The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15
OPPOSITION
To THE CHARTER.
Alameda Voters to Pass
on Proposed New Or
ganic Law Next Week
OFFICES ELECTIVE

ALAMEDA. July 1.-THE voters of
thls city will pass upon the charter
framed by the Board of Freeho1ders
Tor the future government of the mu-
nlcipality at an election to be held next
Wednesday. The polls will open at s
a. m. and close at 5 p. m. The pro-
posed new organic law for the city
has been Endorsed by the Alameda Ad-
vancement Association, Central Ala
media Improvement Club, West End
Alameda Improvement Association
North Side Alameda Improvement Club
and the Alameda Public Ownership
Club.
1t is said by those who favor the
proposed charter that while there is
little open opposition manifested to the
instrument, many of the city officials
and particularly some members of the
Poi1ce Department. are working against
IT. This antagonism on the part of city
omcials springs, it is said, from the
changes that the charter will make in
the manner of obtaining heads and
members for the various departments
and boards
Under the provisions of the proposed
charter the city will have Mayor and
nine Couneilmep, all to be elected. The
offices of City Auditor. City Assessor,
City Treasurer. Tax Collector and Po-
lice Judge also will be elective. The
4sA05ot Will nave the pOWeT 10 appoint
the five members of the Board of Edu-
cation, the three members of the Po-
lice and Fire Commission, the three
members of the Board of Electricity
and the City Engineer, all such ap-
pointments to be approved by the
Council before becoming effective.
The City Council shall have power
members of the Board of Health, the
five members of the Board of Library
Trustees, the City Clerk, the City At
torney and the superintendent of
Streets. Under the present charter the
offices of the Chief OF Police, the mem
bers of the Board of Education. the
City Clerk and the City Attorney are
elective
One of the principal reasons ad-
vanced by the advocates of the pro-
posed charter why 1t should be adopted
is that it affords safeguard against
the possible consolidation of Alameda
with Oakland Other reasons put for
ward by those in favor of the instru-
ment is that it places the people in
close touch with their Legislative
bodies; that it permits the use of the
initiative and referendum; that it pro-
hibits the granting of any franchise
until the people have voted upon the
application; sthat it creates the office
of Mayor and gives the city an official
head and adds to the dignity and
standing of the municipality; that 1t
does not centralize power in the hands
of the Mayor, but divides the same
between that official and the Council;
that it limits the tax levy to one dollar
on each hundred dollars of assessed
valuation; that it makes the Board of
Education appointfve and thus removes
the School Department from politics.
that it takes the Polite Department out
of politics by giving a commission
power to name the chief; that II cre-
ates no additional salaried offices; that
not one member of an appointivei com
mission is to receive pay; that the
charter can be amended at any time
by the voters of Alameda without hav-
ing TO wait upo1 the State Legislature
as the city is forced to do under the
present charter.