The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-23
AFTER THE CORONER.
The Charter May Abolish
His Office.
STREET SWEEPING By HAND.
Recorders Fees to Be Reduced Fifty
Per Cent.
WORK FOR PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS.
The City and County Attorneys Office
Is Under Fire-LaW Library
Assessment.

meeting of the Board of Freeholders when
he proposed that the new charter, now I'M
der consideration by the board, provide for
the assumption of the duties of the Coroner
by one of the Police Judges, and that the
present Coroner's jury system be abol-
iShed
Gentlemen" he said, 'the present man
ner of conducting the Coroner's office is all
humbug and entirely nonsensical. The
juries chosen are, on the average, COM
posed of political hangers-on, who are at
the beck and call of the Coroner, and who
render verdicts which are the laughing
stock of the community. The majority of
the verdicts they find are not sustained by
the courts, and are worse than useless, for
they often hamper justice. I move that
the Coroner's duties be performed by one
of the Police Judges, and that there be no
'Coroner's jury, so called. 1t will save ex-
pense and the work will be better done"
Mr.. Gibson moved to amend the motion
by inserting clause calling for an aficial
stenographer alta reasonable salary. The
question was referred to the committee on
legislation. Freebooter Hecht called up
the question of creating board of public
works, and asked that decision be reached
as to whether the board should consist of
n
Mr.. Boyd that the board consist of three
members was carried.
Mr.. Gibson suggested that, as the Prose
cutting Attorneys of the four Police courts
have plenty of spare time from their
regular ddties, they be instructed to assist
the City and County Attorney in the
Superior courts whenever call from that
Office did not interfere with their Police
Court duties. He opposed a suggestion
that the staff of the City and County At
torney's Office be reduced saying that the
Office was sometimes three or four years
behind with cases, and that any reduction
of the force would only make the matter
worse. Mr.. Sloss thought that the City
and County Attorney should be prevented
from attending to any private practice, and
should put all his time and energies to
doing the work of his official position.
These matters were passed for further con-
sideration.
No action was taken on the suggestion
by Mr.. Menzies, that the District Attor-
ney instead of the Board of Supervisors
appoint the Prosecuting Attorneys of the
Police courts, OF on motion by Mr.. Boyd,
that Police Judges and their court officials
be appointed by the Mayor, both measures
being left to committee for consideration.
On motion of Mr.. Sloss the number of
years an attorney must be in practice be-
fore being eligible to election as District
years. Mr.. Boyd was on his feet in an in
slant when the matter of the Recorders
fees was reached.
Fright here l want to file an objection"
he said. "The Recorders fees as they
stand at present are all out of reason and
should be cut down 25 or so per cent.
Years ago when the present war rates
were established they were all right, but
they are altogether too high now. / move
that instead of 10 cents per folio the fees be
reduced to cents"
A suggestion that the matter be referred
to committee did not suit Mr.. Boyd and
he insisted on action being taken at once.
The motion was carried unanimously.
Mr.. Marye wanted the assessment OF 81
for the benefit of the Law Library, which
is levied whenever complaint is filed with
the County Clerk, reduced to so cents, but
| the two attorneys on the board, Messrs.
| Clement and Gibson, succeeded in having
the matter laid on the table for the present.
Mr.. Gibson wanted the power of appoint
ing the Justices vested in the Mayor, their
| term of Office fixed at two years. and pro-
vision that they be duly qualified attorneys
at-law. The matter was not decided.
The section relating to street-sweeping
was the cause of much discussion. Free
holder Umbsen said that he would like the
section changed to eliminate the provision
for the purchase of one or more street
sweeping machines. and clause inserted
calling for all sweeping to be done by hand.
He wanted the Board of Public Works au-
thorized to employ street-sweepers at
wages not to exceed 81 so per day.
Mr.. Menzies thought that the question
of wages should be left out, as it would not
be right to fix the salary of the men, be-
cause it might shackle the Supervisors at
times when it might be advisable to change
the pay of sweepers. He thought the sala-
rios of the heads of 0eDartmaDts shou1d he
fixed by the charter, and that the salaries
of the other employees should be settled by
the Board of Supervisors within thirty days
after the charter goes into effect.
Mr.. Umbsen fortified his suggestion by
stating that while sweeping by hand would
perhaps be little more expensive the
difference in the cost would be more than
counterbalanced by the aid it would give
many deserving poor, and the work would
be far better done. The Merchants Asso-
citation was only paying its employees 81 %
per day, but had more applications for
work than positions to be awarded. 1t
was true, he said, that the monopolies
which had held the contracts would be
compelled to give them up.
Messrs. Truman and 0 Brien also favored
the sweeping of the streets by hand, and
the matter was placed in the hands of the
committee to formulate proper measure.
After Mr. Sloss' motion that contractor
or other parties making excavations in the
streets should be compelled to place a de-
post with the Superintendent of Streets
sufficient to repair the damage in case he
neglected to do so, before he was granted
permit, had been passed for further con-
sideration, the board adjourned until s
O'Clock.
THE NIGHT SESSION.