The San Francisco call., 1899-12-09
MERCHANT IS ARE
STANDING FOR
IMPROVEMENTS
The Association on the
Bond Issue.
DECIDED ON A TEST VOTE
SOME OPPOSITION TO THE PAN
HANDLE PROPOSITION.

The Merchants Association, composed
of 1920 business firms. individuals and or
ganizations. has come out fatty in favor
Of the proposed issuance of bonds Tor the
general Improvement Of the city.
The directors would not commit the or
pauization either for or against the bond
n-oposttion until the views OF its MEM
bers could be obtained. To this end pos
tai cards cf inquiry We're sent out upon
The question OF the bond election ana me
amounts OF bonds needed for the several
projected improvements were distinctly
SET forth. The request was made that
each member return a ballot postal eN-
pressing his wishes In the premises.
over half have so far made returns and
with few exceptions the members stand
for the city Improvement The strongest
opposition IS TO the park panhandle ana
the opening OF a bou' evard between Golu-
en- Gate Park and tie Preside through
the Richmond district.
At the meeting Of the directors yester-
day the position Of the association was
set forth in the following resolution:
Whereas. our city authorities have given
legal notice OF their intention 10 hold bond
elections on the 27th and 18th OF TINS MONTH
for the purpose OF raising money 70 build
schools and "A hospital TO provide a modern
ssuer system TO extend the Park area and
bring the Panhandle down 10 Market
street and connect the Park with the Pre-
sldio: and whereas. the members Of the
Merchants Association have by postal
card vote declared 80 far as returns have
been received follows: Constructing
new sewer system. affirmative 623 and mega
tive s. constructing new schoolhouses, az
flmafive 6I7 and negative -, constructing
new City and County Hospital, affirmative
Gal and negative 10: Park Panhandle Rich
rnond blocks and Mission Park affirmative
425 and negative 2C7-this is an almost un-
animous declaration In favor OF the bonds
for sewers. schools and hospital and over
twO-thlrds majority In favor OF extending
the Park area and Park connections with
the city and Preside, and Mission pub
lie park: and whereas, the principal object
OF the Merchants Association has always
been 20 work for the betterment and i'm
provernent OF our city: and whereas. we be-
iieve that the new Charter provides efficient
machinery for the economical and effective
control OF public expenditures; therefore
Resolved. BY the board OF directors OF the
Merchants Association that We heartily
favor all OF the proposed bond issues and
request our members TO DO everything In
their power 10 bring about the success OF
theHe bond elections; and be Il further
Resolved. That We request all citizens.
uardless OF party politics, 70 take a favor
able interest in both bond elections 80 that
by united effort We may secure majorities
IN favor OF improving the sanitation OF our
city and the comfort and pleasure OF the
people Active participation in theee cleo
tons which concern important municipal
questions viii prove that our citizens now
take lively interest In our city govern
rnent and thereby encourage future efforts
for the Improvement OF municipal
affairs.
Following up the previous efforts OF the
association TO improve the existing con-
ditions Of the harbor front. special com
mittee consisting OF Directors Symmcs
Sherwood and Watt was appointed 10 IN
vestigate the immediate wants OF the har.
Dor and 10 confer with the Board OF Har-
Dor Commissioners. The board also direct
ed the attorney OF the association TO pre-.
pare a report upon what steps are neces-
sary and the method OF procedure Il
have the harbor front revert 10 the city
OF San Francisco. IL is the intention OF
the board OF directors 10 use all reason
able efforts IN having the controlS OF the
harbor transferred from the State 10 the
municipality.
A number OF inquiries from members
were reported 10 the board relative "a
the authority OF the License Collector tc
collect license taxes for periods that will
extend beyond the Inauguration OF the
new Charter on January S, 1909 Upon the
advice of Supervisor Lackmann chair.
man OF the Committee on Licenses of the
present Board OF Supervisors, il was de-
cided 20 recommend 10 the members OF
the association to pay such quarterly IL
censes as Will run into the new year, and
10 petition the Board OF Supervisors to
allow rebates for such amounts as ex-
tend beyond January S. 1900. This course