The San Francisco call., 1899-10-15
Worked for It and Voted for It.


And let me say one word before / leave
It as to my own part in it, because some
thing has been said about that l was a
member of the convention. | attended all
meetings, or nearly all, besides meetings
of the committees. L voted for the Free
holders, and after the EreeholderS had
formulated the charter l voted for the
charter, and when it was finally ratified
! by the people and went to Sacramento l
used all the influence l had with indiVid-
ual members of the Legislature TO secure
its ratification by the Legislature. Pardon
me for this bit of personal mention, be-
cause l am proud Of my part, of my con-
nection with the charter, and cannot en-
dure to have it questioned without max
ing this denial.
"When the charter question came up in
the convention there were many among
US who would have liked a charter with a
large body of Supervisors and a Mayor
with very limited powers. That is what
you might call the English fashion. Then
there was another party which wanted a
charter-which proved to be in an over
whelming najority in the convention-in
favor of what l call the American plan.
That is a plan which prevails to some ex-
tent in America. AT all events, it provid-
ed for moderate-slZed Board of Super
Visors and gave the Mayor great deal Of
power and responsibility. AS l said, this
sO-calledAmerican plan proved to be the
one most in favor in the convention. Under
this system the Supervisors hold the same
relation to the other departments Of the
government that Congress does to the
United States Government or the Legis-
lature Goes to the State government-the
Board of Supervisors has legislative pow
er and at the same time the power that
levies the taxes after they are levied and
appropriateS them But the power Of ex-
pending the money lies in the hands OF
seven boards or commissions that are ap-
pointed by the Mayor.
Great Power of the Mayor.
Now let me enumerate to you these
boards to show you what great power the
Mayor has under it's provisions. There is
the Board Of Public Works, which has
charge of the streets and the sewers and
the buildings belonging to the city There
is the Board of Education-the Mayor has
the appointing Of that-conSiSting of four
There is the Board of Police Commission
ers, which are now appointed by the Gov
ernor, you know; ii will be appointed by
the Mayor. There is the Board Of Fire
Commissioners. There is the Civil Serv-
ice Commission, which is to prepare and
formulate the rules for examination for
appointments to the city service. The
Board of Health-you all know OF them
and the Park Commission.
These seven very important boards are
appointed by the Mayor and they have
practically the expending Of the money
once that it is a position Of great power
of great responsibility; that 1t requires a
man Of cool head and clear judgment and
wide experience, of good knowledge Of
men, and above all it needs a man who is
both honest and fearless. (Applause) 1
have detailed this to you that you may
uIlutI SloIIIu Wlletl illS Responsiveness are,
what the powers of the Mayor are and
what the responsibilities are that attach
to that office; and this first year of the
new charter, you will understand, he has
the entire filling of all these boards. After
that only one year upon each board is
appointed by the Mayor. but the first
members of all these important boards.
Benefit of Public Utilities.
Now, then, one. other matter in the
charter l would like to say a word to
you about because a great deal of the
time of the convention was devoted to it,
and that is the matter of public utilities
Public utilities are those things that are
used by the general public-if the Streets
have to be used, especially. These are
gas, water, and street railroads These
are all public utilities. Under the new
charter special provision is made that the
city by, vote of the people can determine
upon the means of acquiring these utlIi-
ties whenever they desire them. Now.
the custom of different cities varies very
much in reference to these matters Al
most all large American cities own their
own waterwoTks. Boston, New York,
Philadelphia, st. Louis Washington, ali
own their own water supply. Some cities