The San Francisco call., 1905-01-26
RESENTS ACTION
OF SUPERVISORS
Works Board Makes Caustic
Reply to Criticism About
Post Street Curve Permit
MAESTRETTI rs ANGRY
Questions Delay in Prepa-
ration Of Specifications
for Paving Thoroughfare

The Board of Public Works yesterday
replied to the charge made last Mon
day In resolution adopted by the Su-
pervisors that the first named board
had acted without authority and In an
unwarranted manner In issuing per-
NIT to the United Railroads to open
streets and to. lay curved track al
Post and Kearny streets upon the
ground that there is apparently no ex-
press grant made in the franchise OF
said company or its predecessors In IN
terest to lay such q curved track Inc
board Is also directed not to issue any
more such permits.
The Board Of Public Works adopted
q counter resolution as follows:
Resolved. That this board deems that the
Board of Supervisors, in respect TO the saio
notification and direction In said esoiution
contained. has transcended the limitation OF
the power granted to it by the charter; ano
that its action in passing such resolution
was attempted assumption of the power eA,
pressly granted to the Mayor Of this city ano
county. in and by virtue Of the provisions sd o,
chapter ! of article of the charter, ano
which provisions contemplate that the iegisia-
tive department of the municipality shall con-
itself with matters only that are legisia-
to the presumpticns of law; that ofncial outy
has been regularly performed" and that the
stances this board has refused to issue permits
to enable persons or corporations to enjoy
privileges granted by the Board OF supervisors
which were not authorized by law. as In the
cases Of the grants of the privilege to ohstruct
the public streets, and divert the pubic use
thereof to private use for private purposes. oy
want of authority was very evident from the
fact that the Board of Supervisors submitted
an amendment to the charter last year. provid
Ing for grant OF power 10 grant spur track
privileges for private use.
Commissioner Eagan said he did not
consider the Board Of Supervisors the
properly constituted body to reflect on
the acts of any municipal department.
That all is not harmonious between
the Board of Public Works and the
City Engineers office was demonstrated
when President Maestretti objected to
the delay in the preparation Of specifi-
cations for the Improvement OF II
street.
II will direct the secretary to ask the
City Engineer to file his report on the
matter of paving H street on or before
next Wednesdays meeting" said Macs
tretti. There seems to be some object
in delaying this work, and / want to
know about It,.
Assistant Engineer Morser, who was
sent for, explained that 1t would take
some time to prepare the specifications.
There has been some work done and
that must be measured"
What have you done in regard to
measuring the area already done?''
asked Maestretti.
I'VE have done nothing" said Morser
las we have not had the time. -
well, If you are overworked In your
Office" said MaestrettL I'VE will have
the data looked up here and send II
over to YOU"
Morser assured the board that the
work of preparing the specifications
would be vigorously prosecuted and
report filed in few days.
The City Attorney was asked for an
opinion as to whether Clay street runs
through Lafayette square.
Bids were ordered to be invited for
the paving of Fourth street, between
Market and Howard, for the construc-
ton of a safety station at Market and
Powell streets and for driveway fol
the election booth warehouse.
The petition of the Central Improve
ment Club that sidewalks be construct
ed on Market street, from Fourteenth
to Seventeenth, was taken under ad-
visement.
The bids for work on Ninteenth ave
nue., from to j streets, were rejected
owing to an error in the proceedings.