The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-08-04
THE MERIDIAN rs,
THE MAYOR AND
THE TAX LEVY
Politics and Figures
Submitted.
BOTH INSIDE THE DOLLAR
SCHOOLS SUFFER FOR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.
Supervisors Called Upon to Adjust
Figures and Reorganize Some
Badly Jumbled Political
Ideas.
BOTH INSIDE THE DOLLAR
SCHOOLS SUFFER FOR THE FIRE
DEPARTMENT.

The Finance Committee of the Board
of Supervisors held last night what was
perhaps the most important meeting in
it's existence. In an effort to honor
pledge that the tax levy for this fiscal
year should be one dollar on every
500 on an assessed valuation of $780,
900, 900 the committee had made a COM
plete series of estimated appropria-
tions for every municipal office. The
announcement of these estimates was
met by an outcry of protest from ma
jority of city and county officers. FL
nancial disaster, deficiencies and NUM-
cipal dscredit were predicted. APP
peals were made on all sides for a re-
vision Of the appropriations, and in
justice to the departments concerned
the Finance Committee determined to
take counsel with the Mayor and the
Merchants Association.
Mayor Phelan, who is pledged to
dollar limit of taxation on the indi
Gated total assessed valuation, promised
to submit series of appropriations for
municipal offices which would honor
the pledge The Merchants Associa-
ton agreed to do the same, and last
night the Finance Committee met to
consider the various suggestions. For
nearly four hours the estimates Of the
Finance Committee. the Mayor, the
Merchants Association and the Audit
or were discussed.
DR.. Perrault, chairman of the Finance
Committee, presided and acted as in
terrogator The figures of the Auditor
were left practically out Of considera-
ton, as they were made upon a basis
of a tax levy of 81 16. The other figures
which were submitted were on a basis
of a dollar limit, excluding the proposed
appropriation for st. Marys Park and
several small deficiencies. The appro-
priations for the different departments
as suggested, We're considered in de-
tail.
At the outset it was seen that the
estimates of the Mayor and of the Mer
chants Association were singularly
similar and in significant details differ
ent from those of the Finance Commit
tee Of the Board of Supervisors. 1t
was quite plain that Mayor Phelan had
been advised of what the Merchants
Association intended to do and had
acted accordingly, reserving the privi-
lege of changing the estimates of the
Merchants Association to suit political
CGnQftlOnS. w mere the MtICIIdIlIS AS
ISOLATION had made reductions in de-
partments which possess political in
fluence the Mayor, politically wise, was
generous He judiciOusly increased the
appropriations for departments that
represent votes, as the Department of
Public Schools for example.
As the discussion Of the different estl-
mates progressed another significant
fact was discovered. The Mayor and
the Merchants Association, determined
to submit a levy based absolutely on
dollar limit, found ii expedient to re
duce the salaries of municipal en-
ployes.
This reduction was found necessary
in several departments and the Mayor
in answer to a query of DR.. Perrault,
declared that city employees would be
we'll paid after they had suffered the
reductions which he suggested. DIR.
Perrault replied that while the Finance
Committee welcomed the suggestions
of the Mayor, an effort would be made
to honor the dollar limit pledge with
out reducing salaries.
The third and last distinguishing
feature of the estimates submitted by
Mayor Phelan was revealed when the
appropriation for the Assessor was
discussed. 1t was then found that the
Mayor, for reasons which probably
suggested themselves to him as ade-
quate, had dlScIlliIldISu III "a WI "a
Democratic officers and against Re
publican officials. He had increased
the appropriation Of the Assessor and
reduced that of the Tax Collector. He
attacked the clerical force of the Lii
cense Collector, Justice Clerk and
Supervisors. He pleaded statutory
limitations when he urged reductions
and fell back upon the necessities Of
municipal government when he advo-
Gated increased.
After all the various estimates had
been discussed DR.. Perrault declared
that the Finance Committee would en-