The San Francisco call., 1899-08-26
SCHAFFER HAS
IDEAS ABOUT
TAX LEVYINC
Will Oppose Schemes
of Mr.. Miller.
BREEDS FIGURES ACCEPTED
COUNCIL AGREES IN NEARLY
EVERY DEPARTMENT
May Make a Few Increases Next
Week, but Not Likely to Pass
Levy That viii Exceed
the Dollar.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
COS RrnadMaN- Aug. 25.

90S Broadway, Aug. 20.
Less than a thousand dollars will be the
difference between the estimate of City
Auditor Breed and of the City Council for
conducting the government for this fiscal
year. Mr.. Breeds figures show some
heavy cutting from the estimates of the
heads of the various departments, but he
has so uniformly adjusted matters that
in order TO carry out his financial scheme
il will require exactly tax levy OF 81,
which was promised by the party electng
Nh Breed.
At the next meeting of the Council many
estimates now in allegiance will be finally
determined. The most important item
will be that of the Street Department, and
the recommendation of Mr.. Miller, Street
Superintendent, will be considered. 1t is
difficult 10 see, in view Of what the Coun-
ell has already determined upon, how
i additional cents or even l cent can be
added to the park and boulevard fund
without the Council violating its prom
ises made before election. Certainly the
Mayor Will not approve OF any ordinance
nXlng a tax levy OF more than 81. II any
additional proportion Of the levy Is given
TO the park and boulevard fund il VIII
have to come from some OF the other
departments in order to keep the levy
down TO its legal limit. AS nearly all the
department estimates have been passed on
by the Council, 1t Is not likely that they
will go over the ground again Tor the pur-
pose OF carrying out MI Miller ) SuSStS-
ton. 1t is the expressed intention OF the
Council, having gone through all the fig
ures for the purpose OF cutting them
down, 10 now go through them all for the
purpose OF seeing where a raise can be
made to advantage.
Councilman Schaffer is strongly opposed
TO Mr. Miller'S scheme of street improve
ment and has placed himself on record
in the following language:
In reference to the y per cent addition
10 the taxes proposed by the Street Super
irora 70 ROY -af af FHlla
graph avenue, l shall asSuredly oppose
the step in the Council. My reason for
this opposition is this: The Improvement
proposed Is one that ought to be obtained
a other public and general necessities
are obtained, such as water front i'm
prOvement dredging and intercepting
and at the same time public necessities In
order to get them ii Will be necessary, as
the Mayor in his message has clearly
shown. to bond the city. 1t will be impos-
sible To get them or any of them without
bonding the city.
''I realize that there are seven votes in
the City Council favOring certain i'm
provements, and they would probably pre-
fer Mr.. Millers suggestions to the good,
common judgment OF the Mayor and the
rest of the Council. feel that the recon-
mendauons of the Mayors message. if
they can be carried out, will be greatly
to the advantage of the city of Oakland
trict.
1T seems to me that few men in the
Council are advising Mr.. Miller and that
their advice is not sound. It only tends
to create more discord and friction in the
whole city government The whole time
of Mr.. Miller and these advisers Of his in
the Council is taken up with the effort to
hold Miller In office. Let them stop their
political pickering and apply themselves
to the public business, whether Miller is
in or out.
As for the suggestion of a Councilman
that TO the victOrs belong the spoils. my
motto instead OF that would be To the
people Of Oakland belong all the energies
of harmonious Council and city govern
ment. regardless of political affiliations
and interests. "