The San Francisco call., 1897-04-05

| none OF the unpleasant details should be
given out by either side. This was con-
| sidered TO be hut dignifed treatment OF
| the memory Of the deceased DR.. Pardee.
The doctor was prominent Mason and q
man who stood well socially, politically
| and professionally. He figured promi-
nently in official life in this city and was
one of the most valuable Mayors Oakland
ever had.
During the latter years OF his life occa-
sionaI whispers that all was not as serene
| as 1t mignt be in the Psrdee household
were heard, but no attention was paid to
them. and after his death his many
| that none of the carefully concealed skele-
| tons should be unmasked and brought
into the light OF public criticism and pos
sibly Gerision.
This agreement was faithfully kept for
| few weeks, when every body concerned
was surprised 10 see a lengthy section of
Mrs Pardee's deposition published. 1t
was very evident that the article had not
| been inspired by Mrs. Pardee, the widow,
and she violently objected to bein placed
| in what she called false position before
the public. Her attorneys also expressed
| dissatisfaction that the unwritten truce
| had been broken, and from that time on
| for several days the unpleasant inside his
| tory OF the doctors family has been mer-
| cilessly laid bare.
To-day 1t was stated by one of those in
| terested in the contest that it is not likely
| that any more deposiIions will be desired
| as such proceedings cannot now be kept
| from the public on account of the bitter
| ness shown by the respective sides TO the
! battle. This being the case, and pu blic
| opinion being equally divided as TO the
| merits and dernerits of allsparties con-
! cerned. there will probably be no more
| evidence taken until the case shall come
| to trial.
The name OF Pardee has always been
respected in this county, and the hosts of
acquaintance of the late whole-soued
doctor cannot sufficiently express their
regret that compromise was not effected
before now.
When the time comes for awarding tho
| contract for supplies to the county infirm-
ary the merchants OF Oakland want to be
| heard on the manner in which contracts
are let. Last year the method adopted was
that known as the "unit system" By
this system 1t is possible for the county to
pay twenty per cent more for the goods
that are bought than their market price,
and yet be awarding the contract to the
lowest bidder. The. system adopted con-
sists in adding together all the prices of
| all the articles for which bids are asked
and of dividing the total amount by the
mum ber of kinds of goods BID upon.
This same principle is adopted in regard
to all the stationery supplies and other
materials furnished by the Board of Super
vIsors In the various county Institutions.
When bids were awarded nearly a year
ago Mr. Fish, then president of the Mer-
chants Exchange. showed conclusively
that the system at present in use is the
most ridiculous and unbusinesslike that
could possibly be conceived. He showed
how. by putting an absurdly low price on
articles of which little are used and by
putting price larger than that Of the
market upon articles of which a great
quantity 10 used, q bidder would be
accorded a unit considerably lower than
the merchant who bids fair prices in both
cases, and whose bid, il accepted, would
be several hundred dollars less than that
which produces the lowest unit. A very
little figuring will show this.
The market value OF barrel OF fish is
$l6. About two barrels year are used.
Thousands OF sacks OF potatoes are used,
upon which market value of 81 80 may
be placed. A contractor, by bidding ST. on
fish and 81 IS on potatoes, would be ac-
corded unit of 81 3TX. whereas the mer-
chant who bids SIS Tor fish and 81 so for
potatoes would have q unit of $8 25. A
little figuring will show that if two barrels
OF fish and 1000 sacks of potatoes are used
at the infirmary III year the man with a
unit OF $S rs will save to the county 1922
on these two items alone.
These facts were ampl dem monstrated to
the Board of Supervisors by the Mer-
chants Exchange, and if the Supervisors
can evolve an excuse for not adopting the
recon- mmendation of the Grand Jury they
will be much more clever than they are At
present credited with being.
In two months time the annual elec-
tion for school teachers for the Oakland
department will take place. The custom
prevails at present of electing teachers
every June to serve for one year only.
No matter how competent or industrious
they may be, no teacher has the assurance
that he or she will be employed longer
than year. This system of election is in
accordance with the present charter and
must prevail until the charter is amended.
Two years ago the charter was very
unwisely amended in the matter of the
Board of Public Works. 1t took special
election and special act of the Lsgisla-
ture TO amend the charter on that occa-