The Wasp — 1890 — page 67: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This page contains political commentary rather than a traditional cartoon. The main illustration shows a college graduate attempting to analyze geometry and conic sections—a visual metaphor for the incompetence of city officials trying to manage complex municipal affairs. The text criticizes San Francisco's government, specifically discussing potential mayoral candidates and the mismanagement of the Assessor's office. The article argues that officials lack basic competence in valuing property for taxation, creating inequitable assessments where similar properties pay vastly different taxes. The "College Graduate" cartoon suggests that even educated people struggle with complex problems—implying city administrators are equally unqualified to handle governance. The satire targets systemic corruption and incompetence in municipal assessment practices of the period.