Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-02-13
ANOTHER GOOD .RILs..

Mr. Dibbles bill 10 amend the law re-
gariing Election Boards has many strong i
features It is deserving of very much |
mere of attention than it is likely to re-
ceive In brief, it fixes the maximum fee
for az election officer at $40 for an election
which is an inducement TO speed 1t
provides for new Great Register for ca +
general election to he made by beginniag
one hundred days before election to reg
lister voters and continuing eightySive
days. This is right since it is the only
way to keep dead men from voting aad to
compel Supervisors to clean. up The Reg
listers.
1t makes the maximum of voters 200 to
a precinct. That, too, is wise as it insures
rapidity of coanting, and by dividing the
forces of common enemy gives those
who wish to vote secretly, ard without in
reference, better opportunity to do So 1t
provides that no polling place shall be
fixed in a saloon or room where liquors
are sold, by door, window or other open
ing. This no one can object to in reason.
1t provides that the Supervisors shall
choose all election officers, clerks included,
from the assessment roll, and that there
shall be two Inspectors instead of one, as
heretofore. This is well if the present
system Of choosing is to be retained. A
far better plan would be to have the
Courts choose from the assessment roll
names of citizens 10 serve on Election
Boards. These should be made public and
the people given opportunity to oAal-
lenge the panel or any part OF
it. Supervisors Boards are by no
means the best agencies for choosing
election boards They do that duty now
and ia very many cases the results are the
reverse of encouraging. The provision
increasing the number of Inspectors is sure
and gives a relief member to the board
1t is provided also that all election officers
shall be able to read and write the English
language, a requirement that creates sur
prise that it was not projected before Il
is also well provided that all election
officers chosen must serve or suffer punish
ment by fine unless good excuse i,
proven.
A change in the polling hoezs is made
SO as to close at P. NJ, which is vel
enough if we are to have precincts with
but two hundred voters. One section re
quires that erasures on ballots shall moi
be noticed unless the words mo vote i!
written opposite. When that is not done
the board is to count the original name
if it car ascertain it. This is an admirable
provision and will defeat the finger-nai
fraud by which bit of pencil under the
finger nail is used to erase names as ballot.
are counted. 1t is required the ballots
shall be six inches wide instead of FIVE
This is done to defeat the boss system OF
spreading the print all over the paper sc
that no room can be found to make
changes by writing in names not on The
ballot
The bill, therefore, is a generally good
one. We want to see it amended in the
respect suggested, and it will then be an
admirable measure, and should be enacted
into law. We must have election reform
or sink into utter slavery to the corrupt
masters of low politics, and that means
defeat of the purposes of the Republic
Let the Legislature understand that il
cannot afford to adjourn without giving
the people substantial reform of the cleo.
ton laws.