The San Francisco call., 1899-07-17

disappointment. He does not see any rea-
son why Oaklanders should be compelled
to pay rates for water that will produce
interest on an amount about three times
the value t OF water plant sDant that fSTd fSqaa
months procuring data on this subject
and he should feel very well satisfied with
the report he has just prepared on the the
subject, although 1t dispOses permanently
of the pet scheme he hoped to see adopt
ed. He has made the discovery that there
is politics even in water.
FELTON, Taylor Is the attorney Of the
board AS q rule he lets the other fell
lows do all the talking and then with
professional grace he undertakes the
though an old football player, he Is not
a kicker, and although new in politics no
one is playing him
These are the fourteen men who COM
pose the city government and whom the
outs are interested in keeping in a
fighting attitude, so that they shall be
discredited and prepare the way for some
more solid skies" when they go out Of
office. So far this scheme has met with
too much success, and the administration
has not fulfilled all that was expected of
it. The couple of hundred politicians and
interested parties who attend the meet
ings of the Board OF Works and the City
of city officials, are not the people by
whom the city government was elected.
It was elected by the thousands Of Peo-
pie who pay water rates, use cross walks,
want good sewers, appreciate good
streets, need proper police and fire pro-
lection and all the other civic rights that
are to be found with good government.
These are the people who pay the taxes
that the city government expends, and it
is these people who have the right to
demand the attention and services of the
city officials and to expect that they will
not fritter away valuable time pandering
to the petty schemes and selfish wishes
of a mere handful of politicians.
The annexed district, covering many
square miles, is crying out for sewers;
West Oakland has started a movement to
procure a wharf; Twenty-third avenue is
anxious for a public park; West Oakland
wants it's park improved; North Oakland
wants a park; Central Oakland wants a
park; East Oakland wants Independent
square improved; the city's share Of the
water front Is crying out for attention;
there is need of permanent Improvement
on several highways; the City Hall prob
lem needs working out; the report of the
possible local supply Of fresh water
should receive more attention than to be
read and placed on fie." And there are
scores of other important measures de-
manding the attention of the city govern
rnent and to give attention to which 1t
was elected. Votes were not cast for the
successful ticket last March SO that rela-
LNeS Oh COuIlCIIHiSH Lii6AI NC 5l'cH oOlt l
positions in the city government, or that
any particular individual might be placed
in a position where he can make a cam
paign to become Mayor or to go to Con-
gress.
At this time 1t would be well for those
charged with the serious duty Of govern
ing Oakland to take out the dusty plat
forms of the Republican and Municipal
League parties and read the practical
pledges which they were elected to carry
out and which they seem to have forgot,
not excepting the dollar limit tax
STUART w. BOOTH.