The Wasp — 1879 — page 219: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a figure wearing royal regalia and a crown, labeled with "Board of Supervisors" on their garment, wielding a sword labeled "Salary Reduction." The figure appears menacing toward several smaller, distressed characters seated at a table on the right side of the image. The satire criticizes the San Francisco Board of Supervisors for imposing salary cuts on municipal employees (suggested by the frightened, cowering figures). The cartoon portrays the board members as tyrannical rulers abusing their power—the crown and cape emphasize the notion that they're acting like monarchs despite being public servants. The labeled sword makes explicit their weapon of choice: cutting wages, presumably during economic hardship. The "Unjust" signature at bottom confirms the cartoonist's condemnation of these salary reductions as unfair.