The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-31
POWERS OF A CHARTER.

Tot he Editor of. he San Francisco Calt-SIR
city charter properly constructed is made
up wholly of fundamental law 1t contains
no legislation. 1t is for the city what the con-
stitution is for the State or the United States,
and, in fact, is only another name for the
same thing. 1t constitutes the government
and provides for the enactment of laws gen.
orally called ordinances and for the enforce
ment of these ordinances. 1t stops there.
Municipal government in fact and in law is
public business corporation, in which poll
tics has no place, and when 1t does find a
place it is false quantity and always leads
to confusion and corruption, as may be seen
in our American cities to the sorrow OF ali
good citizens and the disgrace OF the Nation.
1t is the province OF city charter 10 pro-
vide for aud ordain complete local seli-gov
eminent. The powers of Board of Super
visors City Council under such a charter
authorize said board or council TO make and
enforce within the city limits all such laws
and regulations as are needful for the prom To-
ton OF the general welfare, including police +,
sanitary, revenue and any other laws ano
regulations 10 that end which are not In con-
1ict with the constitution of the State or OF
the United States.
As public business corporation city gov
eminent Is necessarily organized on strictly
business principles, such as govern the great
private corporations of the country, OF which
the Western Union Telegraph Company, the
Vanderbilt or Southern Pacific Railroad Com
pany and the great mining companies are
PRACTICAL examples in successful operation.
Politics cannot be tolerated as a controlling
influence in these corporations, though they
may sometimes run" political organizations
through bosses.
All great private corporations arrange the
several branches of the business nder differ
ent departments and place experts OF CON-
manding ability at the head OF these depart
menIs, who are charged with the manage
ment OF the same and are held responsible to
the board of directors or trustees. 1t is pre-
cisely in this way that the great municipal
corporations throughout Europe are man
| aged ana with unfailing success. On page
| 50, Vol. /, Municipal Government" Albert
shaw says:
cit is the almost uniform practice to appoint
| as permanent chiefs or superintendent OF
| departments the most thoroughly qualified
| men who can be secured and to hold them re-
| sponsi BILE to the Council through the standing
committee for the ordinary operations of their
| respective branches of the municipal service"
| On the same page he adds:
eat the head of the police, fire, water, gas,
| sanitary, park, engineering aud other depart
ments are 10 be found nen OF special fitness
| and training. who are selected for admiris-
| and whose security of tenure-for so long as
they deserve it-adds to their faithfulness and
| usefulness" In fact, he well says Up. 60:
British city government is indebted for a
large part of its success to the superiority of
the appointive heads of departments"
Our charter-makers are particularly asks d
To ponder this sentence, TO be found on page
So, Vol. !, Of Dr.. Shaw's work on Municipal
Government: The ward system in English
municipal governments relieved of one great
objection to ward represen tation in American
cities from the fact that there is no Iule, ira
dition or practice that makes the Council car
didate resident OF the ward" The best men
who can be found are elected from any part OF
the city, regardless of districts or wards.
JOSEPH AsBURY JOHNSON
IL Essex street. August 80, 1897.