The San Francisco call., 1898-04-30
THE FUTURE CHAR OF SAN
 FRANCISCO.

The Lord Mayors of Birmingham, Dublin and Belfast are serfs compared with the Mayor of San Francisco, who under the new charter will enjoy more personal power than Emperor William in Berlin. The English Lordships are mere creatures of the Government They have no special authority to in- fluence legislation. They cannot veto a single ordinance nor hinder the eX- penditure of a single cent. They can not appoint a public officer, dispute a contract, or stop the payment of the smallest claim upon the treasury. They enjoy no patronage and their office and functions have, therefore, no political significance. Their personal power and responsibility are merged in the corpor- ate power of the government. They represent the public interests and act under the mantle of popular support. Their personal influence depends on brains and patriotism and their reward is the approval of the citizens.
 Under the new charter the Mayor of San Francisco will be veritable Car He is authorized to initiate new policies and to veto legislation, to cut down ap- propriations, to refuse the ratification of contracts, to reject items of account, and besides his legislative functions he will have discretionary power to ap point and remove the officials who con- stitute the real governmen, Moreover he is authorized to suspend the very elected of the people. He appoints and will control the election officers and is practically responsible for an honest counting of the votes. He and his min isters will have charge of all the city property, parks, schools and public buildings. They will control S3 per cent of the entire expenditures of the city government. Of this two millions and a half will have the form of patronage with certain future increase, especial ly in the Department of Public Works. He is also given power to influence ap pointments in the lower ranks.
 The Commissioners of Civil Service are servants either for good or evil. No one SupposeS that the New York com mission appointed by Mayor Van Wyck will pass Republican candidates for Tammany and Croker, and the rules have been ignored in many other cities, of which Philadelphia is a marked ex ample. This distribution of power con- trasts unfavorably with that of Eng fish cities. The financial reports of San Francisco and Birmingham for last year will show the difference. In San Francisco the total expenditures of the city government exceeded six millions. In Birmingham, with a population a fourth greater it was $3,6OO,000 In this is included the salaries of a stipendiary Police Judge and the officials of his court. The cost of the police, the pub lie, technical and industrial schools, eight public parks, five public gardens and recreation grounds, five public baths and wash houses, three public markets with food inspectors, a com plete staff of health officers and munich pal officials, fire brigade of moderate dimensions, public museum and a school of art and twelve public free libraries. In San Francisco the salar- ies amounted to three millions in Bir- mingham to $300,000 In San Francisco, after the payment of salaries and ne- cesSary current expenses, there is noth- ing left for permanent improvements. In Birmingham 40 per cent of the pub lie expenditure is devoted to permanent improvements, such as widening and paving streets, erecting public build ings, improving lighting, sewerage, etc. The municipal government of Birming- ham is acknowledged to be one of the best in the world, due mainly to it's form. That of San Francisco is proba bly, the worst Will it be wise to elect a Czar or better to elect a Birmingham Lord Mayor?
 J. H. STALAARD. M.B., Lond.