The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-01-17
ILLLTERATE VOTERS.
BIedSOe'S Resolution to DiSfran-
ChiSe Them.
The Proposed Measure Meets With Very
Strong Opposition.
AsSambyman Young Becomes Champion Of
Woman SufraSs-Ob3IaCles 10 the
WORLDS Fair Appropriation.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

SACRAMENTO, Jan. 16. - Assemblyman
Bledsoe has come forward in the House as
the mouthpiece of what may develop into
the auti-ilIteracy party and which he makes
it appear is being gestated. He is the father
of resolution providing for an amendment
to the Constitution of the State relative to
The right Of suffrage. His resolution reads:
Every male citizen of the United States,
every male citizen who sLal have acquired
the right Of citizenship under or by virtue of
the treaty of Queretaro, and every male
citizen thereof who shall have become such
ninety days prior to any election, of the age
Of y wears, who shall have been a resident
Of the State one year next preceding the
election and Of the county in which he
claims his vote ninety days and in the cleo
ton precinct thirty days. shall be entitled to
vote at Il elections which are now or may
hereafter be authorized by law; provided
no person who shall be unable at any cleo
ton to write his own name and read the
Constitution of the State in the English
language, no native Of China, no idiot, in
sane person or person convicted of any in
famous crime, and no person hereafter
convicted Of the ENLIGHTENMENT or mjsappro-
priation of public money shall ever exercise
the privilege of an elect0r in this State"
TIDE OF ORAToBY.
Wien this resolution came up this morn
ing it produced cCpious tide of orstory, in
which tie Democratic speakers displayed
very unselfish desire to lei the measure ap-
pear a. a Republican product The Repub
Leans, however, made no effort to gulp The
bait thrown at them.
Dir. BlCdsOe opened the debate on his
resolution with declaration that the
country was suffering severely from the tide
of ignorant immigrants that is pouring in
upon it. The gates of Castle Garden, he
held, are swinging too freely, and some
thing should lie done TO protect the country
against them. California would not be the
first State to protect itself against the illit-
crate Of the Old World. Two States, coed
old Connecticut among them, had adopted
such law.
" If my memory is to be relied upon," re-
marked a Democratic member, they used
to bum old ladies for Witchcraft in good old
Connecticut. CUnnecticut's ideas may not
b. the best that can be copied"
Renfro Of Lake County remarked that
there were some very intelligent people in
the sta tie who could not read or write, and
it would not be fair 10 disfranchise them.
Judge Dibble of San Francisco vigorously
opposed the measure. Ii would, he held,
cause the disfranchisement of many citi-
zens, and it was by just such legislation that
the negroes in tie South are being disfrau-
chised. The Judge said that he believed in
manhood suffrage.
MARTINS SARCASM.
Assemblyman NJ ar tin made a sarcastic
speech in " hich he intmated that if the
resolution passed it would cause the disfran-
chisement OF the majority of the Democratic
party.
Sturtevant of MendocinO said he was an
American, and believed that Americans
should govern Amerca-a sentiment that
Was Hudibly al plauded-and would support
the resolution if what he considered its retro
active clause we're eliminated.
Bledsue seeing that his resolution was in
danger, then had further consideration Of it
postponed until Monday.
Young of San Diego has come forward as
the champion Of women who want to vote.
He introduced in the House this morning
bill providing that all women of q years
ana upward snail be entitled to vote at
every election.
ASstmblyman Garter has brought in bill
that VIII interest the large class of rural
cit zens To whom the election OF road over
seer Is of more Importance than the election
Of a Congressman. 1t provides that the
County Surveyor Of each county shall be
the County Commissioner, at a salary of not
less than $500 nor more than $1,000. He shall
have charge of all roads in his county, and
must have all work done by contract.
FIXlNG WATER RATES.
bill to prevent unjust discrimination in
the sale of water has been introduced by
ASsemblyman NindTow. The principal sec
ton Is IN substance, as follows:
Any corporation, association or person
furnishing water to any city and county,
city or town, or the inhabitants thereof,
shall charge fixed and uniform rates to all
customers, and shall in no way favor any
consumer, and the lowest rate charged any
consumer shall be the maximum water rate.
This rate shall be established by the Board
OF Supervisors, and may not be raised or
lowered. Forfeiture of charter is the PEN
atty provided for the violation of this law"
WORLDS FAIR APPROPRIATION.
There was a caucus of the House this
morning on the question whether the mum
Der Of employees be increased, and it was de-
cided to make no increase. This is in ac-
cOrdance with the intention of the rarity n
power to save the State as much expense as
possible.
Ex-senator Murphy, who wants the seat
now occupied by Senator Mahoney of San
Francisco, is here getting his thunder
ready. lie told THE CALL representative
that he had no hope Of winning, but would
make the fight on principle. He said that
he had no intention of making cinch on
Stanford, although he had been accused of
such intention. The matter will come up
before the Senate Judiciary Committee on
The 23d inst.
The Judiciary Committee met tonight to
consider the bill appr0pri ating 100000 for
the Worlds Fair. NJ. NJ. Estee was pres
ent. The question of the constltuti0nality
OF appropriating any sum for the Worlds
Fair was raised. Mr.. Estee spoke on the
decided that an exhibition should be
held. About three months ago
meeting of representatives of Cali
fornia was held TO promote the interests
of the fair. They drafted bill appropriate
ing $4,000, what they believed necessary,
and they believed the lair would greatly
benefit this State. As to the constitution
alfty OF the act, which is questioned, Mr..
EStee said that tue question had been sub
United TO many eminent lawyers, one of
whom was selected by the Governor. and
all believed it TO be constitutional.
AN OBSTACLE TO THE BILL.
Mr.. Robertson read a section of the State
Constitution to the effect that the Legisla.
ture canEOt appropriate money for what
will not be a State affair. Mr. Estee showed
that the exhibition would be State affair,
as the State was simply sending
out an exhibition. Mr.. Estee ex-
planned that the Commissioners having
charge Of the fair shall contain
three members of the Democratic party, so
the bill Will not be a political affair in any
respect. He said that 100000 is not too
much for the exhibition if California needed
the fair. Calif0rnia's exhibition would en-
brace display of native wood and granite
and an orange grove with trees bearing
fruit and trees bearing flowers.
The consideration of the matter was post
Poned 10 the next meetings of the Senate
and House Judiciary Committees.
REMoDELING THE SUPREME COURT
The remodeling OF the courts was also
considered by the committee. Judge Van
Dyke OF Los Angeles spoke on the subject.
and held 1t was absurd to have more than
one Supreme Court. There should be an
intermediate appellate court. II important.
certain cases may be taken to the court OF
last resort at once and decided. The scheme
fuyOlvaS the abolifinn Of the Sunrama Con.,