The San Francisco call., 1897-01-05
Says the Psop'e and City Are
Overcharged for Light
and Water.
ALSO ADVISES INVESTIGATIONS
So id Talk About Taxes, Cemeteries
and Trolleys-AddreSs of
Ex-Mayor Sutro.

The Mayors office is now occupied by
James D. Phelan, the first native son to
hold the office of chief executive of San
Francisco. Mayor Sutro left the Office
yesterday afternoon for the last time in
his official capacity.
The ceremony OF introducing the new
Mayor and Board OF Supervisors yesterday
afternoon was pretty much according to
custom. The assembly cham Der and City
Hail corridors were crowded. The two
Mayors, so to speak, met IL the executive
office, and proceeded together to the COM
mittee-room of the Board of Supervisors,
where the old and new mem bers had as
sembled. Mayor Phelan and ex-Mayor
Sutro walked arm in arm into the assem-
bly, chamber, and each new and old Su-
pervisOr followed arm in arm in line. The
Mayor anu ex-Mayor occupied seats on
the platform. and each new Supervisor re-
NAMED standing while the retiring mem
bers occupied the seats pending the trans
action of the usual preliminary business.
Then as their names were called the new
mem bers presented their credentials and
took their seats, the old members during
the remainder of the ceremony occupying
chairs behind them.
Supervisor King of the First Ward was
superseded by Supervisor Devany, Super
visor SculIy of the Second Ward by Super
visor Haskins, Benjamin of the Third by
Delaney, Hirsch OF the Fourth by Shee-
. han, Dimond by Dodge in the Fifth,
Hughes by Lackmann IN the Sixth, Dun
ker by Rottanzl in the Seventh. Taylor by
Morton in the Eigh nth, Morgenstern by
Britt in the Ninth, Spreckels by Smith in
the Tenth, Hobbs by Clinton in The
Eleventh, Wagner by Rivers In the
Twelfth.
Ex-Mayor Sutro then made his retiring
ADDRESS and introduced Mayor Phelan.
- he said:
Gentlemen of the Board of Supervisors: Our
term OF Office has expired. The only thing we
have 10 do now is to turn over our part OF the
City government to our successors.
A great city like San Francisco has many re-
qulrements. They grow from year TO year,
and new legislation is needed to maintain and
controI the Clty's natural progress Inc orig
lnal consolidation act has been supplemented
by 1nnumerable legislative and municipal en-
actmehts-a veritablef wilderness OF law
which, IN their construction and application,
cause great Confusion and loss.
1t mas, therefore, become an absolute neces-
SHY 10 ADOPT new fundamental Jaw or cnar-
ter. rms should be clear, concise and COM
preheuslve, based upon the best experience OF
other cites in the United Staes ana in
Europe during the two years OF our admins
tration hardly day has passed that we have
not been Yiv1dly and iorclbly reminded of the
cumbersomeness and other imperfections OF
our present laws. The action OF the Legisla-
ture has conferred on the Governor of the
State many OF the powers that rightly and
properly belong to the Mayor OF San Francisco
and the decisions of the Supreme Court have
in many cases, reduced the chief executive OF
the City 70 the position OF mere clerk
The curse OF our large cities are the wealthy
corporations, which own nearly all the pubic
utilities and by the INSCRIPTIONS use OF
wealth have succeeded IN gaining control OF
the political management ct municipal affairs
If the City owred lis wafer, gas, electrical
and othe- public works as wen as It's street car
lines the saving per annum would amount TO
millions and might, in time, make 1t possible
to dispense with all direct taxation, besides
removing the greatest source ana occasion OF
corruption.
These corporations have been drawback to
our CROWN and prosperity. San Francisco, by
its geographical position Its magnlncent ar,
Dor and climatic advantages, should command
the trafc of the whole Pacific Ocean The
high port charges and other obstacles ralseo
through The influence of corporations have
almost driven away our maritime commerce.
and year sfteF year the Nicaragu ua canal Dill
has been defeated by The secret machlnauohs
OF the railroad powers
Hereafter let the citizens OF San Francisco
sol1dly unite to raise our beloved City TO the
rank to which it is entitled, and permit me TO
express the hope and belief that the incoming
administration, in its efforts for good, honest,
Impartial and econom cal government may
excel all that have gone before IT.
As lar as |, fndivid ually, am concerned, dur