The morning call., 1894-09-21
A Club to Favor Good
Government.
FOR LOCAL AFFAIRS ONLY,
Public Officers Will Have t,
Be Careful.
THEIR METHODS INVESTIGATED
An Organization That Threatens to
Make a Stir in Municipal
Circles.

'"The Good Government Club" is an or
ganization that is just beginning to make
itself felt in Berkeley across the bay. New
York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia and
other Eastern cities have long had Good
Government clubs. but It has been re-
served for Berkeley 10 obtain the honor of
transplanting the idea to the Pacific Coast
1t was after the National Conference of
the Eastern clubs, held in Philadelphia
last January that the idea suggested itself
to DIR. Addison, manager for the Pacific
Coast of the General Electric Company.
He easily found willing coadjutOrs and
by the middle of May the Berkeley Club
was fairly organized, and now it is fully
launched on its mission, and before many
weeks have passed it is more than prob
able that its power will be felt in the land.
Its object Is only political one in a very
restricted sense; In fact, 1t bounds Its
sphere within the Berkeley town limits.
To make the citizens wiser. better and
more comfortable is the object of the Good
Government Club. It's members want to
have good roads to take their walks broad
upon; they also want those streets to be
well lighted without unnecessary eXpendi-
ture The quality of the town supply of
water and the efficiency of the drainage
will receive their attention, and the ali-im-
portant subject of education is by no
means to be neglected.
Not only will the wav in which the
young idea is trained in the public schools
be an object of interest to the club, for it
Will also seek by means OF lectures and of
publications to teach the residents of Berk-
eleY what is really meant by good nun CT
pal government. The regulations of can
a. TT. e. l.
those who are found to be wanting, from
a moral standpoint, will he rigidly di,-
cOuntenanced by the club. 1t will only be
to secure municipal advantage for the
town ofs Berkeley that the seekers after
good government viii have any actual re-
course 10 politi s. The CLUB has no plat
form, ana each member is free to follow
his own political creed.
The membership Of the Good Govern
ment Club is limited by the constitution to
80 persons. Women are Just as eligible
as men, though none have yet APP lied ; in
deed, any who contemplate doing so will
have to DO II as speedily as possible, forthe
club has over 100 members already. and
applications are pouring in. The whole
club has the privilege of voting on new
me mbers. and the backbal system is
used. The qualifications that are most
esteemed, however, are not wealth or So
cial prestige. but a clean record and some
amount of Intelligence and education.
Only actual residents Of Berkeley are
eligible.
1t IS evident that the aims and objects of
the Good Government Club have Caught
on" Immensely with the Berkeley people.
The Berkeley Town Improvement Asso-
citation, which was organized about twelve
yearg ago and pursued career of useful
ness in planting trees and otherwise
beautifyiDg the town, voluntarily dis
solved itself short time ago. Looking
uoon the new organization as a worthy
successor. it beQueathed what worldly
goods 1t was possessed of to the Goud
Government CLUB. That body has also
been cheered on its way lately by a good
deal Of other sympathy. which, il less sub
stantial, was at any rate very acceptable.
The president OF the club is DR.. Thomas
A. Anderson. There are five vice-presl-
dents-F. L. Lpman, J. B. Gerber. 5. E.
Moffett. G. W. Fletcher and A. +. LANCE.
The treasurer is K. 6. EastOn and the
secretary is Arson ). Blake. In addition
tn the president and the secretary. who
are eX-officio members of the board of di-
Tect0Ts, that body consists of j. W. Rich
ards. j. NJ. Foy and A. w. Huggins. The
election Of officers will take place annually.
The club has six standing committees,
whose business IL is to supervise whatever
is going on that is of public interest to the
town. Any complaints of shortcomings in
municipal affairs which are made to the
Orga3Zat m by residents will be referred
10 the committee on grievances. The other
standing committees are on streets, light
and water, own officials and education.
At the October meeting of the club, which
takes place as usual on the second Satur-
day In the month, a special committee aD-
pointed to investigate the vexed question
of the one mile limit will report
1t is a well-knOwn fact that the sale of
liquors within mile of the university is
prohibited by law. This statute, however,
and the Good Government Club having
taken the matter in hand is determined
not to rest till the scandals put an end to.
Another subject which will soon receive
attention is that of the charter under
which Berkeley exists as town, with its
municipal affairs vested in Board of
Trustees. Granted In 1876, it is now
stated that Berkeley, which would rank a
a city of the fourth class, has Outgrown its
out-of-date charter
The club is strongly of that opinion and
it intends to work along the line of having
the charter changed.
During the winter public meetings will
be held under the auspices OF the club for
the purpose of educating the people Of
Berkeley into understanding and taking
an interest in what is really meant by good
government. The best speakers possible
will be obtained and it is expected that q
gOod deal Of local interest will be aroused.
AT least the mem bers of the club, who in
clude about a dozen of the university pro-
fessors, modestly claim that their aims are
purely local, but IL is possible If they sue
ceed in their objects that other Good Gov
eminent clubs may be organized in and
a bout San Francisco.