The San Francisco call., 1898-10-08
Strongly Opposes the
 Councils Plans.
ABLE PLEA FOR MORE FUNDS
GLOOMY PROSPECT FOR THE
 GROWING CITY.
High Schools and Libraries Would Have to Be Closed and Fire De- partment and Streets
 Neglected.

| OAhLAND, oct. 1.-Ihe meeting calico | by the Mayor tonight to decide the ta1 levy was entirely unproductive, tho very men whom his Honor wished tC meet absented themselves. There were present Messrs. Girard, Rowe, Cuvellier l Woodward and Pringle. Councilman Up ton Is opposed to the proposed ordinance 1 but is sick and Woodward is in favor o1 | it. Woodward is once more-as in the water rate cases-the pivotal man, anc l his vote Is the middle one of the thir- teen. Mayor Thomas had prepared ar analysis of the proposed ordinance, which is in effect in the nature of a vote. Ii Is as follows:
 The tax levy ordinance passed by your hon. orable body on October is now in my hands By the terms of said ordinance you have fixed the tax rate at s1 21 upon the taxable prop erty of our city. After carefully considering the matter I am continced in number of cases the apportionment of funds made in said ordinance will not provide amounts sufh- cient to carry on the various departments of the city government for the fiscal year ending June s0 1899. and I beg leave to call your at tention to the following facts and figures as actual cost of maintenance only of the various departments for the last fiscal year after to duplicate this year. These amount to $85 555. and provide for not s1 of betterments. The $1 21 ordinance will provide s00, S6O, and to this may be added the $44. 900 to be derived from other sources which will provide a total or Sy4 S6u, or S55O0 more than was required TOT the above offices last year; but this amount will not be sufficient to meet the additional expense for elections ions which the Auditor esti @ of advertising, which the Auditor estimates at | s65OO. the expenses which have to be met from the general and salary funds to the extent of S6000. What offices has this Council reduced. or will 1t reduce, to meet this deficiency Of s6O0O?
 After showing that there will be a de- felt of S900S in the street lighting fund, S3000 in the Fire Department without al- lowing a dollar for the large annexed ter ritory, $6000 in the police fund and $3750 in the street fund, the message proceeds: what is done with the East and West Side sewers. Two cents will provide for what is called the Cemetery Creek connection with the main lake sewer. One cent will provide for the sewer repairs estimated in the city. An additional cent will, in my judgment, con- struct temporary sewer, and by that mean a wooden box sewer, which shall take up the sewage now running into the lake on the East Side and convey 1t to the estuary. This temporary sewer will in my opinion, answer that purpose until the city of Oakland shall bond itself to construct complete sewer sys- tenn under plans already submitted, that may be submitted, and I suggest that there might be saving of cents or more in the amount fixed by the ordinance passed.
 The grammar and primary schools cost last year for maintenance only $246,7S2. Betterments to s2o00. The S1 21 ordinance provides ZIP, 716 sl000 less than the amount required for bare
 
 for maintenance alone. without any new books $15. 22s. I believe this to be the most econom- ical department in the city.
 The S1 2l ordinance will provide sS476, little more than one-half the amount required. think it would be public calamity should the free library and public reading rooms be compelled to close for the want of funds. Shall they be closed2
 The High School cost last year for main tenance only $46, 294. The s1 21 ordinance will provide $25 430 This is $20 264 short of the cost of maintenance only last year The teachers heen hired and l informed that the courts have dectded that teachers salaries must be paid from any moneys in the treasury regardless of its distribution to funds. I am convinced that additional money must be pro- vided for this department or the Board of Edu- cation will be compelled to close the school in February. The ordinance provides for main tenance this year of S5 cents. against 95 account of lower valuation by the Assessor. While 1 strongly in favor of as low a tax levy as Is consistent with economical man agement of the various departments, l am strongly opposed to such distribution and apportlonment of the funds raised that the High School, free library and reading rooms, cred that the two former shall have to be closed for a portion of the year, that street sprinkling and repairs would necessarily be stopped which would result Tn great damage partnent should be compelled in any way to take step backward when 1t should be in creased and some protection given to the large district lately annexed. And l sincerely hope that the Council will take such steps may be necessary to amply provide for the proper maintenance of every department in city government.
 Woodward was the only one present Mayors position. and he was not posi- tive in his views. The ordinance con- demned by the Mayor provides $50 900 for dredging the lake and sSS500 for sewers