The morning call., 1893-06-06
THE CITY'S DEBT.
The Supervisors and the
Dollar Limit.
A PLEDGE HOLDS THEM BACK.
An Order to Create a District in
Which Electric Poles Cannot Be
Erected Fails to Pass.

meeting discussed the pr0poSlllon 10 go
beyond the dollar limit iD the lax levy for
the next fiscal year.
The members were confronted with the
question of violating their political pledges
and hestated TO act finally in the matter.
The subject came up on a resolution in
troduced by Supervisor Refs at the last
previous meeting, prOvidng for the making
of special provision in the next tax levy to
meet and pay the S300.0C0 Indebtedness OF
the city.
Supervisor Refs read a paper in favor of
his resolution, in which he said that his
object was to bring the matter up for dis
cussion so that the opinion of the MEM
bers and the people could be obtained.
He stated that the city owed the money. and
that it ought to be paid. a large portion
of the debt was inherited. but that made
no difference in the city's obligations. He
did not believe In the maintenance of a
floating Indebtedness.
AS far as violating political pledges was
concerned, the speaker did not SEE how
the Supervisors could do that as they had
only pledged themselves 10 Keep within
the dollar limit for the expenditures of
the fiscal year 1885. / ne city lhueOteu-
ness was something outside and beyond
that Besides there were other necessary
expenditures which would have TO be met
ontside of the regular tax levy. ln con-
clusion, MI. Refs said. 1--WE met this In
debtedness on our advent into Office. aud
we all recognize that 1t has 10 be pald
sooner or later. The only question is
whether we will provide for It's payment
now or let it 60 to judgment ard have to
pay il finally with interest ana costs, ana
after much disturbance Of the clty's hnan-
cial condition"
Supervisor James did not coincide with
the introducer of the resolution.
This is a violation of our pledge not to
20 outside of the dollar limit" he said,
land for one did not take that pledge TO
break it, l am in favor of carrying over
the Indebtedness. Anyhow, II the levy
must be raised to meet the 100000 debt
! don't see why 1t should be Saduleu on the,
people this year"
Supervisor Dundon said that he did not
think it wise 10 continue floating lndebt-
edness, although the board was in 10 way
responsible for it. Yet business was very
dull and taxes already high, and there
were many other extra expenses TO be IN
Cured. He moved that half OF tile indebt-
ness should be levied this year and the
other half the next year. In this manner
the city would get rid OF $4,000 of It's
debt.
''If we are going to break our pledge"
said Supervisor James, I'VE might as we'll
sweep away the whole debt at once"
Supervisor FormGn moved to refer The
matter to the Judiciary Committee for
consideration to report at the next meet
ing, and the motion was carried.
A resolution was adopted authorizing
the Finance Committee, if found practi-
cable. TO provide the sum of $4,000 in the
next tax levy for the special purpose of
thereon for the police stations.
The Judiciary Committee presented a
long report on the Mayors communiea-
ton. IN which the subject of the erection
OF poles on the city's principal streets was
considered. The committee held that the
board had the power TO determine what
electric system could be used.
The matter came up again later on Dun
dnn'S resolution, introduced at the last
meeting, prohibiting the future erection of
poles Tor overhead electric systems in all
parts of the city.
Supervisor ROGERS held that the resolu-
ton was too sweeping. While there was
objection TO the trolley system and its
poles on the principal streets In the busi-
ness portion of the city, there was no OBJ
lection to such electric roads in the out
lying districts, where they were benefit.
lie moved an Indefinite pOstponement of
tie resolution. ana the motion was carried.
Supervisor Rogers introduced substi-
tute order creating certain district in
which poles for overhead electric roads
could not be erected. The order is similar
to the one in force several years ago. but
which was repealed. The prohibited dis
trlct ID the Rogers order is as follows:
Commencing at the intersection of the
westerly line of Van Ness avenue with the
shore line of the bay of San Francisco,
running thence sOutherly along said line of
Van Ness avenue to its intersection with
the nOrtherly line of Market street, thence
sOutheasterly to the intersection of the
10 lin nf 4th h ~,
westerly line of Eleventh street. thence in
a southerly direction along said line of
Eleventh street to lis intersection with the
northerly line of Mission street, thence
easterly along the northerly line of Mis-
sion street to East STREET South, thence
northerly and westerly along the westerly
line OF East street South to Market street.
thence across Market street to East street
y oTth, thence along the westerly line of
East street North. thence connecting on a
line extended TO, with and along the shore
line OF the bay of San Francisco TO point
OF commencement.
The Street Superintendent was in
structed in the order to Immediately re-
move all poles erected contrary to the
order In the district mentioned.
Inc last portion of the order read as
81 follows: This order shall not apply to
any person or corporation who has hereto
lore constructed or operated and who are
at present operating by means of poles,
overhead wires, cables or other conductors
of electricity, any street railroad within
the limits described in this order"
Supervisor Dundnn objected to the order.
He said there was a hair line drawn
through 1t which gave one railroad COM
pary now engaged iE constructing road
on Mission street privilege which is de-
MED to ntner companies.
Supervisor Ryan said he shifted rail-
road war. as there was discrimination in
the district in favor of one company. He
did not wish 10 go back TO his constituents
and get rotten-egEed
Supervisor Rogers replied that the road
mentioned was almost entirely completed
and il would be unjust to the company to
bar 1t out after it had gone to such ex-
penSe
a motion to lay the order over for two
weeks was voted down.
Supervisor Rogers motion to pass the
order to print was lost the following vot-
ing in its favor: Rogers, Kennedy, Refs.
Hinton, James and Denman.
communication was read, signed by
Z. q. Pond. Colin 3. Boyd. Joseph G.
Eastland, Thomas E. Barry, j. C. Nealon.
Barry Baldwin. John T. Doyle, William
Il. Coleman. p. G. Cabin, James r. Kelly,
Gavin McNab, Max Pepper. j. j. Dwyer
and others, asking that the board should
pass an order prohibiting any person from
holding a position under the city govern
ment who is a member of any nominating
committee or convention unless he shall
have been elected.
The petitioners state that such ordi-
nances are in force in number of East
arn citipS and have tandnd praatlU n m 10