The morning call., 1895-02-01
BEWARE OF THE OCTOPUS.
MIR. Clements Scheme to Protect the
Treasury.
TWO LOCKS ON THE MUNICIPAL SAFE.
MeSSrS. Scott and SutrO Have a Lively
Seance-The EcletticS Given
Recognition.

Mayor Sutro appeared before the Board
of Freeholders yesterday afternoon and
delivered vigorously worded protest
against what he termed the encroachments
of the octopus.
Gentlemen" he said, 'be careful in your
decisions, that you do not place San Fran
cisco so completely in the grasp OF the
Southern Pacific Company on the street
railroad pool, of which its lines form a
part, as to shut out those who wish to aid
the business community by building COM
peting lines. If you put the length of a
franchise at twenty years, as has been pro-
posed here, you will strangle competition,
for as matters now stand the only districts
not covered by roads or franchises are
sparsely settled and it will be many years
before they will pay anything like fair div
idends on a railroad investment.
another matter of which you must be
careful is the reserving of too many streets
for boulevards. 1t is proposed to reserve
Bush street. If you do that you are shut
ting off one of the only avenues by which
competing railroad may reach the BUSH
ness community"
After explaining that boulevard to the
ocean could be constructed by cutting B
or G street through the racetrack, which
was an obstruction existing in defiance to
the law, Mr.. Sutro again paid his respects
to the railroad company by asserting that
it had controlled every Board of Super
visors for years past and could get any
franchise or privilege it wanted, while
others were denied the smallest of their
rights. He intimated also that there were
other officials elected by the people who
might be justly accused OF not being too
friendly with the people.
Irving NJ. SCOTS face was study during
this passage and when the speaker paused
for breath he said:
"Mr. Sutro, you have asserted | believe,
that l was helping the railroad in this
charter. Now / want you to distinctly
understand that l am not in any way con-
nected with any railroad. l am here to
serve the people, and | propose to do SO
without reference to what may be said in
the newspapers"
"Mr. Scott" replied the Mayor, eff I
said you were friendly with the railroad I
shall stand by my words. You, through
your large financial interests, are connected
in certain way with the Southern Pacific.
l do not say that you would do anything
wrong, but you would naturally be friendly
with the octopus, if you will pardon my
using the term"
Mr.. Sutro also called attention to several
abuses in the city government, notably the
u,
asked the Freeholders to look out for them.
"We are giving the Mayor extraordinary
powers in these matters" said Mr.. Glenn
ent, ',and you may be called upon to exer-
else them"
ri shall never serve a second term as
Mayor of San Francisco" returned Mr..
Sutro.
A representative of the eclectic school of
medicine appeared before the board and
asked that the California Medical College
be given the privilege of teaching at the
City and County Hospital, which was
granted, two wards being assigned for the
purpose.
In view of what he termed "the loose
manner in which the funds in the Treas
urer's office are guarded" Mr.. Clement
offered an amendment to the regulations
now governing the office. The main por-
ton was as follows:
For the better security of the moneys in the
treasury, there shall be provided a joint
custody safe having two combination locks
safe. The Treasurer shall have the knowledge
of one combination and the Auditor of the
other. The Auditor shall be joint custodian
with the Treasurer of all funds in the joint
custody safe, but shall have no control over
them except to open and close the safe in con-
junction with the Treasurer, when requested
to do so in his official capacity, and shall not
be held responsible on his official bond for any
shortage which may occur in the treasury.
There shall be kept in the safe joint Gus
tody book, showing the amount and descrip-
ton of all funds in said safe, and whenever
any amounts are withdrawn or added thereto,
the Auditor and Treasurer shall make the
proper entry in the joint custody book and
initial the same. If on account of sickness or
urgent necessity the Treasurer or Auditor is
unavofdobly absent, then in such case their
representatives shall perform their duties.
The estimated amount of money required
daily for the payment of demands against the
treasury shall be taken from the Joint CUSTODY
safe, and kept in another safe to be provided for
the security of the daily working capital,
which shall be balanced daily at the close of
business hours.