The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-07
Alterations Can't Be Made Until
the Legislature Meets
in 1899
UNITARIAN SUMMER MEETINGS
A "School of Religious Thought" to
Be Conducted in Stiles Hall,
Beginning To-Day.

BERKELEY, CAL, June 6.-There is
no likelihood or even possibility of any
changes being made in the town charter
for several years yet. The movement for
amendments is finally squelched by di-
recting attention 10 a provision in the
State constitution of California to the
effect that no changes can be made in
town charter like that of Berkeley within
two years of its adoption. Berkeley's
charter is only one year old, 80 that the
period through which it must remain I'M
altered will last till after the next session
of the State Legislature. Hence no amend
ments could be adopted until the Legisla-
ture of January, 1899.
The movement to change the charter
has not been Endorsed locally, and would
probably never reach the State Legislature
because it would fail 10 receive enough
votes in Berkeley.
The proposal to amend the charter so
that each Trustee would be voted for by
the whole town, instead of each in his own
ward, meets with strong opposition. There
are great differences between the voting
strength of he different wards, and it is
said that an injury would be done to the
smaller wards by the proposed change.
Ward Three, which is the largest in
Berkeley, would practically control the
nomination for member of the Town
Board from all wards under the system
suggested, as its large voting strength
would make Its support indispensable TO
all candidates. the other wards would
therefore lose power by such an amend
ment and will oppose 1t.
As the proposition must carry in Berke-
ley by q three-fifths majority before it
goes to the State Legislature there is small
chance of the amendment mentioned be-
ing carried out.
The other changes, making the office OF
Town Attorney, Town Engineer and
Superintendent of Streets elective, and
reducing terms of offices to two years are
not thought to be much more popular than
the more important one, and it is the
general opinion that the new charter will
be unchanged for many years.
Unitarian Nj lettings.
BERKELEY, CAL, June 6.-The first of
series OF meetings designated as ''Sum-
mer School of Religious Thought will be
held tomorrow morning in Stiles Hall
under the auspices of the Unitarian
Society.
1.-THE meetings are not regular services
of the Unitarian church, /" said Rev. E. B.
Payne, pastor of that church. 1.-THE pur-
pose OF the gatherings is to study the
spirit, aims. methods and history of the
liberal religious movement In this country.
1--WE shall use as a basis of study Chad
wick's volume ON old and New Unitarian
ism, and we invite our friends to come as
open-eyed, freeminded students of human
and divine realities"
The plan of the Unitarians for open-air
meetings has been abandoned partly be-
cause of the uncertainty of warm weather.
Presented by the Debaters.
BERKELEY, CAL, June 6.-Professor
Gayley has received from the East large
the forensic department of the university
by the intercollegiate debaters of last
term-F. II. Dam. Joseph O'Conner and
M. c. Flahertv, all of the class of '96.
The three debaters were awarded a prize
of $500 as winners of the contest against
Stanford and applied the money to the
purchase of the gift that has just arrived.
Death of Mrs. Chapman.
BERKELEY, CAL, June 6.-Mrs. Bes-
sic P. Chapman, a well-known resident of
West Berkeley and wife of N. ]. Chapman,
died this morning at her home on Sixth
street, having been confined TO her bed
since Christmas. The deceased was ma
tive of st. Johns, N. B., and had resided
in Berkeley for six years. The funeral
will take place tomorrow afternoon at
1:30, from her late residence.
Republicans to Rally.
BERKELEY, CAL, June 6.-The first
campaign meeting of Berkeley Repub-
licans will be held on Monday evening in
Odd Fellows Hall. A number of mem
bers of the local Republican Club. will
address the gathering, as we'll as Messrs.
lano and E. E. Hall of Oakland.