Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-20
REGISTRATION AND REGISTERS.
A Plan to Abolish Election Frauds and
Disreputabie Bosses.

4
Disreputable Bosses.
4 communication from one of the most
prominent business men of Sacramento is
published in another column this morning,
concerning the work of compiling the new
Great Register. There is no question but
that watchfulness on the part of the Super
visors and the public is necessary, in order
to insure registration that is not hope
lessly honey combed with fraud and cor
ruption. Efforts to retain the Great Regis
ter were made by outside influences, in
order that the enormous list of dead men
and absentees borne upon it might be
available for voting purposes, every time a
detachment of San Francisco roughs are
shipped here to be voted by the local po-
litical bosses.
In connection with the ordinance for
making new Great Register, there was
much peculiar anxiety and funny bust
ness" over the question of who was to be
appointed Registration Clerk. County
Clerk Hamilton. who has the appointment
to make, was beset by officials and Others
! in manner which discloses strong sinister
| motives, and indicates that in some man.
ner the bosses are to get in their work in
I iiAlliS up TIE new
| If in order to insure fairness in this
work, it becomes necessary 10 publish what
has transpired, it will look as if the bosses
| have control of more officials than are de.
| sirous OF occupying such reputation be-
| fore the community. II was stated a
| few days since by members of
the Board of Supervisors, that the
voters of this city would be required to go
| TO the Courthouse to register instead of
having their names taken and registration
made outside by Deputy Assessors. This
| would save large amount as the Deputy
Assessors are entitled by law to Is cents
| for each person so registered, whereas the
County Clerk is not allowed any compen-
sation whatever for registrations. Why
has this change been made, and why have
three Deputy Assessors been changed the
present month";
1T through this change of policy in max
| ing the city registration all manner of
fraud is permitted-which now looks very
promising for being the case-the people
will hold the Board of Supervisors respon-
sible, for the people will be fully informed
by the RECORD UNION of the manner in
which the fraudulent entries upon the
\ Great Register are effected.
The self-respecting people of Sacramento
have recently done much good work
| towards purifying the local political atmos-
phere, and are doing so still by vigorously
prosecuting the election thieves and thugs
of last Tuesday. An opportunity now pre-
sents itself, and must be improved by the
people, to complete the good work and
| take elections absolutely out of the hands
of disreputable bosses for all time to come.
This may be done, and let it be done
promptly.
Under Section lib of the Political Code
it is provided that the Board of Super
, visors of any county may provide precinct
| registers for use at elections instead of the
Great Register And by the amendment
made at the last session of the Legislature,
no precinct is hereafter to contain to ex-
coed $50 voters.
| Now, let the people of Sacramento who
have recently shown a determination to
| have an honest ballot and fair count, de-
mand, and have registers for each precinct,
| with only the names of voters for such
precinct upon it, and complete victory over
bosses will be won. With only $50 names
| upon a precinct register, COM
mittee of good citizens can make
a canvass before every election, and ascer-
tain whether every one whose name ap-
pears upon the register is still entitled to
vote, and have the County Clerk erase the
| names OF all persons who have died or re-
| moved. With registers so corrected and
| used at each polling place. illegal voting
| can be absolutely prohibited; and this
done, the occupation and power of political
| bosses are at an end.
The thing. therefore, for the people to
do to complete the good work SO auspici-
| ously begun, is to guard the present regis
| tratioD, and to make sure of having the
| precinct plan OF registers adopted and put