The San Francisco call., 1896-06-16
Condition of Trade and the
Wishes of the Public Given
as a Reason.
CITY FATHERS ARE ON RECORD
The Health and Police Committee
Strongly Condemns the City
Prison Sanitation.

The Finance Committee of the Board OF
Supervisors put itself on record yesterday
at the meeting of the board in favor OF
lower tax levy than that of the year 1906,
and while not saying it in so many words
intimated that the public was much better
satisfied under the old dollar limit and
that while the levy might not be confined
to the dollar on the hundred it should be
kept close to that figure.
The committee asks only that the pub
lie organizations, large and small, lend
them moral support and pledges levy
that will be satisfactory to the pubic.
The report of the committee is as follows:
In the matter of the tax levy for the fiscal
year 1867 it appears from the present condi-
t1ons that the taxpayers deprecate and dread
the imposition OF an onerouS tax rate, Deney-
ing that II an excessive rate was imposed II
would be a grievous burden and disastrous IN
It's effects at this juncture. when business ana
business prospects are far from alluring.
The decadence in value caused by decrease
in rentals and the many unoccupIed buildings
and portions OF buildings in various portions
OF our City demand light burdens in g tax
rate as can be imposed. In addition to the
tax rate street Improvements are to be met by
property-owners and all the expenditures
which have to be provided for necessary TO the
maintenance of business and the repair and
Improvement of premises to keep pace with
return on investments.
Your committee cannot shut its eyes to the
signs OF the times and the present needs OF our
citizens, the most important of which is the
tax rate, and for relief from an excessive rate
they look to the members of this board.
In the imposition of levy OF 1.5619 in addi-
ton to the State levy OF 6s2 cents on each
800, making total of So 25 for the fiscal
year of 1896, our citizens were appalled,
ard have not yet recovered, but now simply
dread any such tax rate being imposed under
present conditions.
While it is true that the last Legislature
aided greatly to maintain the levy, yet the
Supreme Court in its decisions has su bstan-
tally decided that it is the duty OF the Board
OF Supervisors to levy a sufficient amount to
provide for and pay all liabilities that may
occur and which in the exercise of q wise dis
cretion is simply matter OF impossibility to
provide for, yet in order to avoid and hold the
city harmless from paving past claims, such Is
the dictum OF the court and therefore the law,
because it is the construction placed on the
constitutional provision which inhibits
penditures in excess OF the revenue.
The dollar-limit pledge of conventions was a
boon to the taxpayers and was such pledge
as protected all the material Interests and
checked to some extent extravagant eXpendi-
lures. All went well and for years this pledge
was recognized and steadily adhered TO, but
by the eXtravagant expenditures OF depart
mentS having independent powers and su bse-
quent decisions of the Supreme Court larger
amounts than were appropriated we're paid
out of the treasury and legimate demands
were practically declared illegal, thus causing
an Indebtedness which the court decides can
never be paid out of the treasury. In addition
the court decides it to be your duty TO provide
sufficient funds to meet all liabilities. The
custom, heretofore pursued in making
b0ero tne levy was qe gopT
of what proper expenditures should
be made for the various municipal purposes,
and in making such estimates the dollar-limit
pledge was kept in view, so that the total levy
would not exceed that pledge.
close ppTtain n
debtedness in excess of revenue often oc-
Cured, but 1t was never contemplated that
this indebtedness should be repudiRted, but
by common consent was paid and the govern
ment went without violating its tax pledge.
1t now appears from the position heretofore
assumed by officers OF the City and the conse-
quent decisions OF the Supreme Court that un-
less sufficient revenue is provided in any one
year no expenditure of that year in excess of
the revenue can be paid and that the tax levy
must not be increased beyond any reasonable
requirements to meet expenditures that could
not be estimated or provided for.
Your committee feels that your honorable
board is placed in a false position; in other
words, after using your best judgment in
estimating and providing for reasonable eX-
penditures the onus and liability is imposed
on the board if for any cause the revenue pro-
vided is not sufficient TO meet the expendi-
lures, and while such conclusion is unjust,
yet the Supreme Court holds this to be the
law, and this board, unless indemnifed
against liability, must, against the best judg-
ment of the members, impose tax rate
which as individuals they cannot indorse.
Your Finance Committee feels and SO ex-
presses its views, believing that all the mem
bers of your honorable board will indorse such
action as will insure low and yet sufficient
tax rate for the ordinary expenses of the gov
ernment that if representative bodies of our
fellow.citizens will indorse such proposition
and will pledge their support in case of ex-
penditures by Independent departments in
excess OF appropriations, that said bodies will
aid in absolving this board from any liability
in case OF such expenditures creating a de-
fciency, that there will be no question that
your board will cheerfully respond in making
appropria tions tina will impose only such
levy as will be indorsed by our citizens.
Your committee, in order that the feeling of
trepidation and unrest in the minds of our
citizens may be allayed, will on receiving the
Auditors estimates this month proceed at
once to revise and make estimates that the
amount OF the tax levy may be determined,
and such rate be levied on the third Monday
In september next as is required by law, so
that the different departments may be advised
OF the appropriation to be made for the fiscal
year, and govern themselves accordingly.
In individual interviews the Supervisors,
with the exception of the Supervisor from
the Third, expressed themselves as thor
oughly in favor of lower rate, and agreed
that the big appropriations asked by some
OF the departm ents must be pruned down.
The Health and Police Committee re-
ported to the board that it had made an in
spection of the City Prison and had found
1t in very bad sanitary condition. 1t
was spoken ofas remarkbl that in build
ing that had cost the taxpayers so much
money such state of affairs could exist.
Numerous improvements were advised.
The ordinance placing the power of CIV
ing permits for boxing contests In the
hands OF the board instead of those of the
Mayor was finally passed.
The matter of selecting an architect for
the new municipal building was put over
for one week, as was the matter of select
ing site for the Pesthouse.
STREET IMPROVEMENTS.