The San Francisco call., 1896-03-31
Merchants Association Addresses
the City Hall Com
miSSionerS.
A RATHER SPIRITED LETTER.
The Merchants Disclaim Any Wish to
Interfere With the Commits.
sioners' Duties.

The lack of directory on each floor OF
the new City Hall has for some time been
a subject requiring, in the estimation Of
most frequenters of that municipal pile, 8
prompt and adequate adjustment. The
Merchants Association has been particu
larly active in advocating the introduction
OF this needed improvement, and consid-
cradle correspondence on the matter has
taken place between the association and
the Board of City Hall Commissioners.
Some of this correspondence has been by
no means lacking in spirit, as the follow
ing communication, sent yesterday, will
go to show:
To the Honorable the Board of City Hau Com
rnissioners- GENTLEMEN: Your favor of the 25th
inst. is at hand, acknowledging the receipt OF
our communication of the Goth inst. relative
to a directory and index to the offices and de-
partments of the new City Hall. You inform
us that our communication was filed, and at a
future meeting q full and complete reply will
be made and forwarded"
While awaiting your promised answer to our
letter. we cannot permit certain statements in
the published accounts of your meeting OF the
24th inst. to go unanswered. Assuming that
the published reports OF the proceedings OF
your last meeting are correct it appears
First-That you regard our efforts to obtain
directory for the new City Hall as '.outside in
reference with your official duties"
Second-That you have the IMPRESSION that
the conception of this directory originated
with our Consulting Engineer Mccullough,
who is designated by you as "a bright young
man from Sausalito."
Third-That you do not approve of the style
of directory proposed by this association, but
that you "will have directory as soon as the
building is in shape TO receive it,
Fourth-That the supervisors had no right
to grant the privilege of placing a directory in
" al a q a
$125 for the work would not be paid.'
Fifth-That you ordered your architect to
prepare directory six months ago, but that
the matter had remained in allegiance because
of other business"
The above extracts from the published re-
ports of your last meeting require some an
swer on our part, SO that the position OF this
association may be correctly understood by
your honorable board, as well as the citizens
and taxpayers of San Francisco, who take an
interest in municipal affairs.
FirSt-AS to 'jnterference with your Off cial
duties" permit us to refer you to the constitu-
ton and programme for progress of the Mer-
chants Association, OF which, under another
cover, we forward you copies. By turning to
page 18, article I, section 2, you will readily
see that this association has adopted as a lead
Ing principle for the improvement and well
fare OF San Francisco cooperation with City.
officials and an active interest in the care Of
public institutions"
The first aim of the Merchants Association
is to advance practical measures for the public
effected by cooperation with various munich
pal departments and officials. Such co-opera-
ton, although apparently regarded by you as
"interference with official duties" has FORUM
ately received hearty support and encourage
ment from City officials generally, and the
beneficial results are much appreciated by the
community. The constitutional privilege
granted to the people OF expressing their senti-
ments freely for the common good, and in
structing their representatives, has ever been
recognized as q fundamental and sacred right
of American citizenship.
Second-As to the inception of a directory in
the new City Hall, it originated from the di-
rect o bservation of those directors and mem
bers of this association who had frequent oc-
casion to visit the City Hall. The annoyance
and difficulty in finding courts, departments
and officials in that building and the unavoid.
elected the inquiry, "Why should there not be
directory in the new City Hail. as in all large
modern office buildings?' Upon investigation
it was found that no provision had been made
for any directory in the new City Hall. IN
structions were therefore given six months ago
by the board of directors 10 the consulting
engineer OF this association to prepare plans
and specifications for the work. Numerous
plans were considered, and finally the plan,
specifications and estimates were adopted by
the board of directors of this association and
subsequently by the, entire Board of Super
visOrs, just as originally proposed to your hon.
orable board last January.
Third-As to the style or plan OF directory
for the City Hall, there is no disposition on the
ticular style or plan. Any system of directory
that will be plain and complete guide to the
various offices and departments in the City
Hall is all that is required or can be expected.
The simple plan proposed by this association
has had the earnest consideration OF the board
of directors for the past six months, and we
believe it would prove an excellent and mex
pensive directory system for the entire build
ing. However. If your board prefers some
other style of directory we are willing to with.
draw our plan, provided you proceed at one
to introduce this much needed improvement
We beg, however, to ask your honorable board
to reconsider your decision to postpone this
much needed directory until the City Hall is
finally completed. We respectfully submit
| that this simple matter should not be longer
postponed. Let suitable directory be at once
provided and the benefits of it enjoyed without
further delay.
Fcurth-You question the right of the Board
of Supervisors in unanimously empowering
the Merchants Association "to prepare and
finish directory and index to the offices and
departments in the new City Hall building in
accordance with specifca tions submitted the
cost of said directory and index not to exceed
1925" Although we believe there is no ques.
ton as to the validity of the foregoing action
of the Board of Supervisors we are willing to
waive the legal point entirely if assurance is
given that an adequate directory will be pro-
yided by your honorable board without fur
has al