The San Francisco call., 1896-10-29
Vigorous Speeches in Defense
of lis Various Pro-
visions.
MISUNDERSTANDING CLAIMED.
Speakers Say Tat lis Provisions
Contain No Discrimination on
Religious Groun!s.

and Henry N. Clement.
DR.. Taylor said that "rot" was the only
word that could describe the statements
that have been made by those opposed to
the new charter at their meetings to the
effect that the instrument would destroy
self-government.
1t was proposed by the charter to give
to the Mayor the power TO appoint such
officers as now are appointed by the Gov
ernor. 1t seemed ridiculous that on any
such basis as that any one should say
that the new charter would destroy the
local republican form of go vernment.
The consolidation act had been amended
by more than 400 statutes until it was
without form ard practically void.
The real question now was whether the
people would rise to the level OF good citi-
zenship. Other charters had been pre-
pared and had been defeated by fraud.
All the corrupt elements in the City were
arrayed against this charter. Good citi-
zens had unfortunately put themselves
in opposition to it and so had endangered
its adoption.
William F. Dohrmann explained the
work of the Citizens Charter Association.
The charter was of the people, by the
people and for the people. 1t was long
step in the hight direction. At the char
ter convention 152 organizations were rep
resented by delegates. Every association
IN the City having an honorable purpose
was invited to send delegates. The friends
of the charter have tried to make CAM
paign OF education.
Some Of those who oppose it had made
a campaign OF vituperation. There had
baf,r, ffnt, ~ o. ln~ ind nj
Some people had thought that they saw
religious tendencies in the charter, but
the instrument had no religious bearing
and was non-religious and non-partlsan.
Lazy and indifferent citizens have been an
obstacle in the way OF success.
James Denman said that he favored the
charter because he was in favor of good
government He favored the new charter
because the one existing was worn out.
1t has been outgrown with the growth of
The City. The City was governed from
Sacramento and not by the citizens, and
for this reason he favored the new char
ter. As member OF the City government
he had tried to prevent the multiplication
of clerks in the Ci.y Hall. He went to
Sacramento to prevent the appointment
of more clerks, but he failed.
He afterward tried to prevent the ap-
pointment of two clerks in the Coroner's
office. A Senator told him that he was
opposed to extending the clerical service,
but this Senator nevertheless voted for the
appointments when the bill came in.
The new charter would provide way to
get out of the financial snarls into which
the municipality has commonly fallen.
This year the schooi-teachers would have
their salaries partly withheld, owing to
the way the funds were arranged. Under
the new charter the fund from which
school-teachers were paid had been segre-
gated.
He could not see how any school-teacher
could oppose the charter, taking into view
that one consideration alone.
The best thing about the charter was
that it would bring about civil service.
He was not surprised that 1.-THE push"
the City Hall and politicians opposed the
instrument for that reason.
There should be paid Fire Depart
ment, and the charter provided for that;
and the Police Department should be
taken out of politics.
Albert Lyser, principal of the John
SWEET Grammar School, spoke particularly
of that part of the charter which refers TO
the public schools. Out OF 81 ,250, 900 raised
last year for the public schools, from
$500, 900 to $500 900 had been squandered.
The City had been governed on the
principle of division-the schools to get as
little of the money as possible and "the
|
BILE. The system OF government was bad
and needed amendment, and the new
charter would furnish q better system.
The tenure of office of school l-teachers
was at the mercy of the Legislature and of
local authorities under the consolidation
act. There were no provisions in the
charter which could discriminate against
Catholic teachers. ALI that was provided
was that the teachers in the two lower
grades should have some professional
training. No discrimination was intended
against any sect or denomination.
Henry N. Clement said that all the crit
icism against the new charter had GEN.
tered on two or three points. The more
important objections were that the Mayor
was given too much power and that it
prescribed teachers on account of their
religious belief. Both of these objections
were absurd in view of the real facts OF the
case. The Board Of Freeholders con-
tanned people of all shades of religious
belief.
The committee thatreported the portion
OF the charter referring to the public
schools consisted of enc Methodist. one
Theosophist and one Catholic. A COM
mittee OF the Charter Association called
upon Father Yorke when first he objected
TO the charter, and told him there was no
discrimination on account of religion.
Father Iorke said, so Mr.. Clement
continued, that il this were so he had no
objection to the charter, but he would con-
suit his attorney, Robert Y. Hayne. An
opinion was written by Mr.. Hayne, which
on this point reached the same conclusion
as the legal committee of the Citizens
Charter Association. Still Father Yorke
opposed the charter on the ground that it
discrlmlnated in a religious way.
The facts about the powers. conferred
on the Mayor are that the Mayor would
simply name the officers who have been
named by the Governor. and also three
theirs only.
Ihe me citing closed with an announce
ment by DR.. Taylor that adjournment was
taken 10 the polls on Tuesday next.
Veterans Campfire.