The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-17
County Clerk Curry Replies to
the Letter From the
Jury.
DEFENDS HIS MANAGEMENT.
Redeemed the Office From Confusion
Wrought by His Prede-
ceSSor.


Yesterday afternoon, discussed municipal
estimates in connection with the tax levy.
The estimates of the Auditor and the
requisition of each department were con-
sidered. Many reductions were recon-
mended.
The result of the jury deliberations in
this respect will be presented to the Board
of Supervisors at 10 o'clock tomorrow
forenoon. The expert, Horace D. Dunn,
is now engaged in the work of putting the
report in proper shape for the boards con-
sideration.
The document will be presented to the
Supervisors by a committee of the Jury
consisting of Frank Maskey ito reman),
Frank P. McLennan (secretary), Theodore
+. Payne, Z. MEG. Mclean, Alpheus Bull
Jr., J. ]. O'Farrell ana f. e. Cheever.
In regard to lighting the streets and
public buildings of San Francisco the
Grand Jury took the position that the
City as single customer paying the light
company quarter of q million dollars per
annum was entitled to a reduction. The
Supervisors will be asked to insist on
reduction.
For Golden Gate Park the jury believes
that the sum of $500, 600 is ample. 1t Is
taken into notice that the allowance of
$3o0,e00 for the fiscal year ended June 30
last was extraordinary and without pre-
cedent. This vast appro priation enabled
the Commissioners to complete important
improvements OF a permanent character.
the Grand Jury therefore holds that
another appropriation of equal magnitude
cannot be justified, but considering that
the park is a public resort and recreation
ground for all classes of citizens it decided
to recommend the liberal allowance of
$500, 900.
The allowance for the Fire Department
fial ~ he
deemed proper and so no change in This
item of the budget was suggested
The salaries of the Police Department
are fixed by law and no reduction in the
allow ance can be made. The Grand Jury,
however, CONTENDS that the addition of
officers TO the force be not authorized.
For use of the Board of Education in
main tanning the schools the Grand Jury
held that $1,000,000 should be allowed.
This sum is $500,0 600 less than the Board of
Education called for.
Some weeks since Thomas r. Ashworth,
Superintendent of Streets, presented a
modified requisltion and the figures then
submitted were accepted Yesterday.
In the matter of charges for lelephon-
ing, the Grand Jury finds that the sum in
the aggregate is startling and that surely
some reduction should be made. 1t is
difficult 10 ascertain exactly how much
the City pays, as the charges in this re-
spect are frequently obscured or covered
In various accounts of other expenditure.
In general way the Grand Jury finds
that clerical salaries are too high and out
of proportion to the com pensation paid
for similar service by private corporations
and individuals. For example, clerks OF
the Police Court get $500 month.
1t was suggested at the session of the
jury yesterday that communication SINH
lar to the one sent to County Clerk Curry
should be sent to the Recorder, Sheriff, City
and County Attorney, and other heads OF
departments.
G. F. Curry. County Clerk, was ready to
go before the jury yesterday and explain
in detail the methods of his official man.
sgement, but the mem bers of the Jury be-
ing engrossed in the work OF revising
estimates could not hear him. He sent
to the Grand Jury the following reply to
the letter from that body:
SAN FRANCISCO, July 16, 1896,
To the Honorable the Grand jury of the City
and County Of San NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.: In
reply to your communication OF the 14th inst.
/ would state that 1t Is impossible TO reduce
the expenses OF this Office to the sum men
toned by you, to wit, $1,000 per month, and
have the business of the office properly con-
Quoted. Some of the experts VINO appeared
before your body are my personal and political
enemies, one OF whom was County Clerk
several years ago, at which time the business
OF this ofhce was much less than at present.
He found IL necessary in trying to keen the
expenses of the office down TO $1,000 per month
to compel his deputies and clerks to accept
less sum for their services than that allowed
by law. His attempt was unsuccessful, result
ing in many suits Tor salaries against the City
and County, i'll all of which the plaintiffs re-
covered judgment.
Another OF the experts who appeared before