davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
PLAN TO AMEND
CITY'S CHARTER
Liquor Dealers Propose the
Right of Appeal From PO-
lice Board to Supervisors
HOOKS BEHIND MEASURE
Change Will Affect Grant
inc of Permits Which Have
Been Previously Denied

A committee from the California
Retail Liquor Dealers Association
held a consultation yesterday at the
City Hall with Supervisors Hooks and
Lunstedt and after q long discussion
il was agreed that Hooks Will submit
at next Mondays meeting OF the
Board of Supervisors an ordinance
setting forth q proposal to the voters
TO amend the charter giving to an APP
plicant for a liquor permit which has
been denied by the Police Commission
the right of appeal to the Board Of
Supervisors.
Some time ago Hooks introduced an
ordinance providing for the right of
appeal, which he desired passed by
the Supervisors. 1t was referred to
the City Attorney, who rendered an
opinion that the ordinance would be
in direct violation of the charter If it
were passed. Hooks thereupon de-
cided to present the measure in the
form of an amendment to the charter.
The proposed amendment is sub
sidiary to subdivision 3, section l,
chapter 3, article s of the charter,
which allows all applicants for liquor
permits TO have hearing before the
Police Commission. The section to be
added follows:
After the hearing. should the Police Board
still refuse grant such permit or should re-
woke any permit that has been granted. the
person affected thereby may appeal from the
action of said board TO the Board OF Super
visOrs and il in the judgment Of the Super
yisors the said license should be granted or
the revocation set aside an order shall be made
10 that effect and the Tax Collector shall issue
such license.
Should the bill setting forth the
amendment be passed by the Board of
Supervisors it will go to the Mayor
for his signature or veto. Should his
Honor veto it and the veto be sus-
tanned then the liquor dealers purpose
to have the amendment submitted to
the voters.
The committee attending the con-
ference consisted of William Clack,
Frank shannon, John Herget, Charles
Mitchell, William Rice, Thomas Lind
say and Ike Spiro.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
Personal.

c. R. Scott, a lawyer of Tulare, is
at the Grand.
P. L. Flanagan, a capitalist Of Reno,
is at the Grand.
DR.. " 5. Taylor of Livermore is at
the Palace Hotel.
James n. Meighan of Tonopah is at
the Palace Hotel.
J. P. Poundstone, a rancher of Gas
ton, is at the Grand.
H G. Stevenson and wife Of Menlo
Park are at the Palace Hotel for a
few days.
Hector Burness, who represents a
large number of English firms at
Fresno, is registered at the Palace
Hotel.
John NJ. Gardiner, prominently con-
nected with the electric railway sys-
TEN at Santa Cruz, is registered at the
Grand Hotel.
Judge J. Gibson of Los Angeles,
whose recent investments in oil have
netted him big fortune, is at the st.
Francis Hotel.
]. Z. Bamberger of Salt Lake, who
is interested in the Daly-West mine
and other gold properties, is at the st.
Francis Hotel.
DR.. Charles W. Needham, president
of Columbia University, arrived here
yesterday from Washington and is
staying at the Palace.
CASTOR Bernal Reske and Madame
Reske of Madrid, both noted singers,
who are making tour Of this coun-
try, are at the Palace.
William E. Smythe of San Diego,
who is prominently identified with
irrigation projects in Southern Cal
ifornia, is at the Palace.
w. A. Junker, manager of the Paso
Robles Hotel, is spending a few days
i'm the city, accompanied by his sister,
Miss Junker. They are at the Palace
Hotel.
NJ. P. Snyder, Mayor of Los Angeles,
who has been rusticating at Shasta
SPRINGS, is registered at the Palace
Hotel. en- route home. He is accom-
panied by his wife and son.
Mrs. Carl T. Hartman and daughter
arrived from Paso Robles yesterday
and are at the Occidental, where they
will remain for three weeks. Captain
Hartman is chief of the Signal Corps
al Camp Atascadero.
Charles L. Davis, formerly receiving
teller of the San Francisco Savings
Union, but for the last year in charge
Of the exchange department of the
San Francisco National Bank. has
been elected an assistant cashier of
the latter bank.
United States Senator A G. Foster
and Captain f. G. Griggs, president of
the Pacific Coast Lumber Manufac-
turers' Association, arrived here yes
terday from Tacoma and are staying
at the Palace. They came south on
, private business and leave tomorrow
for Los Angeles.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
Californians in New York.

