Evening journal., 1912-04-19

Editor OF THE EVENING JOURNAL
Sir: With you, l regret that the dis
cussions i'm the Civic Association con-
cerning the proposed charter have not
been more confined TO vital points
Mhv they have not, does not appear
TO me to be the fault of those dissatis-
fed with the proposed charter. Friends
of the charter have been given every
opportunity to show wherein the char
ter is good, but they have utterly fall
ed to do so. have been represented as
casting reproach upon the commits
sfoners who drew up the charter. Per-
init me to say that have never made
any personal remarks and have the
disposition to esteem honorable men,
though they represent political sys-
tens that are the very antipodes OF the
school of economies in which / have
faith. The reason why the good points
of the charter have not been brought
out is not a personal one. 1t is the
fault OF the charter itself. They are
not there to be brought out.
! make this assertion and am ready
70 prove il to the vast majority Of any
assembly of our citizens. There is not
vital provision in the proposed
charter that is not against, or turned
by some other provision to defeat the
will of the people
Here are illustrations of the char
ter's inability to satisfy the demands
of the people and the times.
One suggests that after office hold
ers have been given the unlimited
powers conferred by the charter, and
have taken office for the term Of five
years, they cannot be gotten out Of Of
fee if they do wrong, except for sub
stantially legal causes. One OF the
charter commissioners replies, "A
common-sense reason, not a legal one.
is required under the charter" The
house explodes with mirth. Another
commissioner arises to explain the
charter One asks him. rs there an ap-
peal from this appointed Board OF Ad-
ministration, armed with all power?"
He replies, No. The people laugh in
ridicule. The questions then come
hard and fast. The commissioner mod
sstly pleads. "Do not understand me
as advocating the charter" Again the
assembly laughs. Another commits
sioner takes his turn The questions
again come. Writhing and sweating as
though in physical agony, he snaps
cut, Il did not come here to be a tar
get for the charter" The house roars,
One says that the charter gives the
office holders power to pave the
streets over and over again, and
charge the entire expense to abutting
owners. A commissioner interrupts
with the declaration that such a
clause Is not in the charter. 1t is
read from the charter. The house
cheers. A commissioner argues that
''the charter does not tax the people,
II only confers powers" One answers,
The powers conferred are just what
We object to-" Again the house cheers.
These are only a few of the in
stances wherein friends Of the char
ter have failed to launch at high tide,
and now the tide is ebbing. Not being
able to sustain the charter, vials of
wrath have been poured out to force
the acceptance of the charter.
II seems that the discussion has
nevertheless done some good. 1t has
proved that the charter confers upon
few Office holders powers absolute,
arbitrary. and omnipotent, which they
can use for self-enrichment. and that
under the charter the people would
have only the right of bequeathing
this power of five years at time.
Let me ask a practical question:
Suppose our river front to be owned
by corporation. Suppose it to have
been represented of so little value as
10 be worthy OF exemption from all
taxes. Suppose that corporation wants
the city TO pay 100000 for such marsh
lands, and suppose that the neces-
sary majority Of the city officials,
under the proposed charter, favored
the purchase, and were determined
for some reason unknown to the citi-
zens, to pay 100000 for lands so
worthless as to be exempt from
taxes How under the proposed char
ter could the citizens prevent the Of
fcials from mortgaging our homes
up to ten per cent. of their value Ia
get the money to purchase said land
and water? Let the ten commissions
ers come to the next meeting and an
swer this question satisfactorily and
several more directed to other parts OF
the charter, and | will favor the char
ter with as much interest as ] now op-
pose Il.
A clergyman called at my house
and said, I came in to express my
sympathy for you in your effort to
defeat the charter and to get an eff
cient, economic. and clean admins
tration. In slave times I preached in
the South. have read the charter