Los Angeles herald., 1907-11-23
send THEM
TO JAIL SAY
COUNCHMEN
REoUlSITI0NWoLATI0NS MUST
CEASE
LAWMAKERS REJECT IRREGULAR
DEMAND
Notify Board of Public Works That
one of Its Employees Must Stand
Consequences Of His
Carelessness

'.Send the board of public works to jail
If necessary-let us make an example OF
somebody or else repeal the ordinance.
Councilman Wren grew more dramatic
than at any time in his councilmanic ca
reer yesterday when he insisted tnat tne
provisions cf the new requisition ordi-
nance be enforced in the case of several
irregular demands which the council was
asked to pass over the auditors and city
attorneys heads, because the board had
overlooked .he making out of the neces-
sarv reouisitlons-an accidental over
sight"
William e. Reavis had claims amount-
ing to nearly $500, which he wanted the
city to pay. They were for teams and
wagons. it was stated. None of the coun-
cilmen seemed to know Reavis. yet his
claim threatens to become cause celebre
in the. annals of the council.
Reavis, it appears has been boarding
1--WE horses for the street department of
the board of public works for months
Reauisitions or estimated expenses must
be made in advance, under the new law,
and approved by the supply committee
before the council acts. In Reavis case,
his bills had been paid without a hitch
months. but the bookkeeping section
of the board suffered lapse of memory
and the last monthly requisition was not
sent in.
LAWYERS Report Adversely
The legal department reported as usual
that reuuisitions in advance should have
been furnished, and from legal stand
point it could not report favorably on
the claim.
Chairman Wren of the supply commit
tee then took the floor-in fact he took 1t
q score of times-in leading the debate
against authorizing payment of the bills
under an emergency clause, as was pro-
posed by the board.
EVERY councilman who votes to pay
the bill is responsible for it himself"
said Wren
Neglect on the boards part does not
entitle it to plead emergency reasons"
Both Counciimen Healy and Clampitt
said if necessary they favored repeating
the entire requisition ordinance, espec-
tally when they learned that violations
meant fine OF $500 or 300 days in Jail.
I'VE let the board of public works run
everything else. Why not pay this bill
for themY' shouted Clampitt, unterrified.
Someone ~uggested that it be referred
back to the city attorney.
''It will do no good-I cannot approve
At on legal grounds said he.
Auditor Demands Enforcement
Auditor Mushet got in a word edgewise
here.
"You passed an ordinance on this sub
ject, and though it does seem hard to
enforce it in this case, as the goods were
delivered, the quicker you make an ex-
ample the sooner the Irregularities will
stop. The man who put the city in this
dilemma should stand the consequences"
81 don't know who did it, Put him in
jail whoever he is, if necessary" re-
peated Wren.
1.-THE man Reavis has a remedy at law
to get his money, and he will get 1t
final1y,'' interposed Auditor Mushet
Councilman Dromgold insisted that the
men who are violating the requisition or
dinance should be brought on the carpet.
After several motions, amendments and
counter motions, the councilmen got into
a parliamentary snarl which required the
combined genius of City Attorneys Hew-
tit and Wilson to unravel and, as a re-
suit the claim was denied and the case
must go to the courts.
Chairman Wren said that even if the
council approved the claim it would not
have been paid, as Treasurer Hance had
told him he would honor no more de-
mands that do not bear Auditor