The San Francisco call., 1897-07-07
CLINTON WAS
OVERLOOKED
Supervisors Make Twelve
Appointments Without
Consulting Him.
He Protests, However, and Gets
His Man Added as a Thir-
te9nth Member.
Rottanzi Springs Another Oommuni-
cation and Clinton Tells Him He Is
the Laughing Stock of the City


held yesterday afternoon, because Mayor
Phelan had returned and occupied the
dais as presiding officer. The doctor, how
ever, had already filed final report in his
capacity as acting Mayor, revealins new
discoveries as he result OF furthe tour
through the offices in the City Hail. This
report formed the occasion OF a more or
less diverting exchange of compliments
between the. deposed acting Mayor and
DR.. Clinton. The discussion grew out of
the boards indecislon as TO what to do
with the communication. 1t had been
moved TO refer it 10 the Finance Commit
tee, of which Rottanzi is chairman. Rot
tamil objected, saying that he did not
care, as chairman OF that committee, to
PASS upon his own acts. He moved that
it be referred to the Judiciary and FL
nance Committee jointly.
Clinton found his opportunity in this.
He said that DR.. Rottanzi, with his usual
modesty, did not wish to bear the entire
responsibility of passing upon this
W ighIy matter. but was apparently will
Ing to share half the responsi bility. He
went on TO say, changing his tone from
sarcasm to straight criticism, that DR..
Rottanzps conduct was fast developing
into farce. Taking advantage of his
brief authority as the head OF the City
government, ne had strutted in such de-
gree that he had become the laughing
stock of The entire community, and he
(Clinlon) thought it time that some check
should be put upon hint was altogether
rid culous.
Rottanzi, answering, said that Clinton's 5
remarks we're evidently born OF jealousy,
and should be given no weight-he GER
talnIy would give them none. He said
that Clinton ever since he (RottanzO had
assumed the position of acting Mayor of
the City had been devoured by burning
jealousy.
Clinton, flushed but smiling, declared
thai his censure could not be charged to
jealousy. for ii would be impossible for
him TO be jealous OF Rottanzi in any guise
the latter might assume. He had simply
stated fact. Half the town was laughing
at the capers OF Rottanz! IN his high Of
flee. He stated this with regret, he said,
but felt 1t to be duty to cry halt
Rottanzi said that nothing DR.. Clinton
could say would offend him, as he would,
OF course, consider the source. Mayor
Phelan interrupted here 10 saw that he
was pleased 10 see the good humor with
which the gentlemen exchanged these
laIl COul pllL1EnlS dS OtncIM lSC ne NOulu
have ca alled them 10 order.
But RottanZl's communication had vet
TO find restlng-place, 1t was moved TO
indefinitely rostpone ii; to receive and
fie it; to table it; TO refer it 10 the Mayor;
10 refer 1t to the joint commit ,ee; to refer
it 10 a special committee. All of these
had seconds, but none of them passed
Finally vote was called upon sending it
TO the Finance Committee, which was vir-
tualiy 10 send it back to Rottanzi himself
And this carried. Following is the dis
turbinC document:
To the Honorable Board Of Supe' pisors cf the
City end county i San FrdHcjSeO-G ENTLBMEN: :
submit herewith repor: on some OF the
offices OF the City government visited by me
during he present week:
The Recorders office employs on an average
about twenty cOpyis's, who re paid by the
piece, and who earn from $50 10 $3.50 per
month each, acCording to the amount vi work
parceled out to them by the chief OF the copy
ist's department. 1 find that favoritism can
be prRcticed in this respect 10 greRt extent
and the charge is made that such is the case
The great difference In the amount earned by
the copyists lends color to the accusation.
/ fud that the mortgages OF the II hernia
Saw ngs and Loan Society and of the German
Savings and Loan Society s-e recorded, in
many cases, in specially printed books, with
blank spaces 10 be filed in with names, ales,
descriptions, etc. These mortgages average
from fifteen to eighteen fltos each and the
written matter probably two tolios IL is the
u
for the full number Of fOlios. including the
printed portion, although The actusl work
performed by him viii amount 10 about two
lolios. Special faYorltes assigned to this
work, which in a measure accounts for the
difference in the amounts earned, MS stated
above. 1t is grave questi on whether favorit-
ism of this kind in pub Office will re-
dound to the benefit OF the City.
l have had list OF the printed matter re-
corded during the past two months prepared ),
and submit the result for your consideration.
2I2 mortgages 4494 foiios s532 90
Ola iohos written h..--.-.'.--.-.-.-........ IS ~
1880 fCLos printed. 466 80
These charges are certainly unfair, and the
City should not lend itself to such small
Practice if it can in any way be obvisted. The
banks are compelled 10 pay TO the City at q
rate OF 10 cents per folio for work that is not
done, and the City pays he copyist ~ cents
per folio for services he does not render.
visited the Office of the Gas and Water In
spector at various times during the past week
but have been unSble to have conference with
him regarding the performance OF the duties
imposed upon him. | would suggest to your
honorable board that this official be requested
TO establish some regular time, daily, as Office
hours, when he may be consulted on matters
pertaining to his official duties.
An inspection OF the Office OF the Board of
Health disclosed some matters that deemed
important and 10 which desire to call your
atteb tion. Fees are collected for the issuance
of plumbers licenses, for plumbers permits
to do work aud for journeymen's cards. The
COLLECTION Of these ices is, in nv opinion, en-
July q, 1896. anu tha amount collected to the
presedt ume is $S07 This money has not
been de posted III the City treasury, although
port on mas been placed there as sleeial
deposit and the balance retained in the Office
of the Board OF Health. Why this separation
OF the fund is made remains 10 he explained.
i quiry develops the fact that there has been
q grave dereictIon oil duty on The part OF some
official in connection with this department
inasmuch as the rules aud equations pertai
ing 10 plumbing and drainage under which
they Hre workinR were vetoed by Mayor Phe-
Ian January I3, 1897. and the veto was
sustained by yoHr honorable board January
25, 1897. The rules and regulations for
plumbing, etc, un Ter which The Board OF
Health has been previously conducted were
repealed and rescinded, and the department
to-day is operating without any legal rules
and regulations as passed by your honorab
board. The secre ary informs me that he was
Hot aware of the Mayors veto. and that 1t had
subsequently been sustained by the Board OF
Supervisors This is a matter that should re-
Ceive immediate attention.
As instance of the useless employees OF
tHis department may he cited the Inspector of
Dependent Poor, who are assigned TO the
Amshou>e Permits obtained for admit
JaDoe TO the AimshouSe AT the Office of the
Mayor, and regular police officer was de-
tailed to thar office some time since, who
duties are q most identical with those OF the
Inspector of Dependent Poor. The flee Is a
Einrcure and sh uld be abolsned
An ins pector of sewers was lately appointed,