NEW YORK. Aug. 5.-The follow
ing Californians have registerd in New
York:
From San Francisco-A. Ackerman,
at the Wellington; A. Baer, at the
Hotel Imperial; Miss NJ. McBach, al
the Grand Union; Z. w. Dodge, al
the Hotel Imperial; P. O'Brien. at the
Astor House; c. Thumler. at the Well
ington; @. Andrews, at the Broadway
Central: +. c. Boricher, at the Marl-
borough; s. Plummer, at the Herald
square; Mrs. J. w. Clark, at the I'M
perial: Miss Scarlock and w. D. Scar
lock and wife, at the Broadway Cen
trail
From Los Angeles-S. G. Vaile. al
the st. Denis; +. p. Hull, at the Vic
toria. and 7. l. Hameston, at the st.
Denis.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
Little Attention Paid to
Legal Questions
Involved.
Believes City Ordinances
Would Fully Cover
Same Ground.

ity. and its subject matter is within the
Jurisdiction of the Iawmaking power.
The lawmaking power already existing IN
the Legislative authority OF the city and county.
l am of the opinion that a submission TO the
people Of such q police regulation and Its
adoption would not make II valid provision
of the charter any mere than the submission
to the people and their adoption would make
as a valid part of the charter an amendment
providing that person found leaving his
horse unhitched upon the street should be ar
rested. That would be the subject or Inunlc-
ipal ordinance and not Of charter amendment
! think the proposed charter amendment also
unconstitutional in that il attempts arbitrarily
to discriminate between persons engaged IN
the class OF business. Under the pro-
visions of this proposed amendment person
having property the north side OF a street
son on the south side of the same street and
directly opposite would under exactly the
same surrounding conditions, be privileged to
utilize it,
While l do not set it forth as an express
ground of veto, 1 wish also to call attention
to the danger of submitting to the people an
amendment to a section of the charter which
is not at all relevant to the subject matter
OF the amendment.
Thus in this amendment a section Of the
charter which gives the Supervisors only power
{. construct or permit the construction OF tun-
nels is sought to be amended so to create
restrictions and prohibitions of matters entirely
forei.n.
only the briefest reference to the nature of
the amendment voted on il Will be observed
that the establishment of this precedent might
lead to most noxious and harmful results.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06

pervisors the unlimited control OF the expendi-
lures of public utilities as against the depart
ments under whose Jurisdiction the trainers
OF the charter intended that such expendi-
lures should be made.
The first of these objects the proposed
amendment would fail to achieve, because its
language refers to the wrong sections or the
charter. The amendment reads: The pro-
visions of section 8 of this chapter shall not
apply to the funds of any public utility or
appropriation made therefrom.
when. a matter of fact the author of the
amendment undoubtedly had in mind section
of chapter 1 of Article III OF the charter
which is nowhere in the proposed amendment
mentioned or referred to.
The second Of these objects would, II the
proposed amendment became part OF the
charter, put the responsibility for the opera
tion OF any pubic utility upon one OF the mu :
nicipal departments, and yet allow the Board
of Supervisors to cripple its efncency or ue-
stroy its utility, as has been in my opinion,
attempted by this very board in its controversy
with the Board of Health an arm OF the mu-
efficiently and economically administered its
department.
This amendment if carried, would also. in
my judgment provide a basis for a strong
argument against the acquisition Of any public
utilities as II expressly provides for the un-
profitable operation of such utilities and pre-
pares for an attack by the Board or super
Visors upon the general funds of the city,
raised by general taxation Of her citizens, to
replensh the funds Of possibly unprontaole
public utility.
connection Is as follows: Should the reserve
funds be insufficient to pay the same, then
the Board OF Supervisors may appropriate
from the general fund of the city and county
a sum sufficient to meet such deficiency.
AS the city has not yet acquired any public
utility there will be ample time and oppor-
tunity hereafter for the submission of an i'm
proved amendment. If one should be deemed
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
REDUCED ROLL
CAUSES WORRY
Computations in Auditors
Office Show Big Falling
of in City's Assessment
FIND CLERICAL ERRORS
Total Amount May Be Less
Than That OH Which Tax
for the Budget Was Based

