The San Francisco call., 1899-08-04
INJURING THE CITY.

THE issue between the Board OF Health and
Mayor Phelan in regard to the pairing OF ap-
preparations TO bring the tax levy within the
dollar limit having served pretext for closing the
Receiving Hospitals is made use OF by the kXamlner
to the injury OF the city's fame and credit. Ihat
paper to advertise ITSELF is parading receiving hos
ptal provided by it, and is making 1t appear to the
world that San Francisco has not a government that
can furnish with the equipment required IN the ad-
mnstration OF all cities. 1t goes without saying that
the Examiner puts untruthfuly the cause OF closing
the public receiving hospitals Mayor Phelan and
other politicians, who commend themselves to popu-
lar favor and get office by agonizng about economy
insist that the expense of every branch OF the city
government shall be brought down to the dollar levy
They usually begin ingratlate themselves with the
taxpayers long before they succeed in assuming pub
lie responsibility and gather knowledge by actual ex-
perience in administration. II they would plainly
prove the capacity OF the dollar limit to sustain all
The public institutions necessary to the welfare OF the
city they would render genuine service; or IT, tail
ing to prove this, they would frankly admit their tail
ure the busy people who earn and pay the taxes
would be put in possession OF information useful
guide to their political action. Instead OF doing this
the politicians on both sides get by the and such
fantastic capers result the arbitrary closing of the
receiving hospitals and while Mayor Phean delb-
crates without limit the dollar limit his yellow
organ advertise5 itself the expense Of the good
name of the city The Examiner is fond OF bringing
itself into notice as substitute for government Only
lately announced that had taken the place OF the
Federal Government in supplying necessary articles
OF uniform to the Oregon Volunteers It's OF the
army oYercoat and OF the Oregon boys sandwich
pack its advertisement UP and down the guard
line and through the streets Of the city prompt
exposure which laid the impudent paper naked to
public ridicue since only eight overcoats were ever
called for and it proved they were taken from
curiosity than necessity.
The proper duty OF newspaper, its legitimate func-
tion is call attention official neglect and failure
Of administration, and inform public opinion truth
fully of the facts the end that that final Judge of
all government shall force public officers TO do their
duty tell the truth and treat the people fairly This
is the light in which The Call regards such matters
and this paper will not encourage public officers in
demagogy or any form OF infdelity to their trust,
merely that it may pretend to substitute itself for
government.
The Examiners greed for notoriety and advertising
itself the expense of the interests of San Fran
cisco and OF the State is doing harm to both
The Mayor and Supervisors and Board of Health
could be brought to their official senses very quickly
by frownng public opinion. We notified the Board
Of Health some weeks ago that the programme TO
which it asked to submit would lead it into dsas-
ter The politicians who urged that programme upon
it responsible for their share of the party dscon-
future and public damage that have followed AS
they see now the made OF it by the enemy of the
party they profess to serve sto be hoped they will
retrace their steps and ceasing to do evil will learn
20 CO we'll