The morning call., 1890-08-27
STROTHER SNUBBED.
hupointees on Precinct Boards
Must Register.
Mayor Pond spstains Registrar smiley's Po-
s.ticn - Tbs Amended Law to Be at
.Oece Tested in Court.

Buckley'S ward strikers were present they
were not participants in the meeting, as on
former occasions, and order was maintained
throughout
First to be considered was Auditor Stroth-
er's report on the supplemental assessment
roll, made the previous day, lnasmuch as
the certificates authorizing the entry OF the
fourteen names in question were signed by
City and County Attorney Flournoy, ne
considered it due from him to explain how
he came to sign them. The names were pre-
seEted to him along with note from the
Assessor representing them as clerical
omissions, and asking for his authorization
to have the roll corrected according to Sec
ton 2sSl Of the Political Code. Having
perfect faith in the Assessors representa-
lions. he signed the certificates without
taking the trouble to investigate the matter
at all. Since the question had become such
an important one, he had looked into the
legal aspect of it, and was now prepared fully
10 ind0rSe the report made by Auditor
Strother on the previous day. The names
were not properly upon the assessment roll
and they should be stricken there1rOm ana
certificates Of qualification refused them'
sTROTHER sPLUTTEKs.
The subject next called up was Registrar
Smiley's refusal 10 issue certificates TO the
appoiDtees of the board until they had
registered.
Auditor Strother said he had no objec-
ton 10 all the persons appointed register
ing before they were qualified, but he yet
maintained that 1t was not really neceS-
sary. What he most objected TO was the
Registrars attempt TO run the commits
sion," as he styled it, and at this point he
rehearsed the dramatic effort of the previ-
ous day, calling the Registrar an obstruc-
Zionist, having a cons tracy to impede and
defeat the election, and accusing him OF ~
sulting the board. The Auditors words
were subs tantially the same as at the pre-
vlous meeting, and his whole manner was
that so characteristic Of Mr.. Strother,
spouting for effect and 10 win the applause
OF a gang of Buckley 10 ughs.
Mr. Smiley's Justification OF his course
was the plain letter OF the law. A man to
serve on the precinct boards must be a
qualified electOr, and the law expressly de-
fines What qualified elector Is in the fol-
lowing language;
Every male citizen (naturalized) who shall have
become such ninety days prior to any election, OF
the age OF Il years, who shall have been resi-
d nj Of The Stale ole year next preceding Inc
election ana Of The County in which lie claims MS
vote ninety days and in the election precinct
Elrty avs, aud whose name sinai De on tne
Great Regis er VI such county, snail be quail
he'd eiectUT thereof Ia San Francisco lie must
be on he precinct register.
sTRoTHER STUPID.
Though the language of the law is as
uTather still insisted that the Registrar
hid cot voter and elector confounded.
The Registrar said he believed that If
liberal construction were placed upon the
law II would give him the same rights In the
board that il did the Mayor, and as to Civ
ing advice he would be neglectlng his duties
il he d not keep the board well informed
of the persons and matters coming to his
attention. He TeOuked Str0ther IN the
most scathiDg language, said that the in
lr- rE4fa rad tn ctr
only in his silly imagination, and that he
made a more dis graceful exhibition of him.
self at the previous meeting than did the
Buckley mob that had come to listen to
him.
STOCKTON SAT UPON
Mayor Pond did not think the Registrar
was vested with equalpowers with himself.
In relation to the registration matter, the
Mayor thought that if a man did not take
enough interest in his case to register be-
fore qualifying, ne did not deserve to be on
the election board. In this respect he
agreed perfectly with the Registrar and
would refuse to qualify any man whose
name was not already on the register.
MI Smiley insisted that he had acted as
he believed was his duty.
That's right" said the Mayor APPROX
ingly
To see the Mayor take sides with the Reg
istrar on all the disputed points exasper-
ated STROLLER beyond all bounds, and with
a look oil Ire ana frenzy he Wduteu W hHOh
il it was the intention TO let the Registrar
run the commission and the election too.
Tie Mayor silenced the furious Commits
siOncr by telling him firmly that he knew
the Registrar to be an honorable ana trust
worthy citizen, and he should always act
upon that gentleman's advice and repre-
sensations.
''Then let's get to business" he added
impatiently. Whats next?"
sTROTHER's SIX
Auditor StrOther brought up the matter
which was preached at previous meeting
IN relation to party representation In the
precinct boards. 1t was claimed by the
representative OF the Republican County
Committee that the precinct boards should,
under the new law, consist OF six persons
instead OF three, and that the Republicans
should have the right to name their share
OF the additional officials, Mr.. StTother
contended that the law was for an election
board, and that there was difference be-
tween that and the precinct board. Before
any further consideration was taken he
said he would offer set of resolutions that
he hoped the board would adopt. Following
is their complete text:
Resolved, That it is the sense OF this board
that lie Board OF Precinct Registration shall
consist of one Inspector ana two judges 10 be ap-
pointed according 10 the provisions oil Section 10
OF IAN act 10 regulate the registration OF voters
ana to secure the purity OF elections 10 the city
and county OF San Francisco" approved March
is. 1878; and be II further
ResOtUed, That the Board of Election officers
shah consist OF two inspectors, two judges and two
clerks. TO be appointed In pursuance OF Section
1142 Of the Political Code as amended by the act
of 1883, Statutes OF California, 1889, page 1875;
RESOLVED, That the Board of Precinct Reglstra-
tlOn shall act as members OF the Board OF Eec-
tion.
sTRoTHER NOT SUSTAINED.
The Auditor then went into lengthy dis
QUESTION of the law on the subject and
quoted from everything he could find in the
shape OF law to sustain his position.
h. ). Plilsbury. the attorney, appeared at
this juncture and said that in behalf of the
Republican Central Committee he wished
to ask for equal representation on the pre-
cinct boards, as provided for in the amended
section OF the Political Code.
Mayor Pond said he was in favor of such
q law as would give both parties equal rep
resentati0n upon the registration boards
from tile beginning. There was something
more important involved, and he said that
if hasty action was taken and illegal officers
appointed the commission would take the
risk of invalidating the whole election. He
thought the proper way would be to have
test case carried into court al once in order
that ruling might be had. This would be
a guide for the commission to act on.
According to this twas arranged between
City and County Attorney Flournoy and Mr..
Pillsbury TO agree upon statement OF facts
and have the whole question taken into the
courts and disposed Of at once. This would
settle all doubts that might arise as to the
legality of the election, where there was
question as to the law under which it was
conducted.
sTRoTHER sQUELCHED.
The question was again raised by Strother
as 10 whether or not parties being other
wise qualified should be required to regis
tel before receiving their certificate to act
on the precinct boards.
Mayor Pond said he would most decidedly
refuse to vote for any person whom the
Registrar objected to. He said Mr.. Smiley
was appointed for the purpose of looking
after the names of persons and to see that
the persons were eligible. The Mayor
could not Look up 1900 persons to see if they
were fit persons, and he was only too glad
that Mr.. Smiley was doing the work
sTRoTHER SULKs.
Strother was again squelched. but before
suhsiding completely he took parting shot
at both the Mayor and the Registrar, by
saying that the commission might Just as
well adjourn and let the Registrar run the
whole business.
The Mayors only reply was that he
would not vote for any person objected to