The Wasp — 1894 — page 246: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This *Wasp* cartoon satirizes municipal spending and bureaucratic waste. A well-dressed woman labeled "Housekeeper" (representing San Francisco's city government) struggles to manage numerous crying children labeled "Bill" and "Bill Street Dept" while bills litter the floor. Men labeled "Supervisor," "Ellert," and others appear to represent city officials or politicians. The cartoon critiques how city officials, like a housekeeper managing unruly children, cannot control proliferating municipal bills and expenditures. The chaotic scene suggests fiscal irresponsibility—departments and street projects generate endless expenses the city supposedly cannot afford, yet politicians continue approving them. The New City Hall visible in the background likely references contemporary San Francisco municipal developments, emphasizing the contrast between grand civic projects and everyday budget crises.