The San Francisco call., 1899-07-02
THE TAX LEVY.

THE pledges of both parties IN the last murncipa
campaign were rigidly-to the effect that the tax
levy for this year should not exceed one dollar
on the hundred on an assumed total assessed Vauaton
OF $3.50 900, 600. These pledges were largely oased
upon the reiterated Of Mayor Phelan aner
nearly two years experience the head OF the NUM-
cinat government that the dollar limit with the addi-
tiona restriction as to the basis OF assessment added
TO other ordinary sources of revenue, would produce
a sufficient income for all municipal purposes. No
man could have made industrious canvass than
Mr. Pbelan He seemed to be almost ubiquitous, ire
uuently making half dozen speeches IN widely sep
arated parts Of the city in single evening, Wher-
ever he went the stricest adherence to the dollar limit
was the burden OF his song. This was standing ar
eument that appealed to the tax-laden citizens with
Singular force and, probably more than any other
cement in the campaign, enabled Mr. Phelan to Sc
cure an isolated victory that in most respects was
defeat.
Mr. Phean was the Examiners pet candidate. If
possible it indorsed him vociferously than even
the fusion candidate for Governor 1t literally roared
and howIed over the economical part OF his claims
to public support the Inconsistency OF which, in re
ation to the enormous expenditures he proposed in
the acquisition OF public utilities observed every
where except in those fusion circles where sociastic
doctrines were rampant.
The Republicans accepted the pledge of economy
so formulated that was literally ronclad in perfect
good faith. When the new Board Of Supervisors met
and Mayor Phelan delivered his second inaugural ne
specially reiterated on his own behalf and impressed
upon every member the pledge which in honor and in
conscience they were bound to keep 1t is true that
the figures he then presented involved relaxa
ton of the technical rigidy of the pledge, but, as to
two items one OF $4,000 for deficiencies in official
salaries and another OF $I25ooo for the purchase OF St
Marys Park there was general concession that they
were to be added to the dollar tax
Auditor Wells business Of large experience
and OF excellent character made estimate for the
levy for the fiscal year that commenced yesterday
which amounted in the aggregate to $5,468,I42 and
placed the rate at ST 70 valuation OF $35ooooooo
But this estimate however closely pruned consider
ably exceeds the pledge exclusive OF the two items to
which we have above referred The Finance Com
1nittee Of the Board Of Supervisors, in the most
laborious and detailed manner and carrying out to
the letter their own pledge which also represented al
most the entire political capital OF Mayor Phelan,
vised this estimate and brought the sum total down
to $4o38578 OF which $3755ooo or the proportion to
be raised by the tax levy, involved rate OF $Lo73
On Friday last The Call exclusively published in full
the schedules representing the scaling of the Finance
Committee and proving the accuracy and the hdel-
ity with which the labor had been performed
preston of the CONSERVATION that the act OF
keeping promise had produced in the City Hall.
1t appeared that nearly every head OF de
partment protested DR.. Perraut the chairman
of the Finance Committee OF the Board OF
Supervisors, beyond his individual Endorsement
of the pledge, furnished the most unanswer-
able reasons for the schedules that had been pre-
pared and expressed the willingness OF the committee
to consent to any modification readjustment that
Mayor Phelan could suggest that would meet the de
mands OF the exasperated protestans, without dsre-
garding or evadng the plain obligation of honor
which had been so often renewed.
The Examiner also, the great internal policy"
manufacturer the special champion OF Mayor Phelan,
the fusion representative that wastes both time and
words in false charges against the Republican party,
now virtually repudates the pledge to which Mayor
Phelan is fully committed and claims that the sched
ules OF the Finance Committee not official and
are intended only justify extravaganza in Septem
Der next. Those schedules merely fulfill trust The
Call hopes that Mayor Phean and every other NUM-
cipal officer of either party who has subscribed to the
dollar limit will be held, all gentlemen should be
held to the fulhllment Of their word