The San Francisco call., 1904-06-07

OF the Board OF Supervisors in refus-
ing the larger appropriations asked for
by the Board OF Education was filed
yesterday with Mayor Schmitz by
President Roncovieri of the latter body.
The letter especially attacks the
Finance Committee of the Supervisors
fer what it describes as wanton
disregard of the health and even the
lives Of the pupils. This is declared to
have been shown by the comnittees
failure TO provide funds for repairs Of
many old school buildings that have
been condemned by the Board of
Health as unsanitary.
President EoncoYieri, speaking for
the School Board. says that the Super
visors have reduced the amount of
municipal taxes allowed for school
purposes during the coming fiscal year
TO 500, goo. or SS5, 600 less than was given
in this years budget. To cover up this
deduction, he AYERS, they carried for
ward the amount OF S10S. 900 from this
years income on the ground that on
May 2S, when the Finance Committee
made up its estimate, this amount was
still uneXpended, although the Finance
Committee had notice that il was al
ready contracted for and that the whole
sum would be spent before July I.
ATTACK ON THE SCHOOLS.
Roncovieri charges the Supervisors
with a deliberate attack upon the
School Department in thus reducing
its income in the face of the we'll
known facts that the number of chill
dren Of school age is vastly increasing
every year and that the amount of
r6xable property is $43 600. 900 larger
this year than last. He asks the Mayor
to oppose so much of the budget as
applies to the common school fund
with view to compelling its revision
and the granting Of the same percent
age Of the city's income as last year,
namely, .096S cents out Of the dollar
limit This would give $40, 900, or
$4,000 more from municipal taxation
than the budget adopted yesterday al
lows According to President Romeo
vieri. IL would enable the School Board
10 make the most essential repairs in
the older buildings.
Finally, the president of the Board
OF Education emphasizes the need of
a special school tax and recommends
that 4 charter amendment for that
purpose be submitted 20 the people.
The substance Of the letter follows:
SAN FRANCISCO. June 6. 1904.
Hon Eugene Z. Schmitz. Mayor Of the City
ana County OF San Francisco-Sir; The un-
friendly attitude toward the School Department
taken by the Finance Committee OF the Board
Of Supervisors. consisting Of Supervisors Bran
deustein. d'Ancona and Payot. in refusing to
allow any moneys for much needed repairs. ad-
ditiOns and sanitary improvements TO our
old buildings makes necessary this report
10 you. The Board Of Education respectfully
petitions your Honor 20 oppose so much Of the
budget as applies 10 the common school fund
in order that the more considerste members OF
the Board OF Supervisors who believe in safe
sanitary school buildings may have oppor-
tunity 10 reverse the action OF the Finance
The grounds on which we base our petition
are as follows: When the bond issue was be-
ing prepared by the Utilities Committee OF the
Board OF Supervisors supervisor Braunhart,
chairman) the Board OF Education submitted
very complete list Of urgently needed repairs
renovation Of the plumbing and sanitary toilet
systems Of schools. The chairman OF this
that the bond election would be called only for
new school buildings. and that all contem-
plated renovations 10 existing buildings would
be provided for out Of the regular annual ap-
propriations.
LEGACIES OF THE PAST.
The dilapidated buildings that need repairing
are legacies Of the past monuments TO the
stupidity or lack Of foresight Of those who
in condition The cost Of painting. repairing
and placing all the old buildings and toilet
estimated after six months time spent on the
work by Civil Service Inspector OF School
Buildings J. Mesheehy. and will be nearly
$500, 600.
The issue on this question of urgent repairs
and improvements TO old buildings must be
met some time. and we propose to meet it now
These buildings not improving with age
Each year for the last three years the atten-
tion OF this same Finance Committee has been
called 10 the disgraceful condition OF some OF
our buildings and TO the defective toilet and
plumbing systems, condemned by the Board
Ct Health as dangerous to the lives Of the
children, always receiving the same answer
I'VE will do all for the School Depart
ment in our next appropriation"
The Board Of Education receives the blame
for not improving these conditions when the
blame should fall properly upon those who de-
nberately refuse to furnish the means TO bet
ter them, namely, the majority OF the Board
Of Supervisors. In the face Of the
fact that the present defective plumbing and
unsanitary toilet systems have been condemned
by the health authorities and that a fun and
detailed report Of these conditions has been
Committee Of the Board of Supervisors their
indifference and heedlessness Of the children OF
the people Of San Francisco are little short Of
criminal.
Whenever I have spoken with members OF
the Finance Committee regarding these and
other great necessities OF the School Depart
prOtestatiOns Of friendliness for the School
Department but beyond these empty words
naught ever comes from them. Their stock
excuse has always been that the one dollar
limit does not provide a sufficient revenue to
ment and at the same time allow any money
for rehabiitatfng the old buildings. The
slightest examination Of facts will show that
this is not true. Last year .O963 cents out
Of the one dollar limit OF taxation was al
lowed for the school department, producing a
revenue OF $4O5. 900 Of municipal cash This
year in the face Of an increased assessment
roll Of $43 O00 900 the same Finance Committee
has the hardihood 10 reduce pro rata OF
the one dollar limit TO .06SS cents which will
produce a revenue OF only $500, 900 Of municipal
cash; or &S5, 600 less than last year, and that,
too IN face Of the annually expanding needs
OF the department and its increased enroll
ment Of pupils. The State, the contrary,
has increased her appropriation and does so
annually not because she loves any more
than she does other counties, but because the
number OF children IS increasing annually and
the census Of children OF school age this year
viii reach over $4,000. as against 81 1000 last
year
!. The appropriation from the State is made
on a basis OF 50 per year for each child OF
school age. and she is doing her duty by
allowing enough money. on the basis OF the
Increase in the number Of children The
Finance Committee in their budget allow alb
rolutely nothing Of city taxes toward this
Increase but on the contrary they allow this
department SS5, 900 less than they did last
wear. in other words their programme for
the past few years has been a see-saw propo-
sltion with the appropriation of municipal
moneys on the lower end allowing OF muni-
pal cash in an inverse ratio from the State
50 as to keep the appropriation OF the School
Department practically stationary, notwith-
standing the natural increase of children and
the expense Of educating them and notwith-