Los Angeles herald., 1909-07-27
ELDRIDGE CUTS
ADVISORY ROPE
SUPERVISOR OPENLY GOES
BACK ON PROMISES
District Attorney Finally Asked IT
They Are Binding, Despite obJec-
ton of Prldhanl-Frederlcks
to Decide

Eldridge that the supervisors hold nj
more meetings with the good roads ad
visory committee was one of the fea'
lures of a livedy discussion in the board
of supervisors yesterday morning wher
a letter from Sidney A. Butler, chair
man of the advisory board, was pre-
scented to the supervisors for their Of
fetal action.
Mr.. Butler stated that the advisory
committee probably will decline to take
action on the appointment of George H
BiXby as highway commissioner, as the
advisory committee has been ignored tr
the appointment of the two other high
way commissioners. The letter finally
was referred to the district attorney
with a request from the supervisors
that he inform the board on the lega
rights of the supervisors in case they
should refuse to cooperate further with
the advisory committee.
1t is understood that the district at
torney probably will inform the board
that the advisory committee has nc
legal standing and that the supervisors
are not legally bound to cooperate with
it. AS a result of this reference of Mr.
Buffers letter to the district attorney
the proposed action on Mr.. Btxbys ap-
pointment was not taken by the super
visors yesterday, but was deferred until
the district attorney has rendered MS
opinion.
EIdrfdue Forces a Move
81 object to Mr.. Buffers inference
that the advisory committee was ap-
pointed by certain civic bodies" said
Mr.. Eldridge, when Mr.. Buffers letter
had been read" I move that there be
no more meetings between this board
and the advisory committee"
LET us face this matter like honor
able men," interrupted Mr.. Pridham
-, Of q dilpnna-'
81 am not in a dilemma" interrupted
Mr.. Eldridge.
1--WE are here representing the peo-
ple," continued Mr.. Pridham. They
expect us to spend this money honestly
and judiciosuly, for we need the good
roads. We did agree to advise and
confer with the advisory committee
and the more we can advise with 1t the
better will be the expenditure. Had
the supervisors not agreed to advise
with the committee we should have had
a majority against us at the good roads
bond election. We will not stultify our
selves by advising with the committee
and if the members fail to agree with
us we shall at least have shown good
faith. If we make promises we should
live I'D to them. We have made mis-
take by not putting on the records our
meetings with the committee
THAT committee is not composed of
advisers" interrupted Chairman Nellis.
ut is a body of critics, if we are to
take the newspapers statements for IT.
I feel that the public does not under
stand the situation as regards our rela-
tions with the committee"
Pertinent Query Unanswered
"It is not necessary for us to look to
the newspapers in this matter" Super
visor Pridham retorted. THE records
are there, and do they show or do they
not show whether this board advised
with the committee on the appointment
of Mr.. Calvert or the reappointment of
Mr.. Marsh?"
This question evoked no answer, and
the matter was finally put over, the
supervisors sending the following letter
to the district attorney, in company
with Mr.. Buffers letter:
1.-THE former board of supervisors
piror to the bond election on the good
roads matter passed a resolution
whereby they agreed not to make any
apopintments or do certain acts in
connection with the expenditure of the
bond money without the approval of
a body of citizens called the advisory
committee.
1.-THE present incumbents, prior to
their election as members of this
board. were requested by this commit
tee to pledge themselves to the same
on account of its bling a violation of
the election laws but did prior to cleo
ton state that it would be their pur-
pose to consult with this advisory COM
mittee on all matters pertaining to ex-
penditure of this fund, for the purpose
of ascertaining their views and bene-
fitting by their advice.
Opinion Is Requested
"Since the election of the present
board a resolution was adopted S fol-
lows:
"Resolved, That it be the sense of
this board of supervisors to advise
with the advisory committee on all
matters pertaining to the building of
highways as advertised, and conform
to the resolution adopted by the former
board in so far as the same does not
run counter to an honest discharge of
our powers as supervisors
with this statement Of facts, your
opinion is requested as to what our le-
gal rights are in the matter of making
appointments and expanding the bond
money I'm the premises, and what our
legal rights are in case the board is
not able to agree with the advisory
committee on the matter covered by
the above"
-Four bids for furnishing labor and
material necessary for the improve
boulevard. from the National Military
home to the westerly boundary of the
city of Los angeles, were opened by
the board of supervisors yesterday and
referred to the advisory committee
The length of the section of road to
be improved is 4OS25 feet, The work
IS a portion of that called for under
the good roads bond election.
The bids are as follows: Gurnsev &
Pitzer, $145,548; c. w Brashear, $109,-
700: Anselm de G. Greive. $107.712, and
Doran, Brouse & Price, $9S,52456.
Three bids also were received for the
construction of four bridges on The
Long Beach boulevard. to be paid fol
from the good roads bonds issue
These bids also were referred to the
advisory committee. They are as fol-
lows: William F. Bryant & Company
81 200: Mercereau Bridge & Construc-
ton company $128O0 Union Iron works
S13,j1S
School House Burned