The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-15
Better Plans for Sewerage Call
Forth an Animated Dis.
cuSSion.
Civil Service, Primary Election ard
Other Proposed Laws Receive
Attention.

slQered.
F. w. Dohrmann presided. and ].
Richard Freud acted as secretary. The
meeting was spirited throughout.
The quarterly report of the board OF
directors of the association was read Dy
Attorney J. Richard Freud. 1t was a
most voluminous document, and was in
general divided into two sections, record
Of the work already accomplished by the
organization and the objects it expects to
achieve in the near FIXTURE.
The principal subjects discussed in the
report were street cleaning, lighting and
paving; the removal of unused car tracks
where the franchises have either expire d
or been released; an i'm proved sewer sys-
tenn and plans for better sewerage; civil
service and primary election laws; pre-
paratlous for a new charter and the legis-
lation urgently needed for San Francisco.
Under the head of street-cleaning the
statement was made that on October II,
1886, the specifications of the Merchants
Association were for q second time
adopted by the Board of Supervisors, and
that at present superintendent Is en-
ployed to see how those specifications are
carried out.
All the subjects treated in the report
came up for consideration afterward in
the form of resolutions. 1t was duly
adopted as read.
Alter the adoption of the report the
secretary read resolution to the effect
that board OF engineers be created to
devise and provide an improved system OF
sewerage for San Francisco, to include
conduits for water and gas pipes and tee-
phone, telegraph and electric wires. 1t
was adopted.
S1Hr tnti
dealing with the question in which the
association has taken keen interest-the
subject OF new charter. The document
was Norded to favor an amendment to the
State constitution, making 1t possible for
a freeholders' charter to be ratified by a
majorIty of all the qualified electors voting
upon a Freeholders' charter, and making
it further possible for an amendment to
be made to such charter by majority
vote of the qualified electors voting upon
the amendment. Brittan's resolution was
adopted unanimously.
Charles Reynolds thought it was all
we'll enough to have a new sewerage sys-
tenn, but that it would take time. He
wanted something done right away, and
he wanted il bad. The Board of Super
visors ought to clean the mouths of sewers
out now, AID he moved that il be request
ed to do so.
Then came hitch. Isldor Jacobs be-
lieved that an expert engineer should be
ployed to see what could be done in the
matter first. After lively discussion he
put his desire in the form of an amend
ment to Mr.. Reynolds motion and the
motion as amended was adopted.
Another resolution potitioned the Board
of Supervisors to extend the specifications
for street cleaning so as to include ma
terials found highly useful in other cities
The intention was to call attention 10 the
use of asphalt and OF wooden blocks
covered with preparation. The resolu-
ton was adopted as read.
The resolution most eal nestly discussed
was with reference to the enactment of a
civil service law by the Legislature of this
State, and requesting the representatives
Of San Francisco in the Senate and
Assemb bly, to favor and urge the pas
sage OF such a civil service act
in order to avoid many of the
worst evils affliatinG the government
of San Francisco, caused by the pernicious
practice of appointing and removing clerks
and employees of the municipality for
reasons based wholly upon political parti-
sanship."
President Dohrmann explained that
James G.. Mcguire has a bill now before
Congress for National civil service reform,
and a Mr. Cross of Los Angeles one before
the Legislature of this State. Judge Way
as having another bill before the Legisla-
ture similar in i'm port 10 that Of Cross.
Alter a lively discussion the resolution
was adopted with no dissenting votes.
On resolution of B. Bienfeld The Mr.
chants Association was appointed body
to examine the bills regulating civil SER
vice now before the Legislature and ascer-
tain by critical scrutiny which is best,
the publ TO be notified of the result of
such examination. This BILL as Endorsed
by the board OF directors of the associa-
ton. will be printed and distributed to all
the mem bers.
A resolution favoring the enactment of a
primary election law by the Legislature,
on the ground that the present method of
conducting primary elections is seriously
defective and often leads to grave aouses
in the nomination of undesirable and unfit
public officials, was next introduced. 1t
was adopted by a unanimous vote with no
discussion.
The resolution next introduced was also
adopted without comment. 1t petitioned
the Legislature TO incorporate in the street
laws of the State provision that con-
tractors shall be required to maintain and
repair the pavements constructed by them
for period of at least five years, thus in
sur ng to the City the best materials and
workmanship.
A. D. Shepard handed in bill that was
a novelty, despite E. A. Denlcke's asser-
lion that it was "civil service boiled
down." 1t was as follows:
Every person elected for an office at any
regular or special election, and accepting or
holding Office hereunder, hall be considered
nominee TO succeed himself for the same
Office at any succeeding election, and as such
nominee, his name, under the title of incum-
bent, shall be printed first on every ballot
used for voting by any and all persons legally
entitled to vote Tor an incumbent to fill said
office; provided, however, if said incumbent
shall serve written notice previous to said
election on the County Clerk of the county in
which said election is to be held Directing
thereto, then his name shall not be printed on
said ballot as aforesaid.
1t was explained by the author that this
measure would not interfere with candi-
dates nominated by convention or petit
ton, and would not make good candidates
place themselves under the influence of
any person or Clique for denomination.
However, Attorney Van Duzar thought
this was civil service ''boiled down too
strong" and would have insured the re-
nomination OF the whole of the last Board
of Supervisors. Judge Lowe and Denicke
spoke in its support.
I. Cutie made an earnest plea that it be
referred for consideration to the board of
directors, but his motion was voted down,
and the proposition was carried as read.