The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-21
Disputed Sections of the Charter
Explained to All Who
Will Listen.
MONEY FOR THE CAMPAIGN.
The Merchants Association Contrib
uteS One Thousand Dollars to
the Fund.


cipal campaign being cemented in strong
bonds of unity.
The meeting opened with the rollcall
and reading of minutes, after which Presl-
dent Phelan announced the following per-
manent committees:
Credentials and additional membership
James S. Conwe1 (chairman), G. Leldecker,
Harry Stockton C. B. Rode, A. G. Boldemann.
Finance and auditing-Colonel NJ. H. Hecht
(chairman), Wendell Easton, Colin M. Boyd, j.
J. O'Brien NJ A. Rothchild.
Press and pubAicattons-F. w. Dohrmann
(chairman), W. r. Wheeler. DR.. g. Gutsch. L.
r. Ellert, Henry N. Clement.
Meetings and speakers-Herbert E. Law
Gchairman), p A. Bergerot, S. G. Hammond,
l. J. Truman, A. P. Van Duzer.
Law and legislationoE r. Taylor Chair
MANI, W. F. Gibson, Charles Wesley Reed,
Thomas 1. Bergin Curtis Hillyer.
Platforms OF parties ana elect1ons-Hugo u.
Keil chairman, DR.. T. A. Rottanzi, Irving NJ.
Scott, l. Schwartz, Isadore Cutie.
Probably the most important event of
the evening was the report of the commit
tee on press and publications submitted
by Chairman Dohrmann. Some few OPP
posed the methods outlined in the report,
but these objections we're finally over
come and the paper adopted by the asso-
citation. 1t reads as follows:
SAN Francisco, Cal, Aug. 20, 1896.
To the President and Delegates Of the Citizens
Charter sSociation-GEN1L EMEN: The follow
ing report has been adopted by your commit
tee on press and publications, and is respect
fully submitted TO your consideration and
approval:
Your committee fully realizes the vital i'm
portance OF placing before the citizens and
taxpayers of San Francisco copies of the pro-
posed new charter complete in its original
FORM as well as condensed in an accurate
synopsis. giving all its essential provisions.
The first edition OF 5000 copies OF the synop-
Merchants Association
has been exhausted. A second edition of 5000
copies has been ordered by the Merchants
Association and is now ready for distribution.
This synopsis has been carefully prepared and
revised and is an exact and impartial epitome
of all the important provisions obtained in
the original document half hour will sui
fee for the reading of this entire synopsis
Owing to the small amount appropriated for
the publication of the charter only 1000
copies of the complete document have been
issued. Nearly all of these copies have been
distributed There are still number of citi-
zens who desire to have copies OF the charter
as a whole. Your committee, therefore, rec
ommends that 1000 more copies be issued and
distributed by this association.
A fair comparison of the present c0nsolida-
ton act and the proposed new charter would
prove the most interesting and instructive
compilation that could possibly be issued by
this association. Such publication, properly
subdivided and arranged, would show at a
glance the marked difference between the
present government OF San Francisco and the
new organic law. An impartial comparison,
presented in this striking manner will con-
vert every intelligent and unprejudiced
person into an ardent advocate of the
new charter. Your committee, therefore,
| recommends that Ibis association publish
10000 copies of such a comparative treatise,
and that copy be sent to each of the 10000
registered voters of the City and County of San
Francisco.
The recent essay of our public-spirited presi-
dent, James D. Phelan, presents in clear and
logical manner an irresistible argument in
favor of the new charter. A first edition of
1000 has been published by Mr.. Phelan and q
second edition of 1000 is now in press Your
committee feels honored in recommending
that 5000 additional copies of this excellent
essay be issued and distributed by this asso-
citation.
Hon. Frank McCoppin, who was the first of
the ex-Mayors of San Francisco now living, has
contributed mastery address upon the new
charter. 1t is lucid exposition of the prin-
| cipies underlying municipal government and
will well repay the careful study OF every citi-
zen having the welfare of our City at heart.
This address has been published by Mr.. Nc
Coppin in pamphlet form, and your committee
| takes great pleasure in recommending that
| 5000 copies be ordered by this association and
properly distributed
There are anumber of strong provisions in the
| charter of special interest and value to all
| bicyclists. The suggestion that special adj
| dress to bicyclists be prepared meets with the
cordial approval of your committee. Parties
most familiar with that phase OF the subject
| will be invited to prepare special address to
| cyclists and your committee recommends the
publication by this assoc .ation of 5000 copies.
There appears to be some apprehension and
much misunderstanding regarding the article
upon the public schools in the new charter.
| We believe that a short treatise fully explain
ing the exact provisions of this article and all
its possible effects would entirely clear away
all doubts or fears upon this head and remove
any opposition to the charter arising there
from. Your committee therefore earnestly re-
commends that 1000 copies of such publica-
| ton be Immediately prepared and published
for distribu ton among all teachers in the pub
| lie schools of San Francisco.
The new charter expressly provides that the
members OF the police force in service at the
| time the charter goes into effect shall remain
| as the police force under civil service rules,
| guaranteeing to every policeman q secure and
permanent position during good behavior.
| This excellent provision, as well as many
| others IN the new charter, should be made
known to every officer in the Police Depart
ment. Your committee, therefore, recon-
mends the publication by this association of
! 1000 copies OF special address to the mem
bers OF the police force of San Francisco.
Every active and exempt fireman of this City
| should be a valiant advocate and defender of
the new charter, for it gives San Francisco
| what it so much needs-a fully paid and
| equipped Fire Department. A special address
| should be prepared setting forth this and
many other good features in the charter of
| interest to the Fire Department; and your
committee recommends that 1000 copies be
| published by this association, and every fire.
man in the City be presented with a copy.
| The new charter involves not only better
also practical question of dollars and cents
| to every taxpayer. The present lax method OF
| collecting and expanding the public funds will
| be supplanted by rigid system of finance and
revenue. The new charter limits the annual
County tax levy to 81 OF on the 500 OF taxa
BILE property.
Under the new charter the taxpayers of San
Francisco would have saved 81, 250. 600 in the
| past fiscal year. This is but one OF the many
| beneficial results of the new charter to the
taxpayers of the City, and they should be
clearly stated in q special publication. There
| are about IL 900 taxpayers on the assessment
roll of this City and County. and your COM
| mittee strongly recommends that 1900
| copies of such a special publication be issued
and copy sent by this association to every
person on the assessment roll.
The proper means and necessary machinery
| for inaugurating and maintaining great public
| Improvements are provided for in the new
| charter. The bonding of the City for neces-
| sary public works will surely follow the adop-
! ton of the charter. These valuable public
| improvements will be built and operated by the
| thousands of able and deserving laborersin our
midst, and millions of dollars will be put into
active circulation 10 the direct benefit of the
4 City and all its inhabitants This will help to