The San Francisco call., 1897-06-19
BRODERICK WILL
SHAVE ESTIMATES
The Auditor Figuring on
the Demands of De-
partmentS.
Some Considered Altogether Too
High Under Present
Conditions.
The Street, School and Health De-
partmcnts Like y to Be Mae
rally Red duced.

Auditor Broderick spent all yesterday
figuring over the estimates of appropria-
tions for the coming fiscal year sent in by
the various municipal departments 1t is
the duty of the Auditor to consider the
demands when they are handed in and
present his views as to whether they
should be increased or decreased TO the
Board of Supervisors when that body
makes the annual division of the money
raised by taxes and fees. 1t is hardly
necessary to say that estimates are seldom
increased.
The demands that are giving Mr.. Brod-
erick the most thought are those of the
School Department, Street Department
and the Health Department with the in
stitutions that are under its control.
These three, if allowed to stand as they
were presented, would eat up nearly the
entire amount of the City's revenue, and
it is certain that they will be materially
reduced.
The School Department asks for over
$1,000 900 as against th e 81 900, 600 allowed
by the Supervisors last year exclusive of
the amount raised TO build the new Mission
school. This the Auditor thinks is en-
tirely too much. The items he principally
objects to are those providing for the
building of large mum ber OF new school
buildings, de thinks that in many iso-
lated districts where the num- Der of
scholars is small the quarters at present
occupied could be made to accommOdate
the schools with, perhaps, a few aItera-
tions until the finances of the City are in
better condition. 1t is proba BILE that the
estimate will be nearer one million than
two by the time it leaves his hands.
In the matter of the Street Department
estimate the Auditor will also make a cut,
for he believes that the large amount of
new work projected bv superintendent
Ambrose is in excess of the actnai needs
and that much of 1t can be carried over
until finances are in a more fourishin g
condition. Mr.. Ambrose asks for nearly
a miIiion-In exact ficures $978, ,400-but it
is probable that he will have to be content
with nearer $500, 900 as his departme Mt
was conducted during the past twelve
months on $507, 900 and much accom-
pllshed in the way OF repairs and new
work
The Health Department estimate of
sos, 720 is certain OF a material reduction.
1t provides for the salaries of twenty
two new employees In addition to those
that are already on the roll and the Audi
tor is firmly of the opinion that the de-
partment already has as many men as it
can make good use of.
Among the items he objects to are: One
INSPECTOR Cl6Ih dl SOOO year, Au ASSIST
ant attorney at $2400 a year, two addi-
tional plum bing inspectors at $500 year
each, three assistant market inspectors at
$500 year each, one assistant bath and
laundry inspector st $500, two additional
food and milk inspectors at 5000 each, and
three assistants TO the chemist of the
board at $500 each.
The estimate of the amount needed for
the maintenance of the Health Office, food
inspection bureau and stations and labor
atories is also considered excessive and
the amount asked, $25, 900, is likely to be
cut down.
Dr.. Williamson's estimate of the amount
need ed to conduct the City and County
Hospital ($l13,OOO will also be cut 10
some extent. Other estimates that will
probably be reduced are those of the Fire
Department $3.50, 900, the new fire-alarm
telegraph SOL, coo and the County Clerk
$l38,0O0
It is impossible to say until the Aud
itor's work is fnisued what the total
amount of the cut will be, but it is safe to
say that when he submits his report to
the Supervisors the aggregate will be very
little if any more than it was last year.