The San Francisco call., 1904-03-08
AUDITOR BAEHR
MAKES ANSWER
Says He Has Not Intention
ally Violated Any of the
Provisions of the Charter
DOUBTS JURISDICTION
Question as to Whether or
Not His Office Comes I'm
der the Civil Service Rule

The long-standing controversy be-
tween the Auditor and the Board Of
Civil Service Commissioners bobbed up
again at the meeting Of the commits
sion last night. Auditor Baehr was not
present in person TO answer the ques-
tons which might be asked him regard
ing his alleged violation Of civil service
rules, but forwarded the following let
ter explaining his position:
Your communication OF the cath ult. is re-
ceived and contents duly noted During my
previous term as Auditor there were men en-
ployed FOR temporary work in my office who
were not certified by your commission. The
reason for this was that the work was State
work. ana Il was Imperative that II should be
done BY a given time. I think in every in
stance the fact was known to your commits
sion At the time and was tacity acquiesced in
II required men familiar with that particular
work and your clerks were either inexperienced
or. unavailable in sufficient numbers. / have
always taken all OF your men that were avail
able, but the demands upon me were impera-
rive with heavy penalties on me for failure,
ana hehce Went OUTSIDE your llsts- ! suDhdt
lhat II view OF the new term OF ofnce ana
the lapse Of time you are very late in present
ing your objections al this time.
All the regular employees OF my office speci-
fed in the charter are civil service men. All
temporary appointments so far practicable
were taken from the civil service lists. There
70 your jurisdiction al all. That I have never
raised this question proves my friendliness to
the merit system. ] sorry 10 feel COM
PEELED 10 suggest now that the office may be
outside Of civil service in the case of Kahn
rs. Sutro ia Cal 316 the Auditors office
under the old consolidation act was declared a
municipal office because the Auditor was
made a member Of the Board Of New City
Hall Commissioner and of the
Board OF Election Commissioner in addition
70 his regular duties County Auditor. IN
der the charter he is relieved Of both these
different rorn
ether county auditors. II the question now
comes before the court I cannot understand
how the Auditor would still be declared TO be
q municipal officer while the Treasurer and
Assessor and particularly the County Clerk
and Sheriff are held 10 be county officers
Either all are now municipal officers or the
Auditor Is e county officer with the others
who. like him. perform only county functions
II you desire force this issue I shall be
forced 10 meet il the above grounds. though
] would prefer TO submit TO the civil service
provisions Of the charter as far as possible
rather than make the contention.
In opposition TO this statement the
Commissioners claim that an examina-
tlon Of the Auditors books shows that
during 1903 Baehr issued 144 warrants
70 civil service men. calling for a pay
ment Of S5414, as against 22O non-civil
service warrants, tOtaling S12,165 05.
The Commissioners are at present ex-
aiming the papers of the 276 appli-
cants for positions on the police force,
but do not expect TO have the list ready
before the middle Of April.