The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-15
REFORMING THE
BALLOT LAW.
Maguira'S Bill Has Several
Able Champions.
Preventing the Sale Of SGh9OI Lands in
Yosemite PaTk-Anll-C Cooperation Meas
uTGS Reported FaVCrably.
Special TO THE MORNING CALI

form bill as cOdihed by eX-Judge Mcguire and
amended by tie Senate Committee on Elections
i, pronounced by members OF the upper House
who have carefully examined II the best meas
ure OF the Kind that has ever been produced
Tie bill is a special order for Tuesday morning.
aud viii probably be passed. Several OF the most
prominent Senators have declared in favor Of it,
and MCGOWAN and Maher viii advocate its pas
sage. It's fate in the House cannot be forelold
Gould, who is one OF the best speakers in the
Assembly, VIII fight for 1t, because he believes
''yoters shoald not only be allowed the privilege
Of voting a secret ballot as now, but compelled
10 exercise it,"
Bledsoe of HUMBOLDT viii work for the passage
OF The Senate bill, and VIII Try to have it made
special order in the Assembly. Kellogg the
Lonely representative of lie American party.
Glynn aud Lewis and jackson viii work hard
Tor The passage of the bill. Bruuer, one OF the
best speakers in the House, will oppose the Fed
Grated Trades or any OF the other election re-
form bills that have been introduced The pres
eEI system is good enough for him.
-- Dbbe VIII fight for his own bill and against
all others lie said when interviewed this morn
ing: Il regard the Australian law as a con-
spiIacy against the Republican and Democratic
ldll4css duu 1 VIII biihASe IL ram lniuhS llle
Australian system would give too much power
10 the Socialists. Therefore lie is also FOR
ninst" il.
MIR. CLARk'S MODEsTY.
Clark OF Yolo has brought form a bill after
sore mental travail which lie modestlY pro-
Uouuces 1.-THE best OF all" and for this best OF all
bill bis yolce-and there isn't saw-mlI in the
Sale that can drown twill be lifted up The
lii Is very long one, almost as long as the
faces OF the honorable members OF the Assembly
afe when the man from Yolo arises and clasping
his hands over his abdomen begins TO "harangue
the mob" Mr. Clark borrows nothing from the
Australian system but the booths in which the
elector coueeals himself while preparing his bal
lot.
In addition to the officers now provided by
law, Nh. Clark will have at each polling place a
. conductor OF election, and In addition to The
ballot box LIE will have "Dead-ballot box"
Tie conductor Will be supplied with a
punch, and there Will be supplied each
polling place four small wires 80 feet long.
These wires Will be stretched from the tables. at
which lie officers are TO SIT, 10 the booths The
electOr VIII bring with him 10 the polling place a
specimen Of all the tickets IN the field These
VIII he examined by the officers of election, and,
II found 10 b. correct, VIII be punched By the
conductor OF election, ana shot dong the wire,
which passes through an aperture made Tor the
purpose into The booth. The eiector Will then
eater The booth aud take from the wire the ticket
OF his choice, fold II that the names Of The can
dldates It contains shall be hidden and shoot it
back along the wire 10 The officers Of election,
who VIII put It into the ballot box. Tie tickets
which The electOr rejects Will then be folded by
Inn SO that the prying eyes OF the officers OF cleo
ZION shall not be able 10 discern their contents,
auC sh0I along the wire 10 jhe conductor of eiec-
lion, Hhu VIII deposit them IN the dead-baliOt
heA' and the elecrer VII 90 on his way rejoicing.
Inc plan may not be all mat Mt Clark thinks II
Is, but Il IS simple and original-yery original
PREVENTING SALES OF SCHOOL LANDS.
Su!yeyor-General Reeheir has put forth his
hand 10 stop lie sale OF school lands 10 Yosemite
PAX lie yak contained about 100 sections
uf school lana IN Mono. MaIIpO,a aud Tulate
counties Much Of his Land las been sold to
men who were far-sighted enough to see that
some day Uncle sam would be compelled 10 buy
u from theIn OF have his park ruined. Recently
Inc eutveyoT-Geueral received several appiica-
lions Tor sections Of the school land remaining
unpureuased in the park from well-knowu san
ttauclscan-, Whose little gam Of cinching The
government lie thoroughly understood. He re-
iu>eu 10 ne lbelt applications and politely but
hrniiy iold them that lie would receive their
applications unuI compelled TO do by lie
PROTECTING THE PARK
Firmly believing that some Of these Yosemite
lana-gi abbers would appeal 10 tn courts and
compel Lin 10 sell The coveted land, lie had tie
following bill drafted and Introduced III bolh
houses:
The state OF California hereby consents to the
reservations created by the act OF Congress. ap-
proved September %, 1880, entitled IAN act to set
apart certain tract OF land in The state Caifor
proved october !. 1890, entitled AN act TO set
apart certain tracts 81 land in the state Caltor
ma as forest reservations and no further sales OF
school lands within the exterior boundaries OF the
aes SO reserved as Aforesaid shall be made By the
If This bill becomes law the pleasant pastlme
OF einehing Uncle Sam Will be at an en4.
