The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-18
GRAND JURY'S
FINAL REPORT,
A Scerching Rebuke Admin
lstered to the Beard Of
Supervisors.
ExTRIvs6ARCE, JOBS AND STEALS.
If JudiciousIy Expended the
Taxes Are Ample to Run the
City Government.
THE DOLLAR LIMIT APPROVED.
Unsparing Condem-
nation of the Shag
Rock Steal.
Street Railway Franchises Should Not be
Voted Away PrOmiSCuOusly.
The Appointment of So Many Com
missioners for Street Extensions
Denounced as Job-Attentio
Called to the Public Printing
Steal-A Better Fire Department
and More-PoIicemen Needed.

The Grand Jury that was impaneled in
August last finished its labors YESTERDAY
and submitted report to Presiding Judge
Murphy just as the days session of court
was closing. After thanking the jurors for
their labors and assuring them that he ex-
pressed the sentiments OF the people in
crediting them with faithful performance
81 their trust, he discharged them from fur
Their service. The following is the report;
To the Hon D. J. Murphy. Presiding Judge
San FrdnctSco-DEAR SIR: We. the Grand
jury iot the CITY and county OF San Francisco,
respectfully submit this, our fiaal report aud ask
Alb day OF August 1890. by your Honor.
Ludwig AlIhsehul, Thomas Mathewson, W. B.
II. E. Bothin. W. Ii. Phelps. Charles Coleman,
Anthony Quill. A. NJ. Davis, John fl. Ripe,
Jacob Epplnger j; q. Smith; John Z. Hi. S.
Grant, who by your Honor appointed
as the foreman of this Grand Jury. H. II.
Kohler was duly elected as the Secretary
of the Grand Jury. and we take this opportunity
TO thank him for services well performed.
During our term we held nfteen day and five
evening sessions ana found eleven indictments.
Eight against one defendant, one against two
defendants. one against one defendant, one
against three defendants on three charges. Total
eleven indictments. Shortly after our empane.-
ment one OF our members, 7. H. Smith, left for
Europe on account OF his health aud has not
returned as yet. X. Z. Osborn, another men,
Der, became paralyZed ana could not attend 10
his duties, ana Thomas ID. Mathewson died after
d short illness, and in this way We lost the
services Of three able members.
EXCITEMENT OF ELECTION.
The prevalent excitement of the late election,
In With great number OF city officials were
candidates. and which absorbed public attention
and also the minds of the grand jurors, is
pleaded excuse for not having performed
more thorough examinations aud work in some
nd
for this We ask the indulgence Of the court.
Unfortunately, the funds Of many departments
were either running very low OF were entirely ex-
hausled. and Ia consequence, many OF our sug
gestions, even for small repairs, met with dis.
couraging refusals.
The great ma oriiy of the members composing
this Grand jury labored under the disadvantage
OF not having served IN this capacity before, and
IL naturally took Them some time 10 take In the
situation OF the responsible duties imposed on
them. and therefore, lie good will will have 10 be
taken for the deed.
CITY, COUNTY AND STATE TAXES.
The taxes collected in this city and county for
the isca year 1882 80 amountes:
FOR city aud county $50 OF
Total. .s65,650 10
S22.SS for each man, woman and chlldIin the
city. There can be no dispute that this Is a very
heavy lax for city of 800, 900 population, aud
fully explains and In a manner justities the lax
PAYERS demanding and INSISTING on the ~ 81
limit of taxation, and fixed valuation. With
iudicious management and proper economy by
The heads OF The different departments the above
large sums should amply meet the cify's wants
aud demands.
EXTRAyAGANCE.
Extravaganza, and particularly unnecessary
employ of officials Tor mere political patron
age or service, should be discountenaDced aud
The clerical force In each and every department
should keen proper Office hours, attend to their
duties with promptness and application, and
above all should be Tilted for the position, apd in
their intercourse with the public be civil and
polite.
baI RI aip.a In fba ofty
government, who supports your pubic schools,
your hospitals, Almshouse, Industrial School.
