The San Francisco call., 1907-06-22
Schmitz Returns
Municipal Budget
With Two Vetoes
Appropriation of Large
Sum for Geary Road
Stricken Out
Prisoner Objects TO Levy
OF 20 Cent Tax Proposed

From his executive cell in the county
ial Mayor Schmitz returned to the
board Of supervisors last evening the
municipal budget and message We
toing the appropriation OF $720,000 for
the reconstruction Of the Geary street
road.
Schmltz declared in his message that
he was not opposed TO the acquisition
of the road by the municipality in prin-
ciple. having at various times expressed
himself in favor Of the project
Posing as a cautious economist. how
ever. Schmitz declares that he does not
consider such large appropriation as
that called for wise when the city he
has looted has so many other impera-
tive needs He mentions among other
Of these needs street Improvements and
new sewers
Schmitz communicated with John H.
Ryan. clerk of the board Of supervis-
OTIS. over the prison telephone and told
him about the return Of the budget and
the message. Both arrived in a sealed
package brought to the headquarters
Of the board by Deputy Sheriff d. H.
Behan. and viii be opened and come
uD for formal consideration at the
meeting Of the supervisors next Mon
DAY.
Schmitz, besides opposing the appro-
road, also objected to the levy of a spe-
cial tax Of 20 cents to raise revenue for
the city government. He declared that
he was Of the opinion that sufficient
money for every purpose could be
raised by the dollar limit of taxation.
BY cutting out the $4,000 for the
Geary street line. he argued. the rate
could be kept within the dollar limit.
When the budget was originally
10 Vr+irr hz- 10 he
% cents extra tax was levied for the
Geary street road and the Increase of
teachers salaries by 10 per cent
through appropriations of s720, 900 and
81 %. 600. respectively
The budget was afterward amended
so that the $4,000 for the Geary
street road was to be paid out Of the
income from the dollar limit and the
20 cents extra tax was to pay for the
cleaning and repair Of streets and the
TEACHERS increased salaries.
Sphmitz stated that he had not dis
turbed the appropriation in the budget
for the teachers salary increase, but
that he had vetoed the items of 81, 1000
for a contingent fund for the district
attorney and $4,000 for two extra depu-
tics in the latter's Office. as the posi-
lions were not provided for by law
Schmitz evidently did not believe in
aiding the prosecution in its efforts to
put him behind the bars.
Sehmitz explained that he had cut
out all reference TO the money to be
raised by a special tax Of 90 cents. but
that. with the exclusion of the Geary
street road appropriation and other
items. the $4,000 for the repair and
cleaning of streets and the 100000
for raising teachers salaries could be
PAID out Of the dollar limit of taxation
Acting Mayor Gallagher said last
night that Schmitz' right to pass upon
the budget was not questioned by the
board
The budget ordinance was passed
up TO Schmitz before he was jailed"
saie Gallagher. and under those cir
cUnlstances the board will raise no
bubble over his right TO pass upon
st. In any event the budget is salts
factory TO me and there is nothing in
il thatf would veto [ am therefore
taking no action on it. The mayors
veto I'm this matter can be overruled
bv a vote of "A supervisors, and under
the circumstances that viii be done.
If SchmitZ is still in jail when the tax
levy comes up for consideration
alone VIII have tho power TO pass upon
Il as acting mayor
II Schmitz is permitted by the
courts to exercise the functions of
mayor when the special ordinance levy
ing the extra tax Of 20 cents is ready
for his action and he refuses to concur
in the levy however theaRtter cannot
become effective. as it Requires the
unanimous concurrence of the mayor
and the supervisors to make a special
levy legal. This would result IN "a re-
duced tax rate from that OF $1.f15 5
whfcn the budget as finally passed re-
quires for municipal purposes