The San Francisco call., 1896-02-02
The Merchants Association
Wants to Be Heard on
the Subject.
FIFTY YEARS Is TOO LONG
Mr.. Dohrmann Says 1t Would Be a
Direct and an Indirect Tax on
the People.

The Merchants Association is very
much displeased with the manifest haste
OF the Board of Supervisors in disposing
OF the garbage question by awarding a
contract for the destruction of the City's
refuse for as long term as fifty years.
The association maintains that such con-
tract will give the successful bidders a
monopoly of business for half century
and that the public would be more heavily
taxed thereby than it is at present.
An effort was recently made to get the
Supervisors to defer definite action in the
matter until the association could present
figures and facts for the enlightenment of
the board. This was not done and the as
sociation yesterday sent the following
letter:
Gentlemen: This association requested your
honorable board at its last meeting to post
pone action relative to the gar bage franchise
until further data and Information could be
submitted upon this subject. In appearing
before your Health and Police Committee we
were informed that 1t was too late for any argu-
ment upon this question, and now learn that
this committee will recommend the award of
this franchise for period OF fifty years for the
small sum of $500
Under these circumstances we reluctantly
| address you again upon this subject. and it is
only on account of the great Importance of
lulS question 10 S8n Francisco JndL lDOuc6S US
to request you to give this communication
your special consideration.
We fully realize that the present method of
garbage disposal is obsolete and dangerous to
the health of the community. A decided i'm
provement in this direction is certainly abso-
lutely necessary. Were franchise for a linn
tied number OF years now under considera-
ton. or provision included by which, in case
OF necessity, the City would itself undertake
the disposal of garbage upon fair terms, this
association would gladly see the change con-
summated without the least objection or de-
lay. The award of this franchise however, for
the long period of fifty years IN consideration
of the trifing sum of $500, is step that as
suredly should not be taken without the most
serious investigation and study.
We regret our inability heretofore to throw
light upon this subject, but will be able to pre-
sent detailed and complete report within ten
days. Therefore, unless the law compeIS the
award of this franchise at once, short delay
is surely q reasonable request to make,
especially as it can be granted without injus-
tice to any one interested.
There is, moreover, grave uncertainty as to
which bid is really the highest, and upon this
question it would also be advisable to collect
the necessary data before final action is taken.
We would, therefore, respectfully request that
time be set by your honorable board, when
facts and figures upon this question may be
submitted, and when other parties who wish
to do so may appear before you for this
purpose
In conclusion, permit us to correct state
ment enormously reported, that this associa-
ton desires to bid upon the franchise for gar
bage disposal. This is not SO; this association
neither could nor would be interested in any
such undertaking. On the contrary. be-
lieve that if possible the City itself should un-
dertake this important work; or let it upon
such terms and conditions that will enable the
City to do so later, if impractical at present.
We certainly have no personal preferences as
to the successful bidder for this franchise. We
are deeply interested in this subject as citizens
and taxpayers, just as you gentlemen are, so