The San Francisco call., 1899-12-23
WOULD ABOLISH
NICKEL BOXES ON
TELEPHONES
Grand Jury Files Its
Report.
PRAISE FOR CITY OFFICIALS
BAD JANIToR SERVICE IN THE
CITY HALL.
PRAISE FOR CITY OFFICIALS

In its report fled last evening with Pre-
siding Judge Daingerfield Of the Superior
Court the Grand Jury, recognizing the
existing abuses Of the telephone COMPANY
emo the many Inconvenience 10 which a
long-sufering public has been compelled
10 submit owing 10 the exasperating tao
tics OF its employees. recommended the
adjustment OF the nickel-in-the-slot at
tachments 10 telephones and the estab-
hshment of a fiat rate in their stead. The
report of the committee on corporations,
consisting OF o. I. Gray chairman, J. p.
McMurray and J. c. Wolf. is as follows:
Your committee in it's investigation OF
The telephone system IN this city was
shown through the different operating de-
partments of the Pacific Telephone and
Telegraph Company. On Bush street. il
was pointed out 10 us how the signals
were given 20 the operator Al the time the
nickel Was deposited Ia the slot This sig
nal being nash Of light. which Is instan-
taneOus, we could readily see how the Op-
orator might have her attention attracted
in some other way and thereby miss the
signal, ana undoubtedly great deal Of
dissatisfaction is caused in this manner
together with the fact that the boxes Will
get out Of order. as admitted by the Of
ncers. In talking with the latter we could
get no satisfaction out OF them in refer
ence 10 any remedy for this evil, and
your committee would recommend that
the telephone company be required TO give
fiat rates instead OF using the nickel-ln-
the-slot telephone. as there Is no doubt IN
our minds that a fat rate is the only sat
isfactory way OF giving the public good
service
The committee which investigated the
Police Department. police patrol and City
Prison states that its duty, thanks 10 the
kindneE and courtesy of Chief Of Police
Lees, was made a great pleasure The
report says:
Let us note the commendable economy
that has marked the splendid administration
OF this department under lts present chief
I " Lees. which together with the fine
condition ~ the other branches OF the Po-
lice Department. make feel that Chief
Lees ls the right man ln the right place
The practice of preserving carefully in
neNed set n photographs ts most commend
able. a noteworthy provision Is that for the
care OF Those who are 30 unfortunate as 10
be compelled 20 call on the department for
aid and who are not ~ the criminal ele-
nent. The police stations are kept neat and
clean. the janltor work being done by police
officers with the exception OK some work ia
the main prison. The prison COOKS are pris-
oners brought from the county sails. and we
would rccummend the hiring Of regularly
paid cooks In their stead
The uatr0l system has proven a great sue
cess and demands extension. We strongly
second the recommendation of chief Lees
that there should be AZ ieast 80 more boxes
IA this excellent department We beg leave
20 urge fOr the better efficiency of The har-
hor police the immediate acquisition OF a
steam patrCi-boat. also the ownership by the
city OF All the city jails. thereby giving bet
ter buildings and doing away with rents
The use 81 bicycles for the park police and
of automobile mechanism on patrol wagons