davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25

scribes the penalties, costs, etc, on de- linquencies and provides for their col lection.
 The charter makes 1t the duty of the Board of Supervisors in connection with taxes to provide for the collec- ton thereof (section fl, chapter l, ar ticle I'D; that is. to fix the period of time within which they are to be col lected for city and county purposes, and inferentially designates the Tax Col lector to collect the same; also the time at which they will become delinquent for the charter confers authority to that extent-simple declarations.
 The question as to how the collection of taxes for the city and county is to be enforced until they become delin- quent is a problem which the charter makers cannot solve. The cost Of legal services will have to be estimated and an appropriation made therefor if that mode of collection has to be resorted to and collections are to be made by an attorney of the Tax Collector; and the city and county will have to calculate upon losing on the major portion Of the revenue from taxation about b per cent upon her estimated revenues from that source.
 The charter in no place provides for the collection of taxes in the manner prescribed by the general laws of the State, and without that provision where are we? No other provision is made to take its place.
 The Legislature in passing laws pro- viding for a change of time of assess ing property or of making collection of taxes different from the provisions of the revenue laws embraced in the Political Code always recites and makes applicable the other provisions of the Political Code as to the mo de and man. her of assessing; and the collection Of taxes Is enforced by penalties under the provisions of the code.
 This was the course pursued by the Legislature in passing the act for the assessment and collection of taxes upon personal property for city and county purposes in San Francisco at a differ ent time than the collection of taxes on personal property for State purposes and real estate and improvements. (Statutes 1S73-74, page 477)
 In this act the manner of assessment and collection as provided for general ly by the Political Code was changed, a different date fixed for making the levy and collecting taxes on per- sonal property for city and county pur- poses only; but all other provisions of the Political Code as to assessments and the collection of taxes, etc, were made applicable.
 The decision of the Supreme Court in the case of I. J. Truman ct al. vS. Board of Supervisors CLIO Cal, page 12S), recites that "The Political Code furnishes uniform and complete reve-
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25
ODe Man q Czar and MdDy Pernicious GrdDts of
 Power.

I of the constitutional questions in- volved in the proposed charter for the reason that the subject, in order to be treated exhaustiVely, would require a great deal of investigation which might result In little of real practical value. Whether the proposed charter is liable to be disemboweled by the Supreme Court soon after its adoption can only be determined by future developments, The subject Is so uncertain and sur rounded with so much that Is specula- tive, that a legal opinion, while it might throw a great deal of light upon it, would, after all, leave the questions involved practically as obscure as ever.
 I will, therefore, devote this state ment to a brief exposition of practical objections to the proposed charter. For this purpose the instrument has been considered from a utilitarian stand point, with strict reference to Its avail ability as a working statute, which, If adopted and ratified by the Legisla- ture, would provide San Francisco with a rational, safe, conservative and ef- fective government
 POWERS OF THE MAYOR.
 The theory of the proposed charter is plain. It has been framed upon the principle of standardization and individ- ual responsibility. Practically, all po- lttical power has been placed In the hands of an official called Mayor. That official is the creator of and Is made an irresponsible check upon every depart ment and function of the government. He is elected for two years and is paid salary of $60OO year. It is provided
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25
CIVIL SERVICE DEFECTS.
Many Weak Spots Are Pointed Out by the Local
 Taar11a

The following is the address of the Anti Civil Service League of San Francisco against the adoption of the proposed new charter:
 Fellow -citiZens In a few days you will be called upon to vote for charter to govern this city in the future. and be- fore doing so it will be well that you scan the instrument closely before you commit yourselves to the cunning politicians who, instead of being your servants, seek to be- come your masters. In the first instance 100 members were selected to frame char ter and from that 100 fifteen were selected who resolved themselves into a mutual admiration committee, so to speak, each representing some corporation interest In other words If you vote for my meas ure will vote for yours, and the present instrument is the result, and we are called upon to vote for 1t on the 26th inst h. stead of the motto, Remember the Maine, on that day we hope you will law aside all business cares and Remember the charter and don't forget to vote against 1t. There are so many objections to the charter it Is unnecessary to enumer- ate them, as some of the papers have al- ready mentioned them, and why the char ter should be defeated. This organization has been formed exclusively to combat civil service. and We confine our obiec- uons to that alone. In the first place we are told that our merchants are all in favor or civil service. Who are those
 
