The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-23


tina, between July i, 1899 and April II, 1890.
there were issued 1923 exempt merchandise
licenses aud 3ol exempt" lodging house ana
restaurant lcenses-a total OF 1929. Inc I'M
position of small fee In these cases would nor
be an oppressive burden on the persons VINO Sc
cure exemption from the payment OF the license
tax eXacted from others engaged in similar OlSl-
ness, aud IL would serve TO reimburse the city ior
some OF The expense above referred TO.
GOLDEN GATE PARK.
With reference TO the Commissioners OF Golden
Gate Park, we desire to say that we found on an
investigation that no previous Grand Jury, SO
far rs we were able TO learn, has attempted 10
examine the books OF this office. IL is TO be pre-
sumed that cur predecessors have doubted their
right TO examine The books of the Commissioners
and that this doubt has been based upon tue iact
that the Commissioners are nor appointed by ,ne
city but by the Governor of the Stale. we De-
lieved, however, that inasmuch as ali the moneys
expended by tile commissioners are derived from
city taxation, the Grand Jury had the rlgnt 10
examine their accounts. We are pleased 10 say
that not only did we find no disposition on the
pant of the Commissioners TO dispute TINS rlgnt,
but Immediately upon our wishes III TINS respect
being made known the Commissioners EXTENDED
10 us and 10 the expert accountant appointed ny
us every facility for making such examination as
We desired and expressed it as their own opinion
that their books should be exported at least once
year. We caused the books TO be exported LOT
The period commencing July l, 1889, ana end
ing with Aprll 80, 1890. We found the BOOKS
accurately Kept. with precise details OF every
dollar expended During the period mentioned
the expenditures, all Of which are evidenced by
proper vouchers, aggregated S1o5,3S7 43, OF
which S64. 1913 ~ was for labor and material
used In new construction work and $40, 5SS IL
for maintenance OF The grounds and buildings.
OF the tot,l aggregate OF Sl05.3S1 10,
S73, 100 10 was expended for labor and 49,.
2S7 80 for materials. very full summary OF
the accounts of the Commissioners is attached
TO and forms part OF the expert accountants re-
port, filed herewith.
ALMsHoUsE.
We investigated the condition and manage
meDt OF the AlmshouSe and as the result OF thaI
invest igatiUn became impressed with the conVlc-
ton that The present Superintendent Is IN every
respect worthy successor OF the late DR.. Neat.
ing, under whose supervision the Almshouse OF
the city and county of San Francisco became
widely known as one OF the best, and perhaps tne
best, conducted charitable Institution oil us
kind in the United States.
CITY AND COUNTY HOSPITAL.
We found the City and County Hospital well
conducted so far rs regards the care and atten-
tion bestowed on the patents, who are supplied
with proper food OF the best quality and receive
the best OF medical and surgical treatment. we
renew, however. tile recommendations made Dy
the Grand Jury which preceded US as 10 the
needed improvements to the heating ana Yenll-
latlOn OF the hospital, and the renewal OF the
floors throughout the building.
our attention has been directed 10 published
charges of frauds in connection with the Office oil
the druggist employed AT the hospital. from
our investigation OF The matter referred 10, We
found that during the incumhency OF Louis Z.
Wagner, VINO was employed as druggist put
who has since been discharged some valuable
drugs disappeared from the hospital. After
careful investigation, however, we could not hnu
the slightest evidence 10 show that any person
cerneo in the frauds charged.
NEW CITY HALL.
Our attention has also been directed to certain
charges of fraud in connection with the CONSTITUTE
tlon of the new CITY Hall. An investigation OF
the matter referred 10 1t showed that In a lew
spots rubbish and debris had been INCORPORATED
i'll the brick walls in course OF construction,
where the contracts called for solid brckwoth.
We ind. after careful investigation, that all The
said rubbish and debris was placed In the places
where 1t was found by George L. Hanks brlck-
layer who first directed lhe attention OF me
municipal authorities TO the matter, and we be-
lieye that lie was assisted in this fraud by others
WHO worked under Ills direction, aud at his In
stigation Who those conederates were we
were unable to discover. We are satisfied, now
ever, that neither the contractors nor the sub
contractors nor any offlcer 10 the employment
Of the city, WAS eognzant OF the fraud. IL Is a
fraud that ought 10 be punished, but we nave
been unable 10 mud any provision OF law under
which AN Indictment could be found. 1t seems
to be defect in the law which the Legislature
alone can remedy.
POLICE DEPARTMENT.
