The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-18

IL.
The progress made toward completion OF the
new Clty Hall Is ft subject OF congratulatOn to
our ieHow-ciiizens. Everybody can see now
WHAT Oiunder IL was to sell ;ha City Hall lots
Inc cost OF the City Hall is double what 1t ought
10 nave BEEN and this circumstance ought 10 be
, deatiy bought lesson in future undertakings OF
Former efforts made to induce the city TO sell
me Lincoln School lots on Market and Fifth
lure meets, but should be rejected at once aud
Tor all time as against the best interests Of the
School Department
SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.
The School Department is sure to receive
steady growing rental income for the same. The
l0tls not suited for school purposes, not even the
filtn-street side. There are complaints by the
teachers even now Of the strain on them aud the
children, on account of the street noise. 1t is
only question OF short time when the build
Ing viii lave 10 lie condemned for school pur.
poses. The old hospital on Stockton and Fran
cisco streets, being too dilapidated for any fur
tner use. should be torn down, and as the lot is
large enough 10 make splendid school site it
should be put TO such or other practical use.
Although the several efforts 10 frame an ac-
ceptabie charter to the majority OF the voters of
this city have here ofore failed 1t yet remains an
uhdispuled fact that this city needs nothing so
ihuch Today as plain, comprehensive funda-
mental law OF The city government, and we there
Iole recommend that new effort be made. As
we know pretty we'll what defeated the proposed
former charters, we might by elecing Board
OF treebolders composed of good and practical
gentlemen, sail clear OF the rocks which wrecked
our former attempts and secure charter for the
cliy and county of San francisco so that the
average citizen may know what the laws are that
govern this municipality. The way we have run
along for years In his respect would puzzle a
good lawyer 10 define. Ii was question able
general law.
THEIR ACTION CONDEMNED.
The Grand Jury emphattcally condemns The
action OF the Board OF Supervisors In fixing the
salaries of the Commissioners for opening and
extending the various projects as from the
Tine OF their appointment. They know. or
ought TO Know. the difficulties In the way OF an
isl nf arfa
thelr appropriately In some Instances and tile fact
mat the services likely TO be rendered by these
COMMISSIONERS VIII be in no ratio TO their pay or
the dement, taccrulng 10 those who Will have TO
foot the expenses. The expense OF S30.34S for
Commissioners TOR the widening OF Mission street
is mere pointed out scandaous Illustration
OF This system OF Commissioners, TO be avoided
10 future one-third OF the amount in contro-
yersy is swallowed up In Commissioners fees.
List OF Commissioners appointed by present
Board OF Supervisors 10 assess the DEMENT'S and
damages arising from the opening widening aud
extending of Streets and whose salaries are
nXed al 500 each per mouth from the date OF
stated.
Frst-Streets through the Laguna Survey
commissioners James Hanley, Horace q. Plat
Second-HOward-s extension. Commits
sioners Frank McCoppin, ID. j. TOohy ard j.
D9 9,S harvey. Appointed april IA, 1890.
slonets ID. {. Nealon. L. Mcmahon and A. j.
Ciunie. Appointed March "a, 1890.
~ Fourth -Post-sIreet extension. Commissioners
Hugh Grumpy. I. S. Parker aud j. L. Kelly.
Appointed September %. 1890.
Flitli-Nneteeuth, Twentieth, Twenty first,
IWeuty-second ana Twenty-thi streets exlen-
sion. Commissioners Charles w. WEIGH, W. NJ.
OShaughnessy and James Ii. Bartlett. Ap-
pointed November TO- 1890.
SiXth-ChaGgiGg grade OF Market street. De-
cember w. 1890. Three Commissioners. w j.
Bryan MIR. Falion and j. j. ScIivener.
c Making total monthly payment eighteen
Commissioners at 5000 EACH of $1,000. aud IN
addition To this must be added the salaries of
Secretary 10 each commission.
THE SHAG ROCK STEAL.
In like manner we copuemn the proposed pur-
chase OF Shag Rock by the Board of Supervisors
iof Inc purpose OF Pesihouse against the pro-
lest and medical judgment of the Board OF
Health as 10 It's fitness for the use for which II is
intended.
PUBLIC PRINTING.
Attention Is hereby called TO the singular fact
that The delinquent tax list for the fiscal year
1SS9-90 cost the city Sl4,35S So; While for the
year 1883 80 II only cost s55o5 II. This would
indicate Job somewhere aud the difference be-
ing so great should be Investigated.
