The San Francisco call., 1898-10-19
WOULD REDUCE THE WAGES OF
 THE LABORER Says Lanp-LighterS Should Be Paid Twenty-Five DOl-
 lars a Month. QUESTION ASKED BY DlSCREDlTED
 DEMOCRATS. Plain Facts Concerning the Way n Which the Tearing Up Of Street Car Tracks on Market Street
 Was Done.

Stnce James D. Phelan, the "heft- inq" Mayor. constituted himself the Democratic party of San Francisco. and bv his acts and declarations has given p1blicity to his belief that he Is the only honest man within the confines of the State. there has been a growing desire in the minds of the voters of the city to know more of the man who aDpeared as a political bud two years ago and has now blossomed into full blown boss who does not want anything but office.
 Unfortunately for NIT. Phelan. this curiosity on the part of the public has resulted in bringing to light facts that are not at all to his credit. The pie ture of MT. Phelan, as presented by the facts, when contrasted with the like ness of the "hefting" Mayor, as etched by his own ready tongue, shows him to be a mean and petty schemer; a man who, though wealthy, resorts to the most miserable subterfuges to further add to his wealth at the expense of the public; a man who has used his off, cial position to promote his personal in- terests, and a man who Is the willing tool of designing persons who do not hesitate to delude the public in every way possible, if by doing so they can further their own selfish interests.
 So marked Is the difference between Phelan, the candidate for office, and Phelan, the office holder, that the con- trast is apparent even without the most cursory examination of the man. The one dOns a slouch hat and an air Of good fellowship and goes among the laboring men with tale of his love for them and his earnest wish to pro- haty y1-A1fa the other SltS on his throne in the City HaH and makes public declaration that he believes $25 a month Is adequate remuneration for the services of the men who light the city's gas lamps.
 Be 1t understood that the grasping corporation that employs the gas lamp Ighters-the men who cover the end less miles of city streets through wind and rain and fog every night and morning in the year, that the safety of the r-night pedestrian may De assured-pays them but pittance of $40 a month for their hire. This fact came to light during the proceedings that attended the recent fixing of gas and water rates by the Board of Su> pervfsors The admission was made by an official of the gas company. Those who heard 1t, having in mind the Mayors ante-election utterances. expected him to launch forth In a with ering condemnation of the greed that induced the corporation to make such miserable recompense for faithful ser vice. Nothing of the kind. The Mayor gave evidence of great indignation, 1t is true, but 1t was for a different req son. He announced with some show of spirit that to pay the lamp lighters $40 a month was nothing more or less than gross extravaganza, and that in his opinion the sum of $25 a month was amply sufficient
 Think of 1t! A beggarly $25 month for a laboring man, and out of this he must pay house rent, provide for his family and rear and educate his chil- dren that they may become good American citizens. And this from a man who is the possessor of millions through no effort of his own, and the Mayor of a great city that boasts Gf being the choicest blossom In the gar den spot of the world. 4 Chinese cook who would accept such a sum for his monthly wage would be boycotted by his tong-and rightly so.
 It is in connection with this same proceeding of fixing the gas rates that