The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-05

undertaking, requiring two experts to trav-
erse, and which we call Market street, the
main thoroughrare OF $50, 900 long-suffering
people.
reforms and improvements that as wheelmen
we would first inaugurate. But submit that
all Wheelwomen and all wheelmen are good
citizens and that, being such, they are capable
of broader view than their mere personal adj
Yantages
He then enumerated what he consid-
cred the many good points in the instru-
ment
Concluding he said:
The ultimate OBJECT Of the new charter and
the spirit that characterizes its every page is
to conduct the government of San Francisco
on business principles. This is the PROPOSE
ton that now prevails among all leading, pro-
gressiye and attractive cities of the world.
Business principles, applied to municipal
tiles, Involve the concen tration of power into
business head. 1t does away with the multi
plication of elective officers and iastens the
sponSibility where the citizens may see and
know the conduct OF their own affairs.
The adoption of the new charter means
home rule, vast improvements and good gov
eminent Tor San Francisco.
The following letter from M h. Hecht
was next read by the secretary:
SAN FRANCISCO. Sept. 4, 1896.
y. Richard Freud, Secretary Of the Citizens
Charter ASS0cidtiOH-DEAR SIR: Ii ii were posi-
BILE for me would be most happy to be with
you this evening and perform my share of the
few words upon the subject assigned me. 1
had the honor to be made the chairman of the
committee upon the Fire Department division
OF the proposed new charter. As l have re-
peatedly said, my task was an easy one, for
there were but two important matters to con-
slder-hrst, to give the City thoroughly eff
t1cient full-paid Fire Department; the second,
TO take it completely out of politics 1 am
happy to say that so far there has not been the
would bring about the result. There
are two clauses in the act to which l would
like 10 direct the attention of all voters. The
first is section 4, page 155 of the charter,
which says: 'tAt the beginning of the fiscal
year next succeeding the adoption of the char
ter the Board OF Fire Commissioners shall re-
organize the Fire Department and fire alarm
and police telegraph of this City and County
SO as to conform to the provisions of this
charter, and in so doing SAID board shall APP
point as such officers, members and employees
those persons now cons shutting the officers,
members and employees of the same"
In this connection permit me to say that not
only is the provision just, that the present de-
partment shall constitute in part the proposed
one, but is extremely desirable, for after long
intercourse with the officers and personnel OF
the department found perfect system, re-
liable and steady men and competent officers
| everywhere in the department. would say
In addition that there never will be more
! propluous time to reorganize this department,
for our City has perfect treasure in Chief
sullivan, and II his ideas and plans are fol-
lowed by the Board of Fire Commissioners, as
they no doubt will be, we shall have a depart
ment second TO none in the world.
| Section D, page 155, reads as follows and
speaks for itself: "No officer, member or en-
ploye of said department or bureaus thereof
! shall be appointed or removed because of his
political faith or opinion, nor shall he be dis
missed except for cause, nor until after a lair
/ trial, as hereinafter provided"
In conclusion, IN my judgmedl, it is only
necessary that the citizens of San Francisco be
made familiar with all the provisions of the
! charter to insure its adoption, providing they
! are also informed that the law requires not a
| plurality for the charter, but majority in its
favor OF all the votes cast at the next election,
and that therefore it behooyes every voIer TO
cast his vote for the charter to secure its adop-
| ton beyond peradventure.
In my judg ment it would be public calan-
| ity were it defeated. because it would relegate
| this City Dack TO its present extremely unsat-
| isfactory government. 1t would be some
| years before the machinery for charter could
| be set in motion, and then il is very doubtful
! if any charter, which must always be voted
| upon as whole, could be framed that as an
! entirety is more satisfactory than the one now
submitted to the citizens for their approval.
! Respectfully, Nj. Il. HECHT.
The law committee presented the follow
ing report:
In the opinion of your committee there is
nothing in the proposed new charter which re-
quires the members of the Fire Department to
pass new examination under the civil SER
vice article in order to retain their positions
The Civil Service Commission is not TO be
! appointed until the charter goes into effect
The article ON civil service requires the com
mission to classify the officers and that appoint
ments 10 such offices shall be made according
10 the article on civil service; but the persons
holding such offices and positions at the time
OF the adoption of the charter have already
been appointed and are enjoying the positions
! to which they have been appointed, No other
appointment is necessary, and they cannot be
removed except by following the article on
| civil service. 1t follows that no new examin-
atoms are or can be required of them in order
TO retain their positions.
EDWARD R. TAYLOR
Curtis HILLYER
CHARLES WESLEY REED
WILLIAM F. GIBSON.
Committee on law and legislation Citizens
Charter Association.
Before adjournment the following pre
amble and resolutions were passed, though
the ''ayes" were well mingled with groans
and Kisses:
WHEREAS, The consolidation act as origina1lv
passed by the Legislature in 1856 has been
amended and supplemented over 400 times by
successive Legislatures of the State, until it is
now impossible to decide with certainty the
present laws governing the City aud County OF
San Francisco; and whereas, during the past
forty years this City has grown from a village
of 10000 inhabitants to a metropolis of
$4,000 people, and has developed from a
mere trading post to the largest commercial
and manufacturing center OF the western
slope OF the American continent; and
whereas, the consolidation act has become
obsolete. defective and Inadequate to the
actual requirements of the City; has caused
municipal incompetency, irresponsibility ex-
travagance and corruption; has sapped the
vital functions of the legislative, executive
and judicial departments of government; has
invested commissions with life tenure Of
Office; has permitted valuable franchises to be
bartered away TO avaricious monopoIies; has
cast the public service into the sluns OF poll
tics, and has arrested the further progress of
the City; therefore, be it
ResotUed, By the people of San Francisco in
mass-meeting assembled this 4th day of Sep
TENDER, that we welcome the proposed new
charter and advocate its adoption, because it
will make every department of the Cftv gov
eminent responsible and accom- table and re-
store to the executive department its rightful
authority; it will introduce rigid system of
finance and revenue and limit the tax levy to
81 OF on the 800 valuations it will SUPPORT
the honest officer in the discharge OF his
duties and check the rascality OF recreant OF
nclais; 1t Will 1naugurate strict civil service
based upon merit and fidelity; it will foster
and encourage public and private improve
ments, thus giving employment to labor: it
wiz efeetually prevent monopolies in fran
chlses and secure municipal ownership of pub
lie utilities when deemed necessary; it will
curb the aggression and extortion of corpora
tions and force them to respect the rights and
privileges OF the people; and finally, it viii
forever annihilate the political boss and legis-
lative tyrant and restore to San Francisco the
inalienable blessings of home rule