The San Francisco call., 1904-10-29
Charter Amendments
Stalled by Lack
Of Funds.
The Commissioners Have
No Money Available
for Purpose.
Supervisors Thought There Was No
Question on This Point, but Reg
iStrar Surprises Them.

There viii be no special election
during the present fiscal year ON the
proposed amendments TO the charter.
IL would cost about $4,000 to hold
such an election and nowhere I'm the
financial system of the municipality
is there cent available for the pur-
pose.
The movement toward Fastening the
changes in the city's organic law has
been taking deep root. and the Super
visors have been seriously considering
the matter Of calling a special election.
There was keen disappointment in some
quarters because the twenty-five
amendments could not be submitted TO
the voters at the coming election and
some have urged that the expense OF a
special election was regarded as justifi-
able.
Now comes the Election Board with
the positive assurance that it has not
cent to spare. The funds set aside by
the Supervisors in the budget for the
department will all be needed for the
regular elections.
The Commissioners suggest that the
Supervisors may use their emergency
fund, the total Of which was $36, 900, II
they are bent ON having a special cleo
ton. But there are already more de-
mands on that precious little fund than
can be met. declare the Supervisors
In undignified parlance Of the City
Hall, the Board Of Supervisors and the
Board Of Election Commissioners have
been passing the buck to each other
the past few days. The matter has en-
gagged their attention earnestly, and the
outcome resolves itself into the stern
fact that there can be no election be-
cause Of lack of money to pay the cost
MUST AWAIT NEXT BUDGET.
The next budget must now be await
ed and the contemplated special elec-
tion postponed until after July 1, 1905.
The matter Of policy must also be
considered and 1t is not unlikely that
there will be no voting on the amend
ments till the general election in No
vember OF next year.
True, as President Roncovieri OF the
Board of Education, who urgently
wants to have the provisions as to the
schools amended. pointed out to the
Supervisors yesterday. the law is man
datory on them to call a special elec-
ton when the petitions are fled But
Roncovieri did not vouchsafe any in
formation as to how a special election,
costing $4,000. can be held when the
treasury Is bare Of an overplus.
1--WE were awaiting the decision OF
the Supreme Court with the intention
of giving the matter of calling a special
election serious attention after the tri-
bunal should have laid down the law
to us in the Harrison suit" said Super
visor D'Ancona, "and it was our idea,
of course, that the Election Commits
sioners had money on hand with which
to pay the cost Of the election. The
most serious question to US was wheth-
er or not II was good policy to hold
special election. There was good argu-
ment that the proposed amendments
could wait until the next general
election.
THOUGHT COURT CLEARED WAY.
Now that the Supreme Court has
ruled that the Mayor has no veto au-
thority on proposed amendments. but
that they could not go on the ballot
for the coming election, we thought the
way was clear to have special elec-
ton on all the twenty-five amend
ments. The Mayor could not exercise
any authority in opposition. the Su-
preme Court had assured US.
But II the Election Board cannot
supply the funds that settles the whole
matter. I suppose. 1t would be utterly
impossible for the Supervisors to use
any money which has been set aside
for other purposes. AS to our emer-
gency fund OF $4,000 viii say that it
will be impossible to use a cent Of It
for an election. The whole fund is
about spoken for already"
Registrar Adams was equally posi-
tive that there would be no money
available in the elections department.
All the money allowed it in the budget
-, - ,.oadad for the raeuIar exnansoa