The San Francisco call., 1899-02-10
Declare 1t Is Not True
Economy.
CRITICIZE THE SEAWALL BILL
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION OUT
LINES ITS VIEWS.
Favors Mayors Suggestion for Ex-
tension Of the Park Pan
handle Under Certain
Conditions.

A special meeting of the directors of the
Merchants Association was held yester-
day for the purpose of considering pub
lie improvements and a number of pro-
posed laws now before the Legislature.
Vice President Baldwin stated that the
bill for the suppression of poolrooms had
been introduced by Assemblyman Ather-
ton at the request of members of the as
sociation.
There was an interesting debate con-
cerning the taxing of State, county, school
district and city bonds. The position was
taken by the board that on account of
the taxation of such bonds the people
here will not purchase them, and as a re-
suit these securities are sold to Eastern
bankers, to. whom the people of this State
the taxes on the million dollar bonds that
the State is about to issue for the con-
struction of the seawall and other i'm
provements would be very great
A resolution was passed declaring that
1t is against public policy and contrary
to true principles of economy for the
State to tax its own securities, and the
Legislature is requested to propose an
amendment to the constitution exempting
such bonds from taxation.
The secretary of the association was in
structed to send the following telegram
to the author of the bill providing for the
issuing of bonds by the State for the con-
struction of the seawall:
Hon. Samuel Braunhart Senate State Capi-
toll Sacramento, CAL: The board of directors
of the Merchants Association, in meeting as
sembled, unanimously resolved to oppose the
the construction of the seawalT of this harbor.
Seawall construction should be paid out of the
current revenues of the Harbor Commission,
and we believe that these revenues are sufa-
cient to accomplish this purpose. The aim of
the city and county of San Francisco the con-
troll and ownership of its harbor front and
MERCHANTS ASSOCIATION.
Action in relation to other bills pending
in the Legislature was taken as follows:
FaVorlng the passage of Senate bill AIS
Tor the abolition OF trading stamps;, IA
v9ring the. passage of Senate bill AZ
adopting certain desirable amendments to
the Political Code in relation to pilots:
to oppose Assembly bill II repealioe the
purity of election law; to oppose Assem-
bly, bill 10, the provisions of which would
nulllfy some of the desirable features of
the Australian ballot law; favoring the
passage of Assembly bill 2OS for the es-
tablfshment of State civil service law,
and favoring. the passage of acts estab-
fishing better provisions for the govern
ment of primary elections.
The committee appointed to consider the
scheme suggested by the Mayor of extend
ing Golden Gate Park panhandle to Market
street and the purchase of seven blocks
OF land lying north of the park, reported
that while 1t indorses' the suggestion.
there are other matters requiring consid-
Grafton first. The report concludes as
follows:
We therefore recommend that the Merchants
Association indorse the proposed scheme for
extending the park panhandle and for acquir-
ing the blocks north of Golden Gate Park. and
that at or about the same time an election be
held for the construction of new school build
ings and other necessary improvements. In
our opinion the matters to be considered should
be taken up in about the following order:
First-Main outlet sewers Salt water pump
ing station for fire protection and for flushing
sewers.
Second-New school buildings, hospitals DO
lice stations and necessary repairs to the pres
ent school buildings.
Third-Parks and boulevards.