The San Francisco call., 1896-06-11
DANGER IN The GLOOM
1t Turks in the Impending Dark
ness Due to Lack of
Funds.
Taxpayers Are Indignant at the High
Tax and No Service Police
Preparing.

Two dollars and twenty-five cents per
centum for taxes in the City of San Fran
cisco and no money in the treasury to pay
for street lights.
1t has been in every mouth for the past
few days. No matter where one goes about
town he hears it, and the more this
anomaly in municipal fnanciering is dis
cussed the greater is the indignation of
thinking taxpayers and citizens generally.
Two dollars and twenty-five cents taxes
and no money for lights
1t is freely admitted by every man in
town who has given the matter any
thought that somebody in control of City
affairs is to blame, or more likely several
City officials are responsible for, this alarm
ing condition of affairs.
When taxes were less than half what
they are this year San Francisco was not
driven into vexatious and dangerous dark,
ness, as she is now threatened. To recon-
cile the present with past conditions in the
municipal manipulation of San Francisco,
in face of this street-light affair, has puZ-
zled many citizen. Indeed, 1t is only
now that householders are waking to the
fact and the real condition confronting
them.
The order has gone forth from the Board
of Supervisors that the City shall be in
darkness for more than two weeks. There
was no more coin in sight for appropria-
tions, not even for current and absolutely
essential and necessary expenses of the
City.
And now taxpayers are wondering how
they may pilot themselves over the dan
gerous sidewalks and crossings after sun
down. Visions OF theiestive burglar glory
ing in his new sense of security, the
murderous footpad at every other turn
and corner and crime rampant under cover
OF the blackness Of these dark nights have
arisen in many homes.
The police say that it is their experience
that highway robbery and crime have al
ways assumed terrifying proportions in
such dark spells as the one at hand in San
Francisco. Acting upon this knowledge
they are already making preparations for
protecting life and property.
They are shadowing characters known
to them, and may find it expedient to take
off some day watches and concentrate
their efforts by doubling patrols all night,
more particularly in the Western Addi-
ton.
People are wondering also how the fire.
boxes, indicated by red lamps, can be
found in case of fire after dark. The fire.
men, too, regard the impending gloom
with misgivings, for they will have many
rough experiences in their work.
+. w. Dohrmann, president OF the Mer-
chants Association, said:
don't see that anything can be done now to
secure light Indignation meetings and mass
meetings would be OF no use. II would be like
locking the stable door after the horse is
stolen. The only way ! see for guarding
against repetition is 70 secure the new
charter. Not that the charter or anything else
would prevent squandering the contents OF the
treas ury, but II we can get new charter we
are likely TO secure a better class OF office
holders. Under the present system it is
scramble for the spoils of Office by every new
batch OF officials elected. 1t is a grab for
everything in sight while the opportunity
sponsible as it IS now, but under the new
charter we can fix the responsibility where it
belongs.
This feature will induce the better class of
the community 10 see that none but frst-class
men, who will take a pride in the City's well
tare instead OF scrambHng for spoils, are
elected to Office. This period of darkness that
we have been promised will be a splendid OBJ
Ject-lesson to the people of San Francisco. 1t
viii cause them to desire reform in the man.
agement OF public affairs-just such reform as
is promised under the proposed new charter.
this matter, except for those who are obliged
to be out late to carry lanterns.
j. Richard Freud, secretary of the Mer-
chants Association, agreed with the presi-
dent OF the organization and said:
The darkness that will soon fall upon the
City will make many friends for the mer-
chants. hope that the people will remem Der,
when they go TO the polls TO vote on that q ues-
uon, their experience while cropping along
dark streets. If the water and other neces-
sarles were shut off with the lights for the
same cause four days before the election, 1 am
sure that not over dozen people would vote