 three cut of every five will tell YOU they live in Oakland, Alameda, San Rafael. Sausaito or Tiburon. In the next jn- stance we are referred by way of example to the perfect manner the civil service operates in the School, Police and Fire de- partments and other branches of the Gov ernment, while at the same time the press Of our city is calling our attention to the inefhciency of these very departments. In conclusion, fellow-citiZens, without giving the name of all the Commissioners appointed by the Governor, nor those that already exist in this city, City Hall. Elec- tion. Police. etc., and various others too numerous to mention. which the people are directly interested in but have no voice in their selection. the new charter adds to these many others and what might be termed the Mayors Commis sioners, which would almost include nearly every office of any consequence in the city. We may as well establish a monarchical government at once and cease having elections"
 The Anti-Civil Service League.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25
THE NEW CHARTER
 MISTREATS TEACHERS
Principal Philip Prior Shows Many Defects in
 the Proposed Organic Law.


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  as n all a An O I a i monthly
 
 
  the
  rboardap to o the
  rnea n wi be Q teacher will n that instances small to meet the  reach higher of a
  fault have hey eve n
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25

that the Mayor, who shall be elected In the year 1899, section 36, article 16, shall appoint a fire commission and a police commission consisting of four members each, an election commission, a Board of Health and a park commis- sion consisting of five members each, a Board of Education consisting of four members, a civil service commission consisting of three members, and a Board of Public Works consisting of three members.
 Into the hands of these boards and commissions the charter places the en- tire administrative government of the city and county of San Francisco. The Mayor Is authorized to remove any commission or board or member thereof at his pleasure. He is merely required to give his reasons in writing to the Board of Supervisors. (Section 20, ar ticle 16)
 As may readily be perceived this makes each board or commission prac- tically the abject slave of the execu- tive. With the power to remove at pleasure, the entire independence of every administrative bureau is de- stroyed. Not only is the Mayor thus empowered to create officials and rule them at pleasure, but he is practically invested with the authority to fix ap- propriations for the various depart ments. The Board of Supervisors is authorized to pass an annual appro- priation bill or budget. (Section B. chap ter l, article B The Mayor may, within ten days thereafter, veto this bill in whole or in part, and the concurrence of fifteen Supervisors is necessary to pass 1t or any item over his veto. (Sec- tion 4, supra.) The proposed charter, therefore, places in the hands of the ex- ecutive more than two-thirds of all the patronage and all the appropriations of the city and county.
 The Board of Public Works Is to have charge of all work upon the public buildings and the grounds, streets and sewers. (Article 6) While this board is certain in practical operation to be little or nothing more than a commit tee of the Board of Supervisors it's members will still, under the rod of the Mayor, be in a position to absolutely control every plan of public improve ment
 The Fire Commission Is invested with authority to appoint members or the fire department and control and regu- late their functions.
 The Police Commission is invested with authority to appoint a chief of police, police captains, lieutenants and sergeants and one police officer for each five hundred inhabitants of the city and county.
 The Board of Health Is given juris- diction over all the hospitals, alms- houses and other institutions of that character in the city and county.
 The Board of Education is authorized to appoint and dismiss the employees of the school department and administer the funds appropriated for the public schools.
 The Park Commission Is invested with authority to carry on the improve ment of Golden Gate and other public parks.
 The Election Commission is to take the place of the present election con-
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25

