The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-06-12
DECIDED DENIALS.
Supervisors Ask to Be
Investigated.
THE GRAND JURY ADDRESSED
Contractors Say They Were Mis-
represented.
BRoDERICK'S ESTIMATE READ.
The Auditors Figures on the Next
Tax Levy for the Municipal
Government.

pressed in several articles in q morning
newspaper. The articles mentioned stated
that the contractors had organized to sup
press the levying of tribute on the part of
the Supervisors.
At yesterdays meeting Of the board a
communication was received, In which the
contractors say, after referring to their
organization:
The report as published is far from correct
and is injurious to the contractors who were
present there, as conversations which IL Is ad-
mttted occurred outside of the meeting and
after 1t adjourned are made 10 appear as the
expression of the meeting and the purpose of
the organization.
We emphatically protest against this pre-
sentiment Of US. The assertion that we have
combined TO resist the leying of tribute by city
ofhcials is untrue and reflection on men who
we Know have often dihcult task 10 compel
the class Of men we are trying 10 weed out of
the business 10 do honest work. The present
city officials have never given us or any person,
as far as we know, any trouble, or caused US
any loss.
The communication states that the OBJ
ject of organizing was to protect the con-
tractors from blackmaileTs in their own
ranks who secure contracts, and sell them
afterward, because they nave to do the
work, ana from solicitors who solicit pri-
vate contracts from property-o owners and
sell them to responsible contractors. The
communication is signed by the principal
contractors who were at the meeting:
Warren 81 Malley, Gray Bros. Daniel
Harvey, A. j. sch. Williams, Belser &
Co., A. Walrath, Z. r. Thompson, A. L.
Buchanan, j. II. Smith. Finn & Treacey,
A. B. Chute, j. j. Bowling and j. w. Nc
Donald.
After receiving this communication, the
board adopted the following resolution in
regard 10 the matter:
WHEREAS, Certain statements appear in a
morning newspaper In which t is declared
that certain street contractors nave formed
an association for the purpose of resisting
demands OF Supervisors aud others VINO ma Ike
demands upon the contractors In the matter Of
street work ana street contracts; and
whereas, these and other statements that GER
tain amounts are paid to Supervisors and
officers OF the cry rejecting upon the char.
acter and integrity of the members of this
board. especially the members COMPRISING The
Street Committee, have been reiterated IN
the columns OF said paper Therefore
Resolved, mat the Hon. Grand Jury be and
Is hereby requested TO make a searching and
thorough examination into the charges so
made and report at the earliest opportunity
practicable and without waiting for their final
report and take such action as may be proper
IN the premises. ROBERT DAY,
Chairman Street Committee.
NJ. GOODWIN.
SANDS ". FoRMAN
JAMES DENAAN.
JAMES RYAN.
Auditor Broderiek's annual estimate for
the next tax levy was read and referred to
the Finance Committee. In his communi-
cation the Auditor says:
/ herewith submit TO your consideration and
revision my estimate for expenditure and reye-
nue. for the fiscal year 1S94-95, with an eSti-
mate for tax levy requisite to meet expend-
lures on basis OF S32o0O0,o00 assessment
roll.
In making he estimate of expenditures
have been governed, In all cases not limited by
statutes by what / consider to be sufficient
money 10 meet careful ana buSinesSlike man
agement OF the various departments or suhdi-
visions Of work therein. IL you, In your judg-
meDt, should 10 any case think that my esti-
mates are not correct will be pleased TO give
such reasons as / may have been governed by
In making The estimates have kept In mind
the pledges given 10 the people OF San Fran
cisco through the platform of the political party
from whom L received the nomination for
Auditor.
The estimated tax levy for the current ex-
penses OF the government OF the city and
county equals SO cents on a valuation of
275.000.000, being less than the 81 pledge
and is 1922 cents on the total valuation of the
estimated tax roll as the Assessor has Informed
me It is likely to BE-. viz: 1920 ,o0O, 900.
The present administrations, or those who
credited with good faith by the people of San
Francisco. inasmuch as the Legislature OF
1893 by an act approved February %, 1893,
abolished all commissions heretofore allowed
by the State In the matter OF assessing and col.
lecting Stale taxes, and we are therefore de-
prived OF an income of SIS, 900 per annum.
SdlO amount must consequently now he raised
by direct taxation, which was not the fact at
lie time the pledge WAS made, ana further
more we are obliged TO levy direct tax to meet
additional burdens imposed by said Legislature
In the creation OF a new Police Court and also
election expenses.
In the estimate for the payment OF the ex-
penses Of The Fire Department have been con-
fined 10 the statutory limit allowed by an act
of the Legislature approved March 26, 1878.
/ would respectfully suggest that II the amount
was deemed sufficient sixteen years ago, the
f.sarra of nil
would Justify the conviction that t would be
inadequate al this date. While cannot In my
official capacity deal with the question in
making my estimate, and because provision for
the department outside OF the statutory limits
must of necessity be a legislative question
submit the matter to your honorable board
with the recommendation that the department
be allowed such additional amount as your
better judgment may find The legal way of
awarding.
/ submit the demand of the Police Depart.
ment and the fire alarm and police telegraph to
your consideration for like reasons.
Ihave allowed $4,000 for reporters ex-
penses 10 criminal cases, Notwithstanding that
about $4,000 per annum is drawn from the
treasury on this account. | believe IL quite
sufficient. II properly guarded, FOR very good
payment for services rendered. am Informed
that much Of the expense on this account I'm
The Police Courts are an unnecessary and PAL
pable waste OF public money. AS the orders
are made direct On the Treasurer ana therefore
neither your honorable board nor the Auditor
can check them officially, call your attention
To he fact that have not allowed enough for
the apparent greed of a portion OF the judicial
arm of the Government.
Tue urgent necessity fund OF $4,000 per
month created by an act Of the Legislature ap-
proved March 80. 1873. is in my judgment the
safety valve of the estimate of EXPENDITURES
and should only be nsed for purposes not TO be
foreseen In the making thereof / beg leave TO
call your attention TO the fact that upward
of one-third of this amount is
drawn in payment OF salaries for
clerkships and appointments heretofore
made by The Board OF Supervisors, and are con-
tnuOus from year TO year, never decreasing
but always increasing. IL IL Is fact that these
offices for which this draft Is made upon the
urgent necessity fund cannot be conducted
some legislation should be had whereby the x
pense could be met definitely and legally with
out taxing fund evidently created for no such
purpose as continuous salaries and loDg-estab-
lished demands. During the past year. because
OF this custom. the Government was obliged 60
overdraw upon careful estimates made for sub
SisieDce OF prisoners anu other purposes, 10
provide food and shelter for helpless men and
women during the distress OF last winter. Were
tx not for the fact that appropriations made for
certain purposes In the last tax levy were for
tunateIy not needed, we would have been una
bic to provide for macy things that the ugent
necessity fund Is INTENDED TO meet, and we
legitimate outstanding contracts Respectfully
yours, WILLIAM FREDERICK.
Accompanying the Auditors commune
cation was the estimate Of the funds which
60 10 make up the Sl.01 levy proposed. an
account of which was published Ia Sun
days CALL.
The matter of the Darby Layton con.