The San Francisco call., 1896-11-11
SPECIAL ELECTION
NOT PROBABLE
Non Partisan Committee
Did Not Receive En-
couragement.
Election Commissioners Were
Not in Favor of Making
Haste.
CONFERENCE LAST EVENING.
Report Of the Proceedings of the Day
Was Discussed, but No Action
Was Taken.

Joseph Britton dropped into the Mer-
chants Association yesterday and not
finding J. Richard Freud at home, left .he
following note:
"The Election Commissioners have re-
fused TO call an election for freeholders." +"
This Is the outcome of visit paid TO
the Commissioners by committee of
Non-Partisans consisting of Joseph lie
Breton, Frank J. Sullivan, George K.
Fitch, A. s. Hallidie and Joseph Britton.
Mayor Sutro was not present, but J. M.
Block and III. T. Creswell represented the
board. Both said they were in favor of
the charter, but they could not see their
way clear to the calling of an election of
freeholders. They believed it was not ad-
visable to rush through a special election
in time for ratification at the next session
OF the Legislature.
Mayor Sutro is strong in his opinion
that tn ere should not be haste in prepar-
ing cnarter and that competent lawyers
should be employed to guide the free
holders and prevent tue introdu duction of
unconstitutional provisions, such as were
found in the recently defeated charter.
Such being the case, the absence of the
Mayor did not cut much figure in the de-
ClSlOn given DY NTeSWell anu DlOCh.
"The refusal of the Election Commits
sioners to call special election for free
holders settles the whole matter" said j..
| Richard Freud. "My idea was, however,
that the refusal was based principally on
the lack of funds. 1t would cost $50 900
to hold two special elections and the tax
levy, which does not provide for that ex-
penditure, has, already been made up to
the end OF June, 1897.
at is q very hard proposition to collect
| subscriptions at large from merchants and
others interested in the framing and
adopting of new charter. The thing is
| that you can not guarantee them that the
charter will be accepted by the people.
Hence, it is almost useless To canvass for
funds from door TO door.
s.Our experience has been in this last
election that about SO, 600 citizens failed to
vote for or against the charter. 1t is that
they were uneducated up to its provisions.
Therefore cam paign OF education would
| have TO be inaugurated.
.tJust think of it, an organic law OF this
City being untouched by the voters who
were so minute in their cnoice as to place
their cross next I'd the names of candi.
dates running even for the unexpired
terms in minor offices.
1.-The charter educational feature should
be kept up until the Legislature meets in
January, 1899, owing to the decision of the
Election Com missioners.
"In November, 1898. there will be an
election for Governor, and in the begin
ming of that year the fifteen freeholders
conld frame a charter and submit it to the
| people either at another special election
in 1898 or at the general Gabernatorial
election. If it is ratified by the people al
that election it could be submitted at the
Legislature which meets in January, 1899
That would be the regular way a new
charter could be put through.
This process is i'll accordance with sec
ton of article XII of the constitution o.
California and is the regular method o.
acquiring charter by cities of more than
$500 inhabitants.
"There is a method of getting a new
govern ment for the City of San Francisco
| in accordance with section 6, article XII
of the constitution of this State, substan.
TALLY as follows:
''Cities may be organized under genera
laws whenever majority Of the eIector.
voting at general election shall so deter
mine. And all charters Shall be subjec
to general laws. Under that section (6) ,
general law may be passed by the Legis
lature that will meet in January proyid
ing for the government of San Francisco
And it will have to be adopted at gen
eral election. The next one will only Ia K,
place in November, 1898. So that will b,
the first opportunity for the electors I.
vote on that charter handed down by tn,
Legislature.
aTae serious objection to acquiring
new government + r the City as per thi
last methodt is that this charter will b.
subject to general laws, except as to mu
nicipal affairs, and there is no certaint,