The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-01

ton and completion by the city and county OF San
Francisco public utility, to wit, a railroad
and incur bonded debt OF the city and county to
the amount of seven hundred and ten thousand $zIo
ooo) dollars with interest three and half per
per annun for such acquisition of same; the Of
such railroad to be as follows: Commencing from
Fulton street on Tenth avenue, along Tenth avenue
to Point Lo5os avenue, to Geary street, and along
Geary street to Market street"
1t will be observed that this is proposition to
make all the taxpayers pay for street railroad for
the convenience of those only who live on the route
thereof who desire to use it. -.
1t will be observed that this separates the credit
from the plaht The taxpayers Of the whole city
to pay for the plant and those who it. make no
contribution, by such use, the principal and inter
est of the bonds The proposition therefore comes
under the question have already frankly discussed
and is open 10 the objections we have already
brought against the policy Of separating the income
of apublic utility from the cost of its. creation. To
burden all tn taxpayers for purpose in the interest
OF part of the taxpayers is abuse of the taxing
power, so vicious to be left without any excuse
When other cities everywhere in this country are
insisting that all public utility bonds shall rest upon
the income of the plants which they create, and
ghtened public intelligence everywhere is convinced
of the inequity OF any other policy it not possible
that the taxpayers Of this city will fly in the face of
experience and conclusive Judgment by burdenng
their general fund for purpose that is restricted in
its usefulness to a:few,~ =. 80. :~::..
To this Geary street road proposition attaches all
that has been said in behalf bashg utility bonds
the plant alone as the sole security the people have
for the business and economical rnanag of the:
same when in operation: Added to ths.is: the par
TALLY OF the service to be rendered The taxpayers
ill
cisco are be: taxed for what they do not want and
will not use Their case becomes entirely. different if
the bonds are issued on fhe plant To- be- paid by Its
income supplied by those who:use it. 81. -
Ithas been recently that the city of Cleve=
land Ohio, issue bonds to embark the city in the
business Of supplying electric light and power The
Chamber Of Commerce Of that city appointed conf.
ittee to employ experts examine the proposition and
report conclusions After an exhaustive. examna-
ton the committee reports against the proposition,
one Of ifs first reasons being that the proposed bonds
are to be issued as debt the whole city instead OF
being placed on the proposed plant alone. The conn
ittee say TT is unjust taxpayers to force them
to pay extra taxes and invest these also rnortgaging
the citys credit and indirectly every dollars worth
of local property. go into business venture which
can supply only "a small portion of the citys popula
ton and is.yety likely to run at loss. Therefore
your committee is strongly Of the opinion that the
bonds issued blythe city shoudbe a lien on the plant
only and. Upon the entire assets of the city and
the payment OF principal and interest Of such bonds
should be provided for out of the net income of the
plant In this way the users will stand all the cost
of supplying them with the service and it will not
throw part Of the. cost taxpayers who are:
users: The bids for such bonds would be fair index
Of the confidence; which investors have in munich
palitys ability to conduct business SUCCESSFULLY =
The proposed bond issue in Cleveland is only for.
100000. to erect the works. Cleveland had popu
Taon by the census:of 1900 Of 3SI,768 and San Fran
cisco blythe same census had 342782. Yet an issue
Of only 100000 in public utility bonds, made a lien
upon. the whole city instead of upon the plant only
is regarded as of sufficient importance to rouse the
Chamber of Commerce and the taxpayers to action
and move them to protest. Then how much more
important that the taxpayers of San Francisco be
watchful of their interests when it is proposed to
burden them with bonded debt nearly four times as
large fora public utility partial in its possibilities and
for the use OF "a small minority of the whole tax
paying .people ,s..- ~
Intelligent citizenship will continue to insist that
this city and Oakland, embarking upon municipal
ownership shall be in line with the conclusion of
experience and rest each bond issue for that purpose
upon the plant which it acquires or creates. The
wise proponents OF public ownership must themselves
that such policy increases the reasons for econ
omy in administration and enhances the probability
of success.
Already in Oakland the proposition to bond the
whole city for plant is being closely followed
by to bond it for telephone system and the
propaganda for the latter is already we'll under way
Unless right start is made both cities will find their
general fund burdened beyond the possibility of the
of any IF he essential of
and their constitutional credit limit exhausted,
leaving them poweress to effect other betterments
recognized by all as the proper function of govern
ment.
Emperor William has ordered his court portrait
painter to make drawing OF President Roosevelt
What CONSERVATION would reign in Berlin official