The San Francisco call., 1898-05-22
EXTRAORDINARY POWER GIVEN THE
 CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Comprehensive Facts CuIled From the Proposed New Charter for the Guidance of
 Citizens.

The extraordinary powers granted the Mayor by the provisions of the nev charter form the strongest argumen that can be urged against the adop ton of the proposed organic law.
 Probably not more than one man out of every ten who will go to the polls to cast a vote for or against the char ter has more than a vague idea of the extent of the authority given the Mayor by the new law. Even those who have carefully perused every section o1 the instrument cannot carry in their minds more than a general idea of the power granted the Mayor by its pro- visions.
 For the benefit of those who have sufficient regard for their citizenship to wish to know the facts regarding a matter that vitally affects the future welfare of the city the following ex- tracts from the proposed charter, hav- ing reference to the powers of the May or, have been made:
 He appoints:
 The Board of Education, consisting of four School Directors, at salaries or S3000 each per annum.
 The Civil Service Commission, con- sisting of three persons at salaries or S1200 each per annum.
 The Board of Health, consisting or seven persons, five of whom are ap- pointed by the Mayor. The other two members are the Chief of Police and the president of the Board of Public Works, to serve without compensation
 The Board of Election Commission CTS. consisting of five persons at sala- rtes of 5000 each per annum.
 The Board of Park Commissioners consisting of five persons to serve With out compensation.
 The Board of Fire Commissioners, consisting of four persons at salaries of S1200 each per annum.
 The Board of Police Commissioners, consisting of four persons at salaries or $1200 each per annum.
 The Board of Public Works, consist ing of three persons at salaries of $400O each per annum.
 TO VETO ANY BILL OR RESOLU-
 Providing for any specific improve ment.
 Providing for granting any fran chise or privilege.
 Providing for the lease, appropria- tion or disposition of public property
 Providing for the expenditures ot sums of $200 or over.
 Providing for levying any tax or as- SesSnlent.
 Providing for imposition of a new duty or penalty.
 TO VETO one or more items sepa- rately in the appropriation of money or in fixing a tax levy. On such Vetoes, unless they are overruled by fourteen out of the eighteen members of the Board of Supervisors, the vetoes are sustained.
 DEMANDS for more than $2OO shall be presented to the Mayor for his ap proval.
 RESOLUTIONS directing the pay ment Of money (Other than salaries or Wages) when the amount exceeds $500 shall be published for five successive days. These two provisions are con- tradictory of Section 13, page 6.
 MAYORS APPROPRIATION of $3600 per annum to be made, for which he need furnish no vouchers of the expenditures.
 MAYOR TO PASS on sufficiency of sureties on bonds on the report of the Finance Committee of the Supervisors, which must be investigated every six months
 MAYOR in the event of a misde- meanor or a dedication of an officer may suspend the officer, etc.
 MAYOR TO APPROVE bonds ac- companying bids for street railroad franchises.
 MAYOR TO APPROVE ordinance granting railroad franchise. In case of veto 1t requires the vote of fifteen Su- pervisors out of the eighteen to over rule the veto. After bids are called for, received and passed upon ninety days must intervene between the in troduction and the final passage of the ordinance.
 MAYOR HAS POWER to postpone final action on any franchise that may be passed by the Supervisors until such proposed franchise shall be rati- fled or rejected by majority of the