The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
FREUD ELOQUENT
FOR THE CHARTER,
Makes a Stirring Appeal
Before the Mission
Defense Union.
DOHRMANN ALSO SPEAKS
A Large Number of Missionites
Attend the Meeting Last
Night.
APPLAUD A SPEAKERS WORDS.
Sixty G.oi and Conclusive Results
Stated to Accrue ON the Charters
Adoption.
APPLAUD A SPEAKERS WORDS.

| The hall of the Mission Defense Union
at the corner of Twentieth and Guerrero
| streets was crowded last night, the oc-
casion being the exposition by D. w.
Dohrmann, president, and ]. Richard
Freud, secretary, of the Merchants Asso-
citation of the beneficial results that will
accrue on the adoption of the proposed
new City charter.
John HI. Grady, president of the Mis-
sion Improvement Union, opened the
| meeting and stated that all the regular
business would be suspended in order that
1 full attention might be given to the
| charter.
F. w. Dohrmann said:
| II am glad to meet men who are willing
to lay aside business affairs and to interest
themselves in matters concerning the
community at large.
1--WE have great deal to complain of in
the conducting of our municipal affairs,
and the principal thing is the indifference
exhibited by the individual citizen. To
| remedy these things we ourselves m ust
take action. We alone are responsible,
and, If we would improve on this present
| system, then let US take the steps proper
| TO change 1T Tor the better. 1t is bad, now.
! Whose fault is it but our own?"
Mr.. Freud said, introducing his sixty
| results which will accrue on the adoption
| OF the proposed charter: "There is one
question before the people, is the pro-
posed charter better organic law than
the one already dominant"
He then explained that the present
charter for San Francisco bore the same
relation to the City that suit of clothes
made Tor !O-year-old boy would bear to a
| mans wearing.
This question relating to organic laws" 4"
said he, "is not question of politics. 1t is
| not personal question, nor is 1t a ques-
tion OF officials. 1t is question of sys-
tenn. 1t is change from one system to
| another. From system now known to be
| detective and productive of corruption to
system that bears on it's face a perfec-
tlon as near as possible for man to formu-
late"
| Mr.. Freud then read the following re-
suits, fully explaining each one in passing
CIVIL sERvICE-EIGHT RESULTS.
l. As soon as the charter goes into effect
/ there Will result strictly non-partisan civil
| service commission, and the government of
San Francisco viii be conducted on business
| principles
| q All clerks, employees and laborers in the
service of the City win be governed by civil
service rules and regulations. Their salaries
will be no higher than are paid for similar
| services in business houses.
| 3. Free, public, competitive examinations of
| q practical nature, must be taken by all appli-
a
| the United States
A. Examinations viii include physical tests
and manual skill wherever required no ques-
| tton shall relate to politics or religion.
| .. appointment and promotion in the
| classified offices of the City will depend upon
| ability, merit and length of service and never
| suitable office.
| 8. No employe of the City will be discharged
on any political grounds; the only reasons al
| lowed are dishonesty, inefficiency, insubordi.
| nation or habtual discourtesy, proven after a
! falr and impartial trial before the Commits
! sioners
| 2. Any officer or employe of the City. who
| promises or pays anything for his nomination,
| election or appointment forfeits his position
and is permanently disqualified from holding
any municipal office.
| 8. Any person in the City government who
violates any provision of the civil service regu-
iations will be guilty of q misdemeanor, and
be ineligible to any municipal office for five
years.
sUPERvIsoRs-FIvE RESULTS.
y. The present unequal representation of
Supervisors by antiquated ward lines will be
abolished; the people will elect their Super-
visors from any part of the City and County
10. No person will be eligible TO become A
supervisor who has ever been convicted of
any crime or misdeed in public or private life
or who has not been an elector OF the City over
five years, or who is interested in any CITY
contract or franchise.
IL. Supervisors will not be permitted tn
recommend or solicit the appointment of any
person, outside OF those positions that may by
law De nlIeQ Dy the BOARD.
II. Every six months all financial acts and
transactions of City officials will be rigidly ex-
amined and exported by the Finance Commit
tee of the Board of Supervisors.
1S. Violation by q Supervisor of any pro-
vision in the charter will result in the for
feiture of his Office and his permanent dis
qualification from holding any future munich
pal position.
THE MAYoR-FoUR RESULTS.
IA. The Mayor will be the chief executive
officer OF San Francisco. He will no longer be
mere igure-head, but will be vested with ex-
ecutive power and official responsibility.
10. HIS duties, as prescribed in the charter
will be to vigilanily observe the conduct of ali
public officers, and see that all departments OF
the City government are administered
honestly, economically and without super
16. The Mayor will have to see that all the
ordinances of the City and county are observed
and enforced, and appoint experts who must
at least every six months examine thoroughly
the books and accounts of all City officials
II. He will have to see that all City fran
chises granted, 10 any person or corpora ton
are not violated or disregarded; and shaIl
prosecute all persons or corporations failing TO
fulfill their agreements or contracts with the
City.
POLICE DEPARTMENT-THREE RESULTS.
1S. The present life tenure of the three
Police Commissioners will be abolished A
board of four commissioners will be appointed
by the Mayor, and their term of office will be
limited TO four years, one going out of Office
each year.
Department. The Police Commission will al
ways have to be strictly non-partisan; not
more than two Commissioners OF the same po-
litical party. No person in the Police Depart
ment will be permitted to take part in politics
or in any political convention: nor will any
political assessments be allowed
20. Policemen must be citizens of the United
States, of good character, FIVE years residents
of the City and able to read and write English
They will retain their posi- ions during good
behavior. In case of disability, old age and
long service relief fund is provided, and a
pension fund for the families of those officers
killed in the service.
FIRE DEPARTMENT-Two RESULTS
81. The present mixed Board of Fire Com
missioners, composed of five persons ap-
pointed partly by the old county co urts, partly
by the Board of Supervisors and partly by the
Governor, will be abolished. A board of four
Commissioners will be appointed ty the Mayor
for the term of four years, one going out of
office each year. The board must always be
strictly non- partisan; not more than two Com
missioners of the same. political party. No
political assessments will be permitted; nor
will any person in the Fire Department be a.
lowed to take part in politics or in any polit-
ical convention.
%. There will be fully paid and fully
equipped Fire Department. Firemen must be
citizens of good character, residents of the