The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-30
A SUPERVISORIAL ECLIPSE.

liver since the enactment Of the consoI;d,.;o,
act IN 1880 the Board OF Supervisors has been
- the sepucher OF local politicians Hundreds Of
sincere and ambitious men have entered its chamber
with high expectations, convinced that thew were
destined to become famous as statesmen and polti-
cians but with exceptions every one has emerged
branded with ineffaceablc marks of corruption.
broken IN reputation, degraded and disgraced
True, an occasional Supervisor has saved his name
but 1t has rarely happened that the antagonisms
created by following an upright course in the board
nave not resulted in failure from either the
people or the parties further political advancement
The cause OF this has long been apparent to the most
cursory observers. The Board OF Supervisors has
been political graveyard for forty wears because
the plan upon which it was originally organized
mixed executive, legislative and judicial powers
Wherever this is done political looseness alversa-
ton and corruption always ensue These elements
intermiXed make yeast OF which rise all sorts
OF strange things, among others being the political
booder and the whisky saloon boss
But there will be end OF the disgraceful history
which has been made by Boards OF Supervisors in this
city during the past four decades under the new
charter That famous instrument not only strips the
Board OF nearly all the powers now exercised under
the consolidation act but it so tanges up its func-
tons with vctoes, restrictions and prohibtee rules
that 1t Is certain TO become insignificant arm OF
the government The board elected on the 9TH ms.
IS forbidden pass any resolution or ordinance over
the Mayors veto except witk the concurrence Of
fourteen members-more than two-thr1s majority
1t IS given no patronage, and except its clerks will
make no appointments. All power TO initiate and
carry street work is taken from it and lodged in
the Board OF Public Works. 1t can no longer grant
franchises lease sell public lands or utilities Or
grant special privileges. All ordinances providing
for these things must be submitted to a vote of the
people Control OF the hospitals jails, Almshouse
public parks, public buildings, the Police and Fire
departments and the and sewers have all
been taken from it and lodged in other hands
In short, the Board OF Supervisors created by the
charter will resemble Thanksgiving turkey at
the conclusion OF the repast-it will be wreck of
its former SELF skeleton which will bear some re-
semblance TO the powerful structure that formerly
existed, but OF which nothing will remain but 4
memory. The future history OF the board is bound
to be in a serio-comic There will be a
great deal OF resolving and much speech-making in
the chamber-the walls OF the place WILL as it were,
rcsound with the eloquence OF the young spell
binders whom the people will send to the City Hall
to represent them-but over all there will be an
emptiness OF result poverty OF everything save
sound and fury, which will make the board for
midable rival OF the Iroquos Club
But If heretofore the chamber OF the Supervisors
has been sepulcher for the ambitions OF local poll
tcians hereafter it is certain to become a nursery
for reformers, statesmen and politicians. Nothing
is conducive to the manufacture OF good politics"
as irresponsible legislative position. When the
gallery player illuminate paper blockades without
danger OF damaging anybody he is apt, like Napo-
leon in his last war to become exceedingly prodgal
in issuing them. In fact is easy for a man to make
reputation for political integrity in a position in
which his fiery mouthings mean nothing and his
resolutions and ordinances printed and forgotten
In the Board OF Supervisors under the new char.
ter, therefore. may look for our future Mayors,
Congressman, department officials and legislators
The law provides for making out OF it a political
kindergarten, and there is certain to be greater
number OF Websters and Gays among eighteen Su-
pcrvisors than would have been had the number
been left at twelve