The San Francisco call., 1899-07-02

80 HE tax levy recommendation
of the Finance Committee of
the Board of Supervisors have
created great deal of discus
sion, but there is now practi-
cally no question that they VIII De
adopted by the board at the proper
time. The Supervisors are firm IN their
determination to keep their pledge ana
they have with them the support OF the
business community. AS matter OF
course the public officials, whose reVe-
nues have been curtailed, are wild with
Indignation and protest that they can
not conduct their departments with the
amounts provided for them. a morn
ing newspaper. which it is hoped VIII
wake up in a few days to the interest
ing fact that the Finance Committee
has adopted a tax levy, is giving ex-
preston to the discOnsOlate among
whom it has the unhappiness to be
numbered.
An analysis of the levy, however,
throws a different light on the matter.
The estimates, as they have been
adoDted bv the Finance Committee, are
largely the work of DR.. Ed Perrault,
who discussed the levy yesterday and
demonstrated the justice of what he
believes to be the various appropria-
tions.
Some comment has been made" said
DR. Perrault because we did not make
a separate appropriation for the con-
tingent expenses of the City and Coun-
tv Attorney. We made no such prOVis-
ion. as there is already an appropria-
ton of $4,000 for stationery and print
ing and another of $4,000 for printing
transcripts on appeal. The City and
County Attorney may rest easy in the
assurance that his demands will al
ways be hOnored.
1T is charged that we have nearly
crippled the Board of Health. A few
comparisons will show that we have
done nothing of the kind. Previous to
the fiscal year of 1S95-96 the salaries
under the board aggregated only $21,-
000 divided among the following en-
ployeS: Health officer, secretary, as
sistant secretary, messenger, market
inspector, three assistant market in
spectors, six health inspectors, plumb
ing inspector and assistant plumbing
inspector. At that time the regular al
loWance for expenses was $4,000. In
times of epidemics additional assist
ance was allowed and paid for out of
the urgent necessity fund, according to
statute. Since 1890 and before the ad-
vent of the last Board of Health, the
department was successfully conducted
upon this basis by such physicians as
Drs. Rosenstirn, a. w. Perry, McCar
thy, Clinton. W. H. Mays, McQueston,
lie Tourneux and others, whose ability
is above question.
Some adverse comment has been
created because of the abolition of the
Quarantine Department. This city
surely can trust to the integrity and
ability of the United States officials in
this matter, the Federal Government
has recently commanded it's quarantine
officials to exercise exceptional vigi-
lance, particularly at this port, and
local department Of quarantine is alto
gether unnecessary.
1T is charged that we have not inter
fered with the revenues of the Sheriff
the District Attorney, the License Col
lector and the Clerk of the Justices
Court. That part of the criticism which
is not nonsense is malice. The Sheriff
is allowed what the statutes guarantee
to him and nothing more. The District
Attorney has been treated precisely in
the same way, with the exception that
he is given $50 a month for the first six
months for a stenographer. There is
provision for such an emplOye at $75 a
month under the charter.
"A comparison between the Justices
Court Clerk and the County Clerk will
show whether or not the former is en-
titled to what he receives. The Jus
tees Court Clerk has seven assistants.
including messenger. The aggregated
salaries of the office are $10.6S0 a year
and the income transferred by the office
to the city is $22, AIS go The County
Clerk has seventy-nine assistants and
turns over to the city only $4S,603 3S, a
little more than double what the JUS
tees Clerk contributes. The office of
the License Collector is one of the most
profitable to the city in the municipal
government. The License Collector has
plenty of employment for all his depu-
ties. as l have no doubt the Mayor will !
admit.
In reference to the fire alarm and
police telegraph, a great hue and cry
has been raised. Unfair critics insist |
that the department will now go to |
ruin and that for lack of the facilities
of communication whole sections of the |
town may burn down This assertion
can be raised to no greater dignity than
that of malicious lie. The efficiency
of the department will not be impaired |
in the slightest degree. All improve
ments and extensions in it have neces- |
sarily been stopped because of our |
pledge. The Superintendent has moth !
ing to do except to keep the system over
which he has supervision in good re-
pair. And for the purpose we have