The record-union., 1892-03-31
The New Charter.

EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN: There is an ele-
ment in this city that is working in a
quiet way to defeat the new charter
Why any one who has any interest at all in
this city's future should have this feeling,
is something very singular indeed. l sup
posed if were to say here that were the
two greatest problems that ever agitated
this city-and they are the wiping out of
our bonded Indebtedness and the carrying
at the coming election Ofthe new charter
both laid before the people, and that they
could have their choice of either, and that
by accepting the latter proposition this
city would be the gamer in the end, many
of our people would laugh at the idea.
But let 1t appear as it may, that is my
honest opinion.
Let the skeptical look, if they will, at
the rottenness of our political system
alone, and then tell me if we are not
badly IN need Of change of some sort
from that which at present governs us.
Under what other system of govern
ment but this old and obsolete one, with
which we are now so sorely afflicted, and
from which the city of Sacramento is de-
irving most inevitable reputation tor
lawlessness and disorder, could a lot of
Self-appointed political bosses control so
absolutely as the one at whose bidding
many OF our executive officers now bow
in obedience?
Let the citizen and taxpayer who has
the least doubt as to the urgent need of
this new charter ask himself why Sacra-
mento has not advanced in the past ten
years in proportion to other places much
less favorably located. The answer
would be that she is behind the times.
most of the laws on her statute books are
faulty and the good ones are not carried
! out.
Every one knows that the home-seeker,
in looking for q place to reside, looks to
/ these things as much as to any other con-
sideration.
/ Again, let US look at the system we
have, under the present form Of govern
ment, for keeping this city's finances.
/ We pay Treasurer some twelve hun
dred dollars per year, and he is usually
! connected with one of our local banks
| The result is, the bank has the use of our
money, amounting at times to hundreds
of thousands of dollars, and for which
/ the taxpayer gets nothing in return, but
IN fact pays them for keeping it. But
this is as our present law directs.
/ mention this one little flaw in cur city
| finances, but there are very many others
under our present laws that can be reme-
died under the new charter
| Yes, we need a new charter. and by
adopting the one now before us will be
the means of putting this city in the
coast,
With this new charter in operation boss
rule will be a thing Of the past. The
dives which now disgrace this city will
close their doors and seek for pastures
new. Our police force will be reorgan-
lied and will attend more strictly to its
duty, knowing that they will not need
this and that boss influence at each re-
curing election.
In fact, this city, with her board of
nine Aldermen, each vieing with the
other to make the best showing during
his term OF office, and a Mayor who will
act as check upon this body of men, if
needs be, will give the capital of this.
State dignity that long since belonged
to her, and will, in less than three years,
reduce our city's tax down to 81 so on
the 500 of taxable property.
Our old charter which now governs us
was alright enough thirty years ago
when it was made. Sacramento was then
in her babyhood, but she long since grew
out of this toddling state, and now needs
laws in keeping with her day and age.
j.. (I MARTTSr