The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-12-24
CHARTER FREBHOLDERS.
They Meet and Outline Some PreIimi-
nary Work,
a Subcommittee to Ascertain to What
Extent a New Charter VIII At
feet the Bond Commission.

eaAlSIHOOil dL the ONCE OF HreSlQeuL hODI'
I. Devlin, who called on the Chairman Of
the Committee on Ways and Means to
report. The latter was not present, but
>. b. Smith, of the committee, responded.
lie stated that he and Christopher Green
had called upon the City Trustees and OBJ
tanned their permission to incur any neces-
sary expense in the work of drawing
up a charter. The committee thought
the hall in the basement of the
Seventh-street NJ. Z. Church would be
suitable place in which the Freeholders
might hold future meetings. a few more
lights and some tables would have TO be
placed in the hall.
On motion Of Mr.. LaRue, the report of
the committee was unanimously adopted.
Secretary Lincoln White stated that all
the desks necessary could be had from
the Secretary of State.
ANOTHER REPORT.
Chairman LaRue, from the Committee
on Order of Business, read the following
report, which was UNANIMOUSLY adopted:
Roll-call; reading minutes of preced-
Ing meeting; reports OF standing COM
lnittees; reports of special committees;
unfinished business; new business.
If any matter be made special order,
1t shall be considered Immediately after
reading the minutes, unless otherwise
provided.
The apportionment of the following
committees was recommended:
Legislative Department, five members;
Executive Department, five members;
judicial Department, three member;
Public Works, Levees, Sewers and
Streets, five members; Education, five
members; Finance and Bonded Indebt
odness, five members; Revenue and
Taxation va mann hers. Police and Fire
Department, three members; Health and
Sanitary Measures, three members; Mis-
cellaneous Provisions, three members.
FUNDED DEBT COMMISSION.
DR.. G.. L. Simmons stated that he be-
lieved the Board of Freeholders which
was about to serve the city was very in
dependent body of men. He had been
chosen to serve as a member, but at the
same time he wished it understood that If
the adoption Of a new charter was going
TO hamper the business of the Funded
Debt Commission he was not in favor of
having q new charter. He thought, as
many others did that possibly the good
work Of the commission might be
checked, and he for one was opposed to
doing anything TO hinder the work Of
paying Off the city debt.
He believed that every member of the
Board of Freeholders had in mind this
Very important issue, and that before
drafting a charter the board should first
he informed positively as to whether or
not a new charter would in any way
effect the work of lquidating the city'S
bonded Indebtedness. He then offered
the following resolution:
Resolved That Messrs. N Greene Curtis. T.
w. Armstrong, Matt. h. Johnson, Clinton L.
White and r. T. Devlin, members of the
board of Freeholders, be requested TO act as a
special committee and report to this board as
speedily as possible upon the relation of new
charter for Sacramento TO the city debt and
Funded Debt Commission.
Judge Armstrong said that if the rec
Ords in the Secretary of States office
showed that the amendment to the Con-
sdtutiOn of 1880 was correctly published,
then he would be of the opinion that
charter could be framed which would
preserve all the interests the trainers
might wish to preserve, and destroy all
things they might choose to do away
with. 1t was his impression that the
board Of Funded Debt Commissioners
would still exist until the object for
which it was appointed was accom-
rlished. He thought DIR. Simmons reso-
Luton a good one, and moved its adop-
ton.
The resolution was accordingly adopted
by unanimous vote.
Clinton l.. White said it was lust as
necessary to consider questions of fact as
questions of law, and be moved the
duOplIOH Ol Ine 4OllONlLlS resolution:
ReSOIUed, That the Board of Commissioners
Of the Funded Debt of the city OF Sacramento
lie requested to furnish to this board, at their
earliest convenience, statement in detail
showing for each year, separately, in the last
ten years, the amount and series of bonds and
coupons purchased by said commission.
Matt f. Johnson suggested an amend
Inent, so as to have report from the
commission to include all time, instead
Of the last ten years.
Judge Armstrong thought it would be
good idea also to have a report of the
condition of the debt and the amount of
assets, showing the true status of the
city's debt to-day.
Mr.. White agreed that these two sug-
EeStlons were good, and consented that
the original resolution be so amended
The amendments were then inserted
and the resolution adopted.
QUESTION OF POLICY.
T. B. Hall thought that possibly it
might be well to appoint committee to
ascertain how much the city would lose
il the Funded Debt Commission should
lie abolished. Possibly, if it was not a
large sum- the city could afford to lose it
rather than be without a charter
In this connection Mr.. Green thought
that such a committee might be ap-
pointed, after the other committee had
made its report, as to the effect new
charter would have on the city's debt.
N1GdILN SESSIONS.
Mr.. Green moved that the Secretary be
instructed to be in attendance at the
boards rooms every evening and act as
clerk of the several subcommittee. It
was so ordered.
ALDERMEN, OR TRUSTEES?
Mr.. Hall thought that the meeting
ought to get some expression from the
members present as 10 what form of
government was the most preferable He
had written to one of the largest business
firms in San Diego in relation to the new
charter OF that city and received the fol-
lowing reply:
DEAR SIR: We acknowledge receipt of your
favor of the Sth inst. We know of no i'm
practical or especially Objectionable feature in
cur city charter, except this-that it provides
for two governing bodies. tie Board of A IdeT-
men and the Board OF Delegates Ole body
could manage the clty's affairs more expedi-
t,ouSy ana probably more intelleently. In
faiS respect our city charter was mace to fit
a growing city OF say 10000 Inhabitants.
Otherwise the city'S business is well managed
under the charter. Yours truly,
KLAUBER & LEVI.
Ex-MAYoR GREENS IDEA.
Mr.. Green was of the opinion that the
present charter of Sacramento was
one of the best in the United
States, if so many side-laws had
rot been passed. His idea was to have a
board of six men to control the affairs of
the city. This board could be vested
with the power OF appointing Street
Commissioner, a superintendent of the
WAFER Works and a Chief of Police. He
wanted a School Board also that could re-
Tort to the six men how much was
/ eeded to conduct the public school sys-
land I favor. Also" continued Mr..
Green, "placing each man elected to office