The San Francisco call., 1904-08-25
ALAMEDA FACES
A TAX RAISE
Advancement Association
COnferS With Various
Officials of the City
MORE SALARY WANTED
All Departments ClamOr-
ing for an Increase in
Income for Individuals

ALAMEDA, Aug. 24.-The Alameda
Advancement Association had a meet
| ing with various city officials last even
! ing in regard to the demands of the
| city with relation to the proposed tax
; levy. which will shortly have to be
! fixed. The meeting was executive, no
! one being present except the CITY OFF,
cials and the directors of the associa-
! ton, and nothing of the proceedings
was given cut until to-day, when the
association made public an official sum-
mary of what happened.
From this it would seem that there is
a general demand upon the Town Trus-
! tees for an increase in the tax allow
ance for all departments, and it is a
question whose demands will be recog-
nized by the Trustees.
There were present of the association
directors George w. Scott, Philip ).
Teller, f. r. Anthony, Charles S. Neal
and Elmer F. Johnson; also Secretary
Brown. OF the Trustees all we're pres
ent except Mr.. Hammond, who is out of
town. Representing the Board Of Edu-
ction there were Presidents Otis, Henry
Michaels and DR.. Thompson, principal
Of the High School, who had been in
vited: also Superintendent Moore. E.
W. Maslin represented the Free Lii
brary Board.
A summary of the reports upon the
condition of the city, made by the city
officials to the Advancement Associa-
tion, is as follows:
President Otis OF the Board of Education
| reported that the High School would need
$l7.o24 this year. which would be more than
last year because of the need OF another
teacher. books and gymnasium apparatus
| Principal Thompson Of the High School said
! that the needs OF his school for reference
| books. apparatus for laboratory work and
I 1zrFr cftrr Nv
reported that there is now a deficit OF S43St
/ in the grammar school fund because of a cut
OF $4,000 made last year. that the city would
have to supply $27,770 this year and that nc
salaries would be raised except in the case OF
| some few principals and male teachers In
order to retain their services.
DR.. Pond OF the electric light committee OF
| the Board OF Trustees read report showing
what betterments were needed by the municipal
! association wanted to know II by economizine
ou the other departments the electric lighting
/ plant could not be run and the betterments
made next year. This. the Trustees thought
/ might be done.
The official statement Of the associa-
tion concludes with the following,
which covers the apparent feeling of
the association upon The present finan-
cial condition of Alameda:
During the discussion it developed that the
was IA cents short of the dollar limit. and
/ that the dollar limit. would be reached this
J year IT the requirements OF the various oe-
| partments were properly met.
An interesting point was the attitude Of
/ the City Trustees on the proposed raise loi
wages OF certain employees. which, according
/ to Trustee Bowers. would add about 3a4 cents
to the tax levy. The discussion seemed in.
clned TO oppose the raise. they all seemed C
/ think 1t impossible to give the schoo
| department all, that 1t required
1t appeared that no case had been knowr
/ or a policeman or fire department employe oI
/ electric light empoye resigning because OF
/ insufficient pay, and yet the school department
was unable TO keep hlgh-class teachers be-
cause the pay was lower than they could gel
elsewhere.
Mr. Scott asked this question:
Taking into consideration the condition you
are in this year a condition which you say
/ OF greater necessities than ever before. would
/ you consider advisable the raising Of the
/ salaries OF employees that $4,000 proposed
Would you not consider It better investment
to give the school department what 1t needs
and save on the other?'
In answer to this pointed question not one
/ CT the Trustees seemed willing to commit him
/ self. $50 far any response was made tc
/ the question II was to the effect that they did
not see how they could give the school de-
/ partment what asked for and did not
see how they could avoid giving the city
employees the raise which they asked for.