The San Francisco call., 1904-11-08
DEFINES SCOPE
OF AN INQUIRY
Finance Committee Agrees
on Line of Questions for
United Railroads to Answer
AIDS SMALL TAXPAYER
Collector Smith Adopts a
Form of Protest Against
Levy for the Bond Issue
AIDS SMALL TAXPAYER


yesterday arranged for the holding Of
an inquiry by the Street Committee into
the operations of the United Railroads
relative to It's franchises and the char
acter of its service. upon which E. P. Z.
Troy has propounded a long list Of
poration to reply. Troy wanted the in
quiry to take in the alleged overcapi-
talization of the company's properties.
Supervisor d d'Ancona said the question
of fares and finances would be a sub
Ject that would take a long time to look
into, whether il would be justified or
not.
The point has been legitimately
raised as to whether the United Rail
roads has forfeited any of it's fran
chses by reason of nonuse," said Bran
denstein. The right to use curves at
Post and Kearny streets and at Fulton
street and Eighth avenue are subjects
of legitimate inquiry, and the company
should make reply on all of these
points"
The company should also answer as
to what, If any, franchises they claim
to hold under which they are not op-
Grating cars" said Troy. Then it
should be compelled to tell whether 1t
claims any franchises on Post street
from Taylor to Kearny, on Stockton
and Bush streets and on Grant avenue,
and also as 10 the number of cars op
Grated"
The committee agreed to this line Of
inquiry, but refused to go into the sys-
of hU no
pany.
The question OF accommodations fur
nished by the company to the public
the Finance Committee decided was
within the province of the Street Com
mittee, and the matter of sanitation
was referred to the Health Committee.
At this point Chairman Connor Of the
Street Committee agreed to take up all
phases Of the inquiry, and 1t was so
ordered.
Tax Collector Edward J. Smith ap-
peared before the Finance Committee
and urged the printing of a form of
protest against the payment of the tax
levied for the redemption Of and inter-
est on the new bond issue Smith stated
that the legality of the tax was before
the courts, and he thought the small
taxpayer should be afforded every
facility to file formal written protest
against the tax in order that IT might
be returned in the event that the tax
is declared Illegal The committee or
dered that the forms be printed. As
SCISSOR Dodge will also furnish the legal
form of protest.
Michael Casey. John E. McDougald
and ]. Coous urged that the dome of
the City Hall be lighted for five nights
during the convention OF the American
/ Federation of Labor. to be held in this
city beginning November IA next, and
the committee acquiesced. The flag
! poles will be erected on Market street
from Second to Sixth and decorated for
the occasion.
/ The Geary Street Railway Company
( paid S736 46 into the city treasury, be-
! ing per cent of its gross receipts for
October
The committee began an inquiry into
the question of whether or not the
! State or the city has the right to assess
/ the San Mateo road, but desisted when
informed by City Attorney Long that
/ the matter would come UP in court on
November IA next. The attorney for the
: ROAD SdlQ ne Ola HOl hIOW WuclilcI lIS
taxes would be paid under protest.
Deputy Registrar Zemansky explained
{ to the committee that J. G. Ramsey had
been appointed caretaker of the voting
machines, which he had put in condi-
ton for election day. pending the certi-
( fcation of civil service eligible for the
position.
The committee postponed action on
the proposed ordinance regulating side
walk elevators. and directed the in
spector thereof not to enforce the exist
ing ordinance.
The committee decided to investigate
the status of the claim of the city
against ex-Treasurer Widber, who mis-
appropriated $4,000. On Monday morn
ing the investigation begins.