FAVOR TIE NICARAGUA CANAL.
The Senate to-day. by unanimous vote
passed the follow ing resolutions:
WHEREAS, Tie Committee on Foreign Re- ations
Of the United States Senate has unanimously rec
commended bill for the economical construction OF
the Nicaragua Canal, uUder conditions which Will
secure its control 10 the Unted States Government
with guarantee of moderate tolls Tor freight and
passenger trahc. anu securing to the people of
tnited States important political aud commercial
advantages; and whereas, the completion OF this
iuteroee4nlc HI Ehway Will be great benefit 10 he
PRODUCERS landowners and merchants Of the Pacific
EesoiUed. That the Legislature OF the State of
CaiHornia respectfully urges upon the Congress of
the United states the necessity for immediate aud
favorable action upon the bill securing the prompt
construction Of the Nicaragua Canal. under con
and control for the benefit Of the Uu1ted States
Government and Of all American citizens
ReSotDed That attested copies OF these Joint
resolutions be forwarded to the President OF 1hs
United States Senate. TO the Speaker OF the House
the honorable Secretary Of State OF the United
states. at the national Capitol.
CORPORATION "cISCH."
The Committee on Corporations discharged a
pig cargo OF "hoary headed cinches" u the Sen
ale to-day with accompanying Tecomme ndat lions
that they do pass" One OF these provides that:
Any person, company OF CORPORATION engaged in
the business Of supplying any character of gas for
Illuminating heating or other PURPOSES TO apy cIty
or Incorporated civ and county OF more Than
100000 inhabitants, 10 the Inhabitants thereof.
SHAH be allowed TO collect not more than the su of
81 so per each 1000 feet for such gas . proyjdeI
that such gas when supplied through a gas Jet or
burner allowing four gas to issue rherefrOm
or through 1t per hour shall have au Illuminating
power Of not less than sixteen candles. Should the
company OF corporation attempt collect more
than 81 80 per 1850 cubic feet n shall forfeit 10
the person, company corporation from whom
such collection is made or attempted be made,
me the sum , OF $500 which may be recovered by the
N, On In any
o. competent jurisdiction. such cause Of action
shall be assignabe and the action NAV be main
taned by the assignee ia his name, and several
collections different persons may be vested in
the assignee and united in the same action.
GAS METERS.
This bin was introduced by Mr.. Hamlil who
followed 1t UP with one concerning he automatic
lying machine, Otherwise known the gas
meter A section Of this act provides:
All persons, companies or corporations engaged
IN the business OF supplying gas TO city, city
ana county, OF town, or to the inhabitants thereof
that use meter or other device to ascertain the
quantity OF gas supplied to any consumer, must
PROVIDE, place IN position maintain the same and
connect the said meter with the main with the
building al al the cost, charge and expense sueh
any charge or expense to the consumer, and with
out exciting any deposit or rental from the con
suner.
REDUCTION OF sTREEr-CAR FARES.
Aud here IS a bill IN relation to street-car
fares. IL was also reported fdyoiaby:
street railroad IN any city and county, or city,
ants shall be allowed TO charge collect higher
rate Of iare than cents for each passenger per trp
OF any stance In direction, either going or
coming. along any part of the whole length OF the
road or its connections: proyi ed, that from 5
O'Clock a. n. to o'clock 4 N. and from 8 O'Clock
and 80 minutes P. ~. 10 O'Clock ana 80 minutes
p NJ. standard time, such street railroad shall
be allowed 10 charge collect higher OF
than ~ cents or zach passenger per trip of the
distance hereinbetor5 mentioned.
TELEPHONE RATES.
Mahoney's Telephone Bill, which was not
n ifaft nu or fha faIa
ph0nr companies, was recommended for passage.
II provides:
The rental for the use OF one telephone must not
exceed - per month, and the for the use OF
Two or more telephones 10 person shall NOT eK-
coed :. per month III cities and towns having a
population OF more than 10 1000 Inhabitants m adj
dltlonal charge OF cents for each call NAV ba
inaue aud Ia elites or towns having population of
Isss than 10000 inhabitants additional charge OF
3 cents for each call may be made When anv two
cities, towns or villages connected by wire The
price Tor the use OF such telephone for tue pur
pose OF conyersing between such cities, towns or
villages SHAH not exceed 20 cents the first five
minutes, aud for each additional 1--WE minutes a
sum not exceed ing cents.