The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1913-10-10
WILL
Be PR0BED
BY BOARD
Tax Association Report Stirs
Mullins to Halt EIec-
ton Leaks

drastic, is promised by John g. Null
| Inns, chairman of the Alameda county
board of supervisors, as a result of
the publication of the report of the
Tax association in yesterdays Call.
This investigation. will seek to YER
| ify the figures of the associations ex-
perts, and. finding them correct, steps
will be taken at once to render the
holding of elections in Alameda coun-
| ty less costly in future.
"The report of the association"
Mullins said, deals entirely with the
election of 1910. / see they promise
| to bring out the figures for the 1912
election. and when this is done l
think 1T will be seen that considerable
reduction has been made in two years.
Still further reduction will be made
in the next few years.
UNNECESSARY MONEY SPENT
II believe that unnecessary money
has been spent in the past because OF
political conditions, but there is no
reason why this should continue.
For my part am glad the Tax as
ISOLATION has sent their experts to our
Offices and studied the situation at
| close range.
I'm the report they bring out facts
which can not be denied. and we are
grateful that the figures have been
shown US They were gathered by
competent men, and are a basis on
which we can work. / have nothing
but words of communication for the
| Tax association and for Mr.. Requa,
| who heads it,
Supervisor Kelly refused to say
whether he would vote for an inves-
tigation into the matter. He admit
Al Loo nrt
were correct.
Supervisor Bridge declared that he
believed no money had been extrava-
gantly spent in any county election.
and that they had always been car
ried on in businesslike manner. He
| would not admit that an investigation
would be held.
SEES NO GRAND JURY PROBE
1t is understood however. that he
will vote with Mullins to probe deeper
into election costs.
| District Attorney Hynes declared
that the present election laws seemed
the most expensive of any the state
had ever had. Asked why the cost OF
voting should be so much less In San
! Francisco than in Oakland, with both
cities operating under the same stat
| Ute Hynes said he did not know.
AT any rate said he. Il am hear
| tily in favor of any move that will
cut down the operating expenses of
| the county and l think the Tax asso
citation is on the right train. AS for
grand jury investigation, I hardly
| think it likely unless it can be shown
that there was something criminal or
negligent and careless in the way
/ these elections were held. / hardly
| think it likely that either of these
| could be shown. so the thing that is
really needed. 1t appears. is reform
of the election laws that permit the
expenditure of more money than is
| necessary.
Assessor c. r. Horner. who was
| chairman of the board of supervisors
at the time of the 1910 election, de-
clared that he had nothing to say
about the charges of the AJAX associ-
alton.
ross CITES PRINTING STEAL
Supervisor Foss said:
1T is true that printing steal has
been going on in Alameda county for
several years. This is responsible for
the excessive cost of elections. I have
fought for new printing schedule
ever since took office, as we pay four
times as much as Los Angeles does. I
have never been able to get results.
The other members seemed afraid to
stand with me-.
III. C. Capwell, merchant, said:
The condition as revealed by the
figures Of the Tax association is de-
plorable. and I am convinced that the
investigate will result in decided re-
forms in our election laws. Without
criticising our officials, / will say that
altogether too many men have always
been used in Alameda county to carry
on elections, and they were used be-
- III - -
that the figures the Tax association
gives are correct--and 1 have every
reason to believe they are-then. l
say, ii has shown good reason why
Oakland and Alameda county should
support 1t as an organization.
KAHN LAUDs ASSOCIATION WORK
Fred Kahn. partner in Kahn
Brothers. Oakland. said:
THE Tax association is showing
that 1t is doing great work. This
report is an excellent thing, and the
wide publicity that has been given 1t
undoubtedly will bring results that
, have long been needed. The Tax as
ISOLATION is thorough in it's methods
and aboveboard in all its dealings
AS consequence. they should be
given the aid of the community"
The report was taken up by the
Alameda County Civic association al
its meeting last night, and will be
used in an investigation into every
corner of the county through the SUBJ
sidiary organizations.
Improvement clubs from every por-
ton of the county were represented
) by delegates at the meeting, and rep
} resentatives of the community or
ganizations were sent home. with the
admonition of the parent body tc
. consider the report of the Tax as
ISOLATION and report back.
President Requa, Secretary Barnard