The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-12
MR.. AsHW0RTH's POSITION.

Street Superintendent Ashworth has
been lately placing himself in opposition
to certain reforms in the conduct of street
matters. His acts of this character have
been numerous and aggressive and they
demand consideration. For the present
we may pass over all except his very bitter
opposition to the Merchants Association,
though there are probably those not in
clined to be so lenient.
Mr.. Ashworth has made very serious
charge against the Merchants Associa-
tion-namely, that it has employed a less
number of men in cleaning the streets
than it reported to the City. This is q
charge of dishonesty, and it is not strange
that Mr.. Dohrmann, president of the asso-
citation, feels outraged. If it does not
mean that the association, composed OF
the decent and earnest merchants OF the
City, is resorting to a. small swindle, for
some purpose which has not been pub
lished and which we confess ourselves I'M
able to guess, we do not know the meaning
of the English language.
We all remember how dirty and dis
agreeable were the streets under the
sweeping-contract system. We remember
the charges published to the effect that
the contractors were charging the City for
sweeping blocks which their machines did
not traverse. We remember the great dis
satisfaction of the merchants over the in
adequacy of the service and the losses
which they sustained from damage to
their goods by the swirling debris of the
streets. We remember how, out of sheer
desperation, they took the matter into
their own hands and what a wonderful
change Immediately came over the down
town streets covered by their operations.
We remember, also, that they contributed
many thousands of dollars from their
own pockets for the service, for which they
have never asked recompense, and that in
the pursuit of the hand-sweeping method
which they adopted with so great success
they were careful to give employment to
our most needy unemployed men, pre-
ferring old men and those with families.
1t was one of the most efficient, Kindly,
enterprising and benefcent movements
ever made by the "solid" men of the City.
The entire community felt grateful to
them, and every newspaper in town was
generous in praise of their efforts. They
had worked revolution. Their effort was
the first that had been made to better the
condition of the City. They were the pio-
neers of all the societies which were after
ward formed for placing San Francisco in
the position which it.deserved to occupy.
1t is therefore gratuitous on Mr.. Ash
worth's part to make this fierce assault
upon them. Not only does he charge
them with dishonesty, but declares that
the service which they have been perform
ing Is practically worthless.
We believe that the Merchants Associa-
ton has sufficient confidence in the
strength of its own integrity and patriot
ism and sufficient knowledge of the high
popular esteem in which it's splendid
services are held by the community, not to
be affected by Mr.. Ashworth's charges.
Such men as compose its membership are
much needed in this City, and there is no
danger that their services will lack in ap-
probation from the proper sources. We
trust that they will continue the good
work which they have begun and will per-
NIT no trivial criticism to cripple the great
plans which they have under way for i'm
proving the ge neral condition of the City.