The San Francisco call., 1896-07-02
HOW TO CUT EXPENSES.
A Special Committee Make a
Thorough Study of the
Matter.
SUPERVISOR TAYLOR EXPLAINS
Says Vicious Legislation and Not
Men Is the Cause of the
Trouble.

The Associated improvement Clubs met
| last night in full delegation and discussed
with much animation and force the ques-
| ton of the tax levy and the proposed
new charter. An elaborate report of the
former sub ject, prepared by the commit
| tee especially appointed, was read, aud,
on invitation, a reply was made to this by
| Supervisor Taylor, chairman of the FL
nance Com mittee.
The Com mittee on Parks and Streets
| recomm ended the purchasing of the old
Jewish Cemetery property for park, pro-
viding the price be not too exorbitant; !;
also the placing of sustaining wall along
the western side of Buena Vista Park
The Committee on Public Utilities advo-
Gated the placing of arc lights in Golden
Gate Park, the expense to be liquidated
by sp ecial appropriation, and the light to
be furn ished by plant to be placed in the
park.
The committee on the tax levy re-
ported that it had made thorough study
of printed list of expenses furnished it by
the Finance Committee of the Supervisors
and cited to the meeting how saving of
$3.50, 900 in total might be effected. Salaries
they believed should be greatly reduced,
as well as the expense of cleaning the CITY
Hall. The committee further advocated
abolishing the Offices of Fish and Game
Warden.
AT the conclusion of this report Presi-
dent Phelan asked of Mr.. aylor, How
do these figures strike your"
81 have been paralyZed," replied Mr.
Taylor, "by figures for some days" He
then said that, although there were many
valuable points mentioned in the report,
there were others that were overlooked.
"Vicious legislation" said he, sis the
cause of all our trouble. The Supreme
Court has said that salaries must be paid,
and the men who bid for contracts for
supplies Will be the losers.
''lf the Supervisors are not permitted to
allow the paying of salaries it will cause
the depletion of the general fund"
DIR. Rottanzi as chairman of the Public
buildings and works committee, advocated
the placing of the Pesthouse on some site
rem ote from any community.
The high school committee recon-
mended that a high school class be placed
in some already established sch ool build
ing in the Mission.
There followed heated discussion re-
garding the passage of the ''rattler test
ordinance for sureet-paving rock.
A special com mmittee, consisting of Ellis,
Hubbs and Van Duzer, was appointed to
wait upon the Supervisors on this PROPOSE
tion, including as it does the merits of red
rock and blue rock for paving purposes.
President Dohrmann of the Merchants
Association then addressed the club on
the new charter. He recounted the his
tory of the instrument, and said that above
all things 1t appealed to the people as
something clean and honest.
Secretary Freud of the Merchants Asso-
citation then followed as follows:
L. Legislative Tyranny vs. Home RuIe.-Un-
der the consolidation act San Francisco has
| been and is largely governed by the Legisla-
| ture and Governor of the State Under the
new charter there will result municipal sover-
| eighty, independence and home rule.
The new charter will restore eself-government
to San Francisco in the following notable in
| stances:
(d) The Police Commissioners will no longer
| be appointed by the Governor or hold Office for
| life. The Mayor will appoint four Police Com
| mlssioners. Their term will be limited to four
| years, one retiring each year. No; more than
two Commissioners can be of the same politi-
| cal party. All policemen who are in the Police
| Department when the charter goes into effect
| will be retained.
(b) The Fire Commissioners will no longer be
partly appointed by the Governor. The Mayor
Will appoint four Fire Commissioners for four
years. one retiring each year. Not more than
| two of the same political party. The Fire De-
partment viii be fully paid and equipped
(cl Election Commissioners.-The present
ton Commissioners and the Registrer of
| Voters, all of whom may belong to
Four Election commissioners not more aouisfeu tban
two of the same political party, will be ap-
pointed by the Mayor for four years, one re-
| tiring each year. They will appoint the Regis
trar Thorough provisions are made to secure
proper registration of electors and safe and
prompt count of the votes polled.
| (d) Board of Health.-The present partisan
method of appointing four members of the
Board of Health for five years will be abolished
Three regular physicians, eight years residents
| of the City, will be appointed by the Mayor
! for two-year terms as the Board of Health.
| 2. Official Chaos VS.. Fixed dAuthority.-Under
| the present consolidation act officials shirk
| and shift their responsibility. The municipal
| government is therefore uncer tain and cha
otic. The new charter places accountable au-
thority and fixed responsibility in every
| (a) The Mayor.-Year by year the powers of
the Mayor have been usurped by the Legisla-
ture and the Supervisors under the consolida-
| ton act. He has therefore become a mere
| figurehead and cipher in the City government.
| Under the new charter, however, he will be
| vested with executive power and official re-
sponsibility. He VIII be accountable for the
conduct of the City government, as well as its
officials The objection most frequently raised
| against the charter is the claim that it confers
exorbitant powers upon the Mayor. Let us see
| exactly what are the powers of the Mayor
| under the new charter. He will appoint the
City Attorney, Public Administra tor, Board of
Public Works, Park Commissioners, Library
| Trus tees, Police Commissioners, Fire Commits
| sioners, Board of Health, Election Commits
| a
other officials of the City will remain
elective under the constitution and gen.
eral laws of the State. Until such
time as the constitution shall have been
changed by the people all other officials will
| therefore be elected by the people as hereto
| fore, with the exception of the Superintendent
| of Streets and Surveyor, who are abolished
| under the charter. Examining, therefore, the
list of appointees OF the Mayor, 1t will readily
| appear that the Mayor under the charter will
| appoint but two officials who are at present
elected by the people. These two officials are
the City Attorney and the Public Administra-
| tor. ALI the other Commissioners ana trus-
| tees appoin ted by the Mayor are now either
appointed by the Governor or hold Office for
life or are newly created. Therefore, the peo-
pie are not deprived of their privilege of elect
ing officials, as at present except in the case of
the City Attorney and Public Administrator
While the Mayor who is in office when the
charter goes into effect will appoint all these
Commissioners, subsequent Mayors will ap-
point but two of them, as they go out of Office
| in rotation and the term OF the Mayor is lin
| tied o two years.
| 3. Political Patronage VS.. Civil Service The