Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-05
SACRAMENTO.
SHE is WILLING TO BE LET ALONE
IN HER PROSPERITY.
The Question of New Charter Dis.
cussed-Ex-Senator Booth Makes
an Eloquent Address.

A meeting of the Sacramento City and
County Improvement Association was held
at the Court-hous last evening for the
especial purpose of considering the advisa-
bility of Sacramentos adopting a new
charter. Three hundred invitations were
sent out, yet only forty-five citizens thought
enough of the matter 10 be present.
Chief Justice w. II. Beatty being alb
sent from the city, C. H. Cummings was
called to the chair.
The Chair announced that the business
of the evening was the consideration of a
new charter, and called upon ex-Second
Trustee Knox, who was present, to open
the argument
Mr.. Knox said ne had heard the mat
ter of a new charter discussed but lit
tie. He thought the city needed new
charter, and needed it badly. He did not
know what effec. it would have upon the
Funded Debt Commission, and that was q
matter that would have 10 be seriously
considered. He remembered when the
present charter was made-shortly after
the flood-and it almost emanated from
flSlldnC6 OOLulntlt6t. ne Was Vi the Opln-
ion that we now had too many indie
pendent Boards asking for money and abb
solutely controlling large portions of the
city finance. He did not believe in having
Boards independent who could force the
tax rate up to 81 60 on the 500, as he had
seen 1t when he was one of the Trustees
Where there are several of such Boards
and each one has pride in making show
OF their department, there necessarily is
high and unnecessary rate of taxation. He
also said there seemed to be no law where
by the collection OF city taxes could De en-
forced. He thought a new charter for the
city would be a good thing, for in 1t could
be embodied many excellent features.
The Secretary then read a letter from
Chief Justice Beatty, which closed as fol-
lows
regret that l cannot be present at the meet
ing when the new charter question will be dis
cussed. new charter may be desirable but
have never yet seen reason stated for amend
ing the charter that would bear examination,
and in the absence of some good grounds for
making the change l am inclined to let well
enough alone. But for the fact that the Court
will be sitting on February 4th, should try TO
be with you on that occasion.
Ex-senator Booth was next called upon.
He said there were many defects in our
present charter. There were perhaps some
in the Constitution of the United States,
and he had no doubt but parties could be
found who would offer amendments to the
Mosaic laws. He thought this meeting
uncalled for, the proposition entirely pre-
mature. and the whole business upneces-
sary. We could not get a new charter
under two years, however much we desired
it. Il would have to be left to a
vote of the people and then submitted
to the Legislature for ratification. Oak
land, Stockton and Los Angeles have pro-
posed new charters. They will have them
within the next two years and we will have
en- opportunity of seeing what they get.
We can see from their operation whether
we want the same or not and at no expense
He had lived in this city for thirty-eight
years. He had lived during that time
under three systems of government First,
we had a Mayor and Common Council.
The city was plunged in debt from 1850 to
1858 over $1,e00,000, and if the CITY
ever saw any value received for that
except the 100000 for the old water works
he did not know it. That government
was succeeded by the consolidated city and
county government. For some time, in
fact up TO 1862, interest was paid regularly.
The city then run behind so far that for
some years city scrip brought only thirty
cents on the dollar. We had to paw in
reality 81 for every 81, and still we worried
through. Then, on top of all this came
the hood-the city was a wreck. 1t
was bankrupt, and if it had been
an individual it would have gone
into bankruptcy. We had no levees,
we had no school-houses, we had no streets
to the high grade, and the city was in debt
nearly 100000, and, as Mr.. Knox has
stated, the charter was made by people who
were alive to their interests and next thing
to Vigilance Committee. We don't desire
10 make change in an hour, o day, a
month or year. To-day we are the most
prosperous city upon the coast. Our streets
are to the high grade our school houses are
the finest in the State, our levees are
impregnable, our Paid Fire Department has
no equal and the city debt is being reduced
at so rapid a rate that you don't understand
| il all. The Governor then made an ex-
| haustive review of the funded debt of the
city, and showed how that in less than ten
years at the present rate of taxation ii
would be wiped entirely out.
Clinton L. White, V. S. McClatchy. DIR.
| Nichols, J. NJ. Avery, FL. NJ. LaRue, II. 0.
Beatty, Philip Scheld and others made
remarks.
At the close, Mr.. Booth made another
speech, in reply to those who spoke in
favor of a new charter. He waxed elo-
| quent, and paid high tribute to Judge H
o. Beatty, whom he claimed had, by his
fine financiering ability, saved the city over
| 100000 The time will come, said he.
when the people of Sacramento will erect
monument in his honor Although
the praises then sung may fall on the cold
ears of death, they will not be undeserved,
and should be a rebuke to those who now
impugn his motives
At the close of Mr.. Booths remarks he
moved that the entire matter of new
charter be indefinitely postponed, and the
motion prevailed unanimously.
On motion of j. o. Coleman a vote oi
thanks was rendered to Judge II. o. Beatty
for his efficient and untiring service in the
interest of this city as member of the
Funded Debt Commission. The motion
was carried unanimously amid loud ap.
plause.