Senator Frank McGowan. MT. Me Gowan represented Humboldt County in the State Senate and Assembly for ten years. He was chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee for two forms, and as the leading lawyer of the Senate became thoroughly familiar with San Francisco charter and other legislation. Being requested by The Call to give his opinion of the proposed charter he prepared the following, which raises many new and interesting objections to the instrument:
 For the purposes of this statement it will be assumed that every portion of the proposed new charter is constitu- tional AS a matter of fact, however, this is extremely unlikely. If the in strument in all it's parts were subject ed to close legal scrutiny 1t would prob ably be found that sufficient number of it's most important features are in conflict with the constitution and gen eral laws to make 1t practically inop- erative. The constitution provides that all charters framed under the proVi- SionS of section of article XI shall be consistent with and subject to the laws of the State-eXcept in municipal af- fairs" (Sec. 6, Art. XI. amendment of 1S96.) The question whether munich pal affairs" applies to any subject upon which the Legislature chooses to leg islate is an open question. Our Su- preme Court has not yet interpreted the words municipal affairs" in such a manner as to make the Inc of de- markation between general laws af- fecting municipal affairs" and other general laws plain to the legal frater- nifty.
 For instance, sections and ' of chapter 2, article I of the proposed charter prescribes a method under which franchises for the operation of street railways may be obtained from the municipality. The system thus outlined is in conflict with the statute enacted in 1897 upon the same subject. (Stats. 1897, page 135). If. therefore, the Legislature possesses power to en- act a general law regulating the grant ing of street railway franchises, either as statutory enactment or as chap ter of the Code, the provisions of the proposed charter upon the same sub feet are unconstitutional.
 What has been said with reference to sections and [, supra, may be said with respect to the system set up by the proposed charter for the improve ment of streets and sewers. There are general statutes upon the subject of street improvements. (Statute 1885, p. 147; statute 1889, D. 70; statute 1893, D. 33). While chapters 2 and of article VI of the proposed charter resemble these statutes in many ways, they con- fict in important respects with them. Here again the same question arises: If the Legislature has power to pass general street laws under the consti- tutionaI amendments adopted in 1896. one of which contains the phrase municipal affairs" the provisions of the charter with respect to the inn movement. opening and widening of streets and construction of sewers are unconstitutional.
 have not entered into 8 discussion
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25

"HE day for Freeho1ders of this
 city to decide whether they shall
 defeat a proposed organic law Is
 near at hand. The Call, pursuant
 to the policy that has led 1t to permit a free discussion of the strong and weak points of the new charter, to- day presents some further facts that initiate against the instrument which is to be voted on by the people.
 It is we'll to view the defects carefully and decide the matter with wisdom. After taking calm view of the objections presented, some of which follow in de- tail, the reader will be prepared to say whether an instrument open to so many objections is the proper thing for the government of the growing city of San Francisco.
 The discussions which appear pre- sent the case in a variety of phases, so that people in all ranks of life may have an opportunity to see not only how the document affects their par ticular interests but how 1t influences the welfare of the entire population. MCGOWAN SHOWS DEFECTS A Logical Portrayal of Weak
 Points in the New
 Charter.
 The following synopsis of the pro- posed new charter was written by ex-
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25

place Is 1t specially made his duty to collect the taxes except the collection of delinquent taxes, and for that pur- pose he Is empowered to appoint an attorney.
 While this failure in express words to give the Tax Collector power to col lect taxes may not be a serious legal omission, 1t illustrates how omissions have been made that may with the other provisions named lead to litiga- framers of the charter.
 THE STATES TAXES.
 The State collects its taxes in this city and county by the Tax Collector in two installments, and the taxes on personal property, the owner of which has no realty, by the Assessor at the time of making the assessment, and pre-
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25
From Many View Points tbe New Cbdrter Is
 CondenDed.

nue system which applies to the city and county of San Francisco, and mo- where gives a Mayor of city and county the right officially to approve or disapprove a tax levy, ana no sucn right exists"
 This decision announces rule which is changed by the charter. The char ter makes 1t the duty of the Board of Supervisors to provide for the collec- ton of taxes for city and county pur- poses, and, if adopted by the people and approved by the Legislature 1t will withdraw the collection or taxes for city and county purposes from the provisions of the Political Code With ont providing any substitute except by litigation, if at all, and in any event imposes the expense upon the city and county.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25
; Q 6 Q 6 Q Q Q 6 0 0 6 oo Q 0 z

aries of s10O per month each, for which they are required to perform their gen. eral duties as Supervisors.
 The proposed charter creates Board of Public Works, consisting of three members, each of whom receives a sal ary of $4000. The board is authorized to appoint a secretary at salary of $500 and such clerks, superintendents, inspectors, engineers, surveyors, depu- ties, architects and laborers as may be necessary to carry on its work, and to
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25

As the charter cannot be amended by the Legislature (section s, article II of the constitution), the power Is not con- ferred by the charter to insure the col lection of taxes for city and county purposes, except by litigation.
The San Francisco call., 1898-05-25
SHALL THIS YOKE BE WORN
Q Q % 6 . co Q 6 c Q Q Q Q Q 0 . @ @ c CHARTER ABBREVIATED. Q
Short Cut for Those In a
 Hurry.

