The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-20
The Role as a Poll-Tax Bogie
Man Will Give Frank
Jordan Work,
JUDGE GIBsON'S INSTINCT.
Street Superintendent Miller'S Figures
Not as Coed as His Work on
Highways.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
COS Broadway, Jan. 10. {

COS Broadway, Jan. 10. {
When Harry Dalton ran on an independ-
emf ticket for County Assessor a year ago
the old-time politicians looked on 1.-The
BOYS" ambition as a freak that would not
do any more harm than create little ridi-
cule. Even the advocates of what is
termed clean politics supported q prom
inent railroad man and treated Dalton as
q hedgeling. When the votes were counted
and the boy" was far ahead of his COM
petitors the sages shook their heads and
predicted shat there was something in ''the
boy after all. Although his assessments
were fought by Supervisors and the Dis
trict Attorney they were sustained by the
court and Dalton proved that he was not
such a novice after all.
But yesterday afternoon Mr.. Dalton
made an innocent-looking announcement
that contains one of the greatest kind OF
Jokes. A few days ago it was discovered
that the Supervisors could rot make a spe-
cial appropriation for compiling a new
great register. 1t was also discovered that
the work has to be done by both he AS
SCISSOR and the County Clerk. Dalton
Cheerfully agreed to do his share, and, as
the law leaves it optional with the voter
whether he shall register with one official
or The other, II was easy to see that all
D4ljon's friends Will register with Jordan,
and vice versa.
Mr.. Dalton is not anxious to spend any
more OF the appropriation made for his
office than is necessary, and, knowing the
great aversion OF the citizen TO paying poll
tax, he has given notice that when citizens
apply for registration they will be required
TO pay the poll tax. This, of course, will
send nearly all OF the registration to the
('Drrr W Il-t- - Now ba
gang" members are saying that, in addi-
ton TO being somewhat of a politician,
Harry Dalton is also possessed of little
knowledge OF human nature.
The latest Populist in Office to fall from
grace is Street Superintendent Miller. He
has made the discovery that the streets OF
Oakland are in deplorabIe condition and
that there IS no money with which to pave
them. So be wrote long communication
to the City Council proposing that $3.50, 900
be raised by issuing bonds. Only in this
manner can anything be done in the way
of permanent improvements. OF course
the Council killed the proposition and
the proposition killed Miller politically
although his plan received the approval OF
the Mayor. This, however, was of no ben
eht 10 Miller, as the Mayors approval
formed the basis and argument for the
Councils veto.
OF course Mr.. Miller's figures might have
been wrong, as they have been before. A
lew weeks ago Mr.. Miller appeared before
the council and said that it was a neces-
sity that there should be foreman to each
piece o. sidewalk-laying, to see that the
specifications we're carried OUT. MIR. Miller
thought 81 a daY was d fair compensation
Tor any OF his friends and relatives whom
he might thus employ. The property
owners made q vigorous protest and the
council two nights ago reduced the salary
10 - 50. In supporting the $4 tariff Mr..
Miller stated that the cost of the foreman
was one-fourth of a cent per foot of side
walk laid. TO earn 81 at this rate one fore
man would need TO superintend the laying
OF 1900 feet of sidewalk IN eight hours. As
a matter OF fact 100 feet is good days
work Tor one gang. Mr.. Miller may be
good Street Superintendent, but he is not
e master IN arithmetic. S. w. BooTH.