The San Francisco call., 1908-03-29
Marvin Makes Statement That
Scores SCOTS Ruling
BY Frank w. Marvin
# the executive committee Of the Civic league
hN rE Statenent in tndav,s issue

ceedingS at the meeting were
substantially correct. except
that Messrs. Altman and Boyle did
not participate in the discussions.
The meeting was called TO con-
slider matters regarding the bud
get and act thereon in time for it
to be submitted to the finance COM
rnittee next week. AS a member
Of the executive committee and
chairman of the committee on
revenue and taxation I submitted
my report in writing. The report
concluded with my recommends
tion that we indorse the PROPOSE
ton that the city should appro-
pirate sufficient funds to the dis
trict attorneys Office to carry on
the prosecution of violators of the
law. and the suggestion that / be-
Iieved better results could he OBJ
tanned by having the exI s. ses of
the prosecution paid by the city
than by private contributors. My
report said nothing about indorsing
the graft prosecution, and that
question did not come up.
REPORT LAID OVER
Ny report was presented about
$50 in the evening and was laid
over and not taken up till 1880
p. m. Meanwhile various other re-
ports were received and referred
TO appropriate committees. with in
structions TO present the requests
Of the various Improvement clubs to
the proper committees of the board
Of supervisors The question OF
high license came UP. and it was,
] think, wisely. decided that this
fola ch ho
submitted to the improvement clubs
for their action.
BY the time my report came up
for action q large number of the
delegates had left for home. and
IL at once became apparent that
vigorous effort would be made to
defeat my recommendations. Mr..
George Lane moved that the recon-
mendation that the supervisors ap-
propriate in the budget sufficient
funds to carry on the prosecution
be approved. Mr.. George Renner
seconded the motion
TRY TO ADJOURN
Immediately an effort was made
TO adjourn the meeting. Messrs-
Altman and Boyle were present,
bat did not participate in the dis
=
noticed Mr.. Boyle, after consult
ing with Mr.. Altman, vigorously
whisper to Chairman Scott. A
point OF order had been raised by
the parties admittedly opposed to
the prosecution that the subject
should only be acted upon by va
rious Improvement clubs and not
by the Civic league.
Messrs. Lane. Renner. Jacobs and
] spoke on this and took the
ground that the league had been
acting all evening on various mat
ters concerned with the budget
without any thought of referring
TO the Improvement clubs, and that
this was q question that concerned
the budget, as It referred to ap-
priations to be dealt with by the
supervisors to one Of the city's de-
psrtments, viz, the district attor-
ney's Office. To our surprise Mr..
Scott ruled that the point of order
was well taken, thus shutting off
action.
CALLS 1T FRACTIONAL
In ruling on the point OF order
Mr.. Scott said that this was a
question that was a factional mat
in q position to mix in with q fac
tonal fight, which might tend to
disrupt it. This ended the matter,
although Mr.. Lane. Mr.. Renner and
I do not agree with Mr.. Scott We
believe, as the meeting was called
to consider the budget. that all
matters relating to this subject
were up for final action of the
league / can not agree with the
statement made by Mr.. Scott that
the question of appropriation of
money by the supervisors to carry
on the graft prosecution was in
JectinS any factional light into the
Civic league. On the contrary, I
believe this is q mattsr not Of fac
fion or section, but of and for all
our citizens and all sections.
The prosecution OF grafters IS
either right or il lie wrong. If II
IL right. as believe it to be. IL
is about time that we should stop
talking aboutSfaction, personality
or section, but we should all pull
together for the general good; and
II 1t is right and is for the benefit
OF the whole city. then the city
should stand the expense. II it is
wrong TO prosecute grafters, then
let US say SO and drop II. The
time is at hand when we must not
carry water on both shoulders. We
must be for or against, and he who
is not for it must be considered
against it.