The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-06
FRAMING The
NEW CHARTER
The Path Cleared for the
Work of the Various
Committees.
Only One Report Submitted to
the Consideration Of the
Meeting.
It Excited Considerable Discussion and
Was Referred Back for Amend
ment.

There was metaphorical clearing away
of the underbrush at the meeting OF the
charter convention last night. Little &C
tual work was done. Many of the COM
mlttees were little at sea as TO what their
duties were, and how much latitude they
had in their respective fields. They asked
for instructions, and much of the time
was consumed in giving them the lntor-
nation hey desired. The general feeling
was in ,vor of allowing each committee
10 act without any restriction, and to
make as full a report as each might deem
necessary.
With but one exception all the commit
tt es reported progress and asked for fur
ther time. The CON mlttee on boundaries,
rights and liabilities of the existing NUM-
cipallty was the only one to submit re-
port.
In the absence of Mayor Phelan, Vice
President Hugh Craig called the meeting
10 order.
Secretary Richard Freud read the re-
port, which he was instructed to pre- pare
at the last meeting. This comprised
certain data relative to the cost vi gov
eminent of the City and County OF San
Francisco.
mittee on boundaries, rights and liabill-
ties presented the report of his COM
mittee.
1t provides for the continuance of the
City and County of San Francisco as a
municipal corporation, defines the bound
aries OF the same as they now virtually
exist, continues the ownership OF the CITY
and County in all the property that it now
possesses, retains the rights of the corpo-
lyuc 7 m q
the obligations, liabilities and duties of
The existing corporation. 1t further pro-
vides that the corporation shall not be
liable for any damage to person or prop
erty resulting from the defective condi-
ton of any street or public highway. This
last provision, known as section 8. which
is considered one of the most important
in the proposed charter. Is a s follows:
No recourse shall be had against said City
and County for damage TO person or property
suffered or sustained by or because OF the de-
fective condition OF any street or public high
way of said City and County, or in conse-
quence OF any such street or public highway
being out of repair or IN condition to endan-
ger persons or property passing thereon; but
if such defect in the street or pubic highway
shall have existed for the period OF twenty
four hours or more alter notice thereon TO the
Mayor OF said City and County, then the per-
son or persons on whom the law may have
i'm pos ed the obligation to repair such defect
In the street or PUBIC highway, ana also the
officer or officers through whose official negli-
gence such defect remains unrepaiTed. shall
be Jointly and severally liable TO the party in
jured for the damage sustained.
Added to the report proper was the fol-
lowing:
And your committee recommend that the
matter of the fixing of the eastern boundary
line of the City and County OF San Francisco
be referred 10 the law committee of the Com
mitIee OF One Hundred, for the reason that we
are I'M ormed by the City and County surveyor
that there is a conflict between the descripl lOn
OF said line, as fixed in sections 1850 and 1858
of the Political Code.
Considerable objection was nifested
to section and also 20 section 2, which
fixed the bound aries OF the City. Atten-
ton was called TO the point that if a
boundary were fixed b. the charter such
boundary might prove unsatisfactory to
the Legislature. which has tie right to fix
county boundaries, and might defeat the
adoption of the charter.
1t was decided to refer the report to the
law committee, with recommendation that
it be amended in accordance with the
views expressed in reference to the two
sections mentioned.
J. NJ. Reynolds moved the following
resolution:
RESOLVED, That it is the sense OF this conven-
ton that-
Flrst-The charter shall be concise and
short.
Second-That it provide that important laws
shall be submitted to the electors before final
adoption.
Third-That percentage of electors may by
petition require the legislative body to con-
slider and act upon such N eas ures as they de-
sire to be passed
FourtE-That the governing body of this
City shall be large Board of Supervisors (at
all times res ponslDle TO their constituency
who shall control the various departments OF
fhaT in aIn1T nal ofrc
Fifth-That all departments shall be placed
under civil service rules
S.x:h-That all officials and employees shall
be paid salaries.
SeYenth-That an easy method of anne nd
ment to the charter shall be provided
IT was decided to defer action on the
resolution, owing to its importance, until
the next meeting.
On reconsideration of the motion which
referred the report of the committee on
boundaries. rights and Liabilities to the
law committee, that report was rereferred
to the boundaries committee with similar
instructions TO those that had been gwen
to the law com ittee.
d. V. Kelly offered the following reso-
luton:
ResolUed, That this committee request and
that we 40 hereby request suggestion from al
citizens, as well as from al CITY and County
Off GERS employees and heads OF municipal de
partments that may aid us in our labors, and
that all su b suggestions Will have the respect
full attention and thanks OF this body.
The resolution was adopted.
Samuel Braunhari moved that hereafter
all reports Of committees be considered
seriatim. The motion was adopted.
The chairman announced that rooms in
the Mills building had been placed at the
disposal of the various committees, with
out charge, and that these rooms would
be open daily for the use OF the charter
committees.
Adjournment was taken until next
Thursday night, when the convention will
meet at the same place-Shasta Hall OF
the Native Sons building.
SPREOKELS SUGAR COMPANY.