The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-10-29
NO TAXES BEING PAID
COMPLICATIONS CAUSED BY MAYOR
SUTRO'S VETO OF THE
TAX LEVY.
WOES OF TREASURER WIDER
He WILL BE FORCED TO Do
THREE MONTHS WORK IN
THREE WEEKS.

Practically no warrants are being paid
by the County Treasurer. The Police
Department, Fire Department, officials of
the Golden Gate Park, and, in fact, all OF
the people on the payroll of the City, ex-
cept few heads of departments specially
provided for, have received no money for
two months, and it VIII be a month and
perhaps more before they will be able TO
get single cent. The whole trouble is
caused by the delay in fixing the tax levy.
Deputy Treasurer Louis n. Jacobs said
yesterday:
We have practically shut down on paving
warrants. This is because we have no money
In the treasury. Every fund is exhausted eX.
eeept the e, City Hall fund ana the special fee
iGn 5a ood he CITY Hall fund contains from
SIZE, 900 TO S150,000. But, of course, that is
10 be employed only in paying for matters con.
neeted with the building, and only a few
salarles come out OF it. The special fee fund
omces, and brings in about $15 900 each
month. only about $1,000 of that goes fol-
salaries, though, the rest going for stationery
ana other necessaries
OIuIharlly we are constantly receiving quite
tthtse sums from taxes daily. Taxes do not
SSeGome delinquent till the fourth NJ onday oil
CoFehl0er, ana the men who pay large sums
generaIly wait till the last moment. But this
;eu tHe doubt with regard to the legality OF
~ raG ta& ieVy mas made even the small tax
PaAets Wltnhold their payments Till they have
Iennlte information as to what the amount OF
tnelr taxes Will be. As result We are receiy-
ing practically nothing now
Ihe question of the amount of taxes cannot
De sellieo before November at the earliest.
Lhen the matter of the Mayors right TO veto
me tax levy Is TO be considered by the Supreme
court. In the meantime we are registering
warrants as they are presented
ALeady we nave registered 1900 warrants
On me Egg general fund. Never before has the
fO- " -tr-0
ago, When there was a slight trouble, 1900
warrants were registered, and that was con-
sldered remarkable. But the trouble this
time has only commenced. We are receiving
new warrants every day, and before the end of
TINS week there viii be at least 5000 on the
list.
At this juncture Treasurer Widber ar
rived. He said that the outlook was ex-
tremely ominous. He had no doubt but
that IN the light of the revenue law
OF the last Legislature the tax levy
would stand. Should the Mayors posi-
ton be upheld be was at a loss to be able
to estimate the full extent of the damage
that would result. He continued:
1t would place the City in serious jeopardy.
II the City can get no revenue the government
viii ha We to cease. If a new tax levy is de-
clded to be necessary after November moth
ing can be received until g new set OF books
has been prepared by the Tax Collector. This
VIII require quite long time, even with
tremendous force. Then the taxes already
paid will have 10 be refunded The entire tax
levy of over 81 800 600 will have 10 be taken
IN before November % or become delinquent
This would so congest business in our depart
ment as TO make II utterly impossible tor many
10 pay thelr taxes IN time, though they might
have been ready and willing. To put the
enormous penalty of 10 per cent on these peo-
pie for delinquency because the City was not
provided with the facilities for receiving their
money would be extremely unjust, and there
would be another complication.
think, though, that the trouble will end on
November 4. feel confident that the Judges
will not even take the matter under considera-
ton, but will give their decision without re-
firing. The only question is to whether a
general law which holds good throughout the
State is binding on San Francisco. This, am
satisfied, will result in an utter overlooking of
Mayor Sutro's veto.
Under any circumstances we will not be able
to cash warrants much before December
When the taxpayers do bring their money
they will all come 81 once and we viii hardly
be able to accommodate the rush of business.
Since the new tax levy is 81 %, against 81 80
OF last year, we viii be forced 10 care for
g, 00O, 900 instead of 81 100000 as formerly,
and what is worse it will nearly all come be-
tween November and November %, instead
OF being scattered over three months.
While Treasurer Widber told his woes. a
half-uoZen men and women had come in
with warrants. These were registered and
Will be paid in their turn. All of them
were very anxious to know just how long
they would be forced to wait.
taxes IIlS Tune OF one man explaining
the state of affairs" said Deputy Jacobs
during short interval. "Some of those
with warrants see the money in the cases
and think they ought to be paid from that.
Others understand readily. 1t is very try
ing, though, to be placed in the position of
having to explain"
City Attorney CreswelI says that the
Mayors action which has caused all the
trouble and annoyance is absolutely I'M
called for The matter, he contends, has
been definitely passed upon many times,
but he would not venture to predict how
the Supreme Court would decide. He said:
The Mayor has not had anything to do with
the tax levy for many years back. When the
fixed as law that the Mayor should not have
the right TO interfere with the making of the
tax levy by suggestion, dictation, veto or en-
treaty or in any other way. For all know the
law was the same prior to that time.
This matter OF keeping a public official out
of his pay is q menace 10 the public service.
The man must live. If he can get no money
from the City he will be forced 10 enter upon
outside ventures, and thus Will not be able to
devote the time originally contemplated TO his
official duties.
In the meantime the police, the fire
laddies and all the rest of the City officials
are being forced to give UP ~ per cent of
their warrants to the money-lenders to
get them cashed. A number of the boys
have rugged themselves up in "hard times"
costumes, and explain readily that the
gaps in their shoes and the rents in their
clothing will be repaired when they can
get their salaries paid.