The San Francisco call., 1898-03-26
CHARTER ELECTION
 DAY, MAY 20
The FreehOlderS Have Completed Their LaborS in Framing an Organic
 Law for This City.

The fifteen Freeholders, or those of them who have attended to the framing of the proposed charter, concluded their labors at last nights session, and after appending their names to the document adjourned sine die.
 The meeting was intended for this purpose only, but, ontrary to expec- tation, Mayor Phelan put in an appear ance and pointed out a few errors in the work of the Freeholders. He com plained of the members for not consult ing Clerk Russell of the Board of Su- pervisors on matters which, he thought, would be advantageous to the work. Chairman Britton called his Honor down on this proposition and gave him to understand that the Board of Free holders would not be rebuked even by the Mayor of the city. After few words of mild apology from the Chief ! gistrate he proceeded to explain that funds as provided for in the charter were not appropriated under their proper heads. F'reeholder Taylor, how ever, straightened him out on this Idea. He next pointed out there was no pro- vision for a contingent fund for the Mayor. AS the law now is the Mayor has $50 a. month for which he does not have to render an account to any per son. His next attack was on the cleo tfon of nine of the Eighteen SuperVls- ors from Senatorial districts. Ihls, ne stated, was worse thousand times than the old ward system, from which the city had suffered years ago. and from which 1t had been rescued Ihuch to it's benefit.
 Leave the Senatorial district system in the charter, and the bosses will own the entire city for all time to come,' he said
 The views of the Mayor were coin cided in by ex-Mayor Ellert, who saw the monster head of the Fire Depart ment cropping up ready to gobble the new City Hall at one gulp. Conse- olently. he moved to reconsider that portion now. Other members became converted to the danger, and one after the other spoke in its favor except Tay- Tor, who opposed 1t.
 that they had changed their minds, as
 A rollcall of the members showed that they had changed their minds. as nine voted for reconsideration and two against it.
 By this change of mind the Mayor got S3600 a year contingent money Tor which he will not have to account to any person. And the Senatorial district election of Supervisors was knocked out and in it's stead the eighteen City Fla thers will be elected at large
 With these amendments the charter was passed as a whole and received the signatures of all of the Freeholders present. It was moved by MT Clement that 5000 copies of the charter be pub lished for distribution. On motion, the Law Committee was appointed an Au- diting Committee, with power to pay all demands incurred by the Freehold CTS in preparing the charter, and also to see to it's election on May 26 be- fore the Election Commissioners, settle all claims incurred by the Freeholders in their charter making capacity and also to attend to all arrangements be- fore the Election Commissioners in getting 1t before the people on May 26 as proposed.
 Chairman Britton received a vote Of thanks for his courteous treatment or the members during the many sessions of the board.