The San Francisco call., 1898-09-16
NON-PART|SANS
 AGREE ON 4
 PLATFORM Stand on a Dollar Limit Tax Levy. A VERY LIVELY SESSION PUBLIC OFFICIALS HELD UP
 FOR CRITICISM. Delegate Webster Wanted the Party to Denounce Certain Supervis- ors and School Directors
 for Past Acts.

The Citizens Non-Partisan conven- tion met in the Academy of Sciences building last night and after a lengthy discussion adopted the platform pre- sented a week ago. A few minor changes were made in 1t.
 J. s. Webster made two intellectual attempts to have a plank put in the platform denouncing the Supervisors tion who he considered had betrayed the pledges given by them when they were nominated by the party two years ago. Webster made persistent fight, but was outvoted each time.
 After the calling of the roll, Chairman Fitch announced that the first order of business would be the adoption of a platform.
 E. J. Le Breton then said that he did not consider the plank relating to the pledging of the legislative nominees to ratify the new charter strong enough He believed that all legislative aspir- ants coming before the convention for nomination or indorsement should be required to sign written pledge to support the charter before their names were voted upon. After a discussion lasting over half an hour it was decided to amend that section of the platform so as to conform with the Ideas of Le Breton.
 The next objection raised was to the section providing that the tax levy be fixed at $1 on the $100 on an assessed valuation of s350, 0,O00,000.
 Ex- Mayor Ellert was of the opinion that it would be impossible to keep within that limit on an assessed valua- ton of $350, ,000,0 900. He believed that the limit should be placed at $1 on the $100, exclusive of the amount necessary to be raised for the interest for the sinking fund and the improvement of public parks and squares.
 The majority of the delegates did not agree with Ellert, however, and the sec tion vas allowed to stand as originally presented.
 Delegate Mahoney next objected to the pure food section of the platform.
 "The expenses of the Board of Health have been raised from S25, 900 to $125,0 year within few months, ' said he, "and I do not consider that we can indorse any such expenditure. believe that we should indorse the pure food campaign, but not the ex- trayagant manner in which it is being carried out"
 Delegates Denicke and Sbarboro spoke in favor of the section, and said that while the work of forcing dealers to sell pure food might be costly, many lives had been saved, especially those of infants.
 Delegate Cummings believed that the entire section should be stricken out, and very broadly intimated that the pure-food laws were being used for purposes of extortion.
 Tt is now case of pay" said he, "or be killed if you are in business"
 George Center gave it as his opinion that there were too much extrava- gance in the management of the pure food department
 "While I am in accord with any health measure," said he, 'I must say that I believe too much money Is being spent on the pure-food question:
 When the question of striking out the section was put to a vote, it was de- feated by an almost unanimous vote.
 J. s. Webster then exploded a bomb shell by moving that section 15. endors- ing the administration of Mayor Phe- Ian. be stricken out and that the fol- lowing section be inserted in its stead
 The administration of municipal affairs during the past two years has been a de- nlorable failure, due to the violation of fheir pledges by the majority of the Board of Supervisors and the Board of Education. We especially condemn Law renee Devany of the Board of Supervis- ors. and Charles L. Harrington, Thomas Carew and Samuel l.. Waller of the