The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-05-15
WILL LOP OFF
100000
Works Board Is Arranging
Extensive Reductions in
the Estimates.
All Employees Are Expected to
Shade Their Salaries
Voluntarily.

tremendous cut IN Its estimates to be
submitted for the municipal budget in
some particulars and will increase
largely IN others. The total amount
asked for will be less than half the
sum desired previous to the fire. There
will be practically no appropriation
asked for general and 'permanent.
improvements. It Is expected also that
there viii be . bdg cut in the salary
roll.
The sum Of $4,000 granted by the
Supervisors for work on the Geary-
street road viii be diverted for some
other purpose. The 100000 given for
the construction Of thu Twin Peaks
Reservoir win follow the same course.
The sum Of $4,000 already placed In
the treasury to pay for q new engine
house ON Clay street win also be made
q part Of the Board OF Works relief
fund.
There is on deposit to the account
OF the board the sum Of $4,000 given
as cecurity by people who were con-
structing side sewers and doing other
similar work Ali records pertaining
to this fund have been lost and the
Commissioners do not see how they
can refund 1t merely on the word Of
any man who says he made deposit.
There are at present three building
inspectors, but 1t Is thought nine at
least will be needed for the recon
struction period. It Is hoped that these
officials may be paid by imposing In
spection fees.
CUT IN BUDGET ESTIMATE.
The Commissioners originally
planned to ask for about $4,000, 900.
They will now seek less than 81, 000, 900.
In connection with the budget esti-
mate President Maestretu said yester-
day,
on any less money than we have had
heretofore. We can make cuts In some
directions, but much more work must
be done on other lines I do not want
to vote to cut the salaries Of any of
the boards employees, but l believe
they will shade their pay voluntarily
under these terrible conditions. Some
OF the men may be cut out altogether
and all OF them VIII have to woz< -
great deal harder than ever before.
We lacked sufficient men to transact
our business properly before the fire,
and we shall not be able to get along
with many less.
IF they expect us to restore the
streets we shall have to spend an i'm
mense sum Of money. We have under
the bond issue a fund for putting a
new surface on Market street. but that
will be inadequate now, for we depend
ed great deal on using some Of the
old surface and material. We shall
also have to use all new curbing,
which will add to the expense.
WILL TAX PRIVILEGES.
Tho streets downtown are in a ter
rfble condition. ! hate to think OF the
amount that II will cost to put them
IL. e-l,o A1<A L.
aster. There will be Infinitely more
cleaning than ever before. In certain
sections 1t viii cost a great deal to
clear the streets. It will be all right
where the steam railroad tracks run
and where the street car companies
have been at work, but In other places
we shall do the whole thing ourselves.
Il am endeavoring to devise ways
ana means OF creating revenue where
none existed before. There are certain
things taxed in other cities which are
allowed to go free here. We must
change all that Every street and
building privilege should be made to
contribute something toward the re-
building OF San Francisco. The side
walk vendors operating on the public
streets ought to be compelled to pay
the city a little rent
1--WE are all working hard to do what
we can 20 assist the city IN getting
on her feet again. The public may rest
, assured that we shall not ask for any
thing we do not need. nor shall we
spend q single nickel without knowing
just where 1t Is going. The sewers
have been temporarily repaired, but q
big sum Is needed Immediately to put
them into condition where they will
stand the regular strain"
PREPARING AN ESTIMATE.
The Commissioners are not In q Do
sition to state In exact figures what
sum they viii absolutely need. Their
estimate IL based on what they think
they will find necessary to do the work
ordinarily assigned to the board. No
estimate is made OF new work pending
a decision by the Supervisors on what
part of It will belong to the Board Of
Works. It IL expected that there will
be a general conference at which It
viii be decided how much must be
raised and how much OF that can go
to each department Of the municipal
government
The clerical force OF the board has
been working for several days on the
estimate and Il Ii announced that the
exact figures VIII be ready In a short
time.