The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-04
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Oakland Office San Francisco Call
COS BROADWAY Anril 8

90S Broadway, April 3.
The new City Council assumed charge
of the city's affairs tonight. The fea-
ture of the meeting was the reading of a
message from Mayor Snow. 1t was a
pertinent document, words being neither
minced nor wasted.
I'VE find the city in a pit" says the
Mayor. I'VE shall hurt somebody getting
it out, and probably do ourselves some
injury: but the peculiar situation is both
the reason for our action and our excuse.
l recommend that the salary of every Of
ffcer and employe that is not fixed by the
charter be reduced until June 80 about Is
per cent.
Every incoming Mayor has read an in
augural message; the desk has filed IL
away and it has been forgotten within
ten days You will notice that / have
adopted a different plan In my communi-
cation I have made nine suggestions and
the same number of ordinances and reso-
buttons are respectfully presented here
with for such action as your wisdom di-
reefs.
ITO meet the deficit of SEQ, 900, the Coun-
Gil will probably reduce every salary now
fixed by resolution or ordinance % per
cent. Policemen will probably be retired
from the positions of captain and detec-
tives for the purpose OF saving their in
creased salaries. The expense of house
umDerlnR Will De OlSCOUllHueu. Oiic'
half of the street lights are to be shut
off; one-half the street sweeping to be
discontinued and also one-half of the
street sprinkling. The bond interest
money due on coupons July will be used
for general expenses; and after all, the
statutory salaries, amounting to $2I 200 Tor
the months of April, May and June, Will
have TO be carried over into the next MS
III was known when the last tax levy
was made that to do. what was then al
ready proposed would REQUIRE levy or
81 g. Without making any change in the
programme of expenses the levy was
liked at 81 81 deficit of $4,000 is the re-
suit. 49,, ot4,.
is 81. except for bonds and interest. The
assessment roll dropped last year S6,OOO,-
900 and is likely to be reduced this year
81 600 900 more. The property of the
whole city is likely to be valued by the
County Assessor this year for only $40,-
DOC, 900. This valuation at the full legal
The additional income from other
sources is not likely to be more than
$3.50 900, or 900 all told.
THE cost for maint se0 alone s7I for
600. The cost of street Lighting In lS9o
was $36 900. 1t is now $4,000; The cost
of our schools in 1890 was $500 900. 1t is
now $3OO, 900. In 1890 only $55,OOO was ex-
pended upon our streets. Last year $780,
600 was expended for like purposes. Our
Police Department expense has grown
maintenance. And our Fire Department
that cost in 1890 $4,000 for maintenance
now costs $4,000. The reduction OF
IS 900 900 in the assessment roll since 1897
reduces the income of the city $4,000 per
year upon a tax rate of 81. The cost OF
the city government must be reduced the
coming fiscal year $4,000 or the present
condition of affairs will be repeated one
year from to-day.
To the School Directors Mayor Snow
sent the following additional suggestion:
how that | desire
to speak of. 1t is very probable that
some attempt may. be made during the
year to amend the city charter The
present charter attempts to require the
Board of Public Works to act as your
executive arm, while the general law
seems to set this provision aside. When
we come to amend the charter 1t Will be
necessary to know for fact whether
your honorable body controls school
district and is subject to the general
laws governing such districts or subject
to charter provisions. 1 desire to request
that you join If necessary in friendly
suit that may be hereafter arranged to
orable board to the city of Oakland"
When the Council met Councilman n.
D. Rowe of the Seventh Ward was unani-
mously elected president. He was an ac-
tive member of the last Council
Those who expected surprises at the
Council meeting were not disappointed.
for they came in punches. Mayor Snow
read his own message and handed in the
ordinances and resolutions necessary to
make II effective.
Councilman Girard made the first attack
on gambling by calling up the ordinance
prohibiting keno, which was held up by
made a powerful plea for the ordinance.
II have made inquiry" he said land know
whereof l speak. There are in the heart
of this city twelve or fifteen hells where
our youth are being corrupted and made
dishonest. At this present moment from
800 TO 1000 people are gambling and APP
parently there is no ordini~ce to. stop
them. In this number are clerks and stu
dents of our high school and university,
young men who cannot do more than sup
around rislzing their money and perhaps
that Of their employers at keno. These
bloodsuckers who run these games should
be stopped at once. / know just where
they are located, and although there are
signs up, No boys under q admitted
that is the most deceptive of subterfuges,
for have seen in one saloon as many as
eight boys under 16 years old.
IF this ordinance will not stand the test
of the courts, then we will pass one i'm
posing a license of $1,000 night on these
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