The herald., 1894-12-19
VOTE ON THE AMENDMENTS.
An IntsliIgsnt Ballot Cast by the Citi-
zens of the state.

| An IntsllIgsnt Ballot Cast by the Citi-
| zens of the state.
From the San Francisco Examiner1
The complets vote on the constitutions
amendments shows that the people of Cali
| fornia vote conscientiously and intelligently
| on the leg gislation that is submitted to their
! Judgment OF the 2S4.547 electors who
marked their choice for governor. 201,s6s
| voted on the first amendment-the amend
ment that received the most votes-and 175,
063 voted on the sixth amendment-the one
that received the fewest votes.
| The decision of the people on the amend.
ments in this election. as in that of two years
ago, was that urged by the Examiner. The
only amendments defeated were those enlarg-
ing the state board of equalization and in
creasing the pay of members Of the legislature
TO $1,000.
The amendment imposing an educational
qualification for tho suffrage was carried by
100, 774 votes in its favor to 80, 95 against.
Two years ago when 1t was brought forward as
a simple proposition to secure the opinion of
the voters there were 15l, ,32O in its favor and
al ,O59 against-a substantial gain for the
policy it represents.
The amendment putting county division
under general laws was carried by 14O 500 to
44,6e0, which removes that cause OF scandal
from the legislature. The proposition to ex-
empt young fruit trees and vines from taxa
tion was approved by. 1852 votes in its
favor TO 47,913 against
A less decisive majority was given the
amendment forbidding alien ownership OF
real estate, but it was approved by the sub
stantisl vote of 1878 to 57,662. The fact
that it was described in misleading terms on
the official ballot may account for the drop in
the vote.
No such reason can explain the opposition
TO the amendmeut striking out the part o. the
constitution forcing San Francisco to have two
boards OF supervisors whether she wants them
or not. As the amendment was carried by
106,6d6 to 62, ,2i3, we have no cause OF COM
plaint, but it is curious to find that G2.243
voters are unwilling to allow the city to
choose for itself how many supervisors it will
support.
The voters were evidently in doubt on the
state board of equalization amendment. The
proposition defeated by the narrow mar
gin of 3B,365 against to SO, 69S for. 1t is plain
that the voters feel sure that something ought
to be ione 20 reform the state board of equsl
ization and are about ready to try any expert
ment that may be suggested. In our judg
ment, however, the proper remedy is not to
give the board ,ne member for each equaliza-
ton district but to elect the members by the
votes of the state at large
The approval by 1S5 500 to A6, POS of the
amendment exempting free librories and free
museums from taxation and by 9S, 365 to
77,O39 OF the amendment making the presi-
dent and professor of pedagogics in the state
univer.ity members OF the state board of edu-
cation shows the -ar1e goo I'd judgment that de.
cidei the fate of the ether amendments. The
large vote against the latter is, however. a
little hard to explain. 1t is difficult to sup
pose that over 1900 voters of the state object
II giving our highest educational institution
its share of influence on cur schools.
The defeat OF the ameudmen ut increasing the
pay II the legislators ives to he expected, but
the vote of a5.425 in its favor shows that
many citizens believe that better pay would
get better service than we now have The
Lag, ,397 votes cast against it however, make
an emphatic protest against both the kind of
legislative work we have been getting and the
suggestion to increase expenses.