The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-15
MANY REFORMS FAVORED.
Enthusiastic Quarterly Meeting
Of the Merchants AS
ISOLATION.
PLANS FOR FUTURE ACTION.
Civil Service in Municipal Offices and
Better Sewerage System
Advocated.
PLANS FOR FUTURE ACTION.

The quarterly meeting of the Merchants
Association was held last evening at
% OFarrell street. Over 600 notifications
and invitations had been sent out to mem
bers and prominent citizens, not more than
100 of whom responded by being present.
Among those present were City and
County Attorney Cresswell, Senator John
Fay, Supervisor Taylor and J. ]. Reynolds.
President Dohrmann called the meeting to
order
The board of directors presented q re-
port upon work accomplished during the
past year. In the beginning the report
showed that the outstanding dues on No
vember l amounted to 1854; cash on hand
after all bills to November l We're paid,
$500. This left total surplus to the credit
OF the association Of $576.
This does not include the street-sweeping
funds, which will be reported upon later
The membership on May % was BID. OF
this number Ii have Withdrawn and II
joined, making the present membership
272. By the plan for future progress the
association expects to have a membership
OF thousands instead OF hundreds within
year or two.
The report deals at length with the
associations efforts to have cleaner and
better streets, and also the obstacles in the
shape of people and interests that have
been encountered. One interesting matter
is the project to pave Market street with
a noiseiess material, and the opinions of
the directors are shown in the following:
Suggestions for the repaving of Market
street with noIseless paVent have been made
to this association by different parties. While
the desirability OF improving the pavement on
Market street is fully recognized, and this
association is very DESTROYS OF assisting every
movement in this direction, we do not be-
lieve that the time has yet arrived when such
effort would be successful.
Particular reference was made to the as
sociations efforts toward removing from
the streets all kinds of distractions that
interfere with business. The excessive adj
vertising on fences and buildings was also
heartily condemned.
The matter of the City expanding $4,000
for an official map was touched upon, and
the directors asserted that the map could
be made for $4,000.
The report was we'll received by the as
ISOLATION.
The next question was the sprinkling of
the public streets and having the City pay
for the work President Dohrmann called
the attention to the injury done to all mer-
chants by clouds of dust settling upon their
goods Even the people living III the
suburbs would be benefited by general
street sprinkling. He SAID it was unfair to
tax few public-spirited men for work that
the public should pay for. The Super
visors prepared specifications for bids, and
bids have been made, but the Street Com
mittee has not acted upon the matter.
Hugo D. Kyle suggested that letter be
addressed by the association to the Street
Committee requesting that the matter be
attended to and the contract for sprinkling
let to some one of the bidders. The sug-
gestion was adopted.
At recent meeting of the directors a
programme for progress" was adopted
outlining the associations work for the
ensuing year. 1t was recently published
in full in THE CALL. The programme was
read by Secretary J. r. Freud and Endorsed
by the meeting, particularly the parts adj
vocating civil service methods in all mu-
nicipal departments, the improvement OF
the entire sewer system of the City and the
placing of all electric and telephone wires
in underground cOndults.
Chairman Dohrmann stated that the plan
was very broad and far-reaching, but some
of the aims might be attained by earnest
efforts.
Several gentlemen stated that civil ser
vice was not so very far off, as the system
had been adopted in several Eastern cities.
Isidor Jacobs, Gamer, recommended
that in the programme be Incorporated a
clause providing for a better ambulance
system for the care of those who meet with
accident; also that the programme be sent
to all the progressive clubs with request
for their cooperation.
r. L. Toplltz recommended that the as
ISOLATION add to the plan that the public
schools close on July 4, and that the vaca-
tions last SIX weeks.
]. J. Reynolds of the League of Practical
Progress suggested that the association
advocates municipal ownership of water
and light.
Chairman Dohrmann said that this mat
ter had been discussed by the directors,
who decided not to take up such weighty
matter at present.
Consulting Engineer Ernest Mccullough
presented his report of the paving exhibit
in the late Mechanics Institute Fair He
also read an interesting report upon the
construction of high buildings.
A resolution was passed that the associ-
alton favors the regulation of the height
of buildings in this City.
A resolution was passed commencing
the Board of Health's activity in the mat
ter of effecting many needed reforms