The San Francisco call., 1896-02-11
SIX MONTHS ON A DOLLAR
Mayor Davie Issues a Public
Defense of His Tax
Levy.
WILL BE A SMALL SURPLUS.
incidentally Few Criticisms Appear
Regarding Some of the Municipal
Departments.
WILL BE A SMALL SURPLUS.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL,t
908 Broadway. Feb. 10. !
Mayor Davie issued a defense of his
dollar tax to-day that cannot but be con-
vincing, if the figures are correct. AS they
are certified to by the city expert, it is pre-
sumed that they are correct. The report
is not lengthy, but shows at glance that
the revenue provided by the Mayor is
ample if suitable economy be practieed.
The Mayor says:
Your attention is respectfully called to the
inclosed statement showing the expenditures
OF the city government of the City of Oakland
for the first six months of the fiscal years
1896.
The statement gives the amounts allowed to
the various departments of the city govern
ment, the amounts expended for the period of
six months commencing July, l., 1895, and
ance that may be used for the several depart
ments for the remainder of the fiscal year.
The first three months of the fiscal year had
passed before the tax levy was fixed and the
several departments proceeded with their re-
spective policies thinking that the tax levy for
this year would be ST. 1S, and therefore the
expenditure of the first three months were
made on such lines and exceeded the proper
and necessary expenses of said departments
This one matter was constantly held up as a
conclusion that the tax rate could not be fixed
at 81 as about one-fourth OF the year had ex-
pired, yet taking into consideration that in
the first three months of the fiscal year the va
penses on the same eXtravagant basis as in
previous years, the statement herein referred
to makes good showing for the first half of
Since 1882, when the assessed value OF Oak
land property was $29, ,000, 900, down to 1894
when the assessment rolls footed up $45 0OO,-
80 cents in 1882 to ST. II in 1894. It would
have been 81 18 this year had not the May yor's
veto, with the assistance of four members of
the Council-Messrs. Brosnahan, Bassett, Heit-
mann and WatEinSOn-DrRVailpd
The city should be run the same as a man s
private business; the funds should be carefully
expended and the greatest value procured for
the money.
The surplus in the Fire, Police and Fire Alarm
departments will be use for the street fund, as
the Street Department has been Improperly
conducted and the funds injudicially ex-
pended.
The Council reduced the street-light fund in
the tax levy and increased the school fund. 1t
had nc right to do this it had already en-
tered into contract for the year for certain
number of electric lights and according to law
cannot break such contract, but must provide
funds to meet the same. The school fund did
not require the extra amount, as the State and
County apportionment with its increase this
year viii be more than sufficient, with the
amount originally allowed, to meet all reason
able expenses.
The library fund win be short on account of
the extravagant policy of the Library Trustees.
There has been much talk about the dollar tax
rate compelling the Library Trustees to close
the reading-rooms, but a glance at the state-
| ment OF expenses etc., will prove to the con-
trary, in the dollar tax levy sufficient funds
were allowed to run all the reading rooms for
the entire year.
The library and central reading room will
| run short for the year on account of the lack OF
economical management. In the library there
| is employed librarian at $160 per month.
Four years ago the same services cost the city
500 per month. There are also four additional
persons employed.
The High School fund will be sufficient for
the year.
1t has been said that owing to the dollar rate
the. Twelfth-sIreet dam and Eighth-street
bridge cannot be repaired. This is not true,
inasmuch as in the tax levy. sufficient has
been allowed TO make the repairs. The Eighth
street bridge can be repaired for $4,000, and,
as the Contra Costa Water Company and the
East Oakland Electric Railroad Company oc-
eupy portions of the bridge, they will be re-
quired to pay part of the expense of repairing
The various engine-houses are out of repair,
it has been stated, yet such conditions existed
for the past few years, and with the large tax
levy of prior administrations these matters
were not attended to. This year many of the
buildings have received attention.
Taken as whole the dollar tax rate will be
sufficient to run the City this year.