The San Francisco call., 1897-09-24
PUBLIC IMPROVEMENTS


N evening contemporary, in discussing the tax levy
~ passed on Monday by the Board of Supervisors,
remarks that is mistake for other than that
is likely to produce deficit at the end of the fiscal year.
The journal in question alleges what is undoubtedly true
namely that the Supervisors emnenty qualified
dsburse the public funds economically and honestly and 1t
argues from this that there has been period in the
history of the city W the official title of the board is to be
finally armed when the taxpayng classes could with more
safety and popey have made liberal contributions to the
treasury.
There is great deal of sound reason in this argument
and while THE CALL does desire to find fault with the
new Supervisors for adherng to the Democratic dollar limit
for shaving the appropriations wherever posSlbe-it ap
pearng that the levy passed not of their makng-t can
not efran this juncure from stating what is patent to
everybody that say, that under the administration
objection would been raised by the taxpayers levy
40 or 50 higher than that which has been adopted
Disseminating necessary public work is not economy
This is proposition that scarcely be refued business
who would permit his buildings, furniture, fixtures
horses wagons and other implements of trade to fall into
dapd2ton and decay would speedily become object of
socitude his friends he not considered insane he
would be pronounced fool municipalities gigantic buS
enterprises. True the fee simple of their real estate
stands in the of the people, and their personal property
held in trust by their duly and regularly elected officials but
they are nevertheless, corporations which must be governed
by the soundes business principles in order be
To that the public streets shall be permitted to
for lack of funds with which repair them to say that
the sewers must fall in and remain choed with sand in order
that the taxpayers may few dollars say that
eff cen Fire Department shall not be maintained that there
shall be insufficient of policemen preserve the
public peace; say that the parks shall not be waered and
developed that the schoohouses shall kept in repair
and built and that the schoolteachers shall be
deauded of their salaries year, is simply to plead
downright idotc management.
Nor is this all. Whenever public building a park
public work of any kind allowed deterorate for lack of
proper attention and repair great deal finally
restore it. doctor and little medicine will sometimes pro-
long the lie of who, if left himself, would die in
stantly.
Whatever questions may arise from time to time the
necessity of making public Improvements there
be any doubt that the duty of the city keep its
and its and the property already in
state of perfect repair. When buying prop
ery recently proposed in the of the Mission Zoo
logical Garden may reasonably differ upon the subject
But what difference of opinion there be with reference
cean wepaved Streets efficient and sufficient
Der of schoolhouseS?
If the rival tax leves the puzzled Auditor and the war
ring Boards Supervisors shall finally result in awakening
the people realization of the that they making
adequate appropriations for the and development of the
city the recent incidents at the City Hall will have hap
pened in vain.
THE CALL believes that the rate of taxation in munc-
paity is always minor matter The burning question is,
and must be- Is the money honestly and economically
pended? That is the test which every applies to his
business. Had the Board of Supervisors raised by
ton this year millions of dollars and expended it in
saty public Improvements would have conferred greater
blessing upon the people of this city than will gain by
shaving appropriations exercising rigid economy and creating
deficits the money appropriated by the Supervisors is
going be stolen the levy has passed is too large by half
be expended honestly should have been raised at
50 cents. Unless we are mistaken future events will
justify these opinions.