The San Francisco call., 1898-09-10
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Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
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Oakland Office San Francisco Call
 sos Broadway, Sept. g.
 How much backbone Is required to with stand the pleadings of wealthy men? This Is the question that was debated before the City Council last night, and 1t brought out a few bitter and more personal re- marks. The City Council which goes out of office next March, has on hand now more schemes for the disbursement of public money than any other Council even undertook Many of these projects are being undertaken in sanitary measures, which were strongly advocated about two months ago by the Lake Merritt Sanitary Improvement Club. This club is composed of the wealthiest men in the city, who are, of course, the largest taxpayers. They have appeared several times before the Council. and their labors were re- warded by unanimous vote to pass the ordinance appropriating $S0,000 for the dredging of the lake.
 Auditor Snow does not believe the tax payers want this large amount in the levy for one year, and in his estimate he placed S42,00o, as this amount adds 10 cents to the tax levy, and is all that can be used this fiscal year in any event
 There is the necessary advertising to be done," said Mir Snow. There are some legal points to be looked into, there Is dredger to be built on the lake be- fore the work can commence. and three months of the fiscal year have already gone. It required all the backbone could command to stand off the requests of those wealthy men, who wanted me to place the $S0,000 on the levy for this year. As a good business proposition it is folly to tie up a lot of money when it can earn nothing till 1t is spent. It has to be taken from the pockets of the taxpayers, and 1t
 Counciimen Cuvellier and Girard agree with Mir. Snow, but as they voted for the ordinance when the wealthy. men were in the lobby as MT. Brosnahan put 1t, levy.
 For building the sewers on either side to prevent it's contamination as a water park s3S 800 has been placed in the levy, and plans are being prepared forebuilding a retaining wall.
 These amounts, if all remain in, will the law, even without the '19 cents extra that will come under the provisions of the park and boulevard law.
 In addition to these amounts a bond election Is to be held in a few weeks, the main feature of which Is to raise s240, 900 for the purchase of Adams Point for public park, and $50,000 to improve 1t. This brings the sum which It is proposed to 800.
 Councilman Heitmann has discovered that the city's horses are eating the dreds of horses in the employ. of the Police Fire, Street and Health depart ments that are busily engaged in eating hay at $27 per ton-the price at which the Board of Works let the contract. MT. Heitmann says there is nothing in the contract to prevent the city buying its hay in open market and saving thousands of dollars, and he will follow the matter up.
 1t is only three years ago that Mayor Davie decided the law only permitted $1 levy including the bond and interest fund. and he forced the city government to confne itself to that amount, and the re- suit was fairly satisfactory.