The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-06-13
WAN 7 THE MAYOR
TO BEGIN AN
INVESTIGATION
A Complaint Against
Contractors.
WORK ON HALL OF JUSTICE
SUPERVISOR HOLLAND ACTS
FOR ANGRY CITIZENS.
Preparing to Wipe Out the City's In
debtedness for the Fiscal Year
Just Drawing to
Close.
WORK ON HALL OF JUSTICE
SUPERVISOR HOLLAND ACTS
FOR ANGRY CITIZENS.

ooSI OldWlhS W d
Close.
At the meeting of the Board of Super
visors held yesterday afternoon Super
visor Holland introduced a resolution
calling the attention of the Mayor and
the members of the board to the numer
Gus delays in the completion of the con
tract for the construction of the Hall Of
Justice building, and also to the alleged
discrimination that has been practiceC
against that portion of the city lying eas
or kearny street and north of California
The resolution is as follows:
Whereas, In the completion of the con-
tract with Bateman Bros. to erect the Hall
of Justice and Morgue buildings it is APP
parent from the delays that have and are
now being chad in the prosecution of the
work, that the building will not be com
pIeted by the first day Of July, 1893; and
Whereas, The contract was awarded
December g. 1896, although the same
only executed by his Honor. James D. Phe-
Ian, on January s, 1897. after he assumed
the duties of Mayor of this city and coun-
". and by reason of repeated delays ex-
tensions of time were granted on one pre-
text or another until July 1, 1899, TO finish
and complete said contract; and
Whereas. The owners of the contiguous
property and in that portion of the city
have been subjected to great loss, damage
and Inconvenience by reason of said delay;
therefore,
Resolved, That the attention of his Honor
the Mayor and ex-officio president of this
board is called to the provisions of said
contract, and to the dilatory action of the
contractors, and he is hereby requested to
investigate and report in writing to this
board, recommending such action as will
protect the citys interest and be a sim
pie act of justice to the property owners in
that section of the city.
Resolved. That his Honor the Mayors at
tention is called to this fact; that this por-
ton OF the City-fOrmerly its commercial
center-has, through apathy and neglect of
the city authorities for many years been
entirely overlooked, having badly paved
streets, and through the subsistence of the
roadways below the grade, has induced the
properly owners 20 come 70 the conclusion
that IL results from concerted plan to
cause a depreciation of their property
through Interior motives. as permanent
pavements have been laid at the public
pense in other portions of the city, which
from their condition did not demand
penditure of the public moneys to the same
extent the streets lying east of Kearny
street in the ffty-vara survey.
Resolved, That In addition to the want of
modern improvements; the property. owners
are and have been debarred from obtaining
permission to use electricity as the motive
power to insure rapid transit TO all portions
of this section of the city by the street
railroads having a franchise on the streets,
without just cause, for reasons which can
not be defended, even If plausibly made to
which his Honor the Mayors attention is
called.
Resolved. That the imperative necessities
OF improving the streets etc, in the district
lying east of Kearny street and of affording
the opportunities to the owners of property
TO rent or improve their property their
business interests require, is paramount
consideration and requires the representa-
tive of the city and county to observe in
the matter of street pavements the obliga-
tons of the statute, that when a street is
accepted, thereafter 1t shall be kept
open and improved at the expense of the
city and county. and not to impose further
burden upon the property owners; that be-
fore modern pavement shall be laid
the property owners fronting any ac-
copied block or crossing shall pay one-half
OF the expense. which is contrary to the
letter and spirit of the law and the said
cobble and other pavements on the streets
are allowed to remain, to the utter discom-
fort, loss and damage to property owners.
whereas. in the interest of the taxpayers,
the funds which could be so used are de
voted to other schemes wholly unauthorized
by law and in this way, with official sane
ton, they absorb the money which could
be applied to this purpose. to which his
Honor the Mayors attention is also
called.
The resolution was referred to the City
and County Attorney for his opinion as tc
what steps should be taken in the matter
nance Committee was read and adopted
and will be of interest to merchants ano
other creditors of the city:
Resolved, That the several appropriations
made by order No. 141 Second series) in
the general and special fee funds regulat-
ing and designating the limit of expen-
ditures of the various offices and depart
ments for the fiscal year ending June 80,
1899, and by resolutions No. 2S73 and 2421
Fourth series) making a reapportionment
of the several appropriations be and they
are hereby suspended and set aside lex
cept the sum of $4,000 for furnishing and
properly equipping the Hall of Justice
building and the further sum of $40. 600 for
the construction of police station) as
to enable the Auditor and Treasurer to
m sndt ann a1o sbe ay zee fnd as
may be allowed and ordered paid by this
board out of said general and special fee
fund, to avoid any Indebtedness being car
ried at the expiration of the fiscal
year 1t being the desire and Intention of
this board with the aid of the Auditor and
from repudiating It's just obligations to
merchants and other creditors for merchan-
disc furnished for labor performed for
the city and county; the statutory salaries
of the city and county officers being, under
tinuing liability which irrespective of the
year the services were performed, must
lie met and provided for.
The board voted to indefinitely post
pone the resolution granting permission
for the alteration and repair of the prem
ises at the corner of Pacific and Stockton
streets. The, promoters of the Hotel
premises and convert the buildings into a
place of ill-repute. Father Caraher, Rev
Mr.. Urmy and others addressed the board
in opposition to the scheme:
repeal Of the order prohibiting the selling
of pools and the making of books on race.
tracks within the limits of the city anG
county was indefinitely postponed by q
unanimous vote. The same course was
pursued in the case of the proposed or
der excepting coursing parks from the
provisions Of the race track order.
PETITIONS RECEIVED.
The following petitions were referred to the
Committee on Streets Frances May Young,
requesting the board to compel the laying OF
artificial stone sidewalks on the north side OF
Broadway, between Fillmore and Steiner
and julius Levy, for permission to construct
four three-story bay windows on building or
the southeast corner of Ellis street and Anna
lane; Finn & Treacy, for permission on behalf
of property-owners to construct an eight-incf
ironstone pipe sewer in Vermont street, be-
tween Seventeenth and Mariposa streets; Ig.
natz c. Schmitz, for permission to erect ar
iron and wood building at q and 20 MAR
street; Peter McHugh, for permission on behalf
the westerly half of Twenty-hfth avenue, be-
tween Point Lobos avenue and Clement street
c. A. Buckley, for permission to make GER
tain alterations ana improvements in the bricl
building on the northeast corner of Grant ave
nue. and Berry place; Consolidated Optica
Company for permission to project sign tive
and a half feet over the sidewalk at ST Mar
ket street; property owners, for reduction OF
the width of the sidewalk on Bosworth stree
at the expense of the Market Street Railwa,
Company; S. Gianettoni, for permission e
at 90 Sixth street: Williams, Belser & Co. foI
an extension of thirty days time on contrac
to construct sewer in Berkshire street be
tween Diamond and the northwest line of m,