House of Correction, your public parks and
other Institutions ought in all justice to have his
Interests protected IL return by just distribu-
tiUn aud by not needlessly mourning the burdens
OF taxation.
There was not an institution visited by the
Grand Jury where they had not pointed TO them
what could be done with enlarged appropria.
lions, aud in some cases the officials expressed
themselves as very indignant that their demands
aad recommendations were not complied with as
soon as made.
REPAIRS TO SCHOOL BUILDINGS.
The city officials who have the care and charge
OF the school buildings and other public tnstitu-
lions are not exercising the right Kind OF econ.
omy when neg-cting 10 make necessary ana
timely repairs on these buildings. An occasional
coat of paint preserves and gives better ap-
pearance. and makes them credit where they
are now disgrace 10 The city.
The Grand Jury appointed D. w. Folger as
their expert accountant, and ms reports to us OF
the condition of the various city Offices are EN-
bodied and made part OF this our final report,
and enumerated at the end hereof
The power OF the Grand Jury might be adyan-
taeeously enlarged TO permit OF their employing
the services OF detective to ferret out official
wrong doing. There is little doubt OF Its exist
ence, but the hunting Of proofs and elements TO
lead TO conviction are not within reach OF The
grand Jurors or in the line OF theiri duty. GOOD
results may Dc e2See.e rrupr E msY
not lie altogether checked, II may, al least, %
come less open and DEFIANT
RAILROAD FRANCHISES.
IA bera far he
voted awav without The city getting full equiva-
lent eth er IN percentage OF the revenue returns
of these enterprises, or the privilege snouio ge
put up at auction TO the highest bidder NO
grant OF similar franchises should be made mere
after for longer period than TWENTY-FIVE years.
The telegraph and electric wires, WIN tne ever, ,
Increasing height of lhe poles, have become sucn
an absolute nuisance. aud even menace 10 NE
that the time has come TO compel the uhoeI.
ground system, and an ordinance to that enect
should be passed by the Board OF Supervisors OF
this city. Ii should also contain provision lnat
whenever and wherever telegraph or electric
efiy-owner In front of whose property II Is IN
tended TO erect them should be notified and con-
suited as 10 his preference where ne would IKE
10 have them placed. At present this work IS
done In the most insoleDt way, WITHOUT asking
by your leave, as If they owned The sidewalk.
GOLDEN GATE PARK.
The ciiIzens of San francisco are to be con
graduated on possessing sucn large anu Hne
Sark as Golden Gate Park has become under the
fostering care OF the Park commissioners: II T. s -
made of 1t by rich and Door, by OLD and youag
alike The popular concerts there have addea
great attraction, besides being In no small de-
gree a desirable musical training Tor our peopie.
What private donations have done for the PARK
ts best shown TO advantage by the cnildiens
MAY grounds, with its attractive Stone Duildins
and restaurant, afording bealtbiul ana agreedpie
recreation 10 our younger generation.
Tie park has its many friends and KIND
donors, and there is hardly better way ior our
generously inclined citizens 10 show their appIe-
CATION OF the good Influence Inc PARK e1efts
than by adding In some substantial way 70 us
attractiyepess The time Is not fsr distant wnen
our glorious park will rank, II not outIank. tne
best OF It's Kind In the United States OF America.
THE WESTERN ADDITION.
The Western Addition and the new dislrlct
known as Richmond are fast becoming denseiy
settled, aud the close proximity OF tne csne-
teries is becoming undesirable and OBNOXIOUS.
They also crowd The park on the other slde; As
tile cemei cries are all OF them full, or nearly 50.
and as IL would be but proper regard ior Tue
living and their health to discontinue all iutuIo
burials in these cemeteries, all burlal grouDos
should hereafter be located outside OF the limits
OF the city and county OF San Francisco. Inc
City Cemetery use should also be discontinued,
The various plats of the same heretofore given
away by the city should be bought back, and the
200 acres comprising II should be either ADDED
10 The park or sold, and the proceeds applied 70
the removal OF the csmetcriess a. Inc piacs snoy