The San Francisco call., 1906-05-29
OLD FIRE
LIMITS To
REMAIN
Supervisors Heed Appeal Of
Clamorous Owners tf
Property.
Vigorous Addresses Are
Made in Opposition
to Extension.
Exciting Colloquy as to
Honesty Of Members
Of the Board.

The present fire limits ordinance shall
stand as it is. Such was the verdict of
the Board of Supervisors at its meeting
yesterday afternoon. The only provision
attached thereto was that planning mills
and other like dangerous industries be
housed in fireproof structures.
The subject of the extension of the fire
limits ordinance was taken UP as a spe-
cial order of business at the behest of the
property owners of this city, who ap-
peared in force to support their represent
ative Garret w. McEnerney. In their be-
half Mr.. McEnerney addressed the board,
in part, as follows:-
''In behalf of the people whom I repre-
sent. wish to call to your attention, gen.
tlemen, the terrible. if involuntary, injus-
tice you will cause if you pass the pro-
posed fire limits ordinance.
DO you wish to make San Francisco
a city of factories and commercial houses
Is not the present commercial district
large enough? At the present time our
people are scattered. throughout the bay
counties. in Alameda. Marin, Sonoma
and the others. Why? Because they
have no homes.
Now. gentlemen, leave it to your
sense of justice. Can you pass the pro-
posed fire limits ordinance when it means
the coniseation of the peoples very
valuable. If that is so. why should they
not profit by its value? If they do not
care to sell, why should you gentlemen
raise club and say they must sell? That
is practically what you will say II you
extend the fire limits
McEnerney's address was interrupted at
various intervals by tumultuous applause
from the hundreds of property owners
who thronged the hall.
Upon being called to the floor by cries
from the assembled owners. Father Null
the lawmakers of San Francisco sit up
and stare. He said, in part: :.
Gentlemen. the passage of the new fire
limits ordinance will work untold hard
ships upon our people, therefore we have
appeared before you to beg, to ask. aye,
to demand of you that the fire limits re-
main as they are" AT this point the ap-
plause and excitement became so great
that it took several minutes to restore
order
Following Father Mulligan Father Rog-
ers was called to the floor Scarcely had
he opened his address before Supervisor
Rea arose and asked him whether he
had made the statement at the property
owners meeting on Sunday that he did
not believe that they knew that the
eighteen men they had elected to guard
their rights could be so false to their
trust as to sell their interests to land
sharks and insurance agencies
Father Rogers in reply to this said:
Gentlemen, this matter is a political
fight and 1 do not think it is fitting to
make my cloth puffer between the fac
TONS Here he turned to the chair in
mute appeal.
In response. Mayor Schnitz arose and
said: Gentlemen, 1 think it would be
wise to eliminate the past from this mat
ter. Father Rogers he continued, Il
would like to ask you. have you conf
dence in the honesty of the Board of Su-
pervisors?"
Il believe" replied the father, that this
proposed extension is the work of capital
lists and insurance companies
You are evading," interrupted the
Mayor.
t"I can but believe" continued Father
Rogers, that they will prove honest. The
outcome of this matter will prove, how
ever
Mayor Schmitz stated that he did not
believe it was time to extend the limits
and suggested that they stand as they
are A motion to that effect was then
carried.
The subject of the building ordinance
will be taken up by the board at its ses-
sion today.
The board declared the office of gas
and water inspector. formerly held by
0. M. Upper, vacant. Stephen A. Burns
was appointed to fill the vacancy.