HOW SAN FRANCISCO USED THE REFERENDUM
How San Franciso Used the Referendum ON NOVEMBER 15 a special election was held in San Francisco at which the voters passed upon thirty-eight proposed amendments to the city charter. Thirty-eight!...
...31572 7282 Exempting sewer construction assessments from 50 per cent, limit on assessed valuation of adjoining property...
...referendum and recall...
...10147 28310 Establishing positio s and raising salaries in the Department of Public Works...
...13101 24474 Changing liability for damages for injuries resulting from defective streets...
...The close vote on the initiative, referendum and recall amendment and on the amendment providing for municipal ownership in street railway franchises at any time the city is ready to purchase the property, is explained by the fact that the business interests of the city generally opposed these two amendments and issued flaring advertisements in the newspapers against them...
...12800 23830 Providing 3y2 cents of tax levy for park purposes be spent outside of Golden Gate Park...
...There is a compulsory referendum on the renewal of public service corporation franchises...
...For As'nst...
...27640 1188 Permitting installment payments of street work assessments...
...forbidding monopoly of them by street railway...
...11075 26605 Making the "Municipal Record'' the official paper...
...to put into effect the referendum, 5 per cent, of the voters...
...12330 26528 Raising salaries in Tax Collector's office...
...Thus has it been demonstrated anew that the people are capable of self-government...
...to operate the recall, at least 10 per cent, of the voters, but a minimum of 7,000 signatures...
...31352 8443 Electing half the officials every two years, extending term to four years...
...Says Isador Jacobs, chairman of the executive committee of the Direct Legislation League of California...
...You will find the figures interesting...
...15259 24668 Total Vote, 45,388...
...14224 22281 Reducing office hours of city employees and increasing their vacations...
...Each voter had to make thirty-eight separate and distinct decisions before casting his ballot...
...27415 10858 Empowering city to build tunnels, subways...
...You will find, for instance, that the amendment providing for an effective system of initiative, referendum and recall was carried by a substantial majority...
...8693 27931 Making money-spending amendments take effect at beginning of following fiscal year 27331 10260 Raising1 pensions of firemen retired before 1900...
...15082 23461 Making $3 a day a minimum wage on public work...
...19644 19347 Raising salaries of police patrol drivers...
...33619 7527 Forbidding the printing of party designations on ballot...
...that the referendum is practicable and that when the voters are given an opportunity to exercise it, they do so wisely...
...18640 19164 Permitting free public museum in Golden Gate Park...
...32425 7051 Empowering city to build tunnels, subways and viaducts...
...28128 11130 Allowing officials to leave State more than once in their term...
...forbidding monopoly of them by street railroad...
...People Voted Intelligently OF THE thirty-eight amendments submitted, it is generally conceded that practically all, with one or two exceptions, that were for the best interests of the city were adopted, and all those that were against the best interests of the city were defeated...
...7677 18909 Adding tax of from $200,000 to $300,000 a year for playgrounds...
...As adopted, the amendment providing for the initiative, referendum and recall requires the following percentages: to put into effect the initiative, 4 per cent, for a general election and 10 per cent, for a special election...
...He was legislating for himself and his neighbors—making his will prevail in government...
...Examine the accompanying table showing the detailed vote on these charter amendments...
...What was the result...
...34328 4551 Permitting employees of the Auxiliary Fire System and corporation yard to-enter service until age of 66................____ 19222 11839 Amendment...
...9873 27671 Enlarging powers of Supervisors concerning the property of public utilities...
...32371 6163 Permitting establishment of free employment bureau...
...The results are very satisfactory, and even the daily newspapers that were formerly opposed to entrusting the people with the referendum, are now acknowledging that the people exercised splendid judgment in their decision on these amendments...
...Here was a severe test of the referendum...
...9466 29466 Establishing positions and raising salaries in Department of Electricity...
...Providing for the Panama-Pacific Exposition 42048 2122 To place Library Trustees and patronage under the Mayor...
...11579 27828 Abolishing dollar limit on taxation, except for money for salaries...
...21666 17677 Establishing majority rule, restoring the Australian ballot, providing for direct nominations, and putting candidates' statements before the voters with the sample «r ballots...
...8254 29599 Reducing copyists' pay and raising salaries in Recorder's office...
...20619 17396 Establishing positions in Registrar's office and raising salaries...
...detailed vote on the 'frisco charter amendments Amendment...
...So was the amendment permitting the city to recall a franchise for a street railroad on buying the property, thus paving the way for municipal ownership...
...16835 20535 Forbidding building of municipal street railroads and other city work by contract...
...So was the amendment providing for majority rule, restoring the Australian ballot, establishing direct nominations, and putting candidates' statements before the voters with the sample ballots...
...10916 25715 Protecting the Civil Service Commission from control by the Mayor...
...So was the amendment forbidding the printing of party designations on the ballots, thus eliminating partisanship from city affairs...
...21105 18200 Establishing positions and raising salaries in Assessor's office...
...30440 8404 Raising salaries of Supervisors to $200 per month...
...8863 29630 Establishing positions and raising salaries in Health Department...
...18670 19953 Establishing an effective system of initiative...
...19156 19663 Raising school taxes for school purposes and making taxes for teachers* salaries...
...Permitting city to recall a franchise for a street railroad on buying the property 20464 17696 Imposing restrictions on grants of street railroad franchises...
...For Ag'nsst...
Vol. 2 • December 1910 • No. 49
