Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-03-26
The New Constitution.

day devoted considerable editorial
space to the new Constitution. The
Outlook has the following sensible
views:
In addition to the many objec
tions that are being urged against
the new Constitution, there is a line
of thought that is entirely relevant
to the new Constitutional issue now
before the people, although it is nc
direct attack upon that instrument
1t is this: 1t is apparent that ii the
new Constitution is adopted it will
be claimed as Kearney triumph
1t Is of no consequence whether
this is true or not. The followers
of the "agitator' will assert such q
claim; and 1t Will be recognized by
large class of superficial "float.
ers" who are always ready to join
what they conceive to be the win.
ming side. In such an event, 1t IL
not impossible that their ranks
may be SO swelled as to give this
faction dangerous power. For in.
stance, If the new Constitution ia
adopted, the offices Will be vacated.
There will be new deal all around.
The opportunity will be very
tempting to class who are hungry
for office, but have been debarred
heretofore. They will join in the
Kearney party, and "out Herod
Herod" in their obsequious devo.
tion to the "pulI DOWN. programme
of the great "Dinnis.n In other
words, the ordinary stream of polit.
ical preferment will be turned from
its banks, and the channel will be
used as a means of conveyance to
every filthy pool that can be
emptied into it.
We can't afford just now to even
make an opportunity for such a
state of affairs. No conservative
right-thinking man will take a step
that will place the gigantic inter-
ests of this great State in jeopardy.
Admitting that there are wrongs to
be righted-conceding that the new
Constitution contains many valua.
BILE remedies for existing abuses
is 1T not possible that the doors may
be opened to lot of charlatans
and fanatical, ignorant quacks, W ho
will apply the remedies in such o
way as to only aggravate the dis
eases, and make them ten. fold
worse.
We mean no disrespect to the de.
serving Workingmen, many of
whom are gulled into following the
leadership of Kearney. In the
event ofsuccess they will be pushed
into the background, and those
least worthy will monopolize the
offices. lFanaticism will create the
laws. ignorance will adjudicate,
and hate will execute them.
1t is to be regretted that the old
Constitution was not so amended as
to disarm anything like formida-
BILE opposition to its ratification by
the conservative citizens of the
State. But the changes are so
sweeping as to alarm many who
recognize the need of reform.
Hence we have before the country
the unfortunate antagonism of the
property-holders and those who
ought to be in sympathy with
them. The times are not suited to
the radical changes proposed; and
the best thing the voters Ia Cali
fornia can do is to repudiate them.
The Courier enters into details as
to the changes in the new instru.
ment and their invidious tendency:
Those who advocate the adoption
of the new Constitution lay great
stress upon the section providing
for the appointment of three Com
missioners, who are endowed with
almost unlimited powers in the su-
tended that the Legislature cannot
be depended upon to properly regu.
late the great corporations-that
such bodies are generally venal
and their actions controlled by the
railroad magnates. Yet there are
one hundred and twenty Iegisla-
tors, majority of whom 1t is neces.
sary to corrupt, and but three COM
missioners, only two of whom it, Is
necessary to purchase, the new or
ganic act providing that the fiat of
two-a majority-shall be conclu-
slve and all-powerful. If the cor.
porations WELD such tremendous
power could they not elect two
Commissioners much easier than q
majority of the Legislaturep It is
very foolish to say that the people
cannot elect majority of legisla.
tors that are not open to bribery,
but can and will elect TWO men
Railroad Commissioners-whom o m
the great corporations could not
buy. This new organic act pre-.
sumes to doubt the honesty of the
many In the legislative body, but
reposes implicit confidence In and
confers arbitrary powers upon
THREE men whom the people are
also to choose. The present Consti.
tuition provides for eight executive
officers, eighty Assemblymen and
forty Senators. The proposed Con.
stitution provides for eleven exec
utive officers, the same num-
ber of Senators and Assemblymen,
five members of the State
Board Of Equalization, five State
Prison Directors and two more
Justices of the Supreme Court,
thus adding fifteen more officials
to feed at the public crib. The SAL
aries of the new officers will more
than set off the ECONOMY" prao-
ticed in reducing the salaries of the
old officials. so there Is no inn
provement in that quarter, but
rather heavier burden laid upon
the shoulders of the people. Un-
der the proposed judiciary system
Los Angeles county will be enti-
tied to two Superior Judges, draw
ing eight thousand dollars year,
half Of which Uf the new constitu.
ton is adopted) will come out of
the county treasury. Under the
present system the salaries of the
District Judges are paid out of the
State treasury. OF course four
thousand dollars a year additional
is nothing for our county taxpay-
ers to shoulder-they are grateful
for the thoughtfulness of the Con.
otitutional onvantion-thpv like