The San Francisco call., 1897-10-08
DISASTERS OF THE DECISION.

THE Supreme Court Auditor Brodercl's mandate pro-
ceedng decides several things which counted upon
when the action was commenced For instance none of
the so-caed eformers who have supported Mayor Phelan in
his extraordinary effort install Board of Supervisors with
squad of police anticipated that in the crash of ambitions
which has followed the restoration of the old board
the preogaves of his Honor would go down
rise again. Yet such,appears be the cold fact of the sua
ion Justice Henshaw declares that the act of 1907 restoring
the Mayors power the vigor enjoyed prior the
of general laws" ;" is unconstitutional
Therefore, in attempting to reform the municipal govern
ment of San Francisco with club, Mr. Phean has merely
succeeded in knocking out his brains. Instead of i'm
proving system of local legislation he has greatly damaged
it Hereafter Supervisors will fix the tax levy
troll the pursestrings of the city, Neither Mr. Phean any
of his will in future have word say
cening the management of the finances of the municipality
Moreover there is already visible upon the horizon another
though remote anreorm result this decision For long
time local political docnaires have insisted that remedy
for every municipal i'll would be the adoption of charter
with auocrac Mayor in it. Mr. Phelan, having given the
people idea of what autocrac Mayor may do without
power it is quite probable that they will hazard the
creation of an autocratie Mayor with power.
In other WORDS responsible government has received
blow from the attempt the Mayor and his fellow
formers to further Mr. Ftch's lawsuit This is greatly
be regretted for there question that the government
San Francisco ought to be made responsible than
The division of political power developed by the amendments
10 the consolidation act has resulted positive injury the
city and its citizens We behind the age mainly because
every official at the City Hall is independent every other
official Although the Board of Supervisors is called
nuay to raise S5oooooo for the support of the govern
ment controls directly the expenditure of less than
How the board economize the levy when it is
compelled provide money to satisfy the demands of
bureaus and departments whose expenditures regulated by
acts of the Legislature
But there is another point decided by the court which is
even disastrous the city than the notification of the
Mayors veto or the destruction of the municipal lord of the
charter. This is the declaration that there is longer
power in the Legislature pass general laws affecting San
Francisco. Municipal progress blocked every side.
people will adopt charter because the eformers
insist upon setting up in their midst gigantic political poen-
tate under the of Mayor and the Legislature pass
general law affecting the government of this city, The
surans have bound hand and foot All they need to do
IS to make few dollar limit tax leves, and dlapdaed
streets and sewers will finish US.
As for Mayor Phean, he in the situation of the dog
which crossed bridge with bone in its mouth. Looking
down into the water this dog observed another dog mrrored
the surface, also with bone in his mouth He dropped
his bone order to grab the other dogs bone found
when too late that his greed had been expended upon
shadow If the Mayor has lost his attempting
grab the old boards bon then result of the mandate
decision has been carefully concealed from the public