The San Francisco call., 1898-01-04
Recommends Many Improve nentS to Be Made During
 the Year.
Executive and COuncilnoen Will Work Together in the Interest
 of the Public.
Special Dispatch to the Call.

office of Mayor Land, the purpose be- ing to extend to the new municipal executive the congratulations of the re- tiring members of the Board of Trus- tees, and the good wishes and assur- ances of those just entering upon the duties involved in the legislative de- partment of Sacramento City. In the little room of the Mayor there assem- bled the ingoing and outgoing Trustees, eX-Mayor Hubbard, several city off, cials, a great many candidates for office and the local representatives of the press. Trustee Bently stepped forth, and, addressing the Mayor, said:
 On behalf of those members of the board who will serve the people of Sac ramento for the next two years, 1 desire to extend to you our assurances of con fidence and desire to cooperate with you in harmony, good will and a com plete understanding in all matters af- fecting the public good. You have no doubt already discovered that there are many very annoying and VeXatiouS fea lures connected with the high office you have been selected to fill; you have no doubt heard many rumors of the de- mands which will be made and the ex- pectationS which are indulged in by the members of the board; but 1 desire to say in my own behalf-and l believe 1 am
  that so far as the placing of obstacles in your way by the present board is con- cerned, you will find that such rumors are based upon a false and unjustified basis.
 We desire to enter with you upon the duties of our respective trusts in such a manner as will lead to a confidence and trust of one another and a frank and fair exchange of opinions and beliefs upon questions affecting the city's best interests.
 To the ollrpoino Mayor uya have notb ing but the kindliest of feelings; We wish him happy and prosperous new year. To you we extend the same, and on be- half of the Board of Trustees I now well come you to our councils as the Mayor Of Sacramento city
 Mayor Land replied briefly as fol- lows:
 I thank you most heartily for your kind words. of encouragement and ex- presstonS of esteem. l shall be pleased to do all l. can toward insuring the pleas ant relations you have spoken of. As the Mayor of this city l take office with no strings on me, and am responsible to no one but myself and the people who of the municipality as l have conducted my own, and I assure you there will be no man on the city's pay roll who does not properly perform the duties assigned him.
 The old board was called to order
 
 the month audited. This was the last official act of the old board, and at 12 o'clock it adjourned.
 When the new board convened this evening it organized by electing D. Mckay president. It then appointed a committee on resolutions, which re- ported later and conveyed expressions complimentary in their nature to the retiring members. The Mayor-elect read his inaugural address. It called attention to the crippled condition of munlclpaI finances and the burden inn posed by the allotment of the greater part Of all city revenues to the pay ment of the funded debt, and said that any method that promises relief from the present heavy rate of taxation should receive earnest attention. The Mayor hoped for a decision favorable to the city in the case of Kendall vs. Porter, involving the liability of the city for interest on past due bonds This would make the yoke of bonded indebtedness comparatively light, while an adverse decision would subject the city to an additional burden of about S1S3, ,000.
 The indebtedness of the city in 1898 was shown to be s561 ,292. The assets amount to S414,167 IS, leaving a debt balance of $147, ,125. IS. When in pay = 800, which it is estimated will be re- ceived from the remainder of the taxes of 1897, not yet collected and appor- tioned, and from other sources, is ap- piled, the debt will be reduced to a little over $19,000-an inconsderable debt for city of Sacramento's size and wealth.
 The Mayor recommended that the city provide place suitable for the Tff10 nf rNr1 1sa :. once comply with the mandate of the law and free the treasury from politi- cal influences. There was great need he said, of the extension of the street improvements and of the keeping in condition of the streets already inn proved, but the street fund, as now apportioned, was inadequate to meet the demands upon it. The fund should be increased to at least 1f cents, and he was also of the belief that there should be at least 8 cents added to the amount now apportioned to the sewer fund. The efficiency of the Police Department would be greatly promoted by the addition of two more officers to the present force and also by the appointment of two competent detectives. Continuing he said:
 The prevailing tax rate has apparently been excessive, but past administration in their desire to lessen 1t have allowed but too little to the various special funds compelling transfers to them when they become low from the general fund there. year, as is evidenced by the fact that during the past two months the general fund has been exhausted. This has ne. cessitated the non-payment of salaries during this period. and they must remain unsettled until the revenues for the next year are received. Enough revenue should be raised each year to liuuidate such year and not compel the old yea, to intrench upon the new. The fact tha, the general fund for the past year is some Sl4000 to S16,000 short and. as al. ready stated. that more money will he needed for the street and sewer funds may propably force the new administra. tion to increase the tax levy slightly. In