After careful examination of the affairs OF
the Police Department we desire TO say that IN
our opinion The department Is as thoroughly
efficient as IL can be made by the Board OF Police
Commissioners and The Chief of Police, acting
under their direction, with The numerical force
and the accommodations aud appliances AT their
command. The Chief OF Police devOtes his en-
tire time and attention 10 the affairs OF the de-
partment ana shows complete knowledge OF all
that is necessary to the successful management
OF this very important part OF our municipal.
government. Tie discipline Of the department
Is Kept up to very high standard we hnd,
however, that the city OF San Francisco is de-
cidedly behind the Times as regards acc0mmoda-
lions afforded at the poflce stations In other
large cities the police stations are city property
ana are fitted up with rooms for the accOmmoda-
ton OF all the officers In the district where they
are located, thus afiordlng the members OF the
police force a place of rendezvous where they
can be accommodated In case OF riot or dis
tuiDaDces, which may occur at any time IN all
large cities. We believe that The efficiency OF
the police force in this city might be materially
increased II rooms FOR The accommodation oil the
members OF the force were attached TO al the
police stations. These rooms should be fitted up
doraitofies and there should also be AT each
station readlng-room and gymnasium; the
furnishing OF these accommodations would act
as an induCement 10 keep The men together when
of duty, that IN case OF emergency they
w0uld.be In readiness for service night and day.
We also call particular attention to the fact
that Tie city has no mounted police force.
city as large san francisco, with SO wide an
area OF territory 10 be covered, should have
mounted police force of al least ten or twelve
officers, thoroughly equipped, and stationed at
locations where they would always be ready for
service.
We recommend that the Board OF Supervisors
take early action. with view TO The establish
| meut of mounted police patrol, aud also TO the
arranging OF proper quarters at the police stations
| for the convenience OF lie police officers while
oil duty.
STREET DEPARTMENT.
We have been highly pleased by the result of
| our examination OF the conduct of this depart
! ment. The Street Superintendent appears TO US
| TO have rendered faithful service DURING his
| tenure oil office. We notice q steady improve
| ment in the condition OF the accepted streets. A
| great deal OF new pavement has been laid and
| many OF The old payementS have been repaired,
| the Work In every case being done IN nfst-clasS
| manner. We cordially indorse the policy
! adopted by the Superintendent OF removing the
| confessions paving as rapidly as practicable ana
| substituting for it other more suitable pavement.
Much has been said and written about the re-
| srective merits OF the various paving Materials
| The question OF what is the best paving material
| for the city Is one that can only be decided by
! lime aud experience. We are convinced, now
n ~ hs
| stand the strain, pressure and wear and tear OF
| the enormous loads which are hauled on single
| vehicles III this city. There may be cases where
| tie hauling of extraordinarily heavy loads may be
| unavoidable, as Tor instance In the traDspora-
| ton ofheavy machinery where It is impossible TO
| subdiyde Tie load. In such cases special per-
/ mils for The particular occasion should be
| granted. but for tile hauling OF ordinary mer
| cnandse no truck drawn by more than two
| horses should be allowed ON QUE streets. AS II is
! now. there Is continual contest between the
| pavement and the enormous tOur-horse trucks
! aud the pavement invariably gets the worst OF
the battle. We offer TINS for The consideration
! OF the Board of Supervisors, and we also recon-
| mend that an ordinance be passed requiring the
tires OF at trucks used for the hauling OF heavy
merchandise 10 be made not less than six Inches
In width. We believe that this would have The
elect OF increasing materially the durability oil
| our street pavements.
DIVES AND DIsoRDERLY HOUSES.
Preceding Grand Juries have called attention
| TO the dives" dance-hOuses and low places OF
| resort which, under the pretentious name OF
variety Iledters, disgrace some of our princlp pal
| thOrOughfares These dives are h0tDeds OF vice
| aud crime, where the youths OF the city are de-
morazed, and weak minded men are robbed by
| women oi the lowest class, who assume the
| gulse Of mattresses as Il cover for the more
shameful vocation which they pursue. There is
not night In the year that the books OF the City
| Prison do not show record OF murderous crimes
| directly traceable TO these resorts.
| Closely allied to this evil is the scaudaOus
manner in which the social evil in its most hide
Gus form IS permitted TO iaunt Itself in the face
OF the public on some OF our streets aud espe-
| liQpkS nnOnf
tween Bush and California. Those blocks, from
| one end 10 the other and on both sides Of the
street. are occupied In their entirety by houses
| OF -iame. These houses and til dives above
| referred 10 are alike " dsOrderly houses" within
the meaning OF the law OF The State, which de-
| clares The keeping OF disOrderly house or the
letting OF property with the knowledge that IL is
| TO be used for such purposes TO be q mlsde-
meanor. Many OF these houses are owned by
men of wealth aud social and political promi-
nenee- IL is unfortunate their msQemeanorS
are not indlctable olenses under the law. 1t is
/ perhaps tor this reason that denunciations OF
| this evil by Grand Juries have had so little
| effect
~.