The San Francisco call., 1898-12-03
LOS ANGELES
 ID VOTE ON
 \ CHARTER Battle of Ballots on
 Monday. TEXT OF THE MS T7RUMENT GIVES THE MAYOR INCREASED
 POWER.
GIVES THE MAYOR INCREASED
 POWER.
Supporters ot the New Organic Law Confident That It Will Receive a Majority of the
 Votes.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LOS ANGEIES, DeC. .l--lHe voters of Los Angeles are to decide on Monday next whether they are desirous of ope- rating their municipal government un- der a new charter. The vo.. upon the proposed new organic law of the city will be taken at the time new officers are chosen. If the charter be adopted and approved by the Legislature the city officials elected will hold office for only one year. If the charter be de- feated they will hold for two years. The new charter was drawn by board of fifteen freeholders and it's general provisions may be summarized as fol- lows:
 It divides the city into nine wards and creates the elective offices c-~rrying the salaries named: Mayor, $500 per year; nine Councilmen, one from each ward, $1200 per year each; Clerk, $2400 per year; Treasurer, $2000 per year; Tax Collector, $2400 per year; Auditor. $24OO per year; Assessor, $24OO per year; three members of the Board of Education, at large, $500 per year each.
 The following boards are created, to serve without pay, to consist of five members each, the full term to be four years, but terms of members to be so arranged that each board may be par tially renewed every year: Board of Park Commissioners, Library Trustees, Health, Fire Commissioners, Police Commissioners, Civil Service Commis- sioners, and a board of three Water Commissioners whenever ...e Council provides for it.
 The Mayor is given general supervis- ion of all departments, power or veto, power to appoint officers to fill unex- pired terms, and in fact becomes the responsible head of the city government He has the following appoin.ive offices at his disposal: City Attorney, S3O00 per year; Superintendent of Streets, $2400; City Engineer, s2400; Superinten- dent of Buildings, $2000; Sealer of Weights and Measures, $500; two mem bers of the Board of Education, at $500 per year each, appointments to De ap- proved by the Council.
 The Council is given usual powers ac- cruing to such body, and the initiative and referendum is provided for in mu- nicipal legislation. It requires at least Is per cent of the voters to petition 10 secure the initiative. The Council may submit an ordinance of its own along with that proposed by the people at the next general municipal election, when
 
 The Mayor, Councilmen, members of the School Board and Fire and Police Commissions are the only officials who will be allowed to hold passes on trans portation lines. Any other city officials accepting them forfeit their offices.
 Officers who pay illegal demands against the city are liable for the same on their bond.
 The section covering contracts and the letting of them fixes eight hours as the maximum days labor on contract work. No contracts are to cover more than one year.
 An emergency fund of $5O00 is created, but money from it can be used only on the affirmative vote of seven members of the Council. The maximum tax rate is fixed at $1 on the $100, exclusive of taxes levied to pay interest and prin- cipal on bonded debt. The tax rate can be raised only by the votes of seven members of the Council and the ap- proval of the Mayor.
 The salary of tie Chief of Police is fixed at $SOOO per year and the health officer at $2400. All city officials are pro- hibited from retaining fees collected.
 The Board of Education is given the usual powers. Not more than 3 cents tax on the $100 is allowed for school building purposes and not more than 25 cents on the $100 for all other educa-
 
 made a member of the board without a vote. Deputies are provided for the superintendent, who are to be teachers of eight years experience, to serve for four years, but one to be selected every two years.
 The maximum tax to support the public library is fixed at cents on the $1OO.
 The Police Commission is given usual powers. but no more than 200 saloon licenses ar,A to be issued until the city S population reaches 200,000, after which fone additional license will be allowable for every 1000 increase in population. There is to be one policeman for every 1000 population and for every two pa- troImen there is to be one police alarm station.
 The Department of Electricity is ere ated under the direction of the Fire Commission. Any private establish ment can be connected with police or fire alarm system on payment of fixed charges.
 The Park Corrr- ission is given power to appoint a city forester to control planting and care of sidewalk trees.
 The Board of Health is to consist of four licensed physicians and the Chief of Police. They are given authority to appoint secretary, health officer and a city physician, who shall act as po- lice surgeon ana DdCleTlOlOSlSt. The Superintendent of Buildings is given two deputies-an inspector of plumbing and an inspector of boilers and elevators A Board of Appeal, to consist of the Budding Superintendent, the Fire Chief and an architect named by the Mayor, is created. Any one dis satisfied with the Building Superin- tendent's rulings may appeal there from, the appellant to pay the fee of the architect on the board.
 A Civil Service Commission is cre- ated, and city employees, save chief deputies and executive officers, are placed under civil service rules.
 The city is prohibited from leasing or selling it's water rights, except by li- cense revokable at pleasure. The mu- nicipality is empowered to maintain it's own water system, to establish water rates and make collections.
 The intention of the city to acquire all public utilities by purchase is de- clared This is to be done by bond is- sues when sanctioned by the voters at special elections held for the purpose.
 No franchise can be granted within ninety days preceding or thirty days after a general city election. Rights under a franchise must be exercised within six months after it is granted.
 The City Council is given power to regulate streetcar fares
 The maximum of public debt is fixed at $2,000,000 except the amount re-