The exclusive publication in The Call
Of yesterday that the revision of the as
sessment roll would result in a falling
Of OF some $4,000. 900 from the total Of
S5ll. 000 900 as returned by Assessor
Dodge caused CONSERVATION among the
city officials. The article was fully con-
hrmed By the figures as compiled yes
terday by the deputies in Auditor
Baehrs Office, and the inevitable con-
clusion is drawn that the total roll
was placed at too high a figure in the
first place.
The roll as revised by Auditor Baehr
at the present time aggregates the sum
Of approximately S502. S92, ,45s. or more
than S. .000, 900 less than the original
computation. This reduction is mainly
due 20 clerical errors and to reductions
ordered by the Board Of Supervisors.
The roll is segregated as follows:
Eesl estate ------.-------------- S235 @ 300 ", Os9
Improvements ......-............. st, 1sl, ,S55
Total ........................ $3.50 2S2 C5O
personal property ---------------.- Il. olu AUS
Grand total OF $500 s92 459
Further calculations may result in a
Slight variance one way or the other in
the figures quoted. The fact that the
poll amounts TO $500. .S92, ,459 does not sig
Nifty that the taxes on that amount
VIII be collected. Included in the sum
, are assessments on property belonging
T. the city. church property and prop
erty held I'm the name of the Univer-
sity Of California, all of which under
.the law is uon-taxable. This will re-
duce The roll 10y at least 81 600, 600. Then
The delinquency in the collection Of
taxes Is TO be considered. 1t has been
the custom TO figure on a delinquency
Of S. 600 O0o Last year, however, il was
about s. 600 600.
This year, owing to the enormous in
crease in the individual assessments on
real estate and the assessment on newly
. discovered property, a conservative es-
Innate Of the delinquency would be be-
tween S2.000.00O and $1,000, 600. 1t will
therefore be easily seen that the actual
assessment roll upon which taxes viii
be. collected viii aggregate an amount
in the neighborhood Of $500 O00. 900, and
NAV even fail below that figure.
These facts are serving to make the
Board Of Supervisors, which fixed a
rate Of 81 y on an estimated roll Of
$500, coo. 900. decidedly uneasy. If the roll
falls below the last named figure il
VIII mean that the income viii be in
sufficient TO conduct the affairs Of the
municipality. How much the deficit is
iikely 10 be can only be determined
when the full amount of tax collections
o have been made. The deficit may be
slight, or II may amount TO a figure
that viii work some inconvenience to
The ofRcfp1s who direct the mana aqp-
nent of the citv's finances, as the in
come may be insufficient to meet the
budget expenditures.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
SPELL OF READING
IN RAWHIDE CASE
Three Thousand Pages of Testimony
to Be Digested by a Long Suf-
fering Jury.

In the trial of the case of the Raw
hide Gold Mining Company VS.. the
Tuolumne County Water Company in
the United States Circuit Court the
whole OF yesterdays session OF the
court was occupied by the attorneys
in reading a report of testimony taken
before United States Commissioner
Heacock in a case in equity between
the same parties involving the same
matter.
The report occupies 5000 pages OF
typewriter matter averaging 800
words to the page. The counsel take
turns in reading the precious docu-
ment, but they skip the dry places
and consign large wads OF it to the
world OF unuttered words.
When the bulky report was dumped
upon the table several jurors exhibited
symptoms of heart failure. while
others began to feel sleepy. 1t Is ex-
pected that the reading will not con-
sumo more than two days time. The
reading will be resumed on Tuesday.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
ISSUES ORDER PROVIDING
FOR STAMPING OF VANILLA
Governor of Tahiti Takes Action OF
Interest TO Importers OF the
Pacific Coast.

The resident French Consul Cen
eral reports a decision by the Gov
ernor of Tahiti to insure the of1ciAl
stamping OF standard qualities OF va
nilla grown in the islands that will be
of interest to local importers. Tbs
text of the decision Is as follows:
All vanilla OF the French establishments In
Oceania for expectation that viii be recoK-
nized TO be OF a good merchantable quality 81
an expert appointed by the administration. on
the proposition OF the managing comfy OF tho
Caisse Agricole. and who is attached to that
establishment will be stamped with q special
mark sttesting the good quality OF the product
The exporters who may wish to profit by this
faculty shall submit their vanilla to the veri-
hcation Of the above mentioned expert. Ths
cases. tins. etc. containing the vanilla recog-
nized in the proper conditions viii be sealed
and stamped at the expenses Of tbs shipper and
under the control OF the expert. The insuf-
ficiency and the defects OF the packing may
be- as well as the bad quality OF the product.
the causes OF refusal OF the stamping.
The present decree will be communicates for
execution, registered and published wherever
required.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
.F-ischer,s New soubrette.

