The San Francisco call., 1897-07-30

and its best interests is rarely or never con-
suited by that body. The laws under which
we contrive to exist are in every respect unit
for The government Of modern city. They
eonduce 10 corruption, extravaganza and in
efficiency. In many respects the City officials
are acting without authority OF law and in
the City government could be crippled were
the law strictly enforced. This condition
brings The law into disrespect and has created
q class OF politicians and lawyers VINO glory
in circumv venting II.
The confusion created by legislative enact
ments, ordinances and court decisions ana
the very absence OF law upon important mu-
mic pal matters, make good government a
practical impossibility under the system as 1t
now exists. We can make no municipal prog
ress without new cnRrter. and am SURE the
citizens OF San Francisco are sufficiently inter
es ted in the welfare of the City 20 confer upon
it a charter which will be untqulvocaI In It's
terms and wise in its provisions, to the end
that the chosen servants OF the people may
know their duties, their powers and their
limita tions, and knowing them may serve the
municipality faithfully and well. The great
purpose OF such an instrument VIII be TO SO
place the powers of the government that re-
spunsibility will be fixed and that 1t cannot
be shirked that extrayagant admins tration
and wasteiul expenditure of the City's moneys
can be controlled aud that municipal progress
may be made possible.
]. Richard Freud wasschosen temporary
secretary by acclamation. He read the
resolution under which the committee
was appointed and called together in con-
vention.
After rollcall Mayor Phelan announced
the next business in order to be perma-
nent organization.
Julian Sonntag moved that g committee
be appointed to submit list OF names,
from which the convention should elect
the permanent officers.
Daniel r. Kelly offered an amendment
that committee of ten on organization
be appointed by tie chairman, to report
on Tuesday next.
w. J. Cuthbertson moved that the tenn
porary officers be made permanent. This
was unanimously adopted.
f. w. Won Reynegom nominated F. W.
Dohrmann for first vice. president Mr..
Dohrmann declined. Cuthbertson sug-
gested g. X. Fitch, who also declined.
Colin NJ. Boyd said the convention should
insist ON Mir. Dohrmann's acceptance of
the place as vice president, and Mr.. Dohr-
mann acquiesced in the wishes of the body.
He was elected by acclarnaiion.
Hugh Craig was named for second vice.
president, but declined, giving as a reason
the fact that he lived out of town. James
Denman was then nominated. Craig was
finally elected second vice president and
Denman third vice e-president.
Gavin McNab moved that a committee
of five be appointed to prepare mode of
procedure for the convention. Chair.
man PheIan appointed on this committee
the following: Gavin McNab, Herbert E.
Law, Madison Babcock, Judge A. W.
Thompson and P. j. Healy. The commit.
tee at once retired to prepare report.
At this point Mayor Phelan excused
himself, stating he had 10 be present at a
meeting of the Board of Supervisors sitting
as a Board of Equalization. He called
Vice President Craig to the chair.
1t was decided that when the meeting
ad journs it do so until s P. NJ. on Monday
next.
Gavin McNab, on behalf of the commit.
tee on order OF business, reported as fol-
lows:
We recommend that the permanent officers
of the convention shall consist OF the follow
ing: President, vice-president, second vice
president, treasurer and secretary, and that a
sergeant-at-arms be appointed by the chair.
The chairman and secretary shall have the
right 10 appoint as many assistant secretaries
as in their Judgment may be necessary.
All committees snail be appointed by the
chair.
The several committees shall be required to
report progress al every meeting OF this con-
veniion.
Every committee shall consist of five mem.
bers, unless changed by majority vote Of the
convention. The committees shall be as fol-