The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-07-23
FULL AND FINAL.
The Grand Jury Submits an Ex.
haustiye Report.
New City Charter, County Jail and a
Mounted Police Patrol Recommended.
City offiears-Prize Fighting

warrants issued for the arrest of the in
dicted parties.
The final report OF the Grand Jury was
then submitted. In discharging the jurors
the Court delivered short address, thank
ing them for having performed their duties
so well.
The report is as follows:
To the Hon. D. j. Murphy, Presiding Judge Of
the superior Court, an aud for the cry and
County Of San francisco; The Grand Jury I'M
paneled in December, 1889 respectfully sub
mijs this, It's final report, and asks to be dis
charged. The panel consists OF:
CHARLES Ii. LIvINGs-lJ . p. OSULLIvAN,
TON (FOleman). W. ). PHELPS,
X. II. BUNKER, ALBERT II. IATEICh.
N z. COLE MONTGOMERY COOLEY
j. ID. GRANT, GILBERT >. GRINGLE,
l.. A. GARNET, I. +. RIORDAN.
CHARLES LESTER, IHOS u. WILMINGTON
Is. ii. l4ICHTENSTEIN, o. f. WILEY,
JACOB LEVI SCOTT j. WILSON,
JEREMIAH II. MARS Il. j. HART Secretary.
TIN,
We have found thirty-eight indictments, as fol
lows: For robbery D, for perjury 6, for grand
larceny 6, for ENLIGHTENMENT 2, for forgery II,
for felony .
In the performance OF our official duties We
have received material assistance from the DIS
Irict Attorney. whom have found always
ready to aid us with his advice whenever 1t has
been necessary for us to call upon him. Our
duties have brought US into FREQUENT contact
with this officer, and we have mad frequent and
almost continuous opportunity foI becoming ac-
qudlnted Win The workings OF MS ONCE
III The management aud conduct OF which we
mud everything 10 commend ana nothing 10 con-
denim.
We have also been greatly aided in the labor
of investigating the condition and workings OF
the several DEPARTMENTS OF the city government
by the efficient services of ID. W. Folger, whom
we APPOINTED Expert accountant TO the Grand
Jury shortly alter We were mpaneled.
PREVIOUS PARTIAL REPORTS.
We have heretofore flied partial reports giving
the results Of our Investigations OF the condition
OF the County jail the House OF Correction the
Industrial School and Magdalen Asylum ana The
Fire Department, and as part OF these reports
We offered certain recommendations and sug-
gestlons for the consideration OF the proper mu-
ucipal authorities. Whle the necessity Tor the
improvements suggested by us Is conceded by
every one the Board of Supervisors has since
fixed the tax levy for the current fiscal year
without providing any means Tor carrying them
into effect. Two reasons Tor Inns have Deen
Oftered-lack of funds ard lack OF power IN The
Board OF Supervisors.
Ii is conceded, Tor instance, that The equip
ment of The Fire Department Is far below the re
quIementS OF the clty'S gIowtc, yet we are tolu
tne only remedy is TO be found in tile voluntary
contributions OF citizens. To body Ot clllZenS
composed, as is this Grand Jury, not of lawyers
but Of business men, IL seems strange that city,
presumably endowed with the power OF Self-gOY-
efument TO its local affairs, Is not, in It's cor
poIate capacity, vested with The right OF SELF
preservation; that though every taxpayer ana
every voter should individually declare his desire
fof the Increased expenditure, and express his
Willingness to bear his share OF the Increased
taxation, yet the Board of supervisors has not
the authority to Increase the appropriation Tor the
Fire Depai tment beyond the amount $4,000
al which II was fixed by an act OF tile l. legislature
passed IN 1878. IL also seems strange that, al
though succeeding Grand Jurles for years past
have, one AFTER another, called attention TO tue
pestiential condition OF The County jail, aud de-
nounc Il its maintenance as blot on our clVlll-
cation, no means can be found within the scope
OF The powers OF the Board OF Supervisors TO
remedy the evils complained OF, although those
evils are, and Tor many years past have been no
toTioas
NEw CHARTER,
II this be the law it appears to this Grand Jury
TO be strong argument In favor OF the taking of
immediate steps TO secure the adoption OF Il new
charter commensurate with the needs OF the mu-
uicIpallty. III cannot be consuered natlerlng 10
our GIVE pride that city OF the wealth ana COM
mercal Importance of San Francisco should be
compelled 10 rely for the maintenance OF eff
Gent protection against fire on the voluntary
contributions of a few OF its citizens.
lie true remedy appears 10 this Grand Jury to
lie IN the adoption OF a new charter but that Is
wOrk VI time, aud the TACT mat thlee previous
attempts at chaiter-maklng have been unsuc-
cessiu is net encouraging as an augury that sue
cess Will attend a fourth attempt Ill the lmmedl-
ale future.
