The San Francisco call., 1910-10-01
BERKELEY COUNTY
Is new scheme
Mayor Advocates Legislative
Act to Give City Dual Form
of Government

BERKELEY, Sept 3o.-That the
cities of the bay will eventually form
a big city and that Berkeley, in prepa-
ration for such step, should form a
city and county government under a
proposed act of the legislature, was
the tenor OF the report submitted to
the city council by Mayor Beverly L.
Hodghead today. He further declared
that the forma tion of city and county
here would prevent a scheme for an
nexation or consolidation, to which the
residents of Berkeley were opposed,
but which they would have to spend
money to fight
The report of Mayor Hodghead was
received by the council without COM
ment and adopted with the under
standing that some steps will be taken
to bring the matter before the legis-
lature. The report of the mayor fol-
lows:
To the Council of the City OF Berkeley:
The result OF the recent election held for
the purpose OF anDexing Berkeley to Oakland
fndic ties very clearly that a large majority
Of the people are In favor OF maintaining the
political integrity of Berkeley, or at least
are adverse TO the form of union proposed,
which would reserve TO us measure what
ever of local autonomy. The electiAi a1o-
uiocloses Tue TACT tnaL many citizens are
deslrous Of making such change IN the
character of the government es will to some
degree relieve the gel eral burden Of tax
alton. Both of these objects should be
attained II possible The tax rate which
now prevails in Berkeley for municipal pur-
poses alone is as low may reasonably be
expected. lnasmuch as II is considerably
lower than the rate in Oakland for similar
purposes. simple annexation would increase
rather than reduce the burden. The tax can
only be lowered by some form of consoli-
dation of city and county government 1t
may be that the time will come when there
will be some greater federation of cities
about the bay for the joint control of mu-
nicipal necessities in which there is a com
mon interest It will require years. how
ever, TO accomplish this result The various
cities will not readily yield up their sapa-
rate identities 10 become relatively unim-
portant parts OF greater whole. They are
not likely to consent TO this except upon
some form of borough government. which
will have to be worked out after the enact
ment or proper legislation and the adoption
Of necessary constitutional amendments In
the meantime. the form of Berkeleyss gov
ernment should be settled If we are to
maintain our. separate existence we should
be permitted 10 do so without having to re-
sist repeated efforts for its absorption.
There can be no doubt that the most
economical and efficient form OF government
that could be maintained under the cond-
tions here would be the city and county of
Berkeley. 1nasmuch as that form would not
only result in the lowest rate of taxes but
would preserve the name and identity and
institutions of the city, both desired objects
that until the question of the greater fed
GRAFTON of cities. becomes a pressing one the
wisest COURSE for the people of Berkeley to
pursue would be TO request the legislature
10 enact such laws and submit such amend
ments 10 the constitution as would permit
us to form the city and county of Berkeley
This, TO my mind. would be, under the cir;
cumstanees. a reasonable request and being
the university city, in. which every citizen
Of the state has direct interest / believe
it would readily receive the approval OF the
people
invite the attention Of the council and
the civic bodies and all interested citizens
to the consideration Of this question