The new sOubrette who is to take
the place made vacant by Nora Bayes
al Fiseher's Theater is expected to
arrive to-day. Miss Bayes goes back
10 vaudeville and viii open in Denver
a week from Saturday. Nellie Germ.
the new soubrette, is one Of the pref
tiest women on the stage. She is
petite chic. one Of the best singers and
dancers in America. and there is no
part IN either comic opera or bur
lesque that she cannot assume. She
viii make her first appearance Mon
DAY night in The Whirl of the
Town" i'm which she will introduce
some 0f her specialties
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
MAYOR SCHZ TRANSMITS FIVE VETO MESSAGES TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OPPOSES THE SUGGESTED CHANGES
IN THE CHARTER Of THIS CITY

I'VE Of the six purposed
amendments to the charter
submitted by the Super
visors were vetoed by
Mayor Sclimits yesterday I'm
stinging messages. In brief
the amendments vetoed are as
follows:
No. 2-Providing for the
acquisition OF public utilities by
the city and payment thereof.
No. 3-Limiting the district
In which rock crushing may be
carried on.
No. 4-Gfving the Supervisors
charge OF the issuance of street
permits.
No. 5-Providing for Pro-
gressive payments on street con-
tracts.
NO. 0-Curtailing the power
OF the Fire Commissioners.
The Mayor says too much
tinkering has already been done
with the charter and the city
put to useless expense. He sug-
gests that matters referred to
In the amendments be covered
by municipal ordinances and at
tention paid to more serious
weak spots in the charter, IL 1t
Is to be amended.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
FIRE COMMISSION.
The purposed amendment No. 6, aim
ed at the Fire Commission, meets with
the Mayors disapproval as follows:

This amendment would remove from the
Fire Commissioners the duty, as we'll as the
right, to supervise the business of the depart
ment for which they responsible and of
which they have exclusive control 1t would
expressly absolve them from seeing that con-
tracts awarded and work done for the Fire
Department should be faithfully performed and
would release them from the obligation of ex-
acting adequate bonds for the prompt and
faithful performance of the same.
In the grasping for more power for the Su-
pervisors. il matters not apparently what cha
otic conditions may be brought about nor how
seriously the efficiency of municipal admins
tration may be impaired. The houses of the
city may be burned. confa agrations may rage
and destroy our places of business for want Of
proper control by the Fire Department Of its
horses apparatus and supplies but II small
political grievances or petty political ambi-
tions be satisfied, let the charter be
amended.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
ARRoGATIoN OF POWER.

To the purposed amendment No.
the following objections are made by
the Mayor:
1t is a direct arrogation of certain power to
the Supervisors which the charter makers did
not contemplate or intend. 1t is an interfer-
ence with the action Of a municipal depart
ment which is primarily and legally responsible
for work upon the streets and would tend to
create unnecessary conflict between two de-
partments of municipal administration.
1t would impose upon property owners the
burden already arduous enough OF dancing
attendance upon committees of the Board Of
Supervisors and at meetings Of the SupeFvis-
ors, as we'll as waiting upon the Board OF
Public Works, to secure permission to do what
under proper regulation and supervision it
would seem they should have every right to
do, namely, in proper cases. to improve their
property at their expense.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
Renrodnction of a Great Painting.

The readers Of this weeks News Letter are
presented with double page plate reproduction
from the painting made by Edward Cucuel OF
the foyer of the Royal Opera house at Berlin.
The portraits Of many of the notable person.
ages of German royal circles will be recog-
nized as each of these people posed especially
for the artist.
There is a demand for citizen party in
San Francisco to relieve the city from the
hands of the present INSTRUMENTATION.
The departments are unusually bright this
week
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
MOB'S PROPOSED LYNCHING
BEE SPOILED BY SHERIFF.
Official Learns of Scheme to Hang
Prisoner and Disperses the
Crowd

BUTTE. Aug. 5.-While an inquest
was being held over the body of Pat
rick Mahoney who was killed by Jerry
Slattery in a saloon row, one crowd of
men gathered at Main and Park
streets and another at Main and
Broadway with the intention of lynch
ing Slattery. The plan was to have
one party go to the front of the jail
to attract the attention of the Sheriff
and his deputies while the other forced
an entrance into the rear of the Jail.
The Sheriff, however. was warned and,
aided by the police, dispersed, the mob
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
MAYOR APPROVES ONE
CHARTER AMENDMENT

