The San Francisco call., 1905-02-24
WASTE REPLIES
To- CLUB WOMEN
Assemblyman Answers Let
ter of Town and Gown
Ladies as to Proposed Laws
CLEAN STREETS DESIRED
Legislator Explains Impossl-
bility of Getting Action
During the Present Session
Berkeley Office San Francisco Call.
214S Center street, Feb. 23-

Berkeley Office San Francisco Call.
214S Center street, Feb. 23
The ladies of the Town and Gown
Club, who had hoped by acting IN
concert with the Improvement CLUBS
of Berkeley to procure legislation at
Sacramento which would insure clean
streets In the university town, and III
every other city of the State as WELL
are doomed to disappointment Their
plan must wait for fulfillment until
another session of the Legislature, ac-
cording to Assemblyman w. H Waste
of Berkeley, who has sent Information
to this effect to Mrs. Charles r. Breck.
chairman of the civic section of the
Town and Gown Club.
Assemblyman Wastes letter Is as
follows:
Dear Mrs Breck: Permit me to acknowi-
edge through you the receipt OF the resolution
adopted at a mass meeting OF the citizens OF
Berkeley held in the interest of clean Streets
1 have tust received the resolution and regret
that the matter did not reach me sooner. 10
day is the last day under the law on Wnlen
bills may be introduced in the Legisiature
without the consent Of rwo-thirds OF the mem-
bers, had on roll call. Only those bills VIII
hereafter be allowed To be introduced Wnlcn
present urgent features or which relate 10
matters pertaining to the State government;
All bills after to-day must nrsr De referred
to a committee on introduction of bills and
the report OF that COMMITTEES 10 practically
final.
In view of this situation. it will. in my
judgment. be an utter impossibIity for any
thing 10 be done at this session OF the Legis-
lature. A bill giving municipalities the power
to keep the streets clean and 10 levy speelai
tax and lien upon the abutting property as
suggested In your resolution must provide a
complete proceeding and should not only Do
well considered. but carefully drawn. other
wise the bill would not stand test In court
1t would be measurs providing Tor taxing
property under penalty and must not contra
the constitutional requirement that prop
erty cannot be taken without due process or
law.
In order to ascertain the sentiment OF some
of the leading lawyers in the Senate and the
Assembly In regard to the matter, hastily
submitted the proposition to number OF the
members of the Judiciary Committee OF each
house. They all agreed that II would be i'm
possible, without knowledge Of the like stat
utes now in force In the Eastern states. 70
general sentiment Of the property owners In
California in relation to the care Of streets
by city authorities, 1t would be unwise TO at
tempt any legislation at this late day, as a
hastily drawn measure would certainly invite
opposition and possible defeat.
1t would be very wise, in my opinion. that
the clubs represented on the petition which
has been forwarded to me form legislative
committee with instructions to the committee
to have prepared before the next meeting OF
the Legislature complete measure bearing
on this subject, tne % PHI Is Tesey ,on 20 mr. b
lieve that determined effort in its behalf
would secure Its passage
I regret that the matter did not reach me in
time for at least attempt to be made TO
do something this session I assure you OF
my interest in matters of this kind and will
be pleased, II the occasion should require, to
give any committee you appoint the benefit
Of my experience in legislative matters Very
truly yours. WILLIAM H WASTE.
The letter and resolution sent to
Assemblyman Waste from Berkeley
was signed by the following represent
ative citizens:
Mrs Charles r. Breck. chairman. chairman
civic section Town and Gown Club: Mrs Wal-
ter H. Byngton, president Mothers Circle Of
the Longfellow School. president Mothers
Club of West Berkeley: Mrs William J. Mon
TO, vice president Hillside Mothers Club; Nels
Olsen, president of w. B. Improvement Club;
o. F. Schad. president Ashby Club; Victor
Robertson. president North Berkeley Improve
ment Club: Thomas Rickard president Town
Trustees; R. A Berry. president Improvement
Club Berry-Bangs Tract; Mrs. H. J. Schueler
president South Berkeley Mothers Club:
James K. McMillen president Central I'm
provement Club; Mrs Annie L. Barry, presi-
dent Twentieth Century Club.