The herald., 1896-11-17
THE INSTRUMENT EXTOLLED
Henry w. O'Melveny Explains at Length
How II Will Work
Charles Cassatt Davis Details Its Operations
on the City
Gen. Charles Forman Answers Some of
the Objections Raised to the Adop-
ton Of the Measure-An Inter-
esting Meeting.

The Merchants and manufactures
association held an important session at
its rooms in the Wilcox block last even
ing, which was especially devoted to
discussion of the proposed new city
charter.
There was number of gentlemen
who explained the features of the instru-
ment, and the attendance of members
was quite large, number of the fore
most business men of the city being
present.
H. w. Frank, president of the asso-
citation, called the meeting to order and
introduced the speakers, who were from
the League for Better City Government.
Henry w. O'Melveny was the first
speaker. He discussed the civil service
feature of the proposed new charter,
and dwelt upon the success it had met
with in the national government. He
assured his auditors that the same rules
could be applied with success in the mum
icipal government
Major H. T. Lee being unavoidably
absent, Charles Cassatt Davis spoke in
his stead. Mr.. Davis touched upon the
appointive power which the mayor would
hold under the proposed new funda-
mental law OF tHe clty. IHe speaker
claimed that the present power of the
mayor was purely nominal. All he
could do was to sign or veto ordinances
and receive visitors. He thought. and
the new charter provided. that the mayor
should have full executive and appoin-
tive power.
This, Mr.. Davis thought, would take
the patronage out of the hands of the un-
scrupulous politicians, who would other
wise use it to keep themselves in power.
Politicians, the speaker thought, seemed
to regard the city as mine, which they
could work for their own benefit to the
greatest extent possible. The only reme-
dy for the evil was to cut the patronage
as far as possible. AS soon as this was
done, then the power of the push would
be gone. There would be no spoils for
| which they could fight and the officers
would be dependent in the retention of
the positions on merit and not on polit-
ical influence.
| Mr.. Davis quoted the success which
/ had resulted from the introduction Of
! civil service rules in the public library
some six years ago. Now, he said pub
| lie sentiment was so strong that it
would be impossible to return to the old
order of things.
In securing the passage of the new
| charter, Mr.. Davis said that the opposi-
tion of the boodlers who thrive off of
| franchises granted to corporations and
pected. They could not and would not be
convinced of the merits of anything
that would tend to cut off their income
The speaker cited the fact that Brook
lyn, N. y; Columbus, Ohio, and Cleve-
! land, Ohio. had almost identically the
| same charter as is proposed for this city,
and in every instance it had succeeded
/ In closing, Mr.. Davis made an appeal
| for all to vote the Better City Govern
ment leagues ticket, the success Of
/ which would tend greatly to the success
! of the merchants.
Senator-elect r. N. Bulla being pres
! ent, he was called for. The senator said
that he was not familiar with the pro-
! posed changes to an extent sufficient to
warrant him in discussing them. How
ever, the senator stated that he favored
the introduction of civil service in the
municipal government. 1t could be dec e
as to the city, and he thought it could
| be equally as we'll made applicab BILE to the
state government.
! There were some features of the char
ter. however, which Senator Bulla stated
! that he opposed. He referred more par
ticularly to the proposition to uniform
city employees. He could not under
stand why this clause had been inserted
! 1t was un-Amercan and could and
would be used to defeat it.
| Mr.. O'Melveny stated that he was In
| favor of the clause Senator Bulla re-
/ -
man to give an explanation of some Of
| the alleged weak points of the measure.
| Mr.. ForInan defended the proposition
| fense of the charter He spoke of the
pride the mayor would take in having
a clean and efficient administration, and
that. therefore. if he had common sense
| he would appoint only honest and eff
i cient men. He favored the concentra-
tion of power and responsibility upon
| the one man, the head of the city govern
| ment.
Mr.. Forman favored the proposition
! of having the councilmen elected at
! large. This, he thought was strictly
! business proposition, and would prevent
/ the gang from running in Objectionable
! men.
| The speaker preferred to have the
number of wards in the city cut down.
! but this had not been covered by the
new charter. He referred to the fact
that the number of members of the
| board of education had been reduced to
| seven, instead of nine, by the new instru-
ment This was simply done to make a
stronger working body.
| As to the clause for the uniforming of
city officials. Mr.. Forman indorsed Il.
] heartily. The army, navy, policemen
! and firemen We're uniformed, and he
thought city officers could be as WE'LL 1t
had been tried in a number of cities. and
I it had worked successfully. He did not
| think it was un-American in any way.
| Mr.. FOrman thought it would prove Of
| great assistance to citizens having busi-
ness at the city hall to have uniform
The uniform selected would be inexpen-
sive and not anything that would work
a hardship on any official.
The clause which does away with the
l