The San Francisco call., 1896-03-10
MR.. GADEN'S PAPER.
Advocating the Charter Before the
Institute of Applied Chris
tianIty,

tlanlCys
Alta meeting Of the Institute of Applied
Christianity last evening George t. Gaden
read very interesting paper on Law and
Order and the New Charter" in which he
spoke of the proposed new City charter as
follows:
No doubt the adoption of the new charter
viii be objected to by many, for the most part
by politicians ana their bosses, on the ground
that the experience of large cities in their
mayors does not warrant vesting in that exec
utive so much power. But does the experience
OF these same cities under mayors without
power prove that system TO be better one?
The latter has been tried and it has always
failed. The first, UP TO this time, has only been
partially tried.
the system IL proposes gives too much patron
age TO the Mayor. So much the worse for him.
The distribution of patronage makes enemies
as well as friends. No man IN America ever
undertook to build up a personal party or per-
petuate power by means OF 1t successfully.
Shall we rather have patronage In The hands
OF boards, in whose secret councils il is par
celed out? Is II not better to submit 10 the
minor evil oi an executive with too much pat
ronage than to accept the greater one OF an
executive with too little power?
Again, some will say: "What reason have
to expect the people will choose the proper
man for Mayor 20 If they win not. that is de-
feet for which remedy can be found when
the evil presents itself. We believe they will.
The more importance given to the office the
more importance the people will attach TO
their selection OF man 10 NIL II, and the more
likely is it that the most capable and trust
worthy man among US will be willing to accept
it. Concentrate the attention OF the people
upon the election OF the Mayor as the one and
only thing they have 20 do with the executive
branch OF the City's government
A rich man in New York once expressed his
disgust at our system OF government because
his coachman's vote could offset his. He was
told that his coechman probably paid more at
tention to public affairs than he did- The
same rich man was met at the polls some time
after with his hands full OF tickets the tickets
full of names and his face full OF perplexity
and despair. He asked q friend: fWhat are all
these names we have 10 vote Tor to-day?" To
which the friend replied: 81 know OF no per-
son who can give any better information
that point than your coachman, whom saw
here few moments ago" II this worthy cltl-
zen had had TO vote simply for the Mayor and
g common Councilman he would not have
been in that perpleXlng condition.
But again it is said: Ii We give Mayor SO
much power, how are we to restrain him from
abusing it? The answer to this objection has
been made farther back in these pages, but let
it once more be emphasized: First, there will
be the restraint OF the Mayors consciousness
that he is responsible for all maladministra-
ton; second, on him will concentrate the crit
icfsm OF the powerful press, and his will be
the shame before public opinion.
Referring to the police, let us urge that the
Mayor be made commander-in-cnief of the
police, just as the Governor is OF the National
Guard OF the State. Let the Mayor appoint
to the force the same relation as the adjutanf-
general does to The Governor and the National
Guard. Let him be put in actual command OF
the force and hold Office long enough TO enable
him TO perfect organization and discipline, and
make provision for his prompt suspension for
misconduct and for his removal after trial be-
fore proper tribune.
Experience does not show that the posses
sion of property Is guarantee of public or
private virtue, or OF fidelity even to the ordi-
nary duties OF citizenship, but we are begin
n n n rQru rra 1ply hat nt fnn
most faithful and efficient men in public and
private life live poor and die poor. The well
fare OF great city is almost lost sight OF in
the tremendous struggle for power and greed
for personal gain. Partisanship has been our
greatest curse-the greatest menace to our free
institutions. Ignorance is bad enough, but it
does not give such deadly, biighting touch as
that of fanatical party slavery. People VINO
are honorable in all the other walks OF life
have stopped to the most vllainous methods
for party supremacy. A person is good citi-
zen only in proportion TO the interest he takes
In public affairs and as he is freed from party
feeling Party is all right so long as the citf-
zen uses il for noble purpose, but when used
for private ends IL becomes merciless tyrant.
The question OF the adoption of our new
charter al the next election is not one of party
politics. Ii is matter that touches 10 the
quick every citizen OF San Francisco, and re-
joice that the mighty press of the City is lift
ing the whole subject from the low plane of
partisanship to that OF patriotism and making
an indignant outcry against the corruption
and vice which are sapping the foundation of
our liberties.
Society is we'll governed only when the people
obey those in authority ard the authorities
obey the law.
We plead for the effective execution of the
power and will of the people by their one
chosen executive. subject to the restraints of
the Legislature, the judiciary and the law,
without which system confusion ensues, cor
rupton creeps III and the responsibility be-
comes unsettled. There can be no danger OF
tyranny in clothing the agent OF the people to
execute the viii OF the people.
The Mayor of this City, us we all know, is ab-
solutely without power. Every head of depart
ment holds Office independent of him, some
for longer term than his own. By the adop-
ton of the new charter he becomes live
power in the government, not full grown, but
growing The benefits of such q system are
acknowledged by all good citizens everywhere.
The politicians and the bosses only will array
themselves against it. for under the new