The San Francisco call., 1910-09-15
CAMP PAIGN ENDS
With A DEBATE
Forensic Contest Is Held at
Berkeley On Question of
Union With Oakland

BERKELEY, Sept. 14.-Annexation-
lists and anti-annexationists closed
their campaigns tonight IN the U-No
skating pavilion, where a debate was
held between Max Thelen, representing
the antis, and George Gelder, for the
consolida ton of Berkeley and Oakland
which will be voted upon tomorrow in
both cities.
Prof. Frank Soule of the university
faculty, presided. The audience filled
the hall. George Gelder was called
upon by the chairman to open the de-
bate for the adherents of the proposed
union of Oakland and Berkeley.
GELDER'S ADDRESS
Gelder declared that consolidation
with Oakland was a necessary step
toward the formation of a city and
county government, although the cleo
tion tomorrow was not direct means
to attain this end. He said:
The opponents TO this consolida-
ton election are, apparently, in
favor of some form OF city and
county government, but all that is
done by them is to criticise our
methods, but they do not offer
substitute themselves.
We offer a plan for a city and
county government, but before go
ing into that / wish to take up the
matter of a city and county of
Berkeley alone.
A city and county of Berkeley
is impossible because an act Great
ing a city and county must be
general act and any measure al
lowing Berkeley 70 become a city
and by itself would let down the
barriers for other county divisions.
The five mile limit clause of article
II, section Z of the constitution
will remain in that instrument for
2 c obstacle
in the way of the creation of a
city and county of Berkeley. The
legislature would never consent to
the cutting up piece meal OF the
counties throughout the state.
After the consolidation Of Berke-
ley and Oakland the other cities on
the eastern side of San FRANCISCO
bay would surely come in. Then
the county seat could be removed to
q point FIVE or. more miles from the
eastern boundary of the present
city of Oakland-say to Niles.
REMOVE COUNTY SEAT
solidatfon of the cities on the east
ern side of San Francisco bay we
would then take advantage of sec
ton. which provides for county
seat removal. First, a petition
signed by so per cent of the quail
fed voters at the last preceding
election must be obtained. Claws
of California of 1906, page 117.)
Second, upon filing said petetion
with the supervisors II becomes
compulsory upon them to submit
the question to the people. Third,
II takes a two-thirds vote to carry
Oakland has 3Os1s voters regis
tered and Berkeley has 7,438, total
in these two cities, 1926, out of a
total registration of 49,525 in the
whole county
A great saving will result from
consolidation to the whole popula-
ton of the future. We get rid of
several governments, an army of
office holders, and stop the wasting
of money which now goes on under
the present form of county gov
ernment Lower taxes increase land
values and a city and county gov
eminent will certainly lower out
taxes.
The total salaries for the heads
OF departments in Berkeley,
Emeryville, Albany, piedmont, Ala
media and Oakland is S220,S19. For
Alameda county, S2S7,3 making
total of S50S,1S4. Under the pro-
posed consolidated city and county
government by eliminating the
heads of the various departments
and concentrating them into and
under one head, the cost would
only be S243.000 a year In other
words. saving OF so per cent
Isn't IT worth the effort?