The San Francisco call., 1896-02-08
No Remuneration to Be Allowed
for Extra Milk In.
spectors.
NO LEGAL AUTHORITY FOUND.
The Finance Committee of the Super.
visors May Have a Legal Battle
on It's Hands.

There is every prospect of a lively legal
battle between the Finance Committee of
the Board of Supervisors and Auditor
Broderick or one side and the Board of
Health on the other over the salaries of the
milk inspectors which the latter body has
given notice that it will shortly appoint.
The matter came to the ears of the
Finance Committee in an informal way
and the subject was brought up at yes
terday's meeting. Supervisor Taylor said
that he understood that the Board of
Health would shortly appoint three or
more milk inspectors to be stationed at the
ferries and on the roads leading into San
Francisco for the purpose of examining
milk and meat intended for the markets
and restaurants as well as private families
OF this City. He wanted to know by what
authority the board would make its ap-
pointments and how the proposed en-
ployes were to be paid.
''As far as / know" said Mr. Taylor,
mo provision has been made in the tax
levy for the payment of salaries and as the
law requires that only those shall be paid
who have been provided for in this manner
or by order of court. do not see how we
can allow such thing to go on. As a
matter of fact l don't believe that the
salary of the present inspector, Mr.
Dockery, figured in the levy. / move that
Auditor Broderick be called in to enlighten
the committee on this question:
A messenger was dispatched for the
Auditor and he was requested to explain
why the salary had been allowed. Mr.
Frederick explained that he had signed
Mr.. Dockery's warrant under the law that
permits the Board of Health to employ
such additional help as may be absolutely
necessary for the proper conduct of the
department.. He was not at all sure that
any further inspectors were necessary.
After some discussion as to the needs of
the Board of Health in the matter of i'll
spectors it was decided that any new ones
who might be appointed cannot receive
salary out of the City Treasury until after
the beginning of the next fiscal year,
unless the Board of Health wishes to pro-
vide the funds itself.
Auditor Broderick was instructed that if
warrants are presented for additional
milk inspectors or inspectors of any kind
the same must be refused. In case the
Board of Health decides TO take the mat
ter into the courts and mandamus the
Auditor, as it is expected it will, the FL
nance Committee will furnish Mr.. Brod-
erick with an attorney to fight the case
and pay all the necessary expenses.
DIR. Hart of the Board of Health said
last evening that he had heard of the
action of the Finance Committee.
ut will not make any difference with
US, he said, 'for when the proper time
arrives we shall go ahead and appoint the
men we need. We believe it to be a mat
ter of urgent necessity-one that should
be attended to at once if the public health.
of which we are presumed to be the
guardians, is to be considered. l cannot
say whether we will take the matter into
the courts or not, but l suppose that will
be the only course if the Auditor persists
in refusing to sign the warrants"