The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-12-02
AUDITOR BRoDERICK's DILEMMA
Refusal to Audit the Warrants of
the Big Salaried Clerks
Makes a Row.

The appropriation of $4,000 for the
expenses of the election will run short by
about $4,000.
The Finance Committee of the Board of
Supervisors has begun to realize that fact
and have taken stand against allowing
the funds of other departments of the
government to be drawn against for that
amount to their detriment.
The committee will recommend to the
board that the City and County Attorney
be asked for his opinion as 10 whether the
Auditor may not refuse to audit the bills
further when the limit has been reached
This action has been taken, they say.
in order TO protect all the different
appropriations and prevent the con-
tractors from justly refusing to fur
nish supplies to all the d fferent depart
ments of the city government, such as the
Almshouse, the City and County Hospital,
the different lails, the Fire Department,
the Industrial School-iu fact every de-
partment OF the city govern ment. The
board Will be asked to earnestly request
and insist that the Treasurer pay on ac-
count OF the election expenses only the
money appropriated for those expenses,
thereby leaving all the other appropria-
tons intact to pay their respective ex-
penses.
If there is deficit in any department
they say let the defauiting department
stand the inconvenience of said deficiency.
There is money enough in all the different
appropriations TO run the several depart
ments.
This action is taken in order to protect
the funds for supplies. Salaries. they say,
can be paid from the funds of the next
fiscal year. but the supplies cannot, &C
cording TO the decision of the Supreme
Court
Such is the opinion of the members of
the Finance Committee of the Supervisors,
and which they will present in resolution
10 the board tomorrow.
Auditor Broderirk is considerably dis
gusted at the outlook. There is not and
will not be enough money in the treasury
to meet the demands for this fiscal year"
be said yesterday, land the problem is
how can they be pared down OF STAYED off.
Ray Falk and Lewis have been here
clamJrlng for their money. while men
working in the streets at 50 per day will
be compelled to wait until the middle of
the month or perhaps go over until next
month, and they accept the conditions
without kick. while these men getting
SI5 day want their money on the first of
the month. Ray FaIk drew pay last
month for twenty hours out of the twenty
four for every day, including Sundays.
Lewis, his side partner, did the same
thing. They run in pairs and make their
DIS alike. E2lk'S demand Tor overtime
for November is $l58 %. For October it
was $225. All these big warrants come
up Drumptly on the last day OF the month
while the poor little warrants of the cleo
lion officers, men who have earned their
money, are being held back. They say
that is because in some precincts extra
men were put on without warrant. l tell
them that is very quickly settled. Let
such cases be held back if need be, but it
is no good reason why any others should
be. l believe it is simply a play into the
hands of the brokers. who stand ready TO
take advantage of the needs of these men
and discount their claims.
How do | figure the excess? Simply
enough. | have already audited $4,000
OF bills. Now. there are 293 precincts, the
officers of which will require SO 800; for
taking in the election booths $1,000 will be
called for, and $4,000 for building a shed
over them and $500 for rent. There are
demands already on my desk for $4,000
The tally clerks will want $1,000. Then
the clerks ana tally clerks are sill at work
and they will add $4,000 more. What Evans
has needed his big force OF clerks for since
the election [ don't understand, nor how
they got in so much overtime, OF how many
clerks he still has at work But the fact
remains'that the expenses have far outrun
the appropriation, and the thing to do now
is for the Supervisors to Determine what
to do about it, | have refused to audit
any of these $15 dav warrants until l
know more about them"