6 The following is an abbrevia- c ton of the new charter made by c the Continental League, whose
 @ officers names are affixed: 0 CHAPTER 1.
 c Article IA Mayor may be
 z, elected every two years. = = Article II-All ex-Mayors . . shall hold office for life in the U Board of Supervisors. . Article III-To prevent ex- c Mayors from outnumbering the c Supervisors the people may elect . six more Supervisors.
 Q Article IV-The pay of the z, Supervisors, $Ioo per month, ,, being inadequate for ex-Mayors, . therefore, recognizing their = = matchless ability in advocating = = and influencing the members ot . . the board in favor of the claims . of the garbage, crematory, gas, :, electric lights, telephones, street c railways and other corporations, Q they are hereby allowed to 2 charge all the traffic will bear. 6 CHAPTER II.
 9 Article I-Thc people may
 g hold conventions, nominate and
 a elect few officials, but the
 S Mayor must suspend them when . . ever it suits his convenience. ' Article II-There shall be two ? classes of officials elected. One 5 class shall have permission to se-
 2 lect their assistants, notably the
 2 Mayor, while the other class
 2 must accept their assistants and
 , employees from the competitive , scheme Commissioners, who
 3 must be able to peddle their 3 questions and answers to their
 ? relatives and ring patrons, han , dicap the elected official, de-
 . stroy the efficiency of his de- : partment; then the Mayor must ; remove him for cause.
 , Article III-The Board of , Public Works must open a reg } istration department, employ , registration clerks, whose duty it shall be to notify the Mayor , and his partisan friends that reg } istration for employment on !, public work is in order. When , they are registered and given the , preference for employment the . work1nen can tumble over each ; other to get registered and that's ; all they will get.
 } CHAPTER III.
 } Article I-The money neces- , sary to be raised by taxation to , carry out the provisions of this , immaculate charter shall not ex- , ceed $I on $Ioo valuation, but , the valuation may be increased , 100 per cent in order to meet .. the expenses that will accrue : when the Mayor and his ap- ; pointees get full swing. } Article 1.-The city at present } being practically out of debt, , the Mayor may, after complet- , ing his appointments, control IS per cent of the votes-vote to } issue bonds to any extent in or , der to be abreast of the times of -s all those magnlflcently governed . old Eastern and European cities, :. whose people are grooming over : the burden of taxation caused by , the issue of bonds.
 , Article III-The property , owners, in order to meet this ? increased taxation, will have an 3 excuse for raising rents; there 3 fore if this immaculate charter is ? adopted the rent-payers can take , their medicine and saw wood. , The executive committee, |, AMOS CURRIER, : F. D. WORTH, President.
 , HAMILTON J. HIGGINS, , Secretary.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-19
RECORDED MORTGAGES.

Barrow Harriet b. TO Josephine Wardell' No 1lS
East 72d-st Il year. .................... -.
Same TO Frederick A Constable and anothef'
executors etc, same property. years. ........
Sohnoering John, 10 the G,rmania Life insurance
COMPANY W corner 5th-ave and l2s'h-st.
year .............. . -.
ssely. frank to North River Savings Bank s
l5th-st 215 IT W OF shave years.
Blake. Robert j, to Mar b .roucey. e s Lenox-
ave 49.ll u of 1i2d-st years.
Schroeder. Charles. to lawyers Mortgage lnsur-
ance Company, 8. s l0lst-st lI5 II e o., Eospm-
bus-aVe. years. -
Same 10 same; 1oIst-st. lae 1T. of Column
Blackwell Frank z. to Andrew LATHE. e 18th
St SEQ II OF Columbus ave. D years. - 90
Emanuel Louisa. 70 Florence g Joseph NO 100
SuffOk-st y years, >-.g '--'-'.'
Same to Mark Emanuel. same property. years
Graf Amelia and Theresa Rapp TO Joseph u ana
Alexander Graf. corner Avenue and N"'h-
81. 8 years -
Hamershlag Joseph. and David -Oppenhemer.
70 Mary Parsons. W corner Central fatk west
ana psth-et years. ......... ....-....
Addison. John and Matilda. 70 John 3 i%ech ~
al executors etc No l56 West 45th-st. years
Hutchinson. Henrietta r. 70 Title Guarantee and
Trust Company No 132 East 29th-st. years
Gaines Furrnsn Y. and Hugh l. Roberts 10 mo
Germania Life Insurance Company lo''h-
81 go n W Of, Brown Place. "a wears. .......
Same 20 same n l35th-st. 2i' II or brown
Flace, 90 wears. No.,
Same to same. 18Th st 1916 II W OF Brown
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-19
DEAL. ESTATE TRANSFERS.

