The San Francisco call., 1899-09-20
ADJUSTMENTS.
THE TAX LEVY.


T is doubtful whether the annals OF San Francisco
furnish more appalling instance OF dirty politics
in journalism than was supplied by the morning
organ OF the local Democracy yesterday In attempt
ing 10 make political capital OF the re-arranged
tax levy passed by the Supervisors on Monday that
sheet descended to level OF moral degradation COM
pared with which the OF the ordinary ward poll
tican rise to the dignity OF exalted craftsmanship.
There have been in this city many conspicuous eN-
amples OF political waowing in the pursuit OF office,
among which might be cited numerous assaults upon
private character designed to break down the aspira
tions OF worthy willing to serve the public but
the oldest inhabitant we to say, will fail to
recall an instance where newspaper for the purpose
OF securing petty political advantage OF doubtful
value has deliberately misrepresented the facts of 4
tax levy and with devilish maIgnity falsihed its fig
ures Nor is there in Our whole history a case IN
which there has been so successful an imitation OF
Satan's methods We doubt whether the devil, mas
querading in the livery OF heaven, would have been
equal to the task OF enactng such part IN the in
terest OF good government
In order to demonstrate the contemplate character
of the Examiners assault upon the Supervisors in
connection with the tax levy it is only necessary to
appeal to the facts. On Monday morning that sheet
printed an article in which it quoted the changes in
the provisional levy suggested by Mayor Phelan.
The appropriations agreed upon in this levy by the
Supervisors on August amounted to $2,52o ISo.
Mayor Phelan made changes last week, footing up
$lSoo7I, among which extra allow
ances of $zI,o8o for the School Depart
ment S3Izo6 for the Street Department,
and $4,000 for the Fire Department, In order to
bring the levy within the pledged rate OF 81 upon
total valuation OF $35o,oooooo the Mayor placed
So2 ired de
ciences judgments election expenses and the inter
est and sinking unds-outside the pledge, thus rec
ognizing and indorsing the principle that expendi-
lures not current might be met in that way
Not only did the Examiner interview the Mayor
and approve his proposed changes but it pointed
proudly to the fact that the had been fixed at
oo5 cents by that official The Supervisors were il
the same article dared to alter the figures although
between the lines there was expressed uncertain
hope that they would do So and thereby manufacture
political capital for the Democratic party
But the Supervisors did not alter the figures. On
the contrary, they adopted them bodily. To the list
OF exemptions, however they added $I25,ooo for the
acquisition for park purposes OF the lands bounded
by Dupont, California and Pine streets and St. Marys
place To this appropriation every man OF them had
been pledged, including the two Democrats and the
two Republicans who voted against it This money
fairly within the principle OF pledge exemption set up
by Mayor Phelan and indorsed by the Examiner in
the case OF Deficiencies judgments election expenses
and interest and sinking funds If the Mayor was
authorized to his pledge in favor OF those
exemptions, why not the Supervisors authorized
to construe theirs in behalf OF pledge which they
had made in good faith and which they were honestly
bound to keep
The tax levy is IT cents in excess of the pledge ci
81 upon total valuation OF $3sooooooo but all save
two and fraction cents OF that excess was not only
suggested and requested by Mayor Phean but it was
ndorsed by the Democratic minority in the Board
OF Supervisors and ratified by the Examiner on Mon
day The excess Of two and fraction cents was
levied in pursuance OF pledge given to Rev. Father
Otis in behalf OF St Marys Park by every Super
visor including the Democrats. Was not this pledge
which was violated by the Democrats as sacred as
the other2 Who, in short, are guilty OF the greater
moral turpitude-those Supervisors Who honoraby
kept their pledge by following Mayor Phelan's con
struction OF the pledge or those who in order 10
make low partisan politics. broke their plghted faith
to an earnest minister OF the Gospel who is striving
to abolish city plague spot and elevate the morals
Of the people?
1t is difficult to discuss with patience newspaper
which. in the manufacture of partisan politics. thus
falsiies the notorious facts of local history Per.
haps the incident does not justify the feeling we dis
play over it. since the Examiner has long been
abandoned morally and is beyond reformation. But
it presents us with opportunity to say what every
fair-minded man in San Francisco knows to be the
truth namely that the present Board of Supervisors
have served the public faithfully that they have kept
all their pledges honestly, and that the record shows
them in every respect to be devoted to good, eco
nomca, respectable efficient and honest government
Any newspaper which withholds the credit due to sucl
men-whch misrepresents them for political gain
not only works for bad and corrupt government, bu
convicts itself Of nsincerity and base motives.
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Justice Rodden has now discovered that the habi