The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-03

the puzzling tangle of the City's govern
ment grows emphasizing more strongly
each year the need of a new charter whlch
when adopted and passed as general law
would amend and supersede all previous
laws in conflict with it.
Thus there are general laws which give
this City any debt-incurring power 1t may
possess, and such laws have been passed.
In 1887 the Legislature passed an act en-.
titled "An act authorizing the mourning OF
Indebtedness by cities towns or municipal
corporations incorporated under the laws
of this State" In 1889 this law was re-
enacted with some changes of minor i'm
portance, and it stands to-day as the law
governing San Francisco and all other
cities which have not adopted special char
tiers since 1889. Under this law San Jose
and some of the cities of Southern Califor-
mia have issued bonds for public improve
ments.
This act is entitled Gan act authorizing
the mourning of Indebtedness by cities,
towns and municipal corporations lncor-
porated under the laws of this State, for
the construction of water works, sewers
and all necessary public improvements for
any purpose whatever, and to repeal, etc.
The sections of this act of chief import
ance are as follows:
Section 1. Any city, town or municipal cor
poration, incorporated under the laws OF this
State, may, as hereinafter provided, incur In
debtedness to pay the cost of any municipal
improvement or for any purpose whatever re-
quiring an expenditure greater than the
amount allowed for such improvement by the
annual tax levy.
Sec. 2. Whenever the legislative branch of
any city, town or municipal corporation shall,
by ordinance passed by vote of two-thirds OF
all its members and approved by the executive
OF said city, town or municipal corporation, de-
termine that the public interest or necessity
demends the acquisition, construction or COM
pletion of any municipal buildings, bridges,
water works, water rights, sewers or otner lnu-
nicipal improvements, the cost of which Will
be too great to be paid out of the ordinary an
nual income and revenue of the municipality ,
they may, after the publication OF said ord1-
nance for at least two weeks in some news
paper published in such municipality, and at
their next regular meeting after such publica-
ton, or at an adjourned meeting, by ordinance
passed by two-thirds vote of all its members
and also approved by the said executive, call q
special election and submit to the qualified
voters of said City, town or municipal corpora
ton the proposition of mourning debt for the
purpose set forth in the ordinance, and no
question other than the incurring of indebted
ness for said purpose shall be submitted.
The ordinance must be published for ten
days before the notice of the special elec-
ton, which must be published for two
weeks, and which shall set forth the pur-
pose and amount of the proposed indebted
ness, etc. Two-thirds of the voters voting
at the election are required to authorize
the issuance of the bonds. The limit OF
the Indebtedness is fixed at per cent OF
the assessed value of the real and personal
property. The law contains number OF
administrative requirements and requires
provision by taxation for interest and
sinking fund.
The method of issuing bonds by this City
is thus exactly the same as with other
municipalities of the State that have
issued bonds since 1889.
The proposed new charter contains pro
vision authorizing the issuance of bonds
by two-thirds vote, and resembles closely
the act of 1889, just quoted.