The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-16
SUPERVISORS UP
IN ARMS AGAINST
ATTORNEY LANE
Resentment Over His
Structures.
TELEPHONE ABUSES MUST GO
FINAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN
MONDAY.
The Board Refuses TO Be Blocked in
It's Proposed Reforms by the
Stand Of the City
Attorney.
TELEPHONE ABUSES MUST GO
FINAL ACTION WILL BE TAKEN
MONDAY.

The members OF The Board Of Supervi-
sors, independent OF party affiliations or
questions OF policy, deeply resent the posi-
u0u taken against them 10y City Attorney
lane IN connection with the proposed tax
alton % Observation-Disclosures telephones and
tAe regulation OF telephone injustices.
Members % The board are astounded that
The city Attorney, ia order 10 impress
them with hls Importance and 10 punish
them Tor any inattenton they may have
shown 20 Lis opinions, Intends 10 block
tae adoption % ordinances that are mani
tcstly Tor The public benefit and for the
correction ~ corporation abuses.
HE License Committee asked City
Attorney Lane Tor his advice in ref
trerce 10 Tie proposed legislation. There
ID nothing in iLe law which makes TINS
advice binding upon the board or which
forces Tie board 10 accept u. There Is
nothing la the law which compels the
board iO seeh al. blt since a question Was
raised courtesy dictated a reference TO the
AliA Attorney. since ne has acted "a 50
arbitrary a. manner and by inference II
by nothing more direct has assumed TO
tle the hands " the board the members
nave determined MOI 10 be delayed IN their
action. they intend 10 adopt the meas
Gres on Monday whether Mr. Lane sub
mifs his opinion or whether he finds IL
necessary 10 consume more time in DELHI
The Supervisors are determined that the
City SHAH uOr only reap a substantial rev.
fltAf anu hAaA patrons or the telephone
companies SHAH receive that for which
tlcy pay. but that the ISLANDERS OF tele-
phone agents shall not 50 unrepudiated.
These agents, ot whom eN-Superyisor
Eaton ls The leader. have said That the
measures, which have already received
ihe Ansdlmols support OF the board. were
introduced Tor corrupt purposes. lnsinu-
dlons nave been thrown out against GER
tam members, who now feel a double rea-
son Tor making their nrst support Of the
ordinances emphatic.
In the same way d, has been pointed out
that William y. Nixon. adjuster of the
telephone company. is "A close personal
friend and political supporter of Mr.. Lane
having championeu the cause OF the City
attorney ln TWO conventions That any
connection should DE drawn between these
IaciS ana Mr.. Lanes delay in submitting
MS opinion is obviously unjust but IL
SHOWS some OF the tactics employed by
Seli-interestel people. The Supervisors
have Tired ~ this kind OF tactics and do
not intend that even the CITY Attorney
silall place them in a false position.
They are still eager TO receive the opin-
Jon az the City Attorney. Notwithstanding
inf structures upon them. bat they will not
wait until after Monday for the brief.
Nel realize ihat every effort is being
made 60 prevent them rom adopting the
meas ures. The holidays are approaching.
ana IN The board intends 70 do anything IL
must act az once or lose the power 10 act
Al all The controversy between the
hoard and AR lane may not fhen rob he
CITY OF "a material benefit. Mr. Lane de-
chned 20 Doe seen yesterday or TO discuss
I'D any way The proposed measures he
VIII not tank about the matter until he has
rendered hls opinion. and he viii not saw
Whcn he VIII submit his opinion.