The San Francisco call., 1896-07-02

breeds political bosses, the bane of municipal
progress and prosperity. 1t produces incom-
potency, dishonesty and corruption. With
the new charter, however, will come a thor
ough system of civil service. All clerks, en-
ployes and laborers in the service of the City
will be governed by civil service rules and
regulations.
(bl Examinations.-Free, public, competitive
examinations of a practical nature must be
taken by all applicants, who must be citizens
of the United States. Examinations must in
clude physical tests and manual skill wherever
necessary. No question shall relate to politics
religion.
(c) Appointments, Dismissals and Promo
tions.-Out of the three highest in the civil
service list the appointee must be selected.
The appointment will therefore depend upon
ability and merit and never upon poll tics.
No dismissal can be made for any reason ex-
cept dishonesty, inefficiency, insubordination
or habltual dtscourtesy, proven after fair
and impartial trial before the Commissioners.
promotions will depend upon faithfulness and
length of service.
(d) Salar!es.-Salaries will be no higher than
are paid for similar services in business
houses, and the City Hall hours Will be from
(e) Corruplon.-Any officer or employe of the
City under the new charter who promises or
pays anything for his nomination, election or
appointment forfeits his position and is per-
manenuy disqualified from holding any
municipal Office.
4. Extravaganza VS.. Economy.-The loose,
lumbled and defective methods of the consoli-
datlon act invite and encourage extravaganza
and corruption The rigid system OF finance
duu revenue IN the new charter will neceSSl-
tate honesty and economy.
(d) Tax Levy.-Under the present consolida-
ton act the limit of 81 on the 500 of assessa-
bic property is completely destroyed. The
result has been eXoI bitant rates of taxation
The tax levy for the fiscal year just closed re-
quired tax rate for City and County
erty, involving an expenditure OF Sc 4OO, 900
The new charter VIII restore the tax rate 10
within 81 on the 800 and make the limit
81 OF for City and County purposes This will
n no
charter.
(b) Finance and Revenue.-The general fund
Will be abolished. Twenty-four specific funds
will be provided under the charter All rev.
enue will have to be kept in separate funds
and cannot be tranferred as at present. This
system is a vast improvement upon the pres
ent loose method of raising and spending the
peoples money. At present one fund draws
upon another, and when exhausted they all
draw upon the general fund.- Appropria tions
are therefore made for one purpose and spent
for an entirely different purpose. For exam
pie, $loO,0oO was appropriated for the past
nsca! year Tor sweeping and sprinkling the
public streets. As the streets were not sprin-
kled at all by the City, and the sweeping was
curtaiIed, Ge, there was in reality surplus OF
some $50, 900 IN this fund at the expiration OF
the fiscal year. This surplus has been diverted
to other funds and purposes.
(cl abilities;IThere will be restrictions
under the new charter. Liabilities can never
be incurred in any fiscal year exceeding the
revenue OF that year, nor in any month exceed
ing one-twelfth of the revenue of the year.
Each expenditure win have to be provided for
in its proper specific fund. No fund can be
exhausted because the liabilities cannot ex-
ceed the appropriations of each specific fund
D. Decay and Dryrot VS.. Progress and Pros
perfty.-The consolidation act has enabled
corporations to enthran the people, and re-
PROGRESSION and decay have oyertaken the
City. Great public improvements in the
streets, roads, sewers and pavements will re-
suit from the new charter
ld) Public Franchises.-The new ch arter will
allow no exclusive privilege or monopoly in
any franchise for water, gas, electric light,
telegraph, telephone or steam power. Within
one year after the charter takes effect, every
public franchise not in actual use Will be ior-
teited to the City. Every public franchise
hereafter granted must be in operation within
six months from its creation. One year will
be the limit upon any City contract for gas or
electric light, and the price shall never exceed
the lowest charge to any consumer.
(b) Railway chises.-Street.railway fran
ehises will be sold to the highest bidder, and
atleast per cent OF the gross receipts will go
to the City. Upon the expiration of street
railway franchises, their roadtracks and road
beds revert to the City. The new charter en-
powers the Board OF Supervisors to elk. estab-
hsh and reduce the rates OF fare upon all street
railroads in the City and County," All trans
continental or other railroad companies mean
ing business will have free entry into San
Francisco.
(e) Public Improvements.-The charter will
abolish the City Hall Commission and the
ofhees OF Superintendent of Streets and Sur
veyor. Three Commissioners of Public Works
will be appointed for term of four years who
Will manage and conduct all public works, re-
pairs and Improvements. Any contract in
which any person in the Department of Public
Works is interested shall be void. 1t wall nor
be possible to levy assessments upon any prop
erty aggregating over so per cent of its as
sessed valuation. No streets will be allowed
to be torn up by private parties. thorough
and systematic system of drainage will be
adopted. The public streets will be uniformly
swept, cleaned and sprinkled by the City, Civ
ing preference to hand labor and to per1na-
nent residents. Bonding of the City for neces-
sary permanent public Improvements will be
valid, safe and certain.
(6 Municipal Ownership.-The charter pro-
yides for the permanent acquisition and
municipal ownership by purchase, condemna-
ton or construction of water works, gas works,
electric-light works, steam, water or electric
power works, telephone lines and street rail
roads,
Ninety days before each election the Board
OF Public Works mus estimate the true value
OF street railroads and water works. telephone,
gas and electric-light plants and all public
franchises. These exact estimates will be sub
mitted TO the people at the ensuing election by
resolution of nine Supervisors.
Municipal ownership of any public utility
will be acquired by a two-thirds vote of the
people at the estimate established by the
Board of Public Works. Public utilities thus
acquired by the City will be managed and
operated by the Board of Public Works for the
benefit of the entire public.
1t was decided to appoint two delegates
from each of the individual clubs and five
from the associated bouy, to attend the
cha rter convention on August s.
The meeting was adjourned until two
weeks from last night, when the discus
sion on the charter will be resumed.