The San Francisco call., 1899-08-14
THE MUNICIPAL
MACHINE IS ON
THE RAMPAGE
Old Brakes Do Not
Seem to Operate.
DOLLAR TAX CRY IS BOGUS
VALUE OF OAKLAND A THING
TO CoNJURE WITH.
His Honor's Message on the Tax
Levy VIII Probably Recommend
aMedium Between the Diff
ferent Estimates.
DOLLAR TAX CRY is BOGUS
VALUE OF OAKLAND A THING
TO CONJURE WITH.
Oakland ono San Francisco Can

sos Broadway, Aug. 13.
1t is time to put on the brakes. The
municipal automobile is going altogether
TOO fast and a wreck appears to be GER
tain. One or two great things can be
accomplished in one fiscal year, but not
a dozen. Oakland cannot stand the high
pressure now being put upon her. New
charters. bOuleVards parks, crematOries,
water works and d host of other neCessi-
ties are big projects. They are of more
Importance than the rejection Of a saloon
license or a conflict between Betty and
the poundman over a COW, or even the
painting Of the City Hall steps. They can
only be brought about by the exercise of
ract. money, brains and persistency. There
is a limit to each of these in this city,
that cannot be exceeded. 1t now becomes
the duty of the COunCilmen to determine
that limit and 20 be bound by it.
The first consideration, very naturally,
is money. and after that eXpediency. Mon
day evening the Council VIII hear what
The Auditor has to say about taxes. Mayor
Snow viii also send in an accompanying
message. Mr.. Breeds figures have been
printed and circulated. The Mayors ideas
are Vet sealed, bur any one who has fol-
lowed his course fer the last ten years
need not do any guessing. Mr.. Shows
message Will be as diplomatic as his con-
duct has been for the past four months.
He has figured that the total estimates
of the various departments Will need a
tax. Of - cents more than the dollar. The
Auditor has cut everything TO get II with
in the dollar. The Mayor Will go De
tween the two. 1t will be found tnat ne
has added 10 the Auditors 5 figures some
Improvements that are in the depart
mental estimates.
No one knows better than Mr.. Snow the
hOuOwneSs Of the cry OF the doIIat TAX
levy. Oakland is now assessed tor $6.gyU'-
600 less than a few years ago. On uOIIdL
tax this decrease means reduction OF
$4,000. In 1891 the city was assessed Tor
81 900 900 more than this year. and no sane
man viii believe that oakland Is nor
worth SO 900 900 more to-day than III 1891: /
AT the former date the vast system OF
street railroads now IN operation was IN
its infancy, and many OF the IoduS were
not built None of the larger business /
blocks then existed Clay street was un-
heard of as a commercial thOrOug h1are /
and Washington street was only begin I
ll.l2 TO be q rival 10 Broadway. Had the /
assessment roll kept reasonable pace with
The city 5 growth, and mad no" peeh
about $50 900 900, a tax OF 81 would be am
Die for maintaining the city government.
Instead. the city and its needs nave
grown and the basis Of income has de-
Creased about IA per cent. To argue in
favor of permanent tax levy OF 81 under
such circumstances IS nothing snort OF
nonsense. This fact is apparent 20 both
the Mayor and the council ana aIlhoush
there may be Ittle friction at the open
irL If the debate, / have little doubt that
rr- IyVv when finally named, VIII be ac-
C-utatle TO the taxpayers. would re
I-at what 1 said some weeks ago, that
although at times there might be more
wisdom displayed in the Council cham
ber. there could hardly be more sincerity
ana honesty, and consequently the people
believe that they Will receive some benefit
tor every dollar of taxes collected. The
remark last week in u Democratic paper |
that the lower the levy the less the op-
uortuuity for boodhng,' has no bearing |
on the present Council.
There Will be one section missing from |
the Mayor's message that he was anxious |
70 present TO the council Mr. Snow mas |
great faith that President Ripley of the |
santa Re Will promise to locate a terml- !
TAI somewhere within the boundaries of |
Oakland. The Mayor has been in touch |
with the Santa Fe people for months and |
has been waiting for President Ripley !
but as that gentleman has only. just ar
rived IN the state no promise from MIN |
can be included in the message Monday |
night.