Ne earnestly recommend. however, that an
effort be made TO frame charter that Will secure
to the city the blessings Of honest local self gov
eminent. Ii may be going somewhat beyond the
province oil a Grand Jury TO Oiter advice III this
matter, but, while discussing this subject, We
venture 10 express the opinion that II the mem
bers Of Board OF Freeholders. to be chosen for
the purpose, will content themselves with franz
ing a simple organic law for the government of
the city, in accordance with the provisions OF
the constitution, restricting themselves to the
designation Of the various officers aud deDart-
ments OF the municipal government, The method
OF their election or appointment, aud The dehnl-
ton of their powers and duties in a few prOyls
Ions as simple as possible. Instead of attempting
10 INCORPORATE IN q proposed charter multitude
OF provisions which are properly matters OF leg
iSation TO be enacted by the governing bodies OF
the city elected Tor that purpose. there VIII be
greater chance OF the result OF their labors re-
ceying the Endorsement OF majority OF the
electors at the polls.
In The meantime however, 1t seems to us evil
dent that the city's only hone OF present relief
lies IN an appeal TO the Legislature for such an
eXtention OF powers as may be furnished by a
general Jaw not repngnant 10 the provision of
the constitution inliibiting special legislation.
A NEW COUNTY JAIL.
In our previous report on the County Jail we
re commended the erection OF new jail on the
property owned by the city known as The Old
Hospital situated at the corner OF Stockton and
Francisco streets. The dimensions Ol The lot are
259 feet inches on francisco street by 1877 feel
6 inches on Stockton street.
Since 1879 the premises have been occupied
as an "0ld Ladies' Home by the charitable cor
poration known as lie Scandinavian Ladies' Be
neyoeut ana Relief Society. ! he premises were
leased to the society By the Mayor and Board Of
Supervisors in that year for three years, anG
since that time the lease has been renewed every
three years AT 4 nominal rent. The last of thest
renewals Will expire ON September !, 1891. The
society named is about TO yacate tile premises
referred TO. new home having been furnished
tor the objects Of the society By the generosity oil
the late Ms. Charles Croker.
A Joint petition has been filed by the society
first named and The Hebrew Home Tor Aged Dis
abled, requesting the Board of Supervisors tC
cancel the old Lease and to issue new lease fol
three years from September /, 1890, TO the So
clety last named.
We think that this petition ought not to be
granted. The Hebrew Home is. undoubtedly, 8
deserving Charity, anG worthy OF all proper con
sdeTation; but lhe city Of san francisco owes q
greater duty TO the unfortunate beings who are
croWed into tie ill-Yeutilated, fOul-smeng cells
private charity. After considering The various
pieces OF property owned by this municipality
we are convinced that The only lot owned by tie
city available by size and location Tor the puT'
pose OF County jail is the lot in question.
The Legislature Of the state VIII assemble In
January, 1891, anG at the same time u new
Board OF Supervisors Will assume Office. 1t is
within the bounds of probability that legislation
may be enacted which Will allow the Incoming
Board OF Supervisors 10 undertake the construc-
lion oil new County Jail.
We earnestly recommend the present board ID
take no acliOn that may have The effect OF fore.
stalllng or preventing action by their successors
IN this matter II the lease asked for be granted.
II VIII be three years before the property can be
made available for city purposes, II II should be
decided TO erect jail on that site and even then
the argument would be presented In favor OF the
renewal OF the lease for a further term that the
iessees had gone to great expense 10 the pur-
chase of buildings ana furniture and that they
could not remove from the premises without
serious loss.
OFFICIAL BOOKS EXPERTED.
with the assistance Of the expert accountant
appointed by US. we have examined The books oil
the City and County Auditor the CITY and County
Treasurer. the Tax Collector. the License Col.
lector, the County Clerk, the Recorder the AS
SCISSOR, the Sheriff. the Public Administrator, the
City aud County Attorney, the Clerk OF the
Justices Courts, The Police Courts, the Health
ONCE, the Board OF EDUCATION aud the Board o!
Park Commissioners. We found the books and
accounts OF ali The offices named accurately kept
wit proper checks and balances In every IN
sta nee. showing that all moneys received by the
various offices named either for taxes or for fees
to which the city is entitledi are properly ac-
counted for required by law.
TAX-CoLLECToR's OFFICE.
On examining the books of the Tax Collector
and Auditor we found that a large amount, aggre-
eating many millions OF dollars, IS carried on the
books OF The Auditor and OF the Tax Collector,
entailing much clerical labor without any posi-
bility Of corresponding benefit TO the city. Since
the fiscal year 1S57.lS5S each succeeding Tax
Collector has retired from Of1ce leaving behind
him "A large amount of uncoected delinquent
taxes. When a new Tax Collector takes his
oiiee all uncoliected taxes charged against his
predecessor 10 The Auditors Office are trans
ferred to his account and charged against him
on Tue BOOKS OF the Auditor. When the in
cunbent took his Office charge was mada
against MIN OF 4,299, 345 80 for deslnduent
taxes which had accrued SINCE 1857-lS5S rem