The San Francisco call., 1898-05-05
THE POWERFUL MAYOR.

THE history of the world proves that whenever
 political power is lodged in the hands ot an ln-
 dvidual without check restraint 1t IS gene rally abused. For ages the people have been strug- gng to from individual potentates power that has been used to oppress and plunder them Inc Bill of Rights, Magma Charta, the writ of habeas corpus, trial by jury, independent judiciary and the separation of the legislative judicial and execu- tive functions of government all signalize riunphs of the common people over individual tyranny and what is known i'll these times personal responsi- blity" The work of centuries III behalf of human
 liberty is condensed in the American constitution The fathers of the great republic justly feared the power of an unrestrained executive for they had felt it and known what 1t
 The American President is the British King strip ped of some of his prerogatives and hedged in by popular Legislature. In these days we are accus- toned point the long line o great men who have ruled the people for justification of our belet that is safe trust to the executive arm o the government powers which were wrested from it only after years of bloody struggle. The thinkers" who in their ignorance do this stop to ask them selves why the Presidents and Governors of these days are mostly honorable anxious to faithfully serve their fellows Were they to do perhaps they might change their opinions. Are not the executives of the nineteenth product of restraint Are not their moderation and unselhshness due to the circumstance that they have been unable to abuse the powers conferred upon them? Is the record they have made attributable to change n human nature!
 We propound these inquiries, not for the purpose of making point against the charter, which IS to be submitted to the people of this city on the goth of this month but for the purpose Of prec1pltatng a thoughtful controversy. Victor Hugo remarked that the chief safety of communities consisted in their IL A.. ol. o.,I hsr1lr The proposed charter creates a powerful official called Mayor He is invested with authority to ap- point Police and Fire Commission, Board of Health, Board of Education, Board of Public Works Civil Service Commission and Election Commission, and remove them at pleasure. These boards and commissions will expend two-thirds ot all the money that will be appropriated tor conduct ing the government of this city No check has been provided either upon the abuse of this appointing power or upon the wastefu expenditure of this money, except the conscience of the who may be elected Mayor. Not only may the Mayor remove his own appointees, but he may suspend elected officials at his pleasure In fact his hands have been placed without possible restraint practically all the functions of government
 The question we desire to see discussed is this: Are we prepared at this juncture cast aside the experience of centuries and create this uncrowned
 
 of San Francisco have reached state of political de- creptude which ustifes them in abdicating self government? II they have 1t ought to be somebody's duty to lay the facts before them for consideration The proposed charter marks complete swing o the pendulum of political power. It is return to the age of despots and yrants. It is confession of re- publican weakness and if the people adopt 1t they will declare their in conscience substitute for restraints and checks, without which every gov ernment on earth has proved a failure.
 We say all this because there disposition in the charter discussion far ignore the theory upon which the instrument is framed Undoubtedly the charter contains many good things. It would be diff icut to frame municipal organic law which did not contemplate many necessary reforms. But what about the theory of individual responsibility which runs through it from end to end? Is that to be ig nored while spirited debate IS conducted upon i'm material issues?
 We are occasionally pointed to the example of New York But the charter of that city may be repealed by the Legislature any day, and the Legislature meets annually to consider its abuses. Moreover, Tamn1any captured New Yorks Mayor at the first election and the vast revenues of that city being expended under the personal direction of Boss Croker With them he is rapidly building up a political oligarchy powerful than any that has ever been seen n this country It seems to that 1t would be well to discuss the Lord Mayor of the charter from the standpoint of experience.
 -m-.--~-~>-----~-
 THE CAPTIJREO COL ONES