The San Francisco call., 1896-08-12

civil service law-and provided insurance and
pension funds for them The park influence
VIII oppose the charter, as will also the belong
1ngs OF the Health Board and all other in
nnences opposed TO local self fgovernment. t.
Allied with these you will find the representa-
tlyes OF the public utilities, the ownership OF
charter.
1t is objected that the charter is too long
let US admit it, but the freeholders say they
had no time to make it shorter. Paradoxical
as IL may seem, 1t takes more time to draw
short document than it does to draw long
one, provided it is important Besides moth
Ing is complete at hrst-not even the work OF
the creator, whose mighty hand will ultl-
mately form out of the nebulous matter now
roInng through space innumerable worlds.
mere are some well-mean1ng people who
thlnk they see danger to the commonwealth in
what they call the one.man power in the
charter. They fear that the Mayor, by the ex-
excise OF the powers the charter would confer
upon MIN, might become an autocrat-some-
thing to dread like the soulless monster
Frankenstein. Lecky in his late book Demo
cracy and Liberty calls attention to the
growth OF one-man power in the municipal
LIE OF the United States, and quotes APPROX
1ngly what tour eminent writer's Ford, Bryce,
Layeleye and Gilman have said upon the sub
ject.
They lay down these propositions: 1. "There
can be no question that one of the most pro-
life sources of official corruption and incom-
potency lies in the multiplication of elective
ohces." z. THAT this multiplication instead
OF Strengthening materially diminshes popu-
lar control, tor 1t confuses issues, divides and
obscures responsibility, weakenS the moral ef-
feet OF each election, bewilders the ordinary
e.ector, who knows little or nothing of the
merits OF the different candidates, and inevit-
ably ends by throwing the chief power into the
hands OF small knot of wirepullers The sys-
tenn has accordingly grown up in America OF
investing Mayors OF towns with an almost au-
tocralc authority and making them respon-
sible for the good government OF the CITY," 3.
"lhe tendency is vis1bly strengthening in the
United States to concentrate administrative
powers in the hands of one man and to hold
him responsible for its wise and honest use.
Diffusion of responsibility through crowd of
legislators has proved to be deceptive method
OF securing the public welfare"
No man, by the use or abuse of the powers
the charter would confer upon him, could for
long control the 20, 600 electors OF San Fran
cisco. Patronage is thing to be feared and
Stunned by ambitious men. Probably by the
time the Mayor should have disposed of his
patronage he would feel as the Tennessean felt
when he dined at the White House. When
Jackson was PreSldentone of his old neighbor
visited the National capital and was invited to
state dinner. 1t was when table napkins
were an innovation and when few people in
the United States were acquainted with their
use. Observing that the other guests spread
their napkins across their knees the gentle
man from the rural district did likewise, but
unfortunately for him, just as soup was
served the starched thing slid from his knees
to the floor and in STOPPING TO pick it up his
head struck the rim of his plate upsetting the
hot soup upon his bald head. AS soon as he
recovered from the wreck he looked around
the board and said 81 wish I were in hell"
But suppose we should happen to get strong,
capable, ambitious man for Mayor-one who
by doing his duty well and fearlessly should
win political preferment, for one would be
very glad OF it. For fifty years. commencing
wi tn the Alcaldes, the Mayors of San Francisco
have marched in unbroken procession from
that office into the political limbo, from which
but one escaped. He was out long enough to
ha ha nd
ished.
over that door leading TO the Mayors office
should be written the words, "Hither shalt thou
come, but no farther"
The one-man power is the only effective
power that can be introduced into the City
Hall by the adoption of the charter. 1t is as
necessary there as 1t IS upon ships deck or
at the head of an army. The municipality is
now headless thing. and in case of need the
people have no one to turn to for guidance and
protection.
the State can call out the militia, but here the
civic authority would first have 10 be ex-
hausted before calling upon the Governor.
Should danger menace this community at any
time, who is there to speak for it in the name
OF the law or to take up the staff OF authority
and say "Follow me''?
Gentlemen of the Richmond District, am
in favor of clothing the chief magistrate of
our City with all the dignity and power COM
patible with the office, and If you can bring
to agree with the views I have ex-
pASooco you Will fOIt lOf tu6 Cuhrt6rs
After the speaker had been thanked by
resolutions, motion was unanim ously
adopted lndorsing the sentiments ex-
pressed by the Postm aster and pledging
the members of the association to the sup
port of the charter.
Maurice Samuels, W. J. Simon, Ed L.
OConnor, Deputy Postmaster Doyle and
several others addressed the meeting, all
speaking in favor of the proposed new in
strument for the government of the City.
Just before he declared the meeting ad-
iourned President Hubbs stated that there
would hereafter be monthly meetings OF
the association and that the charter would
receive more or less attention at all of the
gatherings and that prominent citizens
would be invited to address Ehe people on
this important subject.