The San Francisco call., 1897-08-27
THE HUNDRED
CHARTER MAKERS
Preliminary Steps for the
Framing Of the New
Laws.
The Acquisition Of Water, Gas
and Electric Works Dis
oussed.
A Strong Sentiment in Favor of Local
Management Of the Water
Front.

When Mayor Phelan called the charter
com mmittee of one hundred to order last
evening there were hfty-three mem bers
present, but this mum ber was greatly in
creased before the meeting had made any
headway.
Chairman Dwyer on standing rules sub
mitted his report 10 the convention, and
at the conclusion of their reading moved
their ad option. Mr.. Clements motion to
have the rules prin ed before their
adoption aroused quite a debate, but
in the end the convention thought it best
to Lave some rules to work under and
voted for their adoption. On another
motion it was agreed that the rules should
be printed.
The chairman of the finance com mittee
reported that it required $1,000 to $1,000
Tor the conventions expenses. He SAID
he didn't think it advisable TO go outside
the convention at present to gather funds
from the citizens. as they may wish to do
so at some future time. He thought the
amount could be gathered among the COM
mittee. We compose hundred, he said,
and at $40 apiece We cln easily raise that
amount.
He ended his remarks by moving that a
recess of ten minutes be granted, SO that
the members could go to the secrei ary's
desk and contribute their portion. When
the motion was put to the convention Mr..
Dohrmann arose and offered on behalf of
The Merchants Association the sum of
500 toward paying the expenses OF the
convention. He stated that the associa-
ton hac the work of the convention at
heart, and had saved the mount from he
monthly dues of its memb bers. The gener-
Gus offer waa received with applause.
Mr. Putnam did not want the conven.
tion's time taken up at this time when the
subscriptions could be sent to the COM
m 'ttee during the week. The nvention
seeing the Importance of utilizing q its
time aqleed with tie last speaker and
voted against the motion.
The next order OF business was the re-
ports of various com mit;ees. Some re-
ported progress and Others asked for more
time, which was granted.
The chief discussion of the evening
turned upon the consideration of the re-
port of the committee on public utilities,
George K. Fitch chairman. Mr.. Johnson
suggested that the matter should be con-
sidered along with the repor. of the COM
mittee on legislation, as the subject was
also EN- braced in tat article.
Mr.. Clement introduced a substitute to
cover the matter EN- braced in both of the
committee reports. His idea was to dis
cuss the matter and refer the whole SUBJ
ject to the committee on revision.
Mr.. Truman opposed the policy of de.
lay.
Mr.. Pond believed that the question
should be discussed and the sense of the
convention ascertained.
All the speakers expressed friendship
for the proposition to allow the Board of
Supervisors power to acquire wafer works,
,Ir- tnln nh<,, ,Nlo
ways, electric-light works ard other pub
lie utili les, but the point at issne was
whe her the matter should be embraced
in the lie ,islative article or e sewhere.
The original report from the CON mittee
on pubic utilities provides that the
Board of Superv isors must, on petition
of 20 per cent of the voters. submit a
proposition to purchase works of public
utility.
Mr.. Clement presented a substitute
authorizing the Board OF Supervisors to
call the election for such acquisition with
out any petition of voters.
After further discussion, in which
Messrs. Thompson, Dohrmann. Clement,
Pond, Craig, Ellert, Cuthbertson and
Braunhart participated, 1t was agreed to
refer the whole subject to committee of
conference from the committees on legis-
lation, public i'm provement and revision.
The sentiment was expressed that the
proposition herein contained was the real
essence or keynote of the charter and
that the utmost care should be taken to
perfect the article to the satisfaction of
the convention.
The committee report on harbor man.
agement was next considered. Some
sharp criticism on the present manage.
ment OF the harbor Of San Francisco was
made by Hugh Craig. The committee re-
por, recon- amends that the Legislature
shall pass a law restoring to San Fran
cisco the right to control the wharves and
dock of the water front.
Mr.. Menzies told the story OF the pro-
posed buikhead scheme and the action of
The City IN ceding the water front to the
State
Z. B. Pond said it was not likely that
the City would ever get Board Of Super
visors TO manage the harbor worse than it
is now managed.
The report of the committee recon-
mending local management was adopted
and the convention adjourned TO meet
next Tuesday evening.