The morning call., 1893-09-07
DUNDON'S SCHEME
He Wants to Transfer
Certain Funds.
AID FOR THE UNEMPLOYED.
A Proposal to Abolish the Sewer
Commission and Divert Its
Appropriation.

One hundred Of San Francisco's unem-
ployed crowded into the lobby and gallery
of the Supervisors chambers yesterday
morning with the expectation of hearing
the board discuss plans to relieve their
distress.
They were disappointed and sat in their
cold seats from 10 to l o'clock, but they
heard no discussion.
While they were waiting the Supervi-
sors we're holding caucus in the commit
tee-rcoms. The meeting was held with
closed doors and was very protracted. the
discussion assuming very wide range.
Supervisor Dnndon, at whose instance
the special meeting was called o devise
plan to relieve the unemployed working
men, addressed the board, which sat as a
committee of the whole. and read a long
statement which he had prepared making
number of recommendations.
In this sta tement he said:
The undersigned, pursuant to the resolution
No 9l32, third series, adopted at the last
meeting OF your honorable board providing for
this meeting being held to enable the Board OF
Supervisors 10 consider. devise and suggest
ways and means by which aid in the way of
employment can be afforded TO greater num-
Der OF our unemployed citizens who are perma-
nent residents, would respectfully report thai
as the legislative body this board should so
provide for such distribution OF labor as Will
effect the greatest good 10 the greatest number
especially al this time when so many of our
citizens, owing TO financial stringency, have
been deprived OF their means of livelihood, and
for temporary period require and merit con-
sdeTatiOn.
II is well known that in the Street Depart
ment the number of men authorized 10 be EN-
uiOyr0. from whom GOOD PXnecfen
be maintained, but Ine wages allowed at pres
ent are susceptible OF reduction to harmonic
with the Time employed and yet allow them
greater compensation per diem than Is paid for
The same labor elsewhere.
Tie amount thus saved will, in addition 10
other amounts enable The boald TO provide en-
piOyment for an increased IOrce OF men in the
letting of contracts to replace the execrable
cObblestones with basalt blocks.
Supervisor Dundon also favored the
limitation OF the street-sweeperS to $4,000 a
give the unemployed work. He also ad-
vocated turning over to the unemployed
fund the $4,000 appropriated for estab-
lshlng garbage crematOry and the So 900
appropriated for an official map.
The most important of Supervisor Dun
don's recomm GatiuDS was that the
greater portion of the $40, 600 appro priated
for the maintenance of The Sewer Com
mission be diverted to the fund to be used
in giving work to the unemployed. His
proposition was to abolish the board of
engineers known as the Sewer Commis-
sion, on which are Marsden Manson and
Z. Grunsky. The duties OF these officers
Supervisor Dundon thought could be easily
performed by other officers OF the city gov
ernment. as WAS done before the creation
OF the board.
The work now required to make the
Improvements to our present system can
be proceeded with" said Supervisor DIM
don HQnn PnntslafnH NJ ipin
pense if the further services of the Board
of Engineers be dispensed with"
Supervisor DuldOn next considered the
rate of wages paid workiugmen who
tOiled for the city. He was ia favor of
leaving most of the rates as they are at
present, but recommended the following
changes: Hammers to be reduced from So
to 81 90 day; sewer-cleaner, from 81 t.
50 so; cart, with one horse and driver.
from S4 to So so; double team and driver,
from So 10 S4 so.
In conclusion he said:
The express and limited authority
granted to the Superintendent of Public
Streets TO employ not TO exceed 100 men,
and not TO eXceed twenty-five horses and
carts for repairs TO streets, must not be
violated, as any additional men or teams
employed without authority of this board
will not be allowed and cannot constitute
anV claim against the city for damages"
The various propositions advocated by
Superintendent Dundon were taken up
and discussed by the members of the
board.
No definite action was taken on any of
Dundon'S proposals. though several of
them seemed to meet with favor
After the adjournment of the board one
OF the members stated that the proposition
TO abolish the Sewer Commission would
probably go through, although Supervisor
Denman aud several others were opposed
to il.
During the meeting Superintendent of
Streets Ackerson was sent for and re-
maiDed an hour with the board. He was
asked II he had any suggestions to make,
put told the Supervisors he had not. H.,
said he intended hereafter to keep within
his appropriation and that his expenses
during the rainy season would be much
less than at present, when larger force
mad TO be put on the streets to get them
into condition for the winter months.
1t is probable that several resolutions
embodylng Supervisor Dundon's recon-
mendations will be in troduced at the meet
Ing of the board next Monday night.
supervisor James, chairman of the
Finance Committee. does not believe that
money appropriated by the board in max
Ing the tax levy for particular purpose
can be diverted subsequently and be used
for different purpose.