The morning call., 1893-05-26
WANT THE ITEMS.
The Board of Audit Still
at Work.
Amazement Caused by the Demands
of the Market Street Commission.
The Largest Yet.

its investigation of the claims of the Street
Commissioners.
The board first examined j. Dougherty,
member of the New street and Twenty
fifth avenue commission. who was absent
Wednesday night, and closely questioned
him about the services he wishes such high
compensation for. The witness was ex-
cused after testifying how often he had
visited the scene of the work.
The board then took up the mat ter of
the Market-stTeet commissioners.
The report called the attention of the
board to the fact that it had been appoint
ed September IA. 1891, and org ganized as a
commission the folio owing Dece mber. That
their object was to assess, etc, property
owners for the purpose of raising funds to
carry out the Market street extension
scheme, and cut that thoroughfare through
to the ocean. This work had co nsumed
eighteen months of their valuable time,
and, as a result, the cOmmi Ssion thought
that the sum of S42. $50 40 would partially
compensate them for the services they so
patriotically rendered the city property
owners.
There were many present who looked as
if they differed slightly with the commits
sion's views, both as to amounts and their
justice.
Mayor Ellert and the board especially
seemed TO think so. and it was this differ
ence of opinion that caused warm ses-
sion, despite the efforts of Attorney
Mitchell to prompt his friends occa-
| slonally.
The Market-street commission con sisted
of three members appointed by the Board
of Supervisors. w. j. Bryan. Matthew
Fallon and J. j. Scrivener
Mayor Ebert wore determined look
when he called Bryan. the first witness, to
the stand. The large total of their de-
manj was soon explained. Bryan smiI-
ng!y confessed that he thought the report
correct. and that the item of salaries for
| three commissioners, amounting to S11, 400,
was very reasonable. Another item.
amounting to the insignificant sum of
$1,000. for appraisers fees" was also con-
siGered equitable.
Mayor Ellert questioned Bryan closely
and learned from the witness that the
commission had been originally created
for six months only, but at the expiration
of that time applied to the Supervisors for
an extension of one years time in which
to complete their iabors, but were only
granted six months by a hard-hearted
board of city fathers. They nevertheless
continued TO work the extra six months
simply out of friendship for the property
holders in the assessed district in order 10
complete their task.
In reply TO questions why the commits
sion employed appraisers at a large ex-
pense TO do their work and what the MEM
bers did 10 pass away the time, Bryan said
they worked hard. He could not tell how
often he had visited the district or at
| tended meetings. He thought that 5000
pieces of property had been examined and
looked up in the Assessors books besides.
There was SO mucn work that secre-
tary and three assistants were of necessity
employed to keep pace with the times.
They also consulted, and smoked cigars
while doing so occasionally.
Witness confessed that he continued to
carry on his business all this time success
fully.
Matthew Fallon, another member of the
board, was next examined. He only cor
rooorated Bryan's testimony in a hesitat-
ing way. He had rendered several SER
vices, attended their meetings, been in the
Assessors Office twice on business for the
commission. He did not think S475 a
month TOO high for clerks.
Mayor Elert interrupted him at this
stage. He thought 1t was the most aston
lShlng report that the board had received
from any commission up to date. The
propertg-0wners present Hooked as if they
assented.
Fallon acknowledged that he was the
owner Of saloon and that he also, like
his predecessor continued in ouSines while
on the commission and part of the time
had also drawn salary from the city as a
deputy tax collector.
He individually had not appointed any
Of the four clerks-the board did that. He
thought they Figured up" property, and
that be frequently saw them at work be-
tween the hours Of 8 and when he visited
the commissioners office. He didn't
think the appraisers furnished figures.
Mayor Ellert remarked casually that the
city had at that rate received about S12 600
worth of figuring and didn't see where it
came in.
A. j. Scribner didn't know where TO
commence with his testimony, but thought
ike his colleagues. He had actually
studied the law. especially the statutes de-
fining the work of com missions, and being
Intelligent had mastered them.
He had lived fourteen years in the dis
trlct He thought the demands reasonable
and had never appointed a fayOrIte as
clerk or appraiser. He continued to work
six months after the commission was
legally dead for love aud to complete the
work. Further pay. he said, would de-
pend upon the generosity of the Board of
Supervisors.
E. A. Leigh, Charles Sonntag and c. W .
McAfee, the three appraisers of the COM
mission. wanted $1,000. Leigh was first put
on the ack and detailed his work.
They made assessments as experts, and
sometimes worked four hours day, some
times sixteeD-could not tell the exact
time. His memory failed him at times.
His testimony was cOrrOboIated by Messrs.
McAfee and Sonntag.
Secretary Flynn was a contractor. His
business had suffered much by his duties
and he wanted S2250 for the same. He de-
tailed how he had purchased Office furni-
ture. etc, and done other work. Simpson
& Millar, searchers of records, sweled the
claim by sum of $1,000 for services. Mr.
Miilar was directed to bring an itemized
account of the same this evening by Aitor-
ney Cresswell, as The latter lid not desire
10 use the prunng-knife unjustly.
Attorney Mitchell of the commission
was asked 10 explain an item of $4,000 for
services, and after reading for nearly
forty-fve minutes from a stenographic re-
port failed to convince the board he was
justified.
M. NJ O.Shaughnessy, the surveyor. en-
ployed four assistants in the fedwork,
and two additional to make maps, and
thought that $4,000 of the whole would be
his figure for services rendered.
Mr.. Block aud he did not agree as to
certain figures, and at Attorney Crasswel's
Sugges tiOn he was requested TO refresh his
memory by referring to his cashbook and
reappear tonight.
Smaller items, consisting of office sta
tionery, printing, etc, will be separately
investigated, 10 the joy of many a tax
payer.
The board then adjourned to meet a.
the Sixteenth-street commission will be
discussed.