The San Francisco call., 1898-05-03
Opposed to Granting the Taxation mmittee
 an Expert.
Mayor Phelan Places His Con- tingept Fund at the Men-
 bers' Disposal.
Quick Consumption Meters Caused the Veto of the Electric Light
 Conpany's March Bill.

About the only ripple to mar the seren- ity of the meeting of the Board or Su- pervisors yesterday was the refusal or Britt and his followers to grant the Com rnittee on Assessments and Taxation an expert to prepare figures to fight an in creased assessment already threatened py the State Board of Equalization.
 It is not at all probable that the acton of the majority was prompted by motives of economy, but because they would nave no hand in naming the expert, that duty devolving upon the committee, which con- sists of Clinton, chairman, Dodge and Lackmann.
 The hostility of the majority was nrst made apparent by a resolution from the Finance Committee to indefinitely post bone action on the request of the Assess ment Committee to appoint an expert at $175 a month.
 Clinton opposed the resolution. He said it was absolutely necessary that an eX- pert be employed for the next three or four months and devote his entire time to the work, as the members of the com mittee could not spare the time. TO re- fuse the employment of an expert would be to practically abolish the committee, and he would ask to be relieved rom Iur- ther duty on 1t.
 RottanI wanted to know why Newman, the Finance Committees expert, could not no do the work. He had comparatively nt- tie to do now, and the Supervisor thought he might as well be given chance to earn his salary.
 Dodge said the work could not be done properly by Newman, as it would require the undivided attention of the expert TOT several months. He said that last year the committee had been al allowed an ,, eA5 pert at a cost of about $500, and he had saved the people S100000 by preparing statistics that induced the equallzers not to increase the assessment or thls clty IJa serve on the committee if it was not al lowed an expert.
 Dodge's remarks about the people being saved $l00 900 impelled Britt to move that the Assessment and Taxation Committee be abolished altogether. Evidently he dld not propose to give the taxpayers another chance to escape.
 house and other equalizers had already intimated to him that San Franclscos assessment was to be increased mater ially This brought RottanZi to his feet with the explanation that Dodge's re- marks had convinced him that Newman would not be available for the commit tee.
 Britt's motion was lost, Haskins and Smith voting with Dodge, Laokmann, Rottanzi and Clinton.
 Lackmann, following the other twos rendered his resignation as member of the committee, but Mayor Phelan would not accept any of them. lnsteads ne authorized the committee to employ an
 
 its disposal to pay the salary.
 The Mayors veto of the order author izng the payment of $S69 99 to the Edison Electric Light and Power Company, for lighting the City Hall for March, was taken up, and RottanZi asked that the veto message be read. It was found that the message was not at hand, but the Mayor explained that his reason for veto meters in the City Hall were charging for much more electricity than was used. Eleven of the meters had been found to be very fast according to the experts who had tested them, and he thought the company should be compelled to make a proper reduction in the bill.
 The matter was referred to the Finance Committee with instructions to have the bill corrected.
 ing the sidewalks around Alamo square. and that of the order accepting the sew ering of Scott street, between Hayes and Fulton, were overruled.
 Bids were received as follows For printing the delinquent tax list: Post, 43 cents a name; Report, 40 cents name; Journal of Commerce, ' cents a name.
 J. F. Devereau was removed from the position of attendant upon insane pa tients and John Kelley appointed in his The following communication was re- ceived from City and County Attorney Creswell relative to the purchase of land for park purposes:
 To the Board of Supervisors: By commu- nication of the board dated April 2S 1S9S I am requested to give an opiniot on the power of the Board to acquire land by condemnation or purchase for park purposes.
 The Board acquire land for such purposes either by purchase, with the consent of the owner or by condemnation. Section 1, Act of March 19. 1SS9 tStat. 1889. p. 361;
 HARRY T. CRESWEIL,
 Attorney and Counselor