The San Francisco call., 1896-07-06
Something Like Blowing Hot
and Cold From the Same
Mouth.
PATRIOTISM AND MURDER
The City Ordinance Opens a Way by
Which the Two May Be-
Blended.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN Francisco CALL,


There is Good Roads Association in
this city, the pun pose of which is suff-
ciently indicated by its name. There is
also Good Government Club, whose pur-
pose should also be sufficiently expressed
by its designation. 1t might also DE sup
posed, and not unreasonably, that the
lines of work of the two clubs would be
somewhat similar. A greater error could
not possibly be made, and to add to the
intricacy of the situation there are few
prominent men who are connected with
both associations. Anywhere else but in
Oakland this state of affairs would be re-
garded as somewhat peculiar. Here it ex-
cites no comment, as the system OF play
ing both ends against the middle has long
been regarded as one of the fine arts most
worthy of patronage.
During the past week the fiscal year has
closed, during which the tax rate has
been one dollar. A meeting OF the Mer-
chants Exchange was also held which
recommended that tax rate be levied for
the coming year which shall be sufficient
to provide for all necessary repairs and for
half the reconstruction of the main thor
oughfares to East Oaklend. This reso lu
ton was passed and indors ed by the Good
Roads Association after an elaborate
paper by NJ. K. Miller, the present Street
Superintendent.
MIR. Miller's plan provides for half the
reconstruction of some streets of which
the property-owners are to provide the
other half. or course. if Mr.. Miller were
to be permitted to continue in Office till
his plans were completed ii would be a
good idea to accept them, but it is likely
that another Populist Board of Works
will be elected, and il such case Mr..
Miller would be retired and his successor
would have other plans.
Undoubtedly the Good Roads Associa-
ton, the Merchants Exchange and the
Board of Works are thoroughly sincere
in their desire for tax rate sufficiently
high to provide good roads. This, how
ever, cannot be undertaken on dollar
tax, if Mr.. Miller's report of his past years
work be correct. Mayor Davie, the great
champion of the dollar tax, says that lack
of money is not the cause of so many
streets being out of repair, but lack of
competency. Between these statements
the public must choose.
The Good Government Club is the great
/ 4nOAo pOhC1 VIC NAY VI III ulo
| fight to maintain dollar tax. During the
past year it has been conclusively proved
that dollar can pay all running expenses,
but even its most enthusiastic supporter
will not claim that it allows for any per-
manent improvements. Here, then, is
where the friction arises. Is the Good
Government Club in its support of the low
tax rate contributing to the possibility of
permanently improving the roads? 1t is
certain that money is required to make
good roads, and it is equally certain that
if people W ho as good citizens demand
good roads are not equally willing as good
taxpayers to countenance the necessary
tax, nothing will be done and the meetings
of Improvement clubs had better never
have been called. If tax OF 81 Is is
absolutely necessary to provide for good
roads-and men whose business it is to
know say that it is-then the Good Gov
eminent Club and the Mayor should
| countenance it and lend their aid in estab-
fishing it at that figure. If the roads can
| be repaired on the dollar tax-anc the
Mayor declares that they can-then the
| statements of the Street Superintend ent
should be disproved. In referring to the
Oakland dollar tax levy there is one thing
to be borne in mind. The dollar provides
for municipal expenses as we'll as for bond
| interest and redemption. These latter
require tax of 13 cents, so that the city's
municipal tax is in reality but So cents.
| 1t will be on the tax question that the
next municipal campaign will be fought.
! There is immediate need for an amend
ment of the ordinance permitting the
firing OF blank cartridges in the streets on
| the Fourth of July. The ordinance was
grossly violated, and one young lady may
congratulate herself that she is still alive,
although her features will be marked for
| life. Broadway this morning was arevela-
ton to the police officers and citizens who
inspected it. Scores of bullets were in che
sidewalks and many signs were literally
punctured. No other proof was necessary
that large proportion of the "blank'
cartridges used yesterday were loaded. Al
| the Sixth-street engine-house a man was
seen to discharge his revolver in the air
| and fatality was narrowly averted. The
shooting of Miss Ellis should be argument
enough to Immediately bring about q
change in the ordinance. No argument
can make possible murders an excuse fol-
a display of patriotism.
So long as people are permitted to fire
blank cartridges on the streets the privi.
lepe, if such it can be called, will be
abused. The size to which fire-crackers
have grown are surely big enough and
noisy enough to express the patriotism oi
even naturalized Britisher, without re.
course to practice that is bound eventu-
1 alIv IN y1rova fatal
Toward the close OF the National holi-
day when the exuberance of spirits begins
to assert itself, a revolver with any kind oil
cartridges is dangerous. Where a crowd
of young fellows are shooting on the
streets it is impossible to tell which one is
using bullets or to trace the culpability in
case of accident. The number of bullet:
on the street to-day shows how greatly
the privilege was violated and should be
all the petition necessary to secure a
remedy.
| Editor High mas ojayed in bad luck He