The record-union., 1896-11-21
THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS

THE CHARTER AMENDMENTS.
The official and advisory committees
considering charter amendments have
now held seven meetings. To each one
of these they have invited the public
They have officially published some of
their propositions in the desire to bring
out criticism. To this date but tour
citizens have appeared before the COM
mittees. and but three OF these havs ad-
dressed It. In each case the views ad-
vanced were broad minded, public
spirited and progressive. But these four
do not sufficiently represent the city. We
must conclude that the people are con-
tent with the committees, and with the
final submission Of propositions 10 the
vote OF the electors. But 1T would be
greatly better to have any objections to
the work Of the committees made prior
10 submission.
So Car as the work has progressed but
seven matters Will be submitted to vote
and these will probably not be increased
IN number. When printed they Will not
exceed a single column OF print, and will
probably not fill three quartcys Of a
column, and this includes choosing prop
osftions, thalt Is. two or more for only
one of which the people are to vote. AS
uredly this Is not volurninous presen
ta'tion and cannot confuse or burden
readers during thirty days given for
their consid deua,tion, nor will the cost Of
publicity be worth conisid ering compared
to the ends hoped TO be attained.
Primarily the committees started out
to remove the friction between the ex-
ecutdve and legislative departments and
20 declare ennphattcally what the char
ter means. 1t has been decided that this
may be done by g single bqdef section
added to the chaISter expressing the de-
sire OF the people and controlling all tn
tGpretatiou Of the instrument.
After that there remained only a pro-
viso putting the cost of Fourth OF July
celebrations into the expense budget of
the city: making School Directors the
choice of the voters of all the city and
not of the wards; providing for publicity
of ordinances and some readjustment OF
the salary list These matters are prac-
ttcalfy agreed TO and now ready to be
submitted, after proper formulation, to
the Board of Trustees.
But one other is still pending. 1t pro-
vtdes that the w.aIds shall be rebounded
now and be but six In number, with q
Trustee from each ward and three Trus-
tees elected at large. The latter are to
serve two years, and the former four
years. half the group only going out at
one time, but the at-large TruStees
being nsw each term
Over this the committee stands d.
many, and we think they are all sound.
The growth of the city has been such
that the ward voting strength Is now un-
equal The First Ward has very little
OF the residence section IN 1t. and its
vote Is but half that Of any one of the
other wards. To extend 1t conrenpor-
aneous with the First Supervisor DIS
trict will make It numerically as large as
the others, or nearly so.
1t IS unfair that one small ward should
have as great strength and power In the
municipal legislative body as a large
and populous one, one in which vastly
more of concern is taken In public af-
fairs To enlarge the First Ward will
dignity It. and give TO fits representative
a higher character. To make three Trus-
tees representative OF the whole city viii
Introduce into the board conservative
and dignifytng force. provide 1t with
q balance wheel that win steady its
operation and better the whole body
The readjustment VIII affect the po-
Etical strength OF parties not at ALL ex-
ceut perhaps IN the First Ward. and we
do not believe that II will change DO
iir1cal strength there when the vote Is
carefully analyzed.
That, however, Is consideration
that should have no countenanoe.
Charters ahould not be made with po-
litical ends IN view. Wards are mere
conyentences for voting and choosing
representatives. The city is q unit, not
q composite OF ward interests. We do
not light. police or govern the city by
wards. Neither It's sanitation nor it's
financial system rests upon ward divi-
stem. and it's school, drainage and fire
pnooection interests have no relation
whatever to wards.
Il would seem, Therefore, to be wise,
just and progressive to lessen the num-
ber OF wards and retain the number of
TruUtees with three representatives of
ths whole city, regardless OF the acci-
dan4 OF residence.
It is objected that this was not one OF
the primal ideas In calling the charter
committees into existence. That may.
or Il may not be. 1t In certainly mat
tar that has been very much debated
among the people and has had their
serious thought The majority of the
coxnntttess have said that tho idea of
ward AID at-iarge Trustees Is q good
ono and ought to prevail; that the ben
efits Of the plan outweigh objections to
It. But It Is replied this amendment
VIII too much extend tho List to be sub