board of Supervisors entered
into new contracts for the use of this
money with the knowledge that debts still
unpaid were left unprOVided for the con-
tractors would probably claim such act
on the part Of the board to be illegal and
would take such legal action as would
effectually tie up all of the funds involved
in the controversy. So far as the engi-
neers are concerned, the question is left
in so unsatisfactory condition that it is
likely they Will refuse to go on with the
work until they are given more SubStan-
tial assurance that they will be paid for
the labOrs they are expected 10 perform.
Following is the ordinance passed to print
by the Board of Supervisors yesterday:
Whereas. under section of the NUM-
cipal Improvement act, approved March -
1852 this board contemplating permanent
public improvements, the cost of which
Will be too great To be paid out Of the
ordinary annual income and revenue Of the
municipality. Is required to have plans and
estimates of the cost OF such improvements
made prior To submitting the question OF
issuing bonds at a special election to the
qualified voters of this city and county: and
whereas. this board hereby determines
that the public interests demand the con-
structiOn OF main outlet sewers to promote
and improve the sanitary condition of the
city and county and insure drainage and
protection 10 property. and Will provide at
the proper time for special election, TO
be held as soon after the plans and csti-
mates OF cost are received as the provis-
ions OF the statute will permit; and
whereas. this board, in order TO afford
the relief demanded by our citizens. is
Quired TO take all preparatory steps to
certain and determine the costs to be in
CURED from examination OF the condl-
tOn TO defective sewerage OF the pres
ent system, and in the additional construc-
ton Of main sewers in the various districts
now suffering from a want OF sewerage
facilities; and whereas. no appropriation
has been made this fiscal year for this pur-
pose, but the condition of the street light
fund from the expenditures heretofore
made and the limit of the amounts to be
paid monthly for the services OF light
ing the public streets show that there will
be a surplus exceeding $40. 600 unexpended
in said fund at the close OF the fiscal
Resolved, That this board hereby appoints
c. $ Tilton G. /. Grunsky and Marsden
Manson, civil engineers. TO constitute
board Of engineers. whose duty 1t shall be
10 prepare and submit plans and estimates
OF the expense to be incurred. and 10 that
end il is necessary to correct the defects
and inefficencies Of existing sewers and TO
prescribe the salient features of the sys-
TEN required for districts not now sew
cred: to determine the method OF sewage
collection and disposal and the points OF
outfall: to determine the location size and
character Of the main sewers for each of
the districts into which the city is divided
by typographical features and the mode
OF delivering district sewage to the points
OF the outtaIl; TO recommend the order in
which main sewers and works should be
constructed and to designate those which
should be constructed at once. with
plan of the same; to make estimate CT
the cost OF constructing the main sewers
and works suggested for immediate con-
struction, which plans and estimates must
be submitted and hereby required to be
fled with this board on or before October
Resolved, That the compensation to be
paid each Of said engineers Is hereby fixed
at $4,000 and the expenses necessltated by
such employment in the examination. sur
Veys, compilation OF data, preparation of
plans and estimates of expense and other
Incidental expenses required by said board
OF engineers is hereby fixed at $s0OO the
whole or so much OF said appropriation to
be expended said engineers as may be
necessary in their judgment to obtain all
the information required.
Resolved, That the board pledges It's in
tention to, and WILL in the month OF June
after all the liabilities the street light
fund have been met and provided for trans
fer from the street light fund to an appro-
preparation herein created. to be known as
and for the services of the board OF en-
gineers herein appointed, the OF $40 O00
TO enable this work TO be prosecuted and
completed as provided for, in defraying the
expenses of the employment and incidental
expenses Of said board of engineers
Resolved, That the Auditor and Treas
urer's attention is respectfully called TO the
provisions OF this resolution, and said Of
hcers are further empowered and requested
to consider this appropriation as being
made that the demands for the inci-
dental expenses TO be incurred by the said
Board OF Engineers shall be audited and
paid after the same have been allowed by
this board and until such time in the
month of June when the transfer be
legally made; and
Resolved That each OF the engineers ap-
receive part payment of the compensation
herein provided. as follows: On July 3,
the sum Of $500; on August Fl, $1,000; on
October 16 $500
Resolved, That this board hereby desig-
mates the room formerly occupied by the
architects of the City Hall for use OF the
Board OF Engineers If necessary
Resolved, That this board will hereafter
provide for the appointment of not to ex-
coed two eminent engineers as consulting
engineers TO advise and confer with the en-
gineers herein above named. and 10 examine
their work as II progresses and plans sub
United 10 report thereon in order that the
plans and estimates may be corrected II
required and approved before further action
A had fnl-a