The San Francisco call., 1897-03-22
SAN LEANDRO'S
GOOD INVESTMENT
The Pretty Town Well
Doomed by a Very
Small Outlay.
Too Big a Price Was Pad TO
Break Up a Political
Ring.
The Harbor May Be improved If Z,al
Does Not Again Get the B tier
of Discretion.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL

9oS Broadway, March 21
The people OF Alameda County never
really understood the value OF 'local GEL
ebraton" until last week, when they held
a hag-raising. They are now convinced
that little display of energy and local
pride is a good investment. To be yery
blunt, they realized return of over $1,000
on an expenditure of exactly $3S so. A
patriotic citizen donated flag and flag
pole for the public plaza. The Trustees
planned a celebration, and all the town
caught the spirit OF the affair, and a pub
lie holiday was declared. The exhibition
OF enterprise was. of course, good news,
D and all the papers devoted considera BILE
space to San Leandro.
An inquisitlve genius has figured up ali
the free advertising that the town OBJ
tanned, and as near as can be ascertained
the space was worth over $1,000. Flatter-
ing and OF necessity truthful notices of
the pleasant situation of the town and of
Its many advantages were woven into the
published stories, and all the world knows
that there is a fourishing town in Ala
media County named San y eandro; that it
Is connected with Oakland by a speedy
electro railroad; that it is a model place
10 live in, and that the climate permits of
open-alr celebrations in the warm sun
shine of early March.
andre paper tells the rest:
The committee for the Hastings f1ag-raising
ce le bratfon held their final meeting on
Wednesday evening and settled all accounts.
bills aggregating S3S 80 were presented, as
follows: Music, S26; printing, So so; flags,
$2 SO; labor, 81. Chairman Herrscher cheer
July supplied the deficit of 55 cents, the bills
were ordered paid and the committee ad.
lourned sine die.
Thoughtfu! citizens and honest poll
ticians of Oakland now realize that a
great mistake was made when the charter
was amended so as to make the City En-
glneer and City Attorney ex officio men,
bers OF the Board of Public Works. The
change was made in good faith, but that
does not in any way qualify its failure.
At the recent election it was the direct
cause of the defeat of a leading Republi-
can candidate.
The change in the charter made two
years ago was undertaken for the pur-
pose OF breaking up an alleged ring at the
City Hall. 1t was evidently necessary
that some change be made, be cause the
necessary two-thirds vote was given the
measure by the voters. But the price
paid was too dear, and the remedy is in
every respect bad as the disease. In
stead Of taking the main branch of the
q city government out Of politics it has
forced the mem bers of the Board of Pub
lie Works 10 be politicians, even against |
their will.
There is no practical sense in making
the City Attorney a dispenser of patron
age in the Fire Department, or in giving
the City Engineer the patronage OF the
Police Department. This, however, is the
present system, and it hampers both off,
Gals, who should devote their time to
their respective duties without having to
be worried by an army of place-hunters,
who are already clamoring for reward for
political service.
In city growing as fast as Oakland it
IS an absurdity 10 make change every
two years in the office of City Engineer.
Such procedure must inure to the detri-
ment of the city, because there are many
subordina sewer systems and street
grades that need to be determined on
some common basis, but as things now
stand, no man is in office long enough to
carry out his ideas, and existing con-
fusion becomes worse confounded every
two years. A Superintendent of Schools
is appoin ted to hoid office for four years,
and there is no rtason why City En-
pineer should not be trusted in the same
manner.
A. R. Wilson, the defeated Repu blican
candidate, is acknowledged by every body
TO be competent, scientific engineer, but
he is the yeriest tyro in politics, and as
the fight over the Office is made with the
main eye on the patronage end wilson
was defeated. The same principle OF
reasoning will apply with equal aptness
to the office of City Attorney. With all
the pending litigation in which the city is
interested the City Attorney should not
be forced TO make a political campaign
every two years, as at present.
There have now been two elections un-
der the amended charter, but it is not
likely that there will be third. The next
Legislature will doubtless be asked 10 pass
upon another amendment.
The present dissatisfaction Is but an
. other argument in favor of a consolidated
city and county government.
If the people OF Oakland and Alameda
are wise they will not medal any further
with the progress of the harbor improve
ments. The question is now being asked
if it is not better TO let the Government
experts mind their own business than to
live the War Department details based on
prejudice rather than on practice. For
over year prominent officials, merchants
and ca Ditalists have been inte erfering with
the Washington end of the harbor I'M
provement with the result taat ali work
was delayed for nearly two years. and it Is
not yet certain that the approximation will
pass the Senate. All the delay ard
anxiety have been caused because of the
complicated state of affairs .hat the War
Department has been advised exists In
Oakland and Alameda
II is all perfectly right and proper for
the citlZenS 10 aEitale lOI puuilC In
provement, but when the improvement Is
promised and money appropriated it is
time TO stop. Government officials do not
take kindly to all kinds of fatherly ad-
vice, especially when they have experts
on the spot whose duty it is to carry out
the improvements. Colonel Suter is we'll
ACQUAINTED with his work, and when Ala
media and Oakland sent all kinds OF con-
Trajectory and amateur reports 10 Wash
ington Il is not TO be wondered at II he
advised that the whole matter lie over
till the people come TO their senses
Men of experience, sucn as have inter
ested themselves in the harbor, should
know that beyond certain point con-
hicting petitions fail TO enlighten. That
point was reached regarding the harbor
months ago, and if that fact can tnly be
realized the harbor will stand chance OF
being completed within a reasonable
period. The War Department has recog-
nized the need of the improvement, tuliy
understands the situation and has clearly
intimated that any further opportunities
Will be injurious. STUART w. BOOTH
BOoth-Tucker Anspec.s His Troops.