The record-union., 1892-07-19
DIVES, LEGISLATION AND LEGIS-
LATORS.

A very vigorous movement is on foot
in San Francisco to suppress the dive
nuisance. At one of the mass meetings
held upon the subject, recently, an ex-
District Judge spoke, and in the course
of his remarks said:
There is a safe and eftectual remedy There
is an election coming on in November and
you must see to it that none but able, honor
able and clean-minded men are sent to the
State Legislature. Send men TO the halls of
legislation who viii frame constitutional
amendment which viii allow san Francisco
and other cities TO pass such laws as they
deem proper. Do this and we have COM
menced building at the bottom and are sure
OF our foundation, for it is then part and par
Gel of the organic law OF the State. After that
our Supervisors can legisiate as they please.
The appeal for the election of honor
able, clean-minded men as legislators
is susceptible of no just antagonism. It
is what the people should do under all
circumstances. But in addition to clean
mindedness, there should be added the
qualification of intelligence and the
capacity to frame laws feasible and in
accord with reasonableness. The clean
minded, right-directed crank and ex-
tremist is usually the most impracticable
of men and is always the least successful
In legislation.
We have labored under the impression,
and still entertain it, that the constitu-
tional provision article XII, Section IL
permitting cities and incorporated towns
to make and enforce police regulations.
is amply broad enough to enable San
Francisco to suppress places that are
detrimental to public morals, good order
and quiet. We ought to be cautious
about proposing further patchwork for
the Constitution. It is already a badly
patched charter, though not yet fifteen
years have elapsed since its adoption.
The very hasty manner in which it is
possible to amend it is, in itself, an ele-
ment of danger, and should be employed
only when the necessity for it is ex-
tremely great and amounts to material
menace.
San Francisco can suppress the dives
without further constitutional authority.
She is given power sufficient by virtue of
the Act under which she is a munich
pality. What is needed is courage in the
local legislature to grapple with the
question of dives and to put stop to the
outrageously indecent performances in
places of entertainment, of which the
press is overloaded with graphic ac-
counts.
The speaker referred to, touching upon
an incidental subject, complimented the
Chief of Police of San Francisco as an
efficient officer, who had but lately said
to him:
could not run for office in this city. am
appointed by the Police Commissioners, but
II my election depended upon the vote of the
people would be showed under by the votes
along the Barbary Coast and in Tar Flat No
othcer can ever be put up for the office OF
Chief OF Police that the criminal element
would not defeat.
Which is unquestionably true. The
criminal, the dive, the loafng, guzzling
elements that look upon efficiency in q
peace officer with hatred and as antago-
nism towards their right to live in idle
ness upon the wages of those who work,
or to subsist upon the earnings of sin by
the degraded women who support them
these and they who prefer a criminal
life, and the whole gang of lusty fellows
who profit by keeping the dives where
these elements resort, will invariably
rally to vote down the good officer.
It was because of this truth that the
Freeholders in framing the new charter
for Sacramento made the Office of Chief of
Police appointive. By this means the
incumbent is made to feel that he owes
no accounting to the vicious element;
that he is free from the menace and cow
ofpolitical demagogues who use these
vulgar and salable enemies of peace,
order and industry to punish or reward
aspirants for official station.
In all congested populations the vicious
elements under control and discipline