The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-16
SUIT AGAINST
MAYOR SNOW IS
ALL PREPARED
n. D. Rowe Becomes
the Complainant.
WANT PERMISSION OF STATE
ATTORNEY GENERALS CONSENT
is NECESSARY.
The First Fight Will Be on Briefs
to Secure Authority From the
States Legal Repre-
sentative.
WANT PERMISSION OF STATE
GENERALS CONSENT
is NECESSARY.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.
Cos Broadway Dec IL

Oakland Office San Francisco Call.
9os Broadway. Dec. IS.
Papers were prepared to-day and served
upon Mayor r. w Snow I'M the threatened
suit against him for personal property
commissions collected BY him while Aud
itor and Assessor Of the city OF Oakland.
The papers were sworn 10 by II. II. Rowe.
president OF the City Council OF Oakland.
and were prepared By NJ. G. Chapman and
Fred V. Wood. as attorneys, and the
amount sued for Is S5617 q, the amount OF
the commissions between the years 1883
and 1896.
These papers are not a full SUIT but
rather a preliminary hearing before tho
Attorney General Of the State in a request
for permission 10 sue Mayor Snow IN the
name of the State. When threats OF suit
against the Mayor We're made NJ. g.. Chap
man was employed TO examine the law.
and IL was found that suit could only be
brought in two ways. by the Oakland city
Council or by some taxpayer with the
consent OF the Attorney General The city
Council has up 10 the present refused 10
bring the suit and has postponed action
for three months. and this II Is believed
means that no such action Will ever %
taken. That left the matter where II was
necessary TO bring suit against the
Mayor In the name OF some taxpayer with
the consent Of Attorney General Ford.
In such cases Mr.. Ford has made rule
that he will grant no such requests until
a hearing has been given each side. ana
in making such a request II Is necessary
10 prepare the complaint IL Is proposed to
why the name OF the State Is desired
These must be filed with the Attorney
General and served upon the defendant.
and the defendent then has ten days in
which TO make reply. The Attorney Gen
eral gives his decision upon these papers
The suit against Mayor Snow will tako
this course. The complaint was drawn to-
day and served upon the Mayor tonight
and will be filed with the Attorney itn-
eral at once. III. ID. Rowe. the presld nj
OF the Council. finally decided 10 bring
pears as the complainant against tne
Mayor. The suit Is brought against May
or Snow and against George 4; Hawley
and T.. A. Heron. who were his bonds
men as Auditor and Assessor In 1896.
II have finally decided 20 bring tho suit
in my own name N can secure the ne .es-
sary permission" said Mr.. Rowe Tonight.
II believe that / am right and when 4
hold that belief II would be cOwardly not
70 be willing 20 use my own name. and So
| will bring the suit II ] can get the OPP
portunity. The complaint merely saws
that in 1896 Mr.. Snow took S66lI n watch
he claimed as the commissions upon the
collection of personal property taxes FOR
the seven years previous. IL then states
that the charter Of Oakland provides that
no city official shall be entitled 20 any
compensation aside from his salary. ard
that this was In addition TO his salary.
Accompanying this complaint is a hriFr
Of arguments why i should be permitted
10 bring this suit In the name u the
State. Mr.. Snow will be given an oprcr-
tunity TO answer this brief. N Attorney
General Ford decides not 10 grant my
request my suit falls. but N / get the
necessary permission the suit will be aled
at once and in my name This Is red4.y n
preliminary hearing OF the case.
II have only brought suit for those
seven years commissions because that
amount was taken at once and was he
first amount taken. Should get permits
sion 10 bring the suit i will also file two
n al In All
senting the commissions between 1896 and
1899"