The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-08

that amount in order that the building
might be constructed rapidly and at the
same time the funds of the Harbor Com
mission might not be impaired for the
purpose Of extending the seawall, mat
ter OF the most vital Importance to the
city of San Francisco and also to the
State and its commercial interests The
bonds were voted and about $1,000 premium
added to the original $500 900 became avail
able for the purpose of building this de-
pot. This fund constituted what is known
as Depot Sinking Fund. About this time
1t was discovered that the foundation was
not part OF the depot, so far as matters
OF construction were concerned, and that
the foundation could be built and paid for
out OF the Harbor Improvement Fund
Whlch fund is supplied entirely from re-
celpts OF the commission for dockage,
wharfage, tolls, rents, etc. AS a
result, the sum of $349,OOO in round num-
bers, was expended out of the Harbor
Improvement Fund for the construction of
the foundation.
The original contracts for the building
Oh the SuperStructure were let for the ag-
Sregated sum of $545 900 and work was
commenced. AS time progressed, revised
planS, as they are called, were formu-
lated which plans did not seem to have
changed anything in particular except as
10 the positions of partitions and con-
VemenceS. II was the custom of the
board when any changes were made to
get a proposal from the contractor en-
gagged in doing the original work, showing
IN some instances deduction from his orig
mai contract by reason of the proposed
OF the proposed changes. AS a result of
this system there has been expended in
ADDITION to the original contract price of
S04o,OOO, on this Superstructure up to the
present time, $145 ,000 and about 500, 900
more than was realized from the bonds
ana from the careful examination made
by your committees experts and other
testimony, backed by figures which were
sent to all parties concerned, and who
were given every opportunity they desired
to combat the figures, your committee is
forced to the conclusion, and considers
that it is abundantly supported by the
evidence taken, that the State suffered an
actual loss by reason of these changes
OF from $4,000 to $4,000, and the contem-
plated work is not yet completed. We
| leave this wide margin because the COM
mlttee did not consider 1t its duty to trace
these figures down to a mathematical GER
talnty. and we could not see how anV re-
covery can be had or anybody punished
is practically meant by this last remark
we beg leave to call your attention to the
eeondensatlon OF the, reports of Messrs.
Reld and Favflle, which Will be found
attached hereto This commission seems
to have entirely, during the last years,
ignored the law where it suited their con-
venience to do so. While thew nerhaps
We're correct in determining that they
could spend the money which they did in
the building of the depot, and thus in
crease It's cost so far as the public were
acquainted with the facts, to the extent of
about $3.50 900, yet, considering the neces-
sity for the extension of the seawall
and the great advantage to the CONNER
cial interests of the city and State in
that work being done, and considering
that when the $500 900 in bonds were voted
for 1T was supposed that that was to
| cover the cost of the entire building and
! the further fact that as a result of the
determination to build this foundation out
of the harbor improvement fund, work on
! the seawall has been absolutely blocked
! and nothing done since 1892, it seems
rather a violation of that confidence which
| the people have placed. in their officers
/ that this action should have been taken
| without more serious consideration, and
| the taking, of the people into their conf
dence by the board.
And the board, in the judgment of your
| committee. has from fifty to seventy abb
! solutely useless employees. There are at
| the present time 223 upon its rolls. In
three instances that we discovered the
| employe is carried in two capacities and
! draws two salaries. There is, for instance,
| since the new depot has been constructed
superintendent of the depot building
! The law places the superintendent of
! that building in the Chief Wharfinger, and
! there is no occasion whatever for a su-
/ perintendent of the building except to
! give some one a place
! The engineer who is charged by the law
with experimenting all construction has
also been practically ignored in the execu-
! ton of the work.
There is deputy superintendent of re-
pairs, whom the president of the board
| what his duties were. that he, the presi-
dent did not know that he had any And
1t is fair inference. from the testimony
taken taken that he ne had none, except to reg
ularly and diligently draw his salary.
There is also a purchasing department
| established by the board, consisting of a
clerk and an assistant. The expense of
! maintaining this department amounts
! under the present system to $4,000 per
year. The amount of supplies purchased
! through this department. outside of the
lumber and, piling and coal, in the pur-
chase of which there is no occasion for
| any purchasing department or agent.
amount in round numbers to the sum of
| $4,000: 1t is submitted that this expense is
out OF all proportion, and your committee
| is or the opinion that the maintenance and
| operation of such department is absolute
! Y useless and unnecessary, aside from
! the tremendous expense in proportion IN
! the results accomplished
Ihere is no occasion for the employment
! or any police force by the Harbor Com
mission in the city Of San Francisco. It
! is the duty of the CITY and of lis Police
Department to take care of all nronertv
| within the city. There is no authorify
of law and no necessity, so far as yollr
of any such force.
Watchmen are maintained upon the
WharVeS. Wnlch is an unnecessary ex-
pense. me claim was made that because
the State does not insure its property II
becomes necessary to employ watchmen
to guard 1t: Your committee is of the
opinion that there is nothing substantial
cupied to any great extent by transporta
ton companies. they themselves keen a
Waterman for the protection of their ov,,
property, and certainly the State has no
occasion to keep one itself under sucl,
circumstances, and there is no occasion
for the employment of these watchmen
that your committee is advised of
The Belt road is operated at loss. and
has always been, and 1t seems that the
commission should have devised some
means by which 1t should be, at least
self-supporting. or else should abandon
its operation. The pay roll of this COM
mission has constantly increased wear nv
year during the past eight years, and par
ticularly during the past four years
while the receipts have been considerably
less than in former years: and no reason
is apparent as a result of our investiga-
ton for this increase. II is but fair to
say of two of the Commissioners, that Mr.
Harvey, who took office in 1897. came in
after all of the depot contracts and
changes therein had been made, therefore
cannot be charged with any negligence In
that connection. Mr. Herold. who took
office in March, 1898, has had nothing to
do with any of the matters above referred
to in their origin or their conduct. The
board when the contracts for the con-
struction of the ferry depot were let and
when the plans and specifications were
adopted, and when the changes and re-
visions thereof were made, and when all of
-