The San Francisco call., 1897-04-02
The Expense of Registering and
= Rec living the Vote May Be
Greatly D. minished. :.
Advocates of a Charter Insist: Tha,
Agitation Should Now B sgin-:
Text of ths New Law

visions Board of Freeholders may be
elected and a vote taken upon a proposed
charter with slight expense TO the public.
The way is now open for the people of
San Francisco to begin at once the work
of pr pairing a new charter.
Speaking ON this. topic yesterday Mr..
Dohrmann said: Eyes, this is the bill
which secured the sanction of the Mer-
chants Association. 1tis proper now to
begin the agitation for new charter.
Under this act the cost of registering and
receiving the vote is very slight com pared
with the cost of holding a general cleo
tion. / am not, however, in favor of
~h haste in the framing OF a charter. 1t
would be advisable, think, to submit the
whole subject to a committee of: 100 to
determine the cardinal principles of the
instrument. Good citizens .ulffer. widely
on one question. and that relates to the
centralizatiou OF great power in the hands
of the Mayor. Time. should be taken to
discuss the charter deliberately and as
certain as near as possible what the peo-
pie most desire in the way of changes
from the presen. system. l fancy the
way is open to submit alternative prupo-
sitions to a vote. The agitation for q new
charter should begin now. and l see no
reason why a charter should not be Tram ed
and submitted to the peopie within one
year from this time." =:
]. j. Truman EXPIRE ssed the opinion that
steps should be at onoe taken to secure a
new charter fol-. San Francisco. This
new law" said Mr.. Truman, greatly re-
duees the expense of registering votes and
. holding elections. The first step neces-
sary is for the Board of Supervisors. to
call for the election of Freehooers. Now
Is the time TO act, while the subject is
fresh in the minds of the people. Many
CT the provisions of the charter submitted
at the last general election are still dis
tinctly remem bered. Every one who has:
given the subject any study whatever
perceives that the City. stands in need of
plain and sim pie governing act, and under
this law charter may be submitted on
its merits, independent of the conflicting
influence of general election" !"
Following is the text of'the bill which
the Governor. approved. day before yes
terday:
An act in relation to elections held under
the authority OF section 8 OF Article XI of the
constitution, to elect boards OF freehOlder ers or
TO vote upon proposed Charters or upon
amendments TO existing charters. The people
OF the state Of California, represented in Sem
ate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section l. Except in the particulars other
wise provided for in the constitution, all elec-
tions held under the authority of section 8 of
Article Xl Of the constitution, 10 elect boards
OF fre e.holders or to vote upon proposed char
tiers Or upon amendments to existing charters,
shall be- conducted: under the provisions OF
This act.
Sec. 2. 1t shall be the duty of boards of mu-
inequalities charged with. the conduct and car
rYing on of elections 10 district and subdivide
the municipalities into specisl. election pre-.
cine IS for the holding of elections mentioned
alter such precincts and to redistrct the mu-
nicipality tor such elections often as occa-
sion may require.
Sec. g. In esta blishing such special election
precincts said board shall consolidate the
precincts which existed for. the holding of
the last preceding general e.ection TO a num-
Der not exceeding six for each special election
precinct, and shall number the special cleo
tlon precincts SO established consecuiiveiy
and each precinct So established shall be
known as Especial election precinct No. -"
Sec. f. ALI per:ons shall be entitled to vote.
ct the elections mentioned in section 1 who
come within the terms or comply with the re-
quirements of this act.
Sec. D. Every person who was q qualified
elector at the general election Immediately
preceding the holding of any of the elections
mentioned in section 1 OF tnis act, and VINO
was upon the great register of the county, or.
city and county, where any such munic pality
is situated, as q qualified elector of any one
of the precincts which compose a special cleo
.tioa precinct and who. continues TO reside
within the exterior boundaries of such special
election precinct until the time ofthe holding.
of the election herein provided for. shall be
entitled TO vote at said election without other
or additional registration.
Sec. g. All other persons claiming to be en-.
titled to vote at any of the elections provided
for in this act. must be registered upon the
great register of the county, or city ana
county, within which such municipality is
situated, as an elector Of and within one OF
the precincts which compose the special elec-
tion precinct wherein he claims to e entitled
10 vote. Such registration must tt Ike place Of
leasI fifteen days prior to the election; and it
shall be che duly of the County Clerk of the
county, or city and county, within which such
munic patty is situated, and in those counties.
cities ana coun ties wherein the County
Clerk is not the officer charged with the du y
of registering voIers then of the officer SO
charged to keep his Office open for fifteen
days prior to the fifteenth day preceding any
such election for the registration of volers
who may desire to vote at such election.
Sec z. The boards of said Municipalities
charged with the conduct OF elections shall
appoint a board of election for each special
e.ection precinct, 10 consist OF two Judges and
two clerks, who shall appor ton among them
selves the work and labor required to conduct
such election within their respective SPECIAL
election precincts. But one poll list need be
kept and but one register. These shall be re-
turned 10 the proper officers as part of the
official returns.
Sec. 8. The great register used in each spe-
cial election precinct snail consist of copy
of Ihe great register of the county or city and
county USED ut the general election immedi-
ately preceding t1e hOidlng Oh any election
provided for in this act in the precincts
which compose the special election pre-
cinct, together with certified list Of
the persons who, by registra tion. had since
ssch general election, are entitled to vote
at any oil the elections herein provided Tor
within the special election precinct for which
SUCH certified list is prepared. said list shall
be certified for the use OF aud delivered to the
board OF election of each special election pre-
cinct by. the County Clerk OF the county, or
city and county in which such munic. paiity
exists, and in those counties, or cities and
counties where an officer other than the
county Clerk is charged with the duty or
clothed with the authority for the registra-
ton OF voters. then by such officer. In the
event that precinct regis ters we re used at the
last preceding election, then It shall be the
duty OF the County Clerk or the other officer
aforementioned 10 furn a copy of the pre-
cffct register OF each of the Jrecincts which
compose said special election precinct 10 the
board of election for each special election pre-
cinct, in addition TO the Supplementary list
above mentioned.
Sec. 9. No person shall be entitled to vote al
any election provided for in this act unless
his name appear upon the Great Register or
precinct register as voter within the exte-
rior boundaries of the special election pre-
cinct, or unless his name is enrolled upon the
supplementary list herein provided for. nor
unless, according to the constitution and
laws OF this State, he is entitled 10 vote
therest.
Sec. 10. The provisions OF law which would
be applicable to the elections mentioned in