The San Francisco call., 1898-05-22

nate proposition Is removed from the people
 and placed the mercy of these corporate in fluences which properly place among the Immoral tendencies of the new charter. Political patronage Is brazenly admitted ana secured by statute to the persons where 1t VIII do the most good to partisan effort and De easiest of access; also any employee informing
 upon any person who shall levy political or private assessments shall be removed by the appointing power.
 Even the Mayor is made the custodian of a | corruption fund levied annually by statute, be- side the illicit fund that might pass into the
 hands of venial incumbent.
 The claim of public employment by day false and in line with the rest or the de- over $500 must be let by contract and all day labor must be at no higher than current wages
 Tor similar employment. Even the street sweepers may be displaced by contract worK'
 and the city purchase the machines for the use
 or the contractor.
 not intended to be be fulfilled Powers granted
 the people to acquire public utilities, public
 buildings and improvements in one article are
 itqiHheu u, Tn another and only rendered pos slble after wearying delays, herculean efforts age at prices fixed by present owners limited 10 the least desirable at any one period. under to the people.
 The power of alternative proposition is also Isae,ei PLaceed in the hands of the Mayor. which we are likely to find the second alternative much less desirable than the first.
 Malority rule Is again ignored and the prop ertied class favored in the ratio of 8 to in voting upon any public utility building or i'm pfoVeInent. and even then there will shall be set aside If all indebtedness exceeds 15 per cent or the value assessed by one man. a mere hu- flesh. who may not be able to resist the temp tations to which he will be subjected. He is not omniscient, and yet he shall be empowered not only with the task of fixing a value upon the poor mans possessions. but upon the princeiy estates of the associated vilainies, and upon his decision rests the financial possibil- ity of public ownership and the possibility of conducting the city government
 II DOnQS should issue the Supervisors, sub Ject to the veto of the Mayor, and not the people; shall declare what legal money may be a tender in payment, the constitutions of the United States and the State of California to the contrary notwithstanding
 The one hundred and fifty pages of 500 words 10 the page, in all about 75,000 words. in and falacious, is longer than the great Eng fish charter, bill of rights of England, the Declaration of Independence, Constitutions of the United States and the State of California to deny them in another To one board in one section and to another board in a9otbe sentton m To the people In one section and to the Supervisors or the Mayor in another. Public ownership In one section, a dollar limit, 15 per cent property valuation, to annul it in another; disclaiming, reduction of taxation. while mal1- municipal government Is not instrument that will appeal to the best of the peo- pie and secure their fndorsement. The method Of amending the new charter is unconstitutional even if it were possible to secure the co-opera- Supervisors three-t1fths of all electors and both houses of the State Legislature which v.
 Majority rule and true home rule is evidently considered dangerous to the propertied class. the corporations. the bosses. the political hang and other interested parties and every provision of the so-called new charter seems to be attempt to grasp some special privi- lege and to dspossess the common people not only of elective, legislative, executive and judicial powers. but to make them dependent for the very means of existence upon the favor of a privileged class, in which life liberty and pursuit of happiness would be entirely at their mercy.
 When charter Is presented to us that we have a voice in framing, which will grant us popular form of government with all that term implies and gives us chance to con- duet public business as We would our private affairs we will give 1t our hearty sup port, but will resist to the last any en- croachment upon popular government and ma jority rule.
 We want amendments to our present charter and to the State constitution which will give us true home rule and believe they can be se- cured in shorter time and with less effort and expense than any amendment to the new charter We want the right and power to remove our public servants, including the Mayor, whenever they are dereiict to li5:,o duty.
 We want the final voice in all Legislation, administration and judicial decision whenever the public veal demands such obligatory
 We want the public utilities municipal buildings and improvements whenever we can control them in the interests of the whole peo- ple either by condemnation and appropria- ton, which is possible now under the present charter by the issue of notes of small de legislation can be secured to that end
 We want a civil service that will not pro vide lifelong sinecures for one class to the exclusion of another class that will not croach upon popular rights. individual SOW ereignty and majority home rule.
 When such q new charter Is presented for our adoption it may be certain of our in- dorsement and hearty cooperation to make San Francisco the model Democratic city of not only the United States but of the whole world. JOHN F. WETZEL, Secretary.