The Wasp — 1890 — page 471: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This political cartoon satirizes corruption in San Francisco's City Hall construction project. A well-dressed man (likely an architect or official) and a demonic figure (representing corruption or a contractor) examine architectural plans together while bricks scatter below them. The caption questions whether "City Hall Commissioners" will approve such inferior work and whether the "Auditor" will audit the bills—implying that officials knowingly accepted substandard construction or fraudulent charges. The demon figure suggests criminal or unethical behavior, while the scattered bricks symbolize shoddy workmanship. This appears to reference actual San Francisco municipal corruption during City Hall's reconstruction (likely post-1906 earthquake era), when graft and poor construction quality were documented public concerns.