The herald., 1896-11-10
CUTTING DOWN HIS FORCE
Editor Shortridge of the "Calr' Curtail.
ing Expenses
per Dismissed Without Warning.
Other Changes.

Business Manager Thomas Boyle, who
for nineteen years has been connected
with the San Francisco Call, says the
Examiner of Sunday was last night
given his congo in a curt note of dis
missal, saying that his services were no
longer required but that his employer
Mr.. Shortridge, would be pleased at any
time to testify to his efficiency, honesty,
and perseverance.
Following the dismissal of Mr. Boyle
came the discharge of his brother, John
Boyle, and the dismissal of a young
man in the office named Schmitz. No
reason was vouchsafed for the removal
of any of thesegentlemen, and they were
offered testimonials of good character
honesty and efficiency.
Thomas Boyle has been connected with
the Call for SO many years and is so
well known that his curt dismissal nat
urally caused considerable talk. His
many friends wanted to know why he
had been so suddenly removed from
paper whose very existence at this pres
ent time is tribute to the efficiency OF
his management. During the Gays Wneil
Pickering was i'll Fitch had his hands
full with the management of the Bulle-
tin, and the disclosures relating to John
White had left the office without
head Boyle kept the paper up.
When asked for a reason for his sud
den dismissal Mr. Boyle could give none.
He could only repeat the contents of the
letter which had been handed to him,
and which the proprietor of the paper
had not even taken the trouble to sign
with his own hand.
Mr. Boyle declined to discuss the mat
ter.
Other gentlemen who have been re-
moved from various departments OF the
Call within the past few days were
not quite so reticent 1t appears ac-
cording to their statements, that during
the past wear the Call has not been
successful business enterprise. The pa
per was increased in size without any
corresponding increase in revenue and
for a long period John D. Spreckels has
been advancing sums of money to make
UP the deficit, amounting to from $4,000
to $4,000 a month. So long as the Call
seemed to further his political ambitions
he did not mind making the advances
as he was a rich man and liberal one.
But when he found that Mr.. Shortridge
instead of assisting him in politics, was
simply complcating affairs by getting
involved in personal controversies, he
declined to advance any more money,
and informed Mr.. Shortridge that he
would have to pay his own expenses.
Whatever Mr.. Shortridge's resources
may be, it soon became evident that he
did not propose to spend them with the
lavish hand he had used in distributing
Mr.. Spreckels money. for he immedi-
ately set about severe series of re-
trenchments A large portion of his ed
itorial force was dismissed, and 9TH
ers who remained had their salaries re-
duced. The salaries in the art depart
ment were reduced, and now number
of the pressmen have been dispensed
with. The business office force has been
cut down to the cashier, Mr.. Confess
who came up from San Jose with Mr.
Shortridge, a counter clerk and Samuel
FoltZ, Mr. Shortridge's nephew. who will
have charge of the advertising depart
ment, occupying a position similar to
the one occupied by his brother David
in New York.
1t is expected by the employees of
the office that a further reduction will
be made, as Mr.. Shortridge will be COM
PEELED to place the paper on a basis
similar to the one it occupied when he
purchased it at public auction. At that
time its income averaged $25. 900 month,
$40, 900 month being received from the
circulation and $4,000 a month from
advertising. Its expenses under the
successful management of Mr.. Crothers
now editor of the Bulletin, were about
s22 500 month. and the paper was pay
ing q profit.
When Mr.. Shortridge bought the pa
per he paid $500 900 for it, and purchased
new presses and other materials which
brought the cost up in the neighborhood
of $3.50 coo. 1t is reported by some of the
employees that he has since sustained a
deficit, which brings the total invest
ment of Spreckels and Shortrdge up
to $3.50, O00 for which no visible security
exists except the plant and the good will
of the paper, which was valued at the
time of its purchase at 100000, and
which has not apparently enhanced in
value.