The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-04-17
OAKLAND SUBURBS
FOR CONSOLIDATION
Representatives of Public
Bodies Declare in Favor
of Single Government

OAKLAND, April 16.-Representa-
tives Of Improvement clubs and civic
organizations from the entire suburban
territory Of Oakland, extending from
the eastern boundary line of the city
10 san Leandro and embracing Fruit
vale. Allendale. Melrose, Piedmont and
Elmhurst. attended a meeting at the
chamber Of commerce tonight in the
interests OF the formation OF a con-
solidated city and county government
on the east shore of the bay
The unanimous sentiment expressed
vas i'm opposition to the present dual
form OF government. with its oppres-
sise burden Of taxation. and in favor
u the passage OF the legislation which
VIII enable the residents of the subur-
han. districts 10 escape from the yoke
of supervisorial rule and become q
part or greater municipality.
ORGANIZATIONS IN LINE
The organizations represented were
the ,Fzuitvale board of trade, the upper
rruitvale Improvement club, the good
government and voters league OF
rruitNale. the Allendale Improvement
rlub, the Melrose improvement club
the Piedmont Improvement club, the
. Mclrose chamber Of commerce. Fruit
ale annexation club No. 2. the Mel
rose Heights improvement club and the
EimhursJ Improvement club.
s. letter was read from the secretary
- ~ Alameda fifty thousand club
stating that public sentiment in Ala
media is turning IN favor Of the plan
~ consolidation. The closing para
sraph read as follows:
Consolidation is the only thing
which viii relieve our excessive tax
ate and by proper agitation il viii be
-1corsed BY the people of Alameda"
ayr Invitation was extended 10 the
Berkeley chamber of commerce to send
sep .esentatives, but none was pres
enI
Speeches were made by members of
81 the organizations represented and
n evtfy case a hearty Endorsement of
the plan for consolidated govern
ment was expressed.
WANT FORMAL PLEDGE
A resolution was adopted declaring
-he meeting TO be heartily in favor Of
consolidated city and county govern
.aept Of the territory OF the city of
oakland and Of any other adjacent ter
.itOry thar viii join in a consolidated
government. In conclusion ii was re-
solved that the organizations repre-
scnled should require the candidates
-or the next legislature from their dis
tricts to pledge their earnest effOrts
IN behalf Of the enactment of such
legislation as viii permit the proposed
consolidation.
An executive committee consisting of
one member from each of the organi-
cations was formed and il was decided
10 hold another meeting four weeks
from tonight
Frank ". Bilger. chairman of the
joint consolidation committee of the
chamber of commerce and the mer-
chants exchange. presided. Among
those who addressed the meeting were:
Philip Reilly president Of the Elmhurst
sanitary board; il. c. CspweH Of Oakland
Charles r. Lee u Fruitvale board Of trade. Sec
retary Pratt Of the Upper Fruitvale improve
ment club. ". c. TAFT Of AllendRle improve
ment club. Frank c. Howe Of the Piedmont
Improvement club George A Taylor Of Melrose
chamber Of commerce. J. J. O'Toole OF Elm
hurst improvement club Y. VI. Msrwedel Of
Fruitvale. r. j.. Holmes Of the Greater East
Oakland Improvement association. President Gif-
ford Of Melrose Heights improvement club A
Jonas Of the merchants exchange, Wilbur
Walker. secretary Of the merchants exchange.
A. MARS Of Allendale improvement club and
Cary Howard Of Oakland.