Intervale ave. i2os It " of HsEy 81 "a Ins
sc SO SIX 40 20 Kelly 81 ~ * ~.
n w 66l to avenue xU) TO beginning A"euSr
Johnson to George Solz. 90 N-
14sd-s . 100 {; OF Colese-ave 0oohiio'
10 Norris ave xssxl0o TO- Franklin Lynch el AZ e. A.
executors etc to Edward Long and anotntin;. VIZ
10th ave- s. 90 II OF looth-s'' "i'''
Lawson Fuller John Castro a.
Jackson-ave g s. POS n Of l56th 81. -oNo'o' a OF
Alexander c Campbell to Emma NJ BURNER 90. Wv
1scd-st north corner Cambreling ave. loVSl%'' r.
Daniel 7 Ingraha'n 10 william jay ;ooo,. ~
h3d St e. 1863 II Of Lexington ave. loo~looo' "a ~
Dora Nathan to John II KeaIns 80, WV
surolk-st No l21 s. 25XlOD: Julius solomon 20 ~
and another Coppel S;utensky 10 a 49, ~
s2dst s. l2Tl f. az 2dave. % oXloZ%' john % n,
Mclaughlin 10 Elizabeth Mas. -'''V'
s2d-st s. 1O1 s II Of 2d-aVe. 255Hlo2Zi same 90 N
Winfred BOWeS. - -
Little West i2th-st n s. 400 # W Of sth.av S,x
lO3 l. 19th-st 325 II Of 9th ave '3xlo5l' q. n,
Henry Wotherspoon 10 Mary II Wotherspooon,. o."
18th s. $50 n Of Columbus ave. 2Oxl"zz' % 4.
Andrew Little TO Frank Blackwell oo'"
72i-st No fl3 East 25xl02. ., Frederick A Con
stable and ANOTHER. executors and trustees 10 a. -
Harriet Il Barrow -. :. o'''
llaih-st l45 # Of Manhattan-ave zox M -
100 IL; Joshua F Howes TO Hendrika Bulge - o."
"a ave 80 II Of "0th-st. 2'x'5S' Bella . r,
Hauser Samuel Guck and another. :, - l4'o
l0Hh-st No 200 East. 20x16n II; Vincent + NC =, -
Cean to Caroline Lindenbom. H."
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-11-19

l. RARRACK CIIAIRS-Pha.. Depot O. NJ. Dept. l4oS
Arch ST. Phia.. Pa. November u. 1893 Sealed pro
posas n, tripcate will be received here until II o'clock
a NJ TUESDAY November %. 1898 for furnishing this
depot with 10000 Cork Helmets and 20 900 Barrack
Chars conforming t. standard samples with privilege
Of Increasing quantities 1000 Early delivery is re
ouired bidders with what rapidty they
viii furnish the articles Government right to
reject or accept any all proposals part thereof
Preference given articles ~ domestic production
Manufacture conditions Of quality and price Including
in IN. price OF foreign productions MANUFACTURES the
duty thereon being equal Blanks for proposals &C.
will be furnished upon application Envelopes contain
ng proposals endorsed 70 show what they contain
and addressed TO Colonel JOHN V. FUREY. Deputy
Ouartermaster General L. s. A.