The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-10

Salaries-During the past fiscal year g. $685.
600 was paid in salaries by the City. Deduct
ing from this amount 5000, 900 for teachers in
the public schools, $603, 900 for the police
force, 1882, 600 for firemen, $104 900 for Ia Dor
in Golden Gate Park and $42. 900 for labor on
the public streets, there still remains 1878, 900
as the salaries paid TO officials and clerks in the
City government.
Clerks-An impartial examination of the
various departments will clearly show that in
many of them more clerks are employed than
are really necessary. In some cases clerks are
engaged in services OF no precise value 10 the
City, while in other cases several clerks are
performing the services that one clerk might
we'll do.
Reductions-It is safe to say that reason
able reduction in the number OF clerks, as
well as in the rate of compensation, would
save the City, without impairment of service,
al least $3.50, 900 per annum. Although the
Legislature has in some departments provided q
maximum number OF clerks and their com
pensation, 1t is not mandatory on the heads OF
departments to reach the maximum. Due re-
gard for the welfare of the taxpayers OF the
CITY should prompt them TO engage no more
clerks and pay no higher compensation than
actually necessary TO perform the duties of
their respective departments.
Supplies-According to the Auditors figures
in the municipal reports of the past fiscal
year, 1882, 900 was paid for supplies and
material for the City government. As rule,
IL may be asserted that the City does not buy
its supplies and material at the lowest market
prices accorded to a large consumer, partly
perhaps because bills OF the City are not
dAWdys pdlQ, OF pdlu promptly. JuQlClONS pur-
chasing of supplies and material for the de-
partments of the City government would save
the City, we believe, fully SIS, 900 per annum.
proper system of purchasing supplies and
material should be adopted. One faithful of
fcer appointed TO specially superintend the
purchase of all supplies for the City would
effect considerable saving, as well insure
the superior quality OF all supplies furnished.
Courts and law department-1n the expendi-
lures in this department reasonable saving
can be made by having the collection of de-
Gn0uaut 10 nal hr no n N
counselors office. The expense of reporters in
criminal cases has more than doubled within
the last few years. Previous to the past fiscal
year the total expense OF these reporters was
go, 600 or less per annum. We are credibiy
informed that the charge for these services
should not now exceed $25, OO0 and undoubt-
various criminal courts this amount will be
found sufficient for the purpose. The other
slight reductions made in these departments
we believe are fully warranted.
General departments-The reductions made
in these departments from the appropriations
of last year are based upon comparison with
former years and the present requirements.
The greatest reductions are made in the Offices
of the County Clerk, the License Collector and
the Recorder. The County Clerks office was
conducted for $72, 097 in the fiscal year
1SS9-90. We believe that $4,000 per month is
ample tor the conduct of this Office. The ap-
preparation for the License Collector in the
years 1S93-94 and 1S94-95 was $23, 500. A
careful management OF this office VIII prove
that 1t can be successfully operated al not ex-
ceeding SO, 900 per annum. An examination
of the work required of the Recorder will also
demonstrate that this Office can be conducted
for $31 500, which is the amount fixed by the
Finance Committee of the Board OF Super
yisors. This is also true OF the Tax Collectors
Office, especially as considerable work hereto
fore performed by his Office has been trans
ferred to the Assessor department
Fire Departmental special appropriation
was made in the past fiscal year amounting to
SOL 900 for necessary apparatus, hose and
houses. The expenditure OF this large amount
should make it possible during the Coming ifs.
cal year to reduce the expe nditures for tn csc
items from S139 900 to 100000.
Health observation-disclosures is the only de-
partment in which we have found an increase
Of expenditure advisable. 1t has been demon
strated by the Board of Health that with a
sary improvements in the Health Department
OF the City can be effected. A number of CON-
petent inspectors appears to be necessary. We
therefore recommend that last years appro-
priation Tor the Health Department be in
creased TO Sal 600. The City should certainly
have better ambulance system; and we
therefore recommend that two modern ambu-
lances be purchased, Tor which, together with
their equipment and maintenance, the sum of
$4,000 is appropriated. The Receiving Hos
pital is much in need of several small i'm
provements and an increase of $1,000 is rec
commended.
Streets, sewers and squares.-Your commit
tee July realizes the many advantages, ana in
fact the almost absolute necessity OF having
smooth and noiseless payements. We are
heartily in favor OF repaving those blocks on
Van Ness avenue which have not been com
pleted, and we realize the demand of the citi
Zens and taxpayers Tor the removal of the cob
bles and the paving OF the downtown portion
OF Geary, Suffer, Stockton and Post streets and
the completion of the work on Folsom street
We are also in favor of repaving Market street |,
but we question the wisdom of raising so large
an amount by direct taxation as will be neceg.
sary TO carry out this work, and, therefore, we
advise the pos tponement of as much of il as can
be delayed until the adoption OF the new char
ter, when the necessary amount may b
raised by bonds TO provide for a complete
sewer system and permanent paving OF
the streets. Nearly all of this work and
in fact ali other work of similar nature
should wait until proper sewers and conduits
have been laid. For this reason, we suggest
that not more than 100000 be appropriated
Tor repairing and repaving accepted streets
during the next fiscal year. There was appro.
priated during the last fiscal year $50 900 for
street sweeping and street sprinkling, of which
it was contemplated TO spend between $25 ,0OO
and $50, 600 for street sprinkling. There mas
been no sprinkling done. however, and this
surplus remained at the end of the fiscal year
Experimental sprinKling conducted by the
Merchants Association has demonstrated thai
the sum of 900 will be sufficient to sprinkle
a larger district than is now being done and
paid for by the merchants at a cost Of more
than double this amount. We sincerely hone
that the Board OF Supervisors will adopt the
specifications for street sweeping presented by
the Merchants Association, and that the con-
tract viii be let as speedily as possible. For
this work we have recommended that 81 %, DOC
be appropriat ted. that being the minimum cost
for which the present system of street sweep
ing can be properly maintained.
Parks and public grounds.-There is no ex.
penditure so heartily Endorsed by all citizens
as the money spent upon Golden Gate Park
Last year the appropriation was $500, 900, but
i'll view OF the general depression and the alb
solute essity for economy we advise that
the appropriation for the park be reduced 10
1000, which is the same as the Auditors
estimate. This amount we believe will be
sufficient to insure its proper maintenance
although 1t may not permit of the carrying
out OF some OF the more extensive improve
ments contemplated by the Commissioners
We believe this amount will also provide for
limited number of electric arc lights in the
park, which are very much desired.
Public Notwithstanding the past fiscal
year $24,7O0 was appropriated for Jan ftor
service in the City Hall. This amount is Ger.
tainly excessive; and in view OF the fact that
the City Hall is not kept clean for this sum
we recommend that it be reduced one-nalf.
which is unquestionably sufficient to perform
the work properly.
Public INSTITUTIONAL reduction of $4,000
is recommended in each of the County Jails,
for the reason that the increased appropriation
allowed the Health Department will enable the
health inspectors to assist the City in securing
better and cheaper supplies for public institu.
tons.
Gas and electric light.-The present two
years contract for lighting the City expires
August of this year. The contract provides
for minimum OF 800 and q maximum OF