The San Francisco call., 1897-09-19

| sideration OF the esta bishment of a paid
| fire deDartment.
! They would promise no specific reduc-
| ton, Mr.. Havens showing that of late
| many reductions OF from 10 to u per Ger
| had been made in the business section OF
the city. The Supervisors all seemed TO
be OF the opinioa that insurance rates in
this city are far in excess OF those in other
cities, ana the argument about rates
wound up with the Mayor and Super
visor Brltton coniendng on one hand
hat it was FROSTY October day in 1871
when Chicago was burn d down, and Mr..
HavenS of the underwriters declarln z
that ii was hot--verv hot day. Ba this
as it NAV, the board concluded that the
esta bIishment OF a paid department could
not be secured when the people wanted
a low tax rate,
Clinton then moved that W hen the board
adjourned it should ad journ to meet in the
cham bers of the board and that the SER
geant-at-arms be instructed to keep the
doors closed and prevent strangers from
entering. This was the motion that the
Mayor advised against and ended the dis
cussioD.
An opinion from City and County At
torney Creswell relative To the power of
the toard 10 abolish the office of. Gas In
spector, and 10 away with the military
roll. was then read. AS it showed that
both were creations of the statute $500
was allowed the inspector Tor salary and
expenses and $1,000 for pre- pairing the mill
tary roll.
The opinion also made il clear to the
board that it could do nothing to prevent
the stenographer-fee steals. The City and
County Attorney suggested that the rem
edy lay with the Legislature.
When Supervisor Dohrmann heard this
he said: 'If we 10 not get charter soon
We should com nit suicide"
The board found itself forced to insert
an estimate OF $35. 900 for the payment OF
the court reporters. 1t was found that
$75 900 must be allowed for q deficit in the
general fund caused by the extravaganza
of the last board. The Fire Depa rtmeut
was allowed $405 900 for salaries instead of
the $4,000 asked. The board could find
no way to lop off the big salary estimate
OF he Coroner's office.
When the matter of appropriating
$500 900 for the building of new City ana
County Hospital came up warm discus
sion followed. All OF the Supervisors con-
sidered that modern hospital should be
puilt. but pledges and dollar limit were
! III the way.
DR.. Clinton declared in favor of building
a new hospital if the $500, 900 to be spent
could be considered outside of the pledges
made by the new board. He said the pres
ent hospital was disgrace to the city
and torch should be applied to it. 1t
vas injected with germs.
Supervisor Dohrmann favored the
breaking OF the pledge when it became
necessary to make an honest expenditure.
| I'VE have the confidence of the people
and don't think they will begrudge us a
little more money when they know 1T will
not be squandered The pledge was not
exacted Tor the conditions now before u.s..
| IF we are not above the conditions that
/ require such pledge, all right; we must
be silurians, Necessities should be pro-
vIded for whether we be censured or not. 4"
Barry arose and said: II know it is our
| duty 10 abide by the pledge. l think a
! hospital should be built, for it is a shame
| to have the poor and distressed i'm pro operly
| cared for. If, however, we violate our
| pledge. We shall lose the confidence OF
! the people.
Denman - The people did not care
| W ether the last board fixed the rates in
February or at some other time. They
| wanted them removed because they were
afraid that they we're going to be cinched
| in the TAX levy as they have been in the
| past. We must live up to the pledge, but
| the way we are going now we will have a
| So rate instead OF 81 rate.
I'VE have got to keep the pledge" de-
olared Barry; "that is all there IS about
| it.. We will be held up TO infamy if we do
not,
The Mayor found a way to end the dis
cussion about pledges.
| He said the Legislature had authorized
the board to spend $350000 for new hos
pita!. and that the people desired that il
J be built on the Aimshouse lot. The
1 Mission residents wanted a park, and the
| Mayor thought it could be made of tie
grounds now used by the hospital.
| He said the board, by two-thirds vote,
could call for special election for the IS
susuce of bonds. By that method park
/ could be given to the Mission people and
new and modern hospital 10 the city.
| The term Of the bonds would be forty
/ years.
The Mayor staggered the board when
| be declared in favor of turning Golden
Gate avenue. from Taylor to Devisadero
| streets. into real boulevard and expend-
ing about 81, 500. coo on the work. Prop
erty would have 10 be purchased all along
| the line to permit OF the Mayors proposed
| widening of the thoronghfare 100 feet.
The Mayor was certain the people would
| be wiling to pay for real improveme nts,