The record-union., 1892-05-17
THE CHARTER ELECTION.

THE CHARTER ELECTION.
The citizens of Sacramento will to-day
be called upon to perform one of the most
important duties that by self-government
10 enact peaceful and beneficent revolu-
ton if they elect to adopt the new char
ter. They will resolve to wear on the gar
ment they have outgrown and which
hangs together by but doubtful legal
threads, if they defeat the new charter.
The RBooRD-UNIoN has discussed this
charter question dispassionately, but
earnestly, without bias or any manner Of
prejudice. We have treated it as legal
document, political foundation, a COM
munity compact; it has compared it
calmly, provision by provision, with the
existing and many other charters, and its
judgment is that it ought to be adopted;
that the city and every man and woman
and child in it will benefit directly by its
adoption, and that no one will suffer in
any respect by its accordance at the ballot
box. After this judicial examination and
perfectly dispassionate verdict, the REC
oRD-UNIoN will claim no victory if the
charter is adopted, and accept no respon-
sibility attaching to its defeat, if it is I'M
fortunately rejected. Whatever the re-
suit, we shall look upon it as the deliber-
ate judgment of the people.
But this said, we wish once more be-
fore the polls open to challenge every
citizen to his duty to-day. He who re-
mains away from the polls without phys
steal good excuse evades a duty that
every claim and privilege of citizenship
puts upon him. Let every man reflect
who is tempted not to vote to-day, that if
all others yielded, there would be an end
to orderly government and that anarchy
would supersede the processes that are
the guarantees of our liberties.
We wish once more to impress upon
our readers the thought that the new
charter is infinitely superior to the pres
ent instrument, for these, among other
unanswerable reasons:
l. 1t separates the legislative and execu-
tive departments, which is following the
model Of our Federal and State Govern
ments.
2. 1t destroys the present dangerous,
autocratic and un-American one-man
power in each of the several departments,
and substitutes for it in legislation, APP
pointment, expenditure, and all acts not
purely executive, the concurrence of the
legislative and executive departments.
g. 1t puts the police force where it be-
longs, under the executive department.
4. 1t gives us a Mayor with power to
enforce the laws and compel subordinates
to do their duty.
5. Itholds the Mayor in check by legis-
tive interference and non-conffrmation:
it holds the local legislature in check by
the veto of the executive.
6. 1t takes from the people the election
of no officer that is the true head of de-
partment; but it does give jointly to the
legislature and executive the appoint
ment of subordinates in certain DEPART
ments; as, for instance, to the Board of
Education, the selection of its Clerk and
Superintendent of Schools, with power of
removal; to the Mayor and Trustees. the
election of Chief of Police and Captain of
Police; Superintendent of Streets, Chief
and Otbar. ca,
Z. 1t docs away with two or three COM
missions, and puts the regulating power
and responsibility into the board that
levies the taxes and determines their vol
ume, thus escaping from the friction of
the present between boards and commits
sions that contend each for its independ-
ence, and demand of the tax-levying
power that it shall respond to their de-
mands for financial supplies whether it
likes it or not.
s. 1t abandons the Police Judgeship
and puts Justice of the Peace upon the
bench, whom the people now have to pay
whether he works or not, and thus it
conserves economy.
8. 1t gives US revenue system under
which taxes can be collected, and that
will remove the reproach that now at
taches to the city, to wit: that the city Of
fcials cannot compel any man to pay his
taxes, so defective is the present charter.
10. In the aggregate sum the salaries
under the new charter are materially less
than under the present one.
Il. 1t gives the police force permanency,
makes the tenure of Office on the force de-
pend upon fitness and diligence, and
frees the officers from political assessment