Los Angeles herald., 1890-10-22
REPUBLICAN, PRocRAmMR.
a Reformed Legislature with Ven
geance.

extravagant. This argument. if it can be
called such, will not bear close exami-
nation. The last State administration
was Republican, and Republican gov
ernor recommended nearly all, and ap-
proved all Of the appropriations. Our
opponents seem to consider this fact un-
worthy of notice. 1t is located on the
blind side of the opposition.
An inspection of the journals discloses
that there were thirty-seven Republic
Cans and forty-three Democrats in the
Last assembly, and eighteen Republi-
cans and twenty-five Democrats in the
senate, and that the fifty-five Republicans
and sixty-fve Democrats practically
c0ncurred as to the important financial
measures. The Tax Levy Act, which
was approved by Republican Cover
nor, and directed the Board of Equaliza-
tion to fix an ad valorem rate of taxation,
after allowing for delinquencies, sufi-
cient to raise over $40 ,OO0, 900, was passed
in the Assembly without dissent
ing voice. Fifty-three of the eighty
members voted upon it, and of these,
twenty-five were Republicans, twenty
eight Democrats. In the senate, the
measure received the unanimous appro-
vaiof those present, seventeen Democrats
and fourteen Republicans voting for it.
All the antecedent legislation rendering
such levy requisite was strictly nonpar-
tisan.
Now, the Republican theory, as un-
derstand it, is, that if there had been
seven additional Republicans in the leg
islature, or just enough to make ma
jority, that the views and policy of the
other Republican egislators-ffty-ive
in number-would have been different,
development would bave been witnessed
ture wholly different from anything ac-
tually observed. 1t is contended that
while thirty-seven Republicans out of
eighty members in the Assembly and
eighteen out of forty in the Senate, when
called on, voted wrong, if there had been
f0rty-One Republican members in the
Assembly and twenty-one in t1he Senate
they would have been official models.
Can the leopard change his spots?
Another aspect: Thirty-seven Repub-
lican Assemblymen plus eighteen Re-
publican Senators plus one Republican
Governor equal forty-three Democratic
Assemblymen plus twenty-five Demo-
cratic Senators. If this is not an equa-
ton, it must be because the Republi-
can side exceeds the Democratic in DO
tentiality. But if the influence was with
the Republicans, there also must be the
responsibility. Without Republican aid,
no measure could have passed the last
Legislature. The Governor could have
voted; the Republican member could
have sustained him. If thirty-seven Re-
publican Assemblymen and eighteen Re-
publican Senators and one Republican
Governor acted imprudently and un-
wisely, what assurance have we that the
addition to the conglomerate of four Re-
publican Assemblymen and three Re-
ndblican Senators will make the body
"healthy, wealthy and wise?" There
are sixteen Republican hold-overs in
the Senate. all of whom voted for the
condemned appropriations. Are these
gentlemen to be reformed in case of
Republican victory, and will they re-
main bad in the event of Democratic
triumph? It, among the fifty-fve Re-
publican legislators, mo righteous man was
found. no wisdom discovered, what rea-
son have we to expect better things, be-
cause of the access of a half dozen
members of the same party to be chosen
in the manner hereafter indicated?
l know that we are met with the pro-
position that it is not fair to count the
Governor. If there is any force in this
point, insist that it is not fair to count
the Legislature. The truth is that we
must decide the present contest without
any reference to past legislative or exc
cutive acts, in the folly of which, if they
were foolish, both parties participated.
Experience has shown that economy
cannot be expected of q Legislature not
subject to strong executive control. 1t
rarely occurs that a well-timed veto is
not sustained.
The controversy then resolves itself
into this query: Which fof the candi-
dates for governor possesses the aualifica-
tions desered, L. 6. business ability, hon.
esty, backbone to assert conviction?
We know that Mayor Pond meets these
requirements. His record is uniform in
the display of ability and sterling worth,
and some of the best known newspapers
now attacking him, but short time ago
commended him as possessing in high
degree these estimable characteristics.
His numerous vetoes in the interest of
the taxpayers of San Francisco are an
earnest Of what he will do if the Legisla-
ture does not behave ITSELF Pond is
safe man. There will be nothing in the
nature of an experiment in his election.
The flimsy charges lately made against
him are not only untrue, but do not con-
stitute tribute to the genius of the pre-
yaricators who formulated them.
Is the political atmosphere such as to
justify the belief that the next Legisla-
ture, if Republican, will be happy in the
production of legislation? Who is select
ing the candidates and making the fight
The answer comes in the tinkling Of
the bells, silver bells, golden BELLS" In
other words, rumor declares that the
sack is out; that it is held by the man
ayers OF the sole Republican senatorial
candidate; that it is to be opened early,
and that, while it is long and wide. ne
vertheless, that the bottom must be
reached. Such inducements as these have
had the effect of summoning large
number of legislative aspirants to San
Francisco. They have gravitated by
inetinct, perhaps, to the wigwam of the
chieftains. They are informed of the du-
ties they owe to their country, of the ne
cessity Of being true patriots, and of the
happiness awaiting them, financially
speaking, if they are faithful to the man
who proposes to own them for awhile
He will nominate them; he will furnish
each with slow candidate to run against