The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-19
THE TELEPHONE RESOLUTIONS.

NNCE more the majority OF the Board OF Su-
J peryisors have given proof OF genuine regard
Tor the public welfare by the enactment OF
municipal legislation which will be OF material benefit
10 the community. The passage OF the telephone
resolutions yesterday was a distinct victory for the
people against powerful corporation. Nor was II a
barren victory for il viii provide the public treasury
with considerable income by the imposition OF a tax
which is in every respect just and equitable.
The resolutions impose a tax OF 81 per quarter upon
all telephone slot machines operated the city and
provide further that the desired switch shall be made
for the patron Of the line before he can be required 10
drop into the slot the nickel which the company
charges Tor the service.
In each OF these provisions the resolution is excel
lent In testimony given before the License Commit
tee Of the Board OF Supervisors it was stated that
there in round numbers about 900 nicelin-the
slot telephone machines in operation in this city BY
the tax imposed the city will obtain from these ma
chimes revenue OF $4,000 annually. That income
while il may be large as such machines ought to
yield is still a handsome addition municipal rev
enues and imposes no unjust burden upon the com
pany. Moreover, 4 is one the corporation cannot
shift upon the public and is therefore the best form
bf taxation which can be devised
The requirement upon the company TO make the
switch desired by the patron before II can demand
The nickel from him provides remedy Tor an abuse
OF long standing and OF serious evil In the past the
company has required the intending patron 10 deposit
his nickel before connecting him with the party with
whom he wishes 10 converse, and not nirequently
after the nickel has been dropped in the slot and is
beyond recovery the patron has been informed that
The line IS engaged that the party Is out or that some
ether reason exists why he could not have the ser
vice he had paid for
San Francisco needs the revenue which will be pro
Tided by the tax imposed. Il will go far toward
making up the deficit in license taxes estimated 10 fol-
low the operation OF the charter The people Of
San Francisco need the protection given By the pro-
vision requiring the switch 10 be made before the
nickel IS eNacted Heretofore the public has had no
protection whatever from any fraud practced bv taking
money in that way without giving return for il
Thus in double respect the resolution subserves the
good and the true needs OF the community
II would not be right pass over this matter with
out giving due credit 10 the Supervisors who have in
the closing weeks OF their term done this Justice 70
the public. The majority Of the board have been
faithful 10 their pledges made in the campaign vhe,
they candidates for Office They have accom-
plished much good for the CITY and the adoption N
this resolution is but Of the many good acts Of
legislation which mark their term Of service The
people may well congratulate themselves upon the
work Of this board and in doing so should not fail
10 give credit where il is due