The herald., 1898-09-28
ARE NEARING THE End
FREEHOLDERS HAVE ALMOST
FINISHED THEIR WORK
Civil Service to Apply to City EN-.
ployes-Revision Of Matters
Formerly Passed Upon

| The freeholders are drawing near the
end Of their labors. The main committee
reports are all in and are now In the hands
of the revision committee.
! When the meeting was called to order
last night there were twelve members pres
ent, and Mr.. Hazards later arrival made
| thirteen. the largest number present at
any meeting since the organization
Messrs. Garland and Humphreys were the
only absentees, they being in the east.
A long, exhaustive, and, In fact, exhaust
ing, discussion took place upon the sub
ject OF when the charter, II adopted, is to
|concerning election, it take effect January
l, 1900, and for other purposes on the 1st
day Of April following, this being in accord
| with former decision to have municipal
elections in the spring and as far removed
from other elections as possible. A good
deal of argument, pro and con, was ad-
Wlnced upon the subject of ending the
terms of officers with the close Of the fiscal
year, June 30th. Finally a substitute mo-
ton, offered by Judge Stephens, prevailed,
1t providing:
a. That tho charter go into effect upon
the daA of Its ratification by the legisla
ture
e. That the first election be held upon
the first Tuesday after the first Monday
in December, 1S99
g. That the newly elected officers be
installed upon the first Monday after the
1st day of January. 1900.
Messrs. Variel and Crutcher, who had
vigorously opposed holding the first elec-
ton under the new charter before the Off
GERS who are to be elected this December
serve out their full terms of two years.
asked that their protests against the adop
ton of Judge Stephens motion be entered
on the minutes, which was done.
The imperative mandate problem was
finally settled, motion by Mr. Graft,
that the system be not Incorporated in the
charter being carried by a vote of9 to 4.
Fire Commissioner c. M. Wells appeared
before the board with an argument that
the electrical department should be under
the control of the fire commission. No
action was taken in the matter.
A motion by Mr.. Variel, that the salary
OF the chief of police be not less than $3O00
instead of fixed at that sum, was lost, the
dissenting members voting on the ground
that when an increase in salary becomes
necessary an amendment SO providing can
easily be submitted by the council at an
election.
Mr.. Variel then reported the recon-
mendations made by the police commits
sion at it's meeting yesterday morning, ad-
vocating the reduction Of the commission
to three members and granting them
salary, owing to the increased amount of
work provided for them by the new char
ter. Mr.. Varie1 stated that the commits
sion was Of the opinion that the future COM
nissioners will have three times as much
to do as the present ones and fully as much
as the councilmen therefore, their salaries
should be at least as much-$1O0 per month.
This might have been the case had not
the board earlier in the evening passed
some amendments to the report on the po-
lice department offered by Mr.. Variel him
self changing the requirements for con-
Quoting hearings and trials of officers ION
the carpet" and of applicants for saloon
licenses. The original report provided that
every officer against whom charges had
been preferred and every applicant for a
saloon license must be granted an open
hearing, to be conducted much in the same
manner as a trial in court. Such proceed
ings of course, would occupy much of the
commissioners time. but Mr.. Variel'e
amendments provided instead that "such
hearings are to be conducted in all respects
in accordance with such regulations as the
board of police commissioners may by res
olutlons enter upon the minutes"
Mr.. OMelveny offered a resolution re-
curing all deputies and employees Of the
city's various departments desiring to re-
tain their places to undergo the exam.na-
tons to be prescribed by the civil service
commission; those in the police, fire and
library departments excepted.
Mr.. Hazard proposed as an amendment
that all deputies and employees who are in
service when the new charter takes effect
be regarded as up to the requirements with
out examination, and retained in their
places until discharged for cause
Mr.. Hazards sentiments, however, did
not meet with any hearty response from the
other members, who were OF the opinion
that the really worthy and capable en-
ployes would be we'll able to pass the re-
uuirements Mr.. O'Melveny's resolution
| was adopted.
The board declined to reconsider its
action in fixing the number Of wards and
councilmen at the present figure. thus
opening the matter again for debate
The work of the revision committee VIII
probably take until the Sd or 4th of Octo-
her, so the board adjourned to meet at the
call of the chair who will order the next,
and what will probably be the last. meet
ing as soon as all things are passed upon
| by the revlsers and ready for final action
->-
Gage at Santa Ana
| SANTA ANA, Sept. N.-The Repub-
leans had their inning in Orange county
today. Henry r. Gage. Republican candi-