New-York tribune., 1883-03-11
SAN FRANCISCO.
MUNICIPAL AND STATE MISGOVERNMENT-
HOT WEATHER." HANK" MONK.


HOT WEATHER." HANK" MONK.
frRom An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUNEl
SAN Francisco. March 1.-The water war has
been carried into the courts and the prospect OF lis
speedy settlement is very dubious. Meanwhlle re-
trenchment is the order of the day ID all DEPART
ments of the city government. An order mas oeeh
issued by the Supervisors to leave the street iapS
unHehted until July, the beginning of the new
fiscal year to cut down the number oil empio|es
and clerks IN all the departments to allow the ln-
dioent sick TO SHIFT for themselves-n fine. to run
tbe citv government for about One-thir1 its usual
cost There is no question that much OF this reduc
finn wouId he wholesome even were there 10 iach
of fupds in the city treasury. AS IL Is, tmS Is tno
only way to keep the municipal machinery IN no
t,on The cash to meet the expenses oi tie heA'
four months will be provided by an issue OF oohus'
The present tax levy is 81 on 500. This ouph'
IN be sufficient to conduct the government OF cly
like San Francisco /; but the trouble Is that unuei
the old charter each department has ben conVerIeu
into an asylum for spawned politicians so that Tue
city feeds an army of ward " strikers VINO are no'
needed and who would be worthless if there was
any demand for their services. As an instance Oh
the way public money is wasted, take the Assessor
office It was demanded by the new Constitution
that record of the titles of all mortgages he Kept
The late Assessor construed this provision lbeIaly.
He bought books hired score OF clerks
and had complete copy of every mort
gage made He wasted $4,000 IN year
in this needless fashion. The sheriff. the TAX
collector and the auditor all maintain three tmts
the number of deputies required for the business oi
their offices. Under the new charter-whlch ms
been drafted by Board of Freeholders-a cheek Is
placed on this extravaganza. The new charter elec-
tion takes place on Saturday, but as all the pohl-
aDHf "a m
the big and little rings are working against lis 'ne
chances are not favorable for its passage.
The lack of rain is again exciting apprehension IN
the country. For more than week the wea'her
has been extremely warm, the mercury rising 10 10
I'm the shade in this city. The heat in the interior
Is much greater and stock have already begun TO
suffer for want of grass and water Ihe roman
Catholic Archbishop has ordered prayers for RAM
but TINS far an answer has not been vOuchsaied
Next week will see the end of the legislative ses-
sion at Sacramento 1t has been one OF the duHFs'
on records few bills of any Importance have Deen
passed the sixty days have been squah'eIeu AZ
debate over pettv matters or in lobbying through
personal measures. There is some talk OF special
session. but from present appearances 1t will not be
called. The majority of both houses Is Democratic,
vet the boasted reform which was predicted has
ended in nothing. Not a man in either house has
made any reputation for ability, while large num-
her have proved that their votes could be DOught
very cheap The interests of the state VIII De
safer whom they have gone back to their con-
etituents.
The death of Hank" Monk at Carson, New, re-
,,nves a wel-known character on this coast. The
staqe-dryer gained nOtoriety for his reckles'neSN
op had mountain roads and this was increased by
many apocrypha stories of his exploits related by
Western humurists He clunp to the box almost 10
the last but the period of his usefulness was we'll
nigh ended when death cut him off. His was
familiar figure in the Sagebrush bar-rooms where
his faculty for and his capacity for whlskey
.cxcited roual wonder