II there existec>a lingering doubt as to the
sincerity or honesty OF the majority OF the pres
cut Board of Supervisors, their action at the
meeting on the award to tie Daily Report of the
pubhc printing for two years alter the clear and
exhaustive decision aud denuuciaton OF the
serene by Judge Hunt, should have dspelled
from the mind OF every right thinking grand
juror that doubt. (Here is inserted in the report
The iull text OF Judge Hunts decision, published
IN The CALL on Wednesday, December 1oth.)
SOLID NINE' INSULTS.
we are confronted with the question:
reason o. other they have Set their minds To do a
thing? Can there be doubt hereafter as To
what prompts them III their action ?'' The an
swer lies In The purchase OF Shag Rock aud In
The number OF railroad franchises granted ad-
verse TO the ciiy's interest and over the veto of
his Honor the Mayor. What will stop this hlthy
Tide OF local legislation? Can or must This Grand
Jury and the betrayed people OF This city bear
The measure Of iorbearance full TO overflow
ing.
THE MAYORS OFFICE
haa,, or k,,L 81.
with marked ability, honesty aud fairness, and
we are sorry that the city is about losing The
benefit OF lis long years of experience and future
services.
CITY AND COUNTY TREASURER.
We found the offce well conducted by MIR.
Christian Reiss and his Chief Deputy, Mr.. Charles
Hubert, who has had his books posted up to the
| day OF our examination. The Treasurer wished
| US TO recommend that the troublesome practice
OF keeping the books and stubs OF the unused
| poll-tax receipts stored in his office be discon-
| tlnued, and that tile same may be destroyed
| alter say, two or three years. by an officer
deputiZed by The proper authority 10 do so.
THE AUDITORS OFFICE
| We also found in The best working order The
chief deputy, MIR. Cook, has shown US system
| condition OF public affairs and their various &C
| counts. He also has filed away all tie papers
| As some of these papers back to the ffIies
| they are very valuable records.
TAX COLLECTORS OFFICE.
We have examined the workings of this Office
and have had our experts overlook the books
and accounts, ana find The Office well conducted
by The present Tax Collector, Air. l. O'Brien.
LICENSE COLLECTORS OFFICE.
Our expert has examined the accounts OF this
office and finds them correct and the business of
the office well conducted under License Collector
Mr. I. l. O'Brien.
ASSESSOR.
The examination into the Office work OF this de-
pariment presents a very credtabe showing.
Tie books are well written and the block maps
exceedingly well done. Unless rebound soon, the
n a ks wi snnr oil IN
pieces. 1t is question In the minds of the Grand
Jury whether saving in writing OF these forty
eignt volumes OF real and personal taxes every
year could not be effected by an improved sys-
TEN 10 make them serve several years without
leopard iZng other considerations. What Will we
eventually do with these accommodating records?
RECORDERS OFFICE.
The work in this Office seems TO have been
well managed Attention Is called TO tile dilapi-
dated condition of some OF the maps in this
office, some of which are so badly worn and In
places nearly etaceG as to be unit for refer
ence. Steps should be taken at once TO have
these maps recopied into permanent record
books AS good light is AN important factor in
this office We recommend that coat OF paint
be applied to the interior.
CLERKS OFFICE-BoARD OF SUPERVISORS.
This is one of tile most important Offices in the
City Hall, and has constant pressure OF very
particular and important business, more than
any other department OF the city government.
Yet they have not as many clerks. and those en-
ployed have no easy time. BY long years of ex.
the board John A. Russell, has become lnvau-
bic as reliable source OF Information and ad-
visor OF members He has held The Office through
many changes or administration. The city has
to thank him for systematic method OF compil-
alton OF official and other records. He has able
assistants In the discharge Of his multifarIous
duties
SPECIAL COUNSEL
The Board Of Supervisors appointed Messrs.
Flournoy & Mhoon and W. w. Foote to defend
the suits brought by the Spring Valley Water
Works against The city and county, 10 set aside
the order fixing the water rates; compensation
$500 each, which was paid. The case was not
tried on its merits. as the counsel saw fit to
risk the case CD demurrer, aud the city was
beaten in consequence. The case attracted gen.
eral attention al the time, and the action OF the
counsel received uucomplimenIary criticism at
the time, for the people were anxious TO have
long pending differences between them ana the
Spring Valley Wafer Company fully adjudlcated
BY a Judgment on all the points involved
W. N. Cope was also appointed TO defend the
Auditor in suit brought by Ii. Wheeler to re-
cover compensation allowed by the Board Of
Park Commissioners for legal services; compen
sation, $3.50; paid
I IL SnIIlyati was appointed TO defend Super