The San Francisco call., 1899-07-12
THE DOLLAR LIMIT.

THE CALL has repeatedly invited the public at
tention to the fact that, in the municipal cam
paign of $685. each political organization and
every candidate for a municipal office was pledged
to rate OF taxation for this fiscal year that should
not exceed one dollar in the hundred on an assumed
valuation OF three hundred and fifty millions. Ih1s
pledge simple Ineligible incapable of evasion
emphaticaly the special capital of the fusion candl-
date for Mayor and of the organ that supported him
Every political idea that was incorporated into the
fusion platform was stamped into dust by the heels
OF the voters The thing that lifted Mayor Phe-
Ian OF the crash and the ruin that befe his party
was his economical pledge backed, as he expressed It,
by his official experience for two years.
There can be nothing simpler than mans word.
He either keeps it or he breaks it This evident
" the view OF Mayor Phelan when he delivered his
second inaugural before the present Board OF Super
visors. Now what is the meaning OF the concerted
effort pressed from dozen quarters, to force vio
laton of this pledge? The Republican members of
the board fully sustained by the Republican press
have refused even to consider any proposal recede
from the obligation, either in the letter in the
spirit But the Democratic members show in
cnation to fall down. And Mayor Phelan the Jupi-
ter Tonans OF the dollar limit is off his vacation
and. however much he may be entitled to rest, at
most critical moment palpably evades a situa-
ton which, beyond all other public officials, he has
assisted to create. He has been invited, over and
over again. to reconcile his promises of public i'm
provements with his economical declarations and to
make practical suggestions so avoid the
culation of any department of the municipal service
But at the precise instant when he is wanted just
when he could prove the reality of his position by
ducing the generaltes of a canvass to business
level he is absent.
The situation especially on the fusion or Demo
cratic side, is unique. The Democratic Assessor be-
lieves that under the new charter rate of eighty
five cents the hundred dollars or thereabouts
ought produce all the money that the municipality
needs to raise by taxation. The Republican Auditor
Mr. Wells, thought that in view OF the frauds con-
stantly perpetrated in the purchase of supplies it
might be impossible to observe the dollar limit and
meet the exigencies of the various departments for
the present fiscal year The real question be
one OF equalization, not only respects the tax
payers but in the division of the No citizen
is desirous to see the Fire Department, which has
done such excellent work in the past and upon which
the community so largely depends, reduced to pow
erty that would impair its efficiency. But, the
other hand no citizen who has studied the facts con-
sders that this is necessary Let business methods
be employed let the purchase of supplies be regulated
by ordinary rules and not used as mode of sur
rendering public money without a just equivalent
and, as Mr.. Wells has logically proved the appro-
priatons Of past years can be largely reduced
The fact is, and the community is impressed with
the belief, that this municipality be easily run
within the dollar limit upon the valuation OF three
hundred and fifty millions There is actual need
for all the fuss and disturbance that simple proposal
to be commonly honest has engendered The Super
visors themselves, with the aid of other municipal
officers, can scale down and apportion the appropria
tons so that the last half of this year and the first
half of next year will sgnaze departure that
less han
of the people by the officers they have elected
But the fusion organ and the fusion Supervisors
ought TO stand up to the rack And, in way,
even at the expense OF slight curtatnent of his Va
cation the benefit OF Mayor Phelans experience
should be obtained and he should be afforded full
opportunity to fulfill his election promises and to
prove that he has not done his political talking
through his hat