The San Francisco call., 1898-11-01
SUPERVISORS GET AFTER THE
 TAX COLLECTOR Will Investigate Block
 To-Day. CALLS CHARGES QUOTED ARE MADE THE BASIS FOR PRO-
 CEEDINGs. Judiciary Committee Will Ascertain How He Gouged the City on
 Military Service
 Lists.
CALLS CHARGES QUOTED
ARE MADE THE BASIS FOR PRO
 CEEDINGS.

The Democratic majority in the Board of Supervisors were treated to a surprise yesterday, when a resolution was intro- duced by Supervisor Smith providing for an official investigation of The Calls charges made last week against Tax Col lector Block. It will be recollected that this paper exposed gross irregularities in Blocks office, showing how he had se- cured a large sum of money wrongfully from the city by enumerating among the residents liable under the laws to mili- tary service large numbers of persons who are legally exempt therefrom, taking pay for these fraudulent lists at cents per name
 Since the expose 1t appears that several of the Supervisors, including Smith, have been busily at work securing evidence in the case, all of which tended to corrobor- ate The Calls charges. Having found such bad state of affairs in Block S of fee, 1t became the duty of the Supervis- ors to make an official examination; hence the resolution by Smith. It reads as fol- lows:
 Whereas. Grave charges have been freely cir culated in the public press during the past week, seriously calling into question the repu- taton of the present Tax Collector of the City and County for official probity; and. whereas, 1t has been related in a morning journal of large circulation that the said Tax Collector, by sections 1895 to 1898 respectively. of the Po- litcal Code of the State of California, has en-  duty who declared to be exempt from such duty by the provisions of the code heretofore quoted, to wit:
 State officers. Federal officers, Mongolians. persons in of the age described in the statute, persons exempt by reason of physical disqualifcations and persons who have Joined the silent majority; be 1t
 Resolved By the Board of Supervisors of the City and Count of San Francisco that the Ju- dietary Committee be- and the same Is, hereby directed to immediately inquire whether these charges have any foundation in fact. and to re- board result of its findings and what action, if any, may be necessary in the premises.
 Resolved That the committee have authority to send for persons and papers. and to employ such assistance as may be deemed necessary to present a proper statement of facts.
 When the clerk closed the reading of the resolution there was a dead silence.
 Are there any objections to it?" asked Mayor Phelan.
 None of the Supervisors made reply, and, according to the usual custom, the Mayor announced the resolution passed by unanimous vote.
 A few moments later 1t was arranged that the Judiciary Committee, of winch Smith is chairman, should hear the case within tweDty-four hours, and notice was sent to Block and witnesses against him to appear at 10 o'clock this morning in the Supervisors committee-room for the investigation. Sensational. developments
 The Mayors vetoes of gas and electric bills were laid ov.r until after election.
 The Hartford Athletic Club was granted permission to give a boxing exhibition at l3 Hartford street, between November and 15.
 Alexander Wright, expert for the Grand Jury in the investigation of ferry-depot frauds, was allowed S5S5 for his services.
 Considerable discussion arose over the disposition of the architects plans for the proposed city and county hospital As the board had been advised that 1t could not build the hospital, a motion prevailed that a committee of three, consisting or Dodge, Jackmann and Sheehan, should meet the architects and ascertain just what can be done toward returning the plans. There are some persons who claim that the members of the board will be personally liable to the architects for the plans inasmuch as the board had no au- thority to call for plans.
 A special insurance fund was created to be sustained by the contributions of the foreign insurance companies, which have already placed $14.000 at the disposal of the city. Some animated remarks arose and MT. Britt alleged that the $4,000 al- ready paid in was not available for use unless the special fund was created:
 That is not correct!'' exclaimed Mayor Phelan. 'The money is in the possession of the City Treasurer and 1t has been counted!
 A laugh went the rounds of the room, and the Mayor looked surprised.
 Supervisor Devany presented two reso- lutions, one asking for an official request Congressmen. urging that they interest themselves in securing a government plant for San Francisco for the manu- facture of cannon, steel plates and other uuested the Mayor to confer with the State authorities so as to arrange, if pos sible for sending the eighteen, leperS at the Pesthouse to the Hawaiian Islands.
 The full Board of Supervisors is now in the city, Morton having returned from his rroIouoad EaSterr1 triD