The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-04-01
"cld Crank, on the Charter.

EDS. RECORD MON: | have read the
proposed new charter, aud think it shows
on the part of its trainers wonderful
comprehension of what we need, as well
as a conscientious desire to obtain the
most perfect city government attainable,
and the elaborateneSS of provision for
every conceivable contingency is truly
astonishing to one SO unframed in law
making as /. Certainly the thanks of the
community are due to each and every
one of the men, whose unQuestionable
ability, as well as honesty of purpose, is
self-evidently displayed in the document.
But was there ever such an extensive set
of rules or laws framed so perfect that
some old crank could not find fault with
some paragraph or phrase contained
therein?
This old crank thinks that the whole OF
Article XVII, relating to bonds of officers,
should have been omitted; or, if a bond
were required, it should have been per-
sonal bond from each officer without any
surety. | am unable to see the Justice OF
requiring mans acquaintance or friends
to become responsible for his actions
while he IS in the service of the public.
The law requires every officer to perform
the duties assigned to him faithfully, and
if he fails, cannot comprehend why a
small portion of the public should be held
the whole public.
If anyone will show why it is right to
require such bond, and point out the JUS
tice of such requirement, he viii confer a
favor on this old crank.
Another thing | fail to see is the iustice
ofimposing certain duties, which require
from sixteen to more days faithful service
each year with a penalty or without
without any compensation whatever, on
q Board of Education, a Board of Free
Library Directors and a Board of Health
Doubtless the supposition is that there
are plenty of people who will be willing
TO serve in these positions for nothing.
But even with this assumption l fail to
comprehend the constitutional right OF
any Legislature TO require such services
arbitrarily without providing compensa-
ton.
Another thing which appears to me a
tyranny is compulsory vaccination To
me the idea OF inocculating with dis
gushing dlSease-wlth only the hope OF
mitigating a more loathsome disease-is
very distasteful. | would rather take my
chance of contracting the worse until
more proof can be shown of the beneficial
results of vaccination than has been
shown up 10 this time, and until incon-
trovertible proof can be shown it is sim
ply justice TO respect the belief or preju-
dice of each.
Cases are believed to have occurred of
hideous diseases and even DEATH result
ing from vaccination; and is not the law
tyranny which compels a person to take
the chance of injuring or killing child?
j should also have been pleased to have
seen the word oath eliminated from this
new proposed charter. think an affirna-
ton is just as good in law, and / believe
q legal mandate, with the same penalty
for collation. as that provided for the Vio-
lation of an oath, would be just as effect
i've.
/ should like to hit that old idol, Pre-
cedent, one more dig. l believe all that
] complain of here is due 10 the fact that
the eminent citizens who composed the
proposed new charter fell down and wor-
shipped him from force of habit.
After finding so much fault and airing
my cranky opinions / VIII admit that,
taken as whole, i consider the proposed
charter an excellent one, and If it is bet
ter than the old one in one particular
only, and not worse in any, it should be
adopted.
Il am not like some of the prohibition
lists who, because they consider intem-
perance an evil (who doesn't?l, are on
posed to high license, or license of any
kind. apparently desiring to eradicate II
at one Jump. / believe in taking steps to
reach any desirable goal which is too far
away for a jump. and any step, however
short. toward improvement or reform
viii always excite the mental approba-
ton of this OLD CRANK.