The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-08
WONDERFUL AUDAOITY.

The GOODNESS with which the majority OF
the Board of Supervisors violates the law
in a manner that leaves no room for a
charitable belief in its incompetency is one
of those spectacles which make the visiting
subjects of the better-governed cities Oh
Europe marvel In this country, where
there is practically no accountability ex-
cept to the people as a mass, 1t is clear that
the possibilities of our scheme of govern
ment are not properly developed until the
possible rascality OF officers receive as
much attention as their possible patriot
ism and fidelity.
Here in San Francisco we have a condl-
ton against which it will be extremely
difficult for the progressive agencies to eX-
ercise an adequate countervailing lntiu-
ence. The Board of Supervisors can do
harm which will counteract the efforts OF
the Half Million Club, the Manufacturers
and Producers Association and all the
other similar bodies combined. Thus,
while there is an active sympathy for these
organizations, there is no effort to check
the one audacious agency which is undo
ing their work. Even the elements of
shame and secrecy are wanting, and not
one Intelligent man or woman in the City
has the least doubt of the motives which
inspire the board. The facts of the con-
test between the Market-street Company
and Behrend Joost for street railway
franchise out the Ingleside way, to reach
the new race-track, may be set in array,
thus:
The board refuses to obey the law by
4 l.. L. L.
der.
1t violates the law by regarding the
franchise as an extension" instead of a
new matter, and proposes TO sell the Tex
tension" privilege for $500 to the company
of its choice thus shutting out the compe-
tition in bidding which the law requires
and accepting an amount which the law
does not authorize.
1t refused franchise to Behrend Joost
over the Ocean road for the reason that a
railway would "spoil the drive" but pro-
poses to give it to the Market-street Com
pany.
When, thereupon, Mr.. Joost asked for a
franchise over another route to the same
destination it was refused him because
there was no assurance that he could Sc
cure a franchise over Mr.. Sutro's inter
vening land, when there is good reason to
believe that he could have secured it, and
when that has nothing to do with the
matter at all and is no reason whatever
for the refusal.
AS the antagonism between Mr.. Sutro
and the Southern Pacific makes it impos-
sible for the Market-street Company to Sc
cure right of way through his land, not
only was there a stronger reason, if any at
all, for refusing that company the fran
chise on that ground, but there was all the
less reason to sacrifice the Ocean road to
the Market-street Company when there
was every reason to believe that Mr.. Joost
could have got the road through without it.
Believing that the Mayor, in view of
these gross perversions and violations of
the law, would refuse to approve an ordi-
nance granting the Market-street Com
pany franchise under these circum-
stances, the board proposes to put the job
through by resolution, thus hoping to cir
cumvent the Mayors opposing veto power.
Mr.. Joost hints that he could have Sc
cured the privilege had he brlbed the
Supervisors, and leaves the impression
that bribery was resorted to in order to
secure it. This is merely his assertion.
That is a very disheartening array. 1t
seems incredible that the sense of the
community will permit these acts to go
UNPUBLISHED and that the privilege which
they grant will be allowed to stand.