The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-27


u citizens who go to them for informa-
tion.
Recently there has been a change in the
personnel at the new City Hall. To find
out their disposition toward the private
ctizens-who are in reality their employ
ers-THE CALL detailed a reporter who
was not known al the City Hall to make
tour of the Offices and report truthfully-
whether favorable or unfavorable to the
clerks and officials-treatment he received
from them.
The result of that visit will doubtless
prove interesting, and is told In the fol-
lowing article.
Good afternoon, sir; what can L do for
you?"
AL the very best had expected gruff.
"Well. what is it?" but the genial manner
of Clerk MahOney of the Assessor offices
quite stunned me for the moment. This
was an unexpected beginning. reflected.
However there were other offices TO visit
at the new City Hall. other clerks and
officials TO Interview, and If they were at
AL like city clerks and officials are reputed
to be-and as every one knows they very
often are-material will not be lacking
So Imade no mention of the fact that
was CALL reporter, bent on tour OF me
city offices, but Informed the polite clerk
sessments on a certain piece OF property,
the tax bill of which showed him.
Here is So % marked under the levy"
l said, grumblingly. at is added M in
the total. Am ] expected to pay that"
"Oh, yes that is the legal penalty, you
know, for not having paid the taxes be-
fore the 1st of November. See. il says so
up there in the corner of the bill.
"Wen. IFS an outrage" l said. ITO charge
a citizen ike that. We poor people nave
to pay all tie taxes, while the rich men
DONE pay any"
"Oh, they all have to pay the same rate"
said Clerk Mahorey. apparently rot the
least bit ruffled by the rising infection IN
the voice of the wrathy citizen" who
stood befrre him. "Y gu will find good
many other people in the same boat with
you. and then. after all. 1t isn't much"
Not muchv l shrieked. so loudly that
some of the clerks turned TO see what was
up. Il call it robbery to charge 50 %
for nothing"
Still Mr.. Mahoney only smiled.
That's the aw," he said calmly. Then
he took the tax bill. looked it over. and
explained politely that per cent addi-
tional fine was due for not having paid
The taxes by the oath Of April.
And I'm sorry" he added, but had
better tell you that unless the taxes are
paid before the end of this month your
property will have to be- sold. Then it
viii cost you fully so per cent OF the whole
amount to recover it."
He was 81 very agreeable in saying this
that had | been bona fide tax delinquent
] could have found no excuse Tor anger or
offense in the words or actions of Clerk
Mahoney. So | said Thanks" rather ab-
ruptlv and went over to try my luck in the
Tax Collectors department.
This is only a step across the hall from
the Assessors room. A tall young man
with a sandy mus. ache and suit of dark
blue inquired very politely what | wanted
Il want bill made out for the taxes on
this property, and I'm in big hurry, |
said, handing him a delinquent notice
printed on the back OF a postal card.
1--WE will do it as quickly as possible,
sir" he said. "Then he called, Five"
Five" came with a rush.
Make this bill out as soon as you can,
please; the gentleman is in a hurry"
Five disappeared, not to reappear
again, however, till two or three other
citiz-ns. bent on the same errand as myself
had been waited on and had departed
why can't l get that bil?" l called ont,
in a tone meant TO convey rising indgna-
ton
He has only just got at the block book,
SIR" was the answer. Sometimes the
books are in use and he has to 90 and
hunt them I'D. He viii be here in a
moment now"
And when Five did return he apollo
eizrd for having kept me waiting, bat said
it was unavoidable.
"You can pay right over THERE" said the
first clerk. leaning out over the broad
counter and pointing to the cashiers
window.
But I had no notion OF paying another
persons taxes so | made my exit as
speedily aa might be comforma bic with the
somewhat ruffl9d dignity OF a citizen and
taxpayer.
tried the marriage license clerks next,
resolving to drop the bullying tactics for
while and try the meek and timd lay.
Timidiy pushed open the bg door and
hesitatinglv advanced toward three young
men who stood al the end of long, high
desk.
DO they keep marriage licenses here?"
! asked.
Yes; the clerk will be down in few
minutes" said one of them.
The smallest of the coterie smpered and
smiled, and asked the other how it was
everybody was getting married now. He
was dressed TO kill. carried kid q owes and
silver-headed cane. | thought he hardly
locked ike a clerk. and sure enough he
turned cut to be a benedict who wanted to
marry widow ten wears older than HIM
self, and that's how it was he came to
think that everybody" was getting mar
ried now.
When the clerk in charge came in he
treated this dapper little gentleman in
SEARCH of matrimonial happiness very
courteOuslv, and as politely refused the
lat;er'S vtatinn to come outside and
have something" when the certificate had
been duly sworn to and the fee of 81 paid.
Then the clerk turned o me:
DO yOu wish a certificate?"
mo, sir; | came to inquire, please.
whether man named Muchison secured a
marriage license from this Office since the
first of the year"
That would require a little searching to
answer | knew. and if the clerk were at
all inclined TO be churlish that would only
surely bring it out
Bat it did not phase him bit.
"Murchison, Murchison, did Won saw
III look it up for YOU" He turned TO the
index and ran over the MS OF each month
since December.
mo Murcbison here, SIR" he said fnalIv
as he put the last index book in its pigeon
hole" The nearest TO it is Muchsall. but I
suppose that will not do?"
admitted that ii would not. and feeling
very much discouraged over the lack of
material that L was accommodating | went
out into the corridor and tried to rempm-
Der in what department those arrogant
clerks I had heard so much about conId
possibly be located
Failing in this | went downstairs to the
Health Office and inquired of the fat and
genial looking young man there whether a
burial certificate had been secured for the
body IF one Murchison.
"WhaJ are the initials?" inquired the
clerk iu neither grumbling nor impoIite
tone.
Whose initia ais 2" I incurred yerv hmm