The San Francisco call., 1908-05-13
SUPERVISORS IN A
HURRY FOR MONEY
Bond Election Stirs Them to
Immediate Action on Build
ing Plans
New Phone Rates Bill Made a
Special Order of Business
for Monday

/
the municipal improvements to be pro-
vlded for out of the sale of the $1S,-
i 100000 bonds authorized Monday by
the electors of the city and county was
evidenced at the meeting OF the board
yesterday.
DR.. Giannini introduced a resolution
directing the public works commission
ers TO report at once what portion or
the bond money can be used by them
during the coming fiscal year. and the
resolution was passed under suspen-
sion of the rules
Clerk Behan also was instructed to
advertise for bids for printing the
bonds. the bids to be presented June 15-
/ While the bond issue was under dis
cussion McLeran arraigned the red
tape methods of the board of public
works and introduced the following
| resolution, which was referred to the
building and public utilities committee
for considerations:
| Whereas the electors of the city and county
of San Francisco, at the election held May IL.
1905. authorized the incurring of bonded in
debtedness for the construction OF school build,
| ings. hospital buildings and hall of justice and
county jail: and whereas, plans and specihca-
tions of said buildings proposed to be constructed
may be called for them; now, therefore, re-
solved, that the sense of this board is tnat
competitive plans for the aforesaid buildings % De
prepared by local architects and the board OF
public works is hereby requested TO adopt ana
formulate such policy
McLeran, speaking in support of the
resolution, said that the working sys-
tenn of the works board is entirely in
adequate.
WOULD HURRY BUILDINGS
The city architect is capable" said
| he, but he has enough work to keep
him busy without giving him the ad-
ditional task of preparing plans for the
new municipal buildings. If this I'M
portant work is left in the hands of
the works board we will retire from
Office without having any of these
buildings under way. There is too
much red tape in the works board, as
has been shown in the construction
of several of the temporary school
houses. The works commissioners re-
fer the matter to the city architect,
he reports back to the commission, and
then /the plans are turned over to the
board of education. The educational
board, after time, makes a report to
the works commission, the city archi-
tect is again called upon, and In this
way time is uselessly frittered away.
Why, in one instance, four months
were wasted in getting ready to build
schoolhouse that was completed In
three weeks after actual work was
begun. We cannot afford to counten-
ance any such dilatory tactics in the
building of the new structures. BY
calling for competitive plans we will
get better results, for all of the lead
ing architects of the city will put forth
their best efforts toward securing the
work"
PRESS THANKED FOR AID
On motion OF Giannini a resolution
was adopted thanking the press and
civic organizations for the valuable
assistance rendered by them during the
bond campaign.
The new telephone rates ordinance
framed by Murphy and Giannini and
Bancroft was presented and made a
special order of business for $3.50 o'clock
next Monday afternoon. All those in
terested in the ordinance will be given
a hearing at that time, IL they have
any objection to offer.
When the substitute billboard ordi-
nance. presented by the license COM
mittee, was taken up McAllister advo
Gated its passage. He said that the
original ordinance framed by Murphy
while it would net the city between
$4,000 and $4,000 revenue each year.
would cripple If not ruin the several
advertising firms. The substitute Or
dinance, he said, would give the city
about $500 year from each of the
large billboard firms.
Murphy said that 1t would be alb
surd to attempt to license the firms
from the business as provided in the
substitute measure.
The placing of a tax on every
square foot of billboard" said he, lis
the only way to get for the city the
revenue 1t is entitled to. We have
had sufficient experience In trying to
secure data fom the books of the water
and lighting corporations without try
ing the advertising firms"
ann
Pollok said the only equitable way
to tax the advertising firms was by
placing a tax per square foot of bill
board. He then introduced a new
ordinance, drawn on the same lines as |
the Murphy measure, but fixing the tax
at u cent per square foot per quar-
ter instead of cent as suggested by
Murphy.
Action on the three ordinances went
over until next Monday. to give the
members time to familiarize themselves
with the provisions of the measures
Jennings announced that the finance |
committee would hold a special meet
ing May 20 at s p. m. to hear citizens
who have petitioned for the incorpora-
ton of certain items in the budget.
A communication from property |
owners calling attention to the fact
that there is no chemical engine in the |
district south of Market street and
west of Twelfth was referred to the |
fire committee.
The awarding of the lease of the
Post street school site to w. H. Mack |
for a rental of $SS2.S00 for 35 years
was postponed for one week, as the 4
charter provides that the award must /
be approved by Is members, and only |
IA were present
resolution authorizing the pay
ment of the following sums for prop |
erty purchased in the block bounded |
by Powell. Lombard, Mason and Green |
wich streets for a children's playground |