The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-09
IROQUOIS And THE CHARTER.
THE WARRIORS IN REGULAR SEES
SION DISCUSS It's PRO-
VISIONS.
M. M. FoOTE PAYS HIS RESPECTS
TO THE CALIFORNIA
LEGISLATURE.

The members of the Iroquois Club who
met last night to discuss the provisions of
the new charter found they had mapped
out entirely too much work for one evening,
and adjourned after considering article II
of that document, which relates to the
legislative department of the city govern
ment. A brief synopsis by A. D. Lemon
presented concisely the subject-matter Of
the article.
Mr.. Lemon thought that the advantages
to be gained from article II alone were sutfi-
cient to justify the people in accept ting the
charter even though it might be objection
able in some other particulars. The pre-
vention of the grant of an exclusive fran
chise on any of the streets would cut off
the power OF any monopoly to own the
city. The curse Of the municipality had
been greedy monopoly whose grasp upon
the city it had been impossible to break.
If the city should own its own water
works it would benefit as had Eastern
cities such as Baltimore and Cleveland,
where the water rate for service for which
San Franciscans pay 81 was only 80 cents.
A. d. Meisegaes opposed the charter.
1t had many novel features, most OF which
were good, but many of them were already
covered by the State law. If any change
was advisable, such as the prevention OF
exclusive franchises, it could be covered by
a general law to be passed by the Legisla-
ture. The good points of the charter were
expected to cover its many infamieS, as
the sugar coating makes many bitter pill
palatable.
The reference to the Legislature brought
NJ. NJ Foote to his feet in an instant. 81
know the California Legislature" he said,
land hell cannot improve on it. If you do
not do something now you might as well
go to the devil as to the Legislature for re-
lief
'What has the Legislature done2 Passed
a bill to prevent worthless men from smok-
ing cigarettes, forbidden ladies to wear
a bill prohibiting men from tampering
with ladies' underwear If there is any
thing commendable in this charter let US
have it. If not, xiii it--but for Gods sake
do not go to the Legislaturer
Wesley Reed opposed invoking legisla-
tive interference. The great principle of
Democracy was home rule, and the great
evils from which The city now suffers were
the result of legislative interference in
municipal matters. The new charter was
the best ever proposed. 1t was directly in
line with municipal reform all over the
United States, and was the nearest ap-
proach to the Brooklyn charter ever sub
mitted to the people of any city in Califor-
mia. The section under discussion was
absolutely hawless, for its provisions coin
cided with the Jeffersonian idea of what a
legislative body should properly be.
Mr.. Meisegaes retorted that the new
charter made of the Mayor boss of the
old Tweed type.
Patrick Lynch took up the cudgels in
defense of the charter. He favored water
works owned by the city. The present
charter was valueless and be wanted a new
one. Under existing conditions we were
ruled by man who was Police Commits
sioner yesterday and a political boss to-
day, and an all-powerful Mayor would be
no worse at any rate.
The discussion of the ACCESSIBILITY of en-
dowing the Mayor with such great power
as is proposed by the new charter will come
up next Friday.