The herald., 1898-08-19
MAKING THE CHARTER
MR.. CRAFTS voLUMINOUS RE,
PORT ON COUNCILS POWERS
THE FREEH0LDERS' MEETING
A Number Of Changes Made In the
Report Submitted-The Members
Grow Restless at Detail

The board OF freeholders which is franz
ting the new city charter Ia a very sedate
body Despite the warm weather they
dress soberly. Mr.. Graff and Mr.. New
mark appeared last evening In summer
vest. but appeared none the less states
manlike. There was a light attendance
at the meeting there being present Messrs.
Croft, Grafr.' Hazard, Stephens Willard,
Newmark, O'Melveny, Morgan and Dav-
isson.
Mr.. Groff took the chair in the absence of
President Lee. There was disposition,
however, to get right down to business. the
reading of the minutes being waved. Mr..
Graft objected to the clause tn the re-
port regarding the council where 1t states
that that body shall have perpetual sue
cession" He argued that the reading
should be 1.-The city shall have perpetual
succession" as the city Is the corporation.
The line objected to was ordered stricken
out, and the matter was referred to the
committee on boundaries and limitations.
of which Mr.. Hazard is chairman. Mr..
Graft then had the clause referring to the
control OF contagious and loathsome dis
eases stricken out of the report on council.
as 1t was a duplicate of clause found else
where.
Judge Stephens argued against limiting
the granting of franchises for street rail-
ways, of steam or electric motives. The
clause Of the proposed charter in reference
to these matters providing that such fran
chises shall be voted on at general city
elections, which shall be held every four
years.
Ex-Mayor Hazard proposed an amend
ment providing that when petition Is
properly filed for such franchise,
postal vote should be taken on such ques-
ton. This, he argued, would indicate the
will Of the people at once, SO that the
council could act accordingly. The cleo
ton would not be mandatory but would
simply direct the council.
Mr. Newmark moved to strike out the
entire section limiting the election on fran
chises to four year intervals. Mr.. Haz-
ards motion was lost on the vote. Mr..
O'Melveny was Of the opinion that the
question Of franchises be postponed and
Mr. Graff's report be designated as Dolly
Warden document. The question Of strik-
| ing out the entire section on franchises
then was carried by vote Of 7 ayes and
| no.
| Mr. Newmark also had the section re-
ferring to the notification of voters of
elections on franchises, making 1t obliga-
tory on the city clerk to mail to each
| voter, ten days before the electionA
| copy Of the proposed franchise. At this
point Mr.. Garland made his first appear
ance at the meeting, he having been Ill
ever since his election.
| Several sections OF the report on legis-
lative power Of the council were opposed
| by Judge Stephens on the ground that
| they were unnecessary and could be en-
bodied in simply giving the needed pow
ers in a general way. Mr.. Graft sup
ported the presence of details, claiming
that while the details were perhaps not
necessary they might do good and
can do no harm. After much discussion
the section was allowed to stand, with
slight changes. The chief section in ques-
ton referred to the throwing of garbage
| or waste matter on vacant lots.
| Mr.. Graft then proceeded with the read
| Ing of his report on the legislative powers
OF the council, but was interrupted by
Mr.. Hazard, who found fault with it, as
| 1t was not digested. He wanted 1t re-
ferred to the committe.
| Mr.. GrafY-If you do that you will get it
back in the same shape, as I, wished it
so made that the board would pass on it..
| Mr.. HazardlThen 1 move to refer 1t to
some other committee. There Is no use
| wasting our time.
| Judge Stephens-I hope 1t will not be re-
ferred to any other committee. The report
| Is made up Of matter from many charters,
| is not digested or arranged. but as we have
commenced, think the best thing to do
| is to go through with 1t.
When the section forbidding signs or
boards erected on private property excep
under usual regulations was read Judge
Stephens wished 1t stricken out. Mr.. Gar
land defended the right Of people to pr.
signboards on their property. Mr.. O'Mel-
veny said he wished signs could be proh1b-
| tied, as some of them In this city were
enough to put out peoples eyes. On vote
however, the clause was sustained
In the clause of the report referring to
the possible prohibition Of massage" doc
tors by the council, Judge Stephens moved
that this was an unjust reflection on
class. Massage doctors were as good as
any other. number Of doctors explained
what massage" artists were as rule. ana
after some further calculation Of the mys-
teries Of the profession, the motion to r.
lieve massage" professionals from this as
persion on their character was lost and the
clause stood.
Judge Stephens came back to the attack
by moving to strike out OF the clause reg
ulating' people of various busin esses. as
unconstitutional. as something which the
council could not do. This brought UP for
the second time the question Of the ad-