The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-15
CYCLISTS ON The CHARTER
The Imperial Club Hears Sew
eral Speeches IN Its
Favor.

About 300 bicyclists attended last night
open meeting of the Imperial Cycling
Club to hear series of addresses on the
new charter. r. L. Radie, president OF
the club, occupied the chair.
The opening speech, in defense of the
new charter, was made by NJ. H. Hecht.
He reviewed some of the salient features
of the document, notably certain proyis-
ions which he contended would render
more difficult the possibility of official
corruption.
AS for the Mayor having the power to
appoint most of the City officials he in
stanced the city of st. Paul, which he
called one OF the best governed cities in
the United States, and in which he said
the city officials, or most of them. were
appointed by the Mayor.
Charles Wesley Reed, the next speaker.
contended that the Supervisors were more
Interested in the disbursement of pub
lie moneys than in the making
of good City ordinances. He referred in
caustic terms to the fact that majority
OF the present Board of Supervisors is now
under Indictment by the Grand Jury for
corrupt behavior in Office He also
noted the disgraceful condition of the
City, streets and sewers. Under the new
charter he contended things would be diff
ferent.
The opponents of the new charter were.
be said, for the most part office-seekers.
whose interest in politics would cease as
soon as their chances for corraling good
salaries might be taken away.
He deplored the school clause in the pro-
posed charter. Ii California boy could
be taught in the public schools by a grad
nate OF Harvard, he said that bow should
have this advantage.
TO have the public schoolteachers of
this State limited to graduates of Calitor-
MIA schools would, he thought. result in
California becoming provincial in the mat
ter OF public education. In concluding he
maze an eioquant plea for the new char
ter and adlured his hearers to vote for it
James D. Phelan made an eloouent nIea
Tor the new charter on the ground that it
would provide better streets for hicyclists.
be also applauded the document for its
provision that the civil service rules are to
be applied to employees of the City govern
ment.
As for the autocracy of the Mayor under
the new charter, he said the Mayor would
be the peoples autocrat, and for two wears
only, entering and leaving office at the
bidding OF the people. The school clause
could, he commended, be satisfactorily ex-
planned away to the entire content of all
parties interested.
). Richard Freud, the next speaker, said
the same arguments could be advanced
against the Federal and State constitu-
tons as have been alleged against the
new charter. No public instrum ent could
De expected to be absolutely perfect,
since there were fifteen amendments to
the United States constitution and no
less than twenty-five of the eighteen-year-
ola State constitution, not counting the
extra six which are to be voted upon at
the coming elections. Il would be an inn
nr0VamQnf in M
he asked the votes of his hearers for it.
a few well chosen words of thanks and
goodnight greeting from Mr.. Radke
brought the meeting to close.