The morning call., 1893-09-21
A NEW CHARTER.
An Election May Be Held
i'm December.
BOOTHS WILL NOT BE USED.
A Majority of the Election Commits
sioners Favor an Early Selec-
ton of the Freeholders.

A meeting of the Election Commission
was held yesterday afternoon. In the
absence of Mayor Ebert, who was de-
tanned on other business, Auditor BrOd-
erIck was called upon to preside.
Registrar Evans was present, and stated
th at the reason he had asked the meeting
called was for the purpose Of fixing date
on which to hold the election for freeh cid.
ers to frame a charter for the city and
county. He said that he had looked all
over The field, aud thought that the best
time in which to hold the election was In
the beginning of December. At the pres
ent time there were many stores vacant all
over the city, which could be secured as
polling places at cost of SO for each
precinct. He estimated that 10 take the
booths used at the last election out of the
City Hall. erect them all over the city and
return them to the basement of the City
Hall would cost $4,000. This was too
large a sum to draw out of the $4,000
appropriated.
The best proposition was to rent the
vacant stores, which could now be OBJ
tanned at very cheap rates. IL the election
were held in the early part OF next year,
when the Midwinter Fair was on and
business had revived, the stores would be
all rented and it would be Impossible to
rent them as cheaply as al the present
time.
City and County Attorney Gre swell was
Of the opinion that the election for free
holders should take place in Deeem Der.
Auditor BrOuerick said he objected TO
the proposition After the freehOlders
were elected they only had ninety days in
which to frame the charter. II the cleo
ton were held in December the charter
would be framed and ready for publlca-
ton by March or April. There would be
an inteIregnum Of six months between the
framing of the charter and the November
general election. He thought that by the
time of the general election the people
would have forgotten all about the char
ter. He did not place any stock In Regis
trar Evans statement about the cheapness
of polling places at the present time, but
thought they could be obtained as cheaply
in the spring.
City and County Attorney Creswell
differed from Auditor Broderick and said
that lie believed that the people should
have an ample time IN which TO study the
charter. 1t was one Of the most important
documents, and concerned the future oil
San Francisco. and the people should be
given an ample opportunity in which to
grasp Its meaning.
"a layman might grasp the meaning Of
the charter in few days" said Mr. Ores =
we'll saTcastically, but a lawyer could not
do 1t in City days. | am IN favor OF hold
ing the charter election at the earliest pos
sibe time so as TO give the people as much
lime as possible in which TO study up the
charter"
Tax Collector Block was in favor of an
early election for fTeeh olders. He also be-
lleved in giving the people time TO study
It, lie did not think that interest would
flag, but thought it would be renewed
about the time of the general election.
City and County Surveyor FItZhugh
said that he had had a talk with Max Pop
per, who informed him that as a party
leader he was in favor of having the cleo
lion in the early part of December.
auditor Broderick called attention 10
made no appropriation for the publication
of the charter after 1t was framed.
Tax Collector Block said that made no
difference, as the Election Commissioners
could order the charter printed and the
bills must be paid, as election expenses
took precedence over all others.
Registrar Evans said that he had calcu-
lated on the money for publishing the
charter as coming out of the next levy.
Auditor BrodeTick replied that if the
election were held in December the publ
cation would take place before the next
levy, and the clerks would have to wait
Tor their money.
The Commissioners took o final action
in the matter. but will meet to-day in
order TO come to some definite conclusion.
1t may be stated that the majority of the
Commissioners are in favor Of holding the
reeh0lderS' election in the early part Of
December,