The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-26
WILL PAY ALL ITS DEBTS,
The Finance Committee Will
Recommend the City to
Clear Its Books.
the Funds Makes Little
Progress.

Nearly all the members of the Board of
Supervisors were present at the meeting of
the Finance Committee last evening to
consider the apportionment of funds to
the several departments and institutions
of the City government.
Chairman Taylor of the Finance Com
mittee presided, and the committee had
scarcely gotten under way when he was
confronted with battery of motions and
amendments from Supervisors not men,
bers of the committee.
he called halt to inquire who was fix
ing this tax levy anyhow.
Wagner said the whole board had hand
in it. A resolution had been adopted to
that effect at the last meeting.
81 have no objection to you gentlemen
being present." said Mr.. Taylor. I'VE
shall be glad to hear your suggestions, but
this is the business of the Finance Com
mittee. If any man wants to take my part
of the work will be glad to escape it, but,
as it is, am not prepared to hand it over
to the board. After we get through with
it you can look it over and make what
changes you please, but with everybody
making motions we might sit here forever
and reach no conclusions. Three men
can do something with this thing, while
twelve would only create confusion"
The resolution referred to by Wagner
was called for and read, and it was found
to merely Invite the members to be
present for consultation" So the other
members subsidized.
Auditor Broderick had an engagement
elsewhere, and was not present, and as a
result, nearly all the items were passed
after some discussion without change,
although there was a general disposition to
take exception to them.
The estimate for the Almshouse was an
exception. The Auditor had fixed it at
$4,000, the same as last year, but it was
raised to $4,000. The provision for the
City Receiving Hospital was also increased
$4,000, making it Sill 600
Superintendent Hewitt of the police fire
alarm and telegraph system, was given a
hearing in behalf of his department.
He said they were demanding $4,000
more than they had been apportioned by
the Auditor. He said the system was in
need OF reinforcement to such an extent
as to make the increase almost
mandatory. Five linemen had been
added to the force, some fifty new boxes
were needed, 100 miles of wire, a great
many new poles and gongs were necessary.
No new circuit had been made for ten or
eleven years and 1t was not safe to leave
the wires as loaded as they are at present.
A broken wire leaves so many houses I'M
protected that it was great public danger.
He then went on to explain that $4,000
would be needed to fit up the alarm
Office in the dome, but he was promptly
suppressed on this topic.
"fhe dome is not finished" said Chair
man Taylor, land it will be quite time
enough when it is to consider this"
Chief Sullivan of the Fire Department
came up next with plea for his requisi-
ton for $3.50, 600 as against 1914 900 of the
Auditor. Chairman bunker of the Fire
Committee had been squeezing the depart
ment until there was slight surplus this
year but the fact is that it is in disgrace
full condition. New buildings, new Engines
and new men were called for. The COM
mittee was disposed to agree with him, but
the matter was passed until the Auditor
might be heard from.
There Uas decided disnaSifiora To In.