The San Francisco call., 1897-02-10
COUNTY OFFICIALS
IN A DILEMMA
Statements Regarding Sal.
aries Taken at Their
Face Value.
Successful Candidates in 1903
Will Not Coin Fortunes
During Their Term.
By the New Schedule Large Saving
Will B. Eff cted Each
Year.

OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL
90S Broad way, Feb. 8. |
There never was a time when Alameda
County officials were SO truly at sea as
they are just now. Some weeks ago the
legislative delegation sent to the princi.
pals of the various departments of the
county government, asking for detailed
sta ement of the expenses and receipts OF
each Tor the purpose of read justing their
salaries.
The schedules were furnished, and to
say they were a surprise to the public as
we'll as the legislators is putting it very
mildly. 1t was learned that instead of
making from $4,000 to $4,000 some of the
officials were, according TO their state
ments, which it must be borne in mind
were not sworn to, only making bare
subsistence and carfare.
Accepting these statements in good
faith, the legislators went to work and re-
arranged the whole system, SO that instead
of receiving a lump sum, which they stated
was yearly paid ont to deputies. schedule
has been agreed upon which fixes a salary
for each of the principals and the mum Der
and pay of the deputies.
Senator Stratton, who seems to have
taken the leading hand in read iusting the
sa aries, stated that he has made up the
schedule by allow ng the officers what
they make now, as appears by their state
ments. These changes have been made
os ensibly on the ground of economy and
because of the pledges contained in the
county and State platforms. But it is
claimed that there are many other agen-
cles at Work to bring about a reduction of
salary.
ExMayor George G. Pardee telegraphed
fnS atnr ,Iot+ ~.
gross allowance system in COMPENSATION
OF county officers was better Ior Alameda
County than net salaries and referred to
the expenses of the Assessors Office in
Alameda County as compared with that
o. Los Angeles. Assessor Dalton's ex-
renses last year were $26. 600. while in Los
Angeles, which Is the same size as Ala
media County, the Assessor spent SAL, 900.
The county officials, while viewin. the
pit which they have dug for themselves
are all trying TO look pleasant, and are
congratulating themselves on the fact
that their salaries are not affected unless
they succeed them selves in 1898. They
assert that the net salary plan is without
doubt the best, provided sufficient allow
ance is made for deputies, but the present
schedule as completed by the Alameda
deleg cation does not provide for as liberal
salaries to deputies as are now being paid
under the gross plan.
down TO the proposed figure the Legis-
lature should provide an entertainment
fund with each office. to permit the in
cumbents to donate to church fairs, polit-
ical and patriotic parades, SOUP Kitchens
and all kinds of things to which they are
now expected TO give literally. To sum
up, some of them are now convinced that
their statements contained TOO much
rather than too little.
Block Book Ordered
EMERYVILLE, CAL, Feb. 9. The
Town Trustees have adopted the following
resolution:
ReSolued, That the Town Engineer be and he
is hereby authorized and instructed to pre-.
pare and deliver to the Board OF Trustees a
block book of the town of Emeryviile, show
ing in deiail all blocks and parts of blocks and
owners thereof, all streets alleys and other
data necessary to make said block book as full
and compete as are books of like nature found
in the large towns and cities. Said book shall
contain only one block to page, the pages to
be from 12x15 inches to 12X18 inches, as may
be deemed most advisable by the president of
the board; the cost of the entire work not to
exceed $50.
Murderous Woman.
OAKLAND, CAL, Feb 9.-Mrs. J. P.
Frates, the wife of wealtay rancher of