The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-09-17

The four Supervisors who fought for the
people and opposed the Eight to the bitter
end are:
HOBBS,
TAYLOR,
SPRECKELS,
DIMOND.
The vote on the big tax levy and the sale
of the franchise to the Market-street cor
poration went the usual way. King,
Scully. Benjamin, Hirsch, Hughes, Dun
ker, Morgenstern and Wagner voted de-
family and shoulder to shoulder in solid
phalanx. Supervisors Dimond and Taylor
argued and urged, but without even pro-
voking replies.
The opening of the bids for the railroad
extension to the new racetrack caused the
first ripple in the monotonous business of
reading bids for street work.
The instant Supervisor Dimond saw what
was coming he was on his feet with pro-
test.
~ move" he began, "that ali the bids
be rejected unread as the advertisement
for them was irregularly drawn"
Eight members of the board squared
themselves defiantly in their seats for the
test vote.
Noes-King, Scully, Benjamin, Hirsch,
Hughes, bunker, Morgenstern, Wagner
total, 8.
Ayes-Dimond,T Taylor. Spreckels, Hobbs;
total, 4.
tMotioh lost" announced the Mayor.
proceed with the reading of the bids.
Behrend Joost bid $506 for the franchise
and sent in a check for that sum as a
guarantee. The Market-street Railway
Company bid $531, accompanied by check
for that amount.
The members glanced at one another as
if the business was already definitely set
tied.
81 move" said Supervisor Benjamin,
chat the bid of the Market-street Com
pany be accepted and that the franchise be
given them"
Ayes-King, Scully, Benjamin, Hirsch,
Hughes, bunker, Morgenstern, Wagner:
total, 8.
Noes-Dimond, Taylor, Spreckels, Hobbs;
total t.
A litter ran around the room when the
vote was announced, but the Mayor
quickly repressed it.
The next big nut to crack was the tax
levy The clerk mad hardly finished read
ing the figures when Supervisor Wagner
was on his feet offering his pet motion to
add 100000 to the levy for the Folsom
street boulevard. "The Street Superin-
some of the blocks" he added. "Why not
add 10000 and build the boulevardP"
Hirsch seconded the motion.
Ayes-King, Hirsch, bunker, Morgen-
stern, Wagner; total, 5.
Noes-Scully, Benjamin, Dimond, Tay-
lor, Hughes, Hobbs; total, 6.
Wagner heaved a sigh and then blithely
moved that the tax levy as read at a total
of 1852 on each 500 be adopted.
A lively discussion followed. Supervisor
Ben iamin opened it by moving that the 2
mills be stricken off so as to simplify the
figuring in making out the taxes.
Supervisor Hughes amended that the
mills be taken off the allowance made
the Golden Gate Park fund.
Superintendent Taylor shot in red-ho
amendment that 25 cents and two mills be
taken off the whole levy, and he proceeded
to back his motion with some very vigor-
Gus statements.
1.-THE business community is paralyzed
with this exorbitant tax levy he said,
checked real estate operations. 1 am
amazed that my colleagues are not
alarmed at the outlook. When the mat
ter was first discussed, l agreed with them
that l per cent on $500 for County pur-
poses wasanot enough when we had $780,
600 in back salary bills to meet. We were
called upon to make good that sum, and
that brought about raise over the l per
cent limit. But when we raise that l per
cent over one-half, / begin to feel alarmed
at the prospect.
my motion to reduce the lew 25 cents
and mills leaves tax of 81 on each 500.
''In the present financial condition of
the City, think we should not try to
meet all the improvements planned in this
tax levy. Let us meet part of those i'm
provements this year and part of them
next year. | tell you, gentlemen, I'm
fearful of fixing the rate at the extraya-
CANT figures in that tax levy
"a great many people have told me that
strenuous efforts should be made to re-
to such a big levy. | believe we can pay
our way by reducing it the 25 cents and 2
mills l have proposed"
Supervisor Wagner shot to his feet as
Supervisor Taylor sat down. "He's an
alarmist," began Supervisor Wagner.
High taxes put money in circulation.
I've heard no one complain of high taxes.
lands. Ii he's going to strike off the cost
OF building the old City Hall, why not
strike off the improvements on the new
City Hall?''
Supervisor Hobbs joined his voice to
what Supervisor Taylor had said. So did
Supervisor Dimond. give heard of moth
ing but protests against this exorbitant tax
levy said the latter. ''The banks are
already taking action and are preparing to
reduce the interest on deposits IN order to
meet it. / beg the members to consider
the action they are about to take in this
matter"
1.-THE middle classes will be the sufferers
by it," added Supervisor Taylor. tine