The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-16
The Splendid Display of Home
Products Will Be Shown in
Superb Style.
AN ULTRA HONEST CYCLIsT.
The Town of San Leandro TO- Wage
It's First Fight Against
Corporation.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL


lands political lotteries. Certain members
of the body polite are putting themselves
on record as being strongly opposed to a
moderate tax levy. Fox years the Tery
cliques that are now predicting all sSDrts OF
calamitieS before the end of the fiscal year
have been declaimjng against the raids on
the treasury made by the other fellows.
Notwithstanding the fact that while the
levy is L per cent higher than it NOW is
not dollar was raised TO meet the school
bonds which fell due two months ago and
they had to be refunded. Yet THERE is
now loud clamor because the levy is kept
at one dollar by ukase of the Mayor. That
there is not a particle of sincerity in the
opposition is very evident. If the tax is
too low everybody will know at the end OF
the year who is to blame. The Mayor has
presented his figures and made declara-
ton that they are true, and II ablded by
will prove that his estimate will be iusti-
fed.
On the other hand, it is stated that the
Mayor was Influenced by the bankers and
large capitalists to keep the tax levy low.
The circumstances on which this state
ment is based have never yet been made
public. The origin of this movement came
about IN this way. Thomas Prather and
J. West Martin called on the Mayor when
the tax levy AGITATION was highest. They
were as skeptical as the most enthusiastic
high tax advocate. They asked the Mayor
If he would submit to a body 81 citizens
his figures on which he based. his calcula-
lions. He consented to do SO and met
representative men. The Mayor produced
reports of other cities and compared them
with the reports OF Oakland, and it was
shown that Oakland was the most expeu-
sively governed city of its size in the
United States.
1t was then decided to form civic fed
ration TO see that there were no leaks that
ecould be stopped in the city treasury and
to protect the interests of taxpayers in
general. Just how this has been done has
been kept a secret, but the Organization
Claims to be a very powerful oBe and scouts
the idea that 1t is interested In politics or
IN anything but protecting its dollars from
the horde that has thrived on the city
treasury for years past. OF course it is
novel spectacle to see Populist Mayor in
the role of adviser of bankers and capital
lists, but there is nothing in Oakland poll
tics that surprises the old Warehouses;
and scores OF similar conundrlhms could be
propounded right at this time.
There is to be an election at San Leandro
tomorrow that is being watched with
much interest by many cities and towns in
Alameda County. The election is for the
purpose of deciding whether or not to
bond the town for the purpose of establish
inGa mum 5cipaI electrichght plant. The
project has been earnestly advocated by
the San Leandro Board OF Trade, and is
the first attempt at owning anything of
Importance yet made by the town. AS
tWo-thlrdS vote is necessary Tor the me asure
to pass and as there is strong opposition
on the part of the gas company, which at
present has very profitable contract, it is
by no means certain that San Leandro
viii soon own her own lighting plant
San Leandro is. unfortunately, very similar
TO Oakland. In it dwell many men with
burning political ambitions, and some of
them are not overendowed with, scrupu-
lousness regarding public veal so long as
they can serve their own purposes. Sew
eral of them, it is stated, are working
against the bond issue and claim to have
enough influence to kill it, as the issue is
only for $4,000
AS the town is now paying $500 each
year for gas lighting there is no room to
doubt the economy of the proposition.
The plant that Is to be erected will not
only light the town, but also supply illu-
mination to private houses, and thus make
an income. Although the claims of its
advocates are undoubtedly too roseate, it is
evident that under existing circumstances
San Leandro can save money by doing her
own lighting.
George S. Loher of the Acme Club must
certainly be classed as an honest man.
George recently rode across the continent
on a bicycle. He arrived at New York
safely, and as fact his wheel was built of
tires, rims, felloes, pedals and frame.
No sooner had he arrived at New York
than representatives of different makers
forced themselves into his presence and
tried to ma Ike him preyaricate. They wanted
him to say that his tires had not been
scratched, his rims had never warped,
that the spokes had jumped two-fooJ
powders and never sprung. But George
could not do it. He said: "Gentlemen, |
have written an account OF my trip, and
some OF the most interesting parts OF it re-
late TO the many punctures, broken rims
and bent spckes that / experienced. | am
willing to sell you my manuscript, but
George brought his manuscript home and
the horde of cycle advocates never called
on him again.
One of the meaEest things that have been
done at the county buildings for some
time is the circulation of the story that
Auditor Whidden is about to resign in
favor of ex-County Clerk Crane. There is
as much animus evinced in the statement
rs in the gratuitous choice of his sue
cessor. 1t is done, of course, for the rur-
pose of influencing the charges of for gerry
now pending against Mr.. Whldden, and
Cranes name is suggested for the purpose
of making it appear that the old court |
house ring is manipulating things for
Whidden and thus add to his discomfort |
ANYBODY who knows the tactics of the |
ring should know that they would never |
so expose their hand. Mr.. Whidden's
case is before the courts and. although |
the Alameda Superior Courts in cases |
where politicians are concerned are not |
noted for dispatch, the men who are work |
ing against Whidden are not those who |
have any cause to complain of the snail |
like progress of justice in Oakland.
S. w. b.
FUNCTIONS OF CHURCH.
DIR. Graft Objects to the'ArtfuI Perils of