The San Francisco call., 1899-07-09
APPROPRIATION
WILL NOT RUN
THE DEPART MENT
Fire Commissioners
Ask More Money.
MEET WITH SUPERVISORS
SIXTEEN COMPANIES WILL BE
DISCONTINUED.
Conference Which Does Not Promise
Much in the Way of an In
crease for the Com
missioners.
MEET WITH SUPERVISORS
SIXTEEN COMPANIES WILL BE
DISCONTINUED.

The Supervisors have sown good econ
omy wind and they are now reaping
whirlWinds Of prayers from every depart
mental division of the municipal govern
ment. The Fire Commission met yester-
day morning to discuss the fiscal appro-
priation of the Board of Supervisors to
the Fire Department and to advise with
the Supervisors as to remedial measures.
The appropriation under the 81 tax limit
allows the department $4,000 monthly for
current expenses; the former monthly al
lowance to the Fire Department was s27,
600. A present the Fire Commission is in
dire distress. They do not know which
way to turn as according to their state
ment the money allowed them will not
pay the necessary regular expenses of the
department.
Besides the five Commissioners, George
T. Bohen, who presided, Frank G. Ed
wards, Colin NJ. Boyd, Joseph Marshall
and r. H. Jones, seven Supervisors and
a number of men familiar with fire insur-
ance and department affairs were present
to advise and discuss the straits in which
the commission finds itself. f. W. Dohr-
mann, president of the Merchants Asso-
citation; President Havens of the Under
writer's Association, Charles A Layton
and r. Herold also attended the meeting:
President George T. BOhen explained
the condition OF affairs since the resolu-
: tiOn of the Supervisors was passed cur
failing the appropriation TO the Fire De
pdrtneNt. In tdDuldteO form q statement
of comparison was read. 1t is as follows:
Actual cost of department last year. $6S5 796 O1
Amount appropriated this year........ 5S9, 300 90
Estimated deficit .sl46. 1876 Of
Cost per annum of each engine. .......S 5000 90
Cost per annun of each chemcal...... 300 09
Cost per annum OF each truck.......... 3,700 20
Total Z Il 100 O0
Placed out of service six engines. a oe0 90
Placed out of service, seven chemicals 81, 900 90
Placed out of service, two trucks-.-... 400 90
Refrain from purchase Of horses..... 1850 %
Refrain from purchase of hydrants.... 30,SG1 4S
Amount over SO. 5lS &C.
The estimated deficit that would result
| if the department expenses were the same
for the coming year as they We're last
year would amount to S146 1876 OF. In order
to avoid this deficit a wholesale slashing
would be necessary in the management.
The commission has prepared tempor-
airy plan by which the deficit may be met.
! This involves the discontinuance of six
teen cOmpanies-seven engines, seven chem
icalS and two trucks. 1t will be neceS-
/ sary also to refrain from the purchase of
/ hose, horses and hydrants during the COM
| ing year unless the Fire Department is
allowed a greater appropriation.
! The companies to be displaced in case of
necessity are: Engines-No. SO. Ocean View;
] No. 80. Holly Park District; No. 80, Ashbury
/ No. 20, Fibert street. between Webster and
Fillmore; No. .. 12ls STOCKTON ST. street; @ No 3
! o.
/ No. T. $3.50 Seyenteenth street. Chemical En-
gines-No. l. S14 Second street; No. 2. 13G
Tenth street; No. g. 112 Jackson street; No. T.
/ AS McAllister street; No. 3, 627 Broadway; No
( 6. 81 Sixth street; No Z, 1850 Seventeenth
street
! Should this looping off of companies be
/ put in force 142 men would lose employ
ment. The entire chemical engine appa-
/ ratus would be unnamed and further
| discontinued. Chief Sullivan stated the
needs of the department and put the case
! plainly to the Supervisors.
This action of the Supervisors in cur
! failing the appropriation for the Fire De-
/ partment is something new" said Chief
! teen companies and to refrain from fur
| ther purchase of necessary supplies is
fTaught with danger to the city It It's is
things" 5i1a ' '
Perrauit. m LacRmann, La rn ,'O Byington, Collins
| Deasy and Aigeltinger-were given an op-
portunity to declare themselves and fight
free of the entanglements. which the Fire
| Commissioners attempted to put upon
! them in their endeavors to secure greater
! appropriation. President Havens of the
| Underwriters and Rudolph Herold spoke
| eoquently upon the necessity of sustain
ing. the efficiency of the department.
They hoped that the dollar limit would
be revoked if the Fire Department was to
suffer from efficiency.
1T is better to have dark streets than
/ to have them lighted by great conflagra
! TONS said Herold in answer to Perrault,
who wanted to know if a greater appro-
priation were preferred to unlighted
/ thoroughfares.
/ The Supervisors. though exhorted to
| lift the burden and promise the, commits
sion more money, refused to take imme
date action. They claimed that they
were pledged to the dollar limit and they
could not as men of honor, go back upon
! their former actions which were ruled by
/ an obedience to the wishes of the people.
One and all promised that if the Fire De
/ appropriation and a cut be made on other
/ departments this would be done. Collins
! went so far as to say that he thought
| the dollar limit basis of taxation would
have to be revoked in measure to meet
| the demands.
F. W. Dohrmann spoke at length upon
/ the question and stated that the Mer
chants Association would review the
matter and do all in its power, to help the
| Fire Commission out of the dilemma. The
matter rests with the Supervisors, as it
! stands now. The meeting was adjourned
| till Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock,
| when final action will be taken.
HIGH-PRICED GAME.