The San Francisco call., 1896-08-04
A New Institution of Learning
Provided For Yester.
day.
MORE MONEY FOR THE PARK
AS the Schedule Now Stands the Rate
Will Be Raised Six and a
Half Cents.

The Board OF supervisors maze SuITl'
cient number of alterations in the report
of the Finance Committee on municipal
appropriations yesterday to raise the tax
levy from 81 05, as recommended by the
committee, to 81 1115, and the indications
are that the end is not yet, for there are
still many sections and departments to be
heard from.
The main item that occasions the raise
is the appropriation of $500, 600 to build a
high school in the Mission. The raising
of the estimates began as soon as the
report of the Finance Committee was read.
Supervisor Benjamin, who is member
of the committee, asked that the estimate
for Golden Gate Park be raised from $685.
900 to $3.50, 600. He said that the park
was the pride and boast of San Francisco
and that the money was needed.
Supervisor Dimond wanted the matter
of the appropriations put over until the
date on which the levy was actually to be
fixed.
Supervisor Wagner supported him, say
ing that he was not ready to vote on the
levy yet as he intended to offer resolu-
tion apportioning $3.50. 600 for the repaving
of Market street from the ferries to Six
teenth street. When vote was taken on
the question of raising the park appro-
priation the measure was opposed by
Hobbs, bunker, Dimond, Taylor and
Hirsch, but carried by vote of Z in favor
of it.
In explaining his vote in the negative
Supervisor Taylor stared that he believed
the money appropriated last year, $780,
900, had been expended in an extravagant
manner, and that while he believed in i'm
proving and beautifying the park he
thought it was time to put stop to the
reckless expenditure of the peoples money.
Begin by ignoring the figures of the
Finance Committee that were based on
careful investigation and consultation"
he said, land the result will be that there
viii be raises all along the line, and in
stead of the low levy we aimed at we will
have one that will greatly displease the
people whose servants we are"
The vote had hardly been announced
when Supervisor Wagner arose and moved
that an appropriation of $150,00O be in
cluded in the report for the paving of Mar
ket street.
He stated that the appropriation of that
amount would only mean an increase of
AZ cents in the tax rate and that the peo-
pie of San Francisco would willingly pay
that for so great an improvement.
His only supporters were Benjamin and
King.
Then Mr.. Hobbs, to show that the in
terests of his constituents were not neg
lected, moved that $1,000 for a new high
school building in the Mission be provided
for in the levy.
He was apparently somewhat surprised
when six of his collesgues-King, Scully,
HIrsch, Benjamin, Morgenstern and Wag-
ner-supported him and carried the mo-
ton.
The increase for the Health Department
that was asked created little storm, dur
ing which the department was pretty
roughly handled by Supervisor Taylor.
Supervisor Spreckels championed the
cause of the department, stating that
he believed that the department was
one of the most important in the
City government and that he believed
it should have $4,000 more than the COM
mittee had allowed for it, or $35, 900 in all.
Supervisor Taylor showed that the de-
partment had already been allowed $33, 900
instead of $25, 600, as Supervisor Spreckels
seemed to think, and that the departme ent
had been given $1,000 more than last year.
He picked the Health Department COM
munication to the board to pieces, par
ticularly the contention that additional
inspectors were needed to keep check on
those already employed. He said that the
people might just as well elect twelve new
Supervis ors to keep a watch on those al
IL
Health and said he did not believe they
had read the communication before send
ing it.
z The matter was finally compromised by
allowing the department $1,000 more than
the estimate furnished by the Finance
Committee, or total of $4,000 more than
last year.
Supervisor King wanted the department
allowed an additional $4,000 for four food
inspection stations. but there was no Sec
ond to his motion.
This closed the raises for the day, but
Supervisor Benjamin moved to pass a reso-
luton previously submitted pledging the
board to carry out the policy outlined bv
Finance Committee in its report, so that
there is still time for more increases. The
total increase was 1927, ,00G or 61k cents on
the $780,
The report of the Finance Committee
was in part as follows:
Your committee begs leave TO submit for the
careful and unprejudiced consideration of our
citizens that while many Improvements have
been urged, and which under different circum-
stances ought to have been provided for, it
must be borne in mind that the general good
must predominant, and it appears to your
committee thatan excessive tax levy in pc
riod of depression as is at present being ex-
perienced by our merchants, business
men and property-owners, would be a
great hardship bearing oppressively on all our
citizens These reasons, important as they
are, could not be overlooked, and led your
committee to recommend as light q tax rate as
could consistently be made in view of the fact
that our Supreme Court has determined it to
be the duty OF the levying power to provide
sufficient funds, exercising reasonable and
proper discretion for the expenditures of the
government.
In the performance of this duty it is to be
regretted that many OF the appropriations
made to departments are not controlled,
kept within the appropriations made, and
thus creating an indebtedness which cannot