Mayor Schmitz yesterday signed the
bill setting forth a proposed charter
amendment modifying the dollar lin
it Of taxation so that IS cents only
shall be used for the running ex-
penses OF the city government and 15
cents shall be applied for public inn
proTements.
The proposed amendment will be
submitted 70 a vote Of the people, to-
gether with others which the Super
visors desire TO incorporate in the
laws Of the municipality
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06

fireworks for the jubilation. This does
not mean that their part of the show
will look like thirty cents nor that
their regard for the Emperor is thirty
cents worth. That specific sum has
no symbolic meaning among the
Chinese.
In the halls of the Six Companies the
sacred imam shau' tablets will be
worshiped. The lunch counter will be
free to all comers.
Consul General Chow Yu Kwan and
other notables have cabled congratu-
lations to their Emperor.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
Literary soclety Entertains.

The initial entertainment by the
Eriadelphian Literary Society was
given yesterday afternoon at Ayres
Business College. The programme in
Guided a piano solo by Miss E. Peter
son; recitation, by Miss McCrae; piano
selections, Miss Syringe; monologue.
Fl. II. Gray, and recitation, Miss Will
liams.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
Narx League Lecture.

An address viii be given before the
san Francisco section of the Navy
League OF the United States on
"Wednesday August 10. at o'clock
p. ~. at the Chamber OF Commerce
at 307 Sansome street, by Lieutenant
#hur Macarthur Jr., United States
y. on Submarine Boats-Their
Uses. Construction and Method of
Operation" Every one who is inter-
ested in the promotion Of a proper
growth Of the navy is invited to be
present.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
STREET CONTRACTS.
The veto of the purposed amendment
No. 5, relating to payments on street
contracts is brief. 1t says:

This amendment consider most vicious and
most dangerous to the city's interests. 1t
Attempts to authorize progressive payments on
public contracts. 1t must have been plain TO
the gentlemen who proposed this amendment,
experienced as they are in municipal affairs.
that such amendment would only place a
premium on spoation of this city through
financially irresponsible contractors. A low
figure could be bid contract part of the
work done. progress payments made and the
by the city on a much higher basis of ex-
pense Contract jobbery should not be en-
couraged.
The San Francisco call., 1904-08-06
VIGOROUS OBJECTIONS.
The VETO messages are AS follc


To the Board OF upervisors-Gentlemen: l
herewith return, without my approval, and l
hereby disapprOVe and veto Charter Amend
ment No. - and specify the following as the
reasons Tor my veto:
Unless in some manner restrained, 1t is evil
dent that the people Of this city are apt to be
The Board of Supervisors has. to this date.
already proposed six amendments and has 9TH
ers in contemplation, while petitions are being
freely circulated for the submission to the peo-
pie OF other amendments.
So many amendments submitted at single
election. and that, too, one which involves
for public office are to be elected, will, / am
sure, fail to receive that consideration which
the Importance OF such changes in the fuuda-
mental organic law OF the municipality merits
and should have.
Moreover this wholesale tinkering with the
charter is fraught with serious consequences.
On account OF the ill-considered haste in which
these amendments are conceived and prepared
it is also dangerous, not only to the subjects at
which they may be aimed, but to the re-
mainder of the charter.
This instrument was framed with great care
and much delberation and was proudly pro-
claimed, even by some Of those who now seek
70 amend It, as a monument of municipal wis
dom and or municipal government
1t is true that the charter is imperfect in
amendments are not directed at the most inn
r7ortant of these particulars
1t would be far more advantageous to the
city and to the economical administration OF
its affairs, II. instead OF seeking further to
extend the power OF the bodru OF cuperNlsoIs ;
unfairly and unjustly to interfere with and
cripple the operations Of the various depart
ments and bureaus of the city's government.
thereby precipitating expensive and disagree
able conflicts at the cost of the citizens OF
San Francisco. an amendment were offered
providing for the autonomy Of each depart
ment and its own control over the work for
which Il is responsible and over which ii has
under the charter exclusive control.
jority. II not all. Of the amendments
proposed by the Supervisors, this day returned
by me, designed to increase the already
exaggerated power assumed and claimed by
the Board OF Supervisors.