The San Francisco call., 1897-02-05

put into operation. He ended by declar-
ing his com pany, too, would have to go
out OF business.
At this Mayor Phelan was announced
as being present, and was asked to ad :
dress the joint meeting on all measures
before the Legislature relative to San
francisco. He declared that there was no
need OF additional Superior Judges in San
Francisco, but was in favor of increasing
the salaries of such Judges from $4,000 a
year to $4,000. He explained that his
opinion on the latter proposition was
simply that of an individual.
So far as the Police and Fire depart-
ments are concerned he saw no reason for
general increase. He thought, however
that the Chief of the Fire Department
shouid be given salary equal to that of
the Chief OF Police, which is $4,000. The
FIRE Chief is now getting but $1,000. Dis
trlct engineers of the Fire Department. he
believed, might also justly have their
salaries increased from $3.50 to S175 and
the secretary of the Fire Commissioners.
he suggested, ought to have his compensa-
ton increased from $3.50 to $500 per month.
There was no urgent necessity, however
he remarked, Tor increasing salaries in the
Police Department The chief aim of this
measure, he declared, was to raise the
salaries OF certain police officials, notably
that of Chief Crowley. so as to permit him
to retire on good pension. Speaking of
pensions, he suggested that men at 60
years were still hale and vigorous in San
francisco, and he thought the retirement
age should be extended to 65 years.
On the matter of low streetcar fares. he
thought that SO far as the Market-street
system Is concerned it would be no hard
ship to them TO reduce the rates bety cen
the hours named in the Braunhart bill. If
this perverse corporation, as he termed il.
would only learn from the experience of
other cities it would make such reductions.
MANY people," he said, ''have been
driven away from San Francisco because
they could not afford to live in the
suburbs, as carfare was too high" A re-.
duction in rates on the Market-street sys-
tenn, he declared. would tend to increase
the population of San Francisco. So far
as the Presidio and Ferries road is con.
cerned he thought it would have to give
up the ghost for the benefit OF the work
ingman. He expressed the same views
relative to the San Mateo Electric Rail.
way.
He favored the closing OF all the City
cemeteries, as they thwarted the growth
OF San Francisco westward, the building
of $4,000 freboat and the election at
large OF the Board OF Equalization.
He was strongly opposed TO the propo-
sition OF taking a census OF the cities OF
the State. He saw no use for such pro-
ceeding as it appeared to him, SO far as
San Francisco is concerned, to be 8 cover
simply for creating desirable places.
| No words were spared in denouncine
the present police judiciary. which he
said did not require any additional court.
1t was simply inefficient. not inadequate,
he said. Cri me now went largely unpun.
ished, and no one was ever imprisoned
where fine could be imposed.
The committee was informed that Gar.
ret McEnerney was preparing constitu-
tiona2 amendment providing for the re-
duction OF the number of precincts in San
Francisco, so as TO diminish the expense
OF holding elections there The immedi-
ate object OF this. he explained, was to
hold special elections ior Freeholders and
for new charter.