The record-union., 1895-01-10

soluIeTS 10 exercise the privilege Of VOt-
ing. For some reason the bill was not
passed. 1t is 10 be hoped that this seS-i,,T'
VIII remedy this act Of Injustice. | also
earnestly urge the recognition of the rea
sonable and equitable request OF the CEN
eraI Government relative 10 the cession of
the lana on which the home is located.
KEEPER OF THE ARCHIVES.
The Legislature of 1889, in my iudg-
ment, wisely created the position Of
he9per OF the Archives, an Office that
could and should be one of great imporl-
ahce. by the present arrangement the
papers ana documents of the state, while
somewhat improved by the provisions of
tne Act, are yet IL very unsatis factory
eouultlon. For some unaccouutable rea-
son. tile appropriation for the payment of
tue salary OF such officer was not allowed
py the last Legislature. This was an
error that should be remedied immedi-
ately.
BOUNTY FOR COYOTE SCALPS
called the attention Of the last Ieois-
lature to the necessity of renesiinr rho
Act OF 1881, providiug Tor the payment of
a bounty on coyote scalus. No action ,yas
taken, ana IN consequence the sum of
SIo',4S0 mas been already paid OUT. and
existing demands against the Sfata
amounting TO Sl9o,9o3 have been pre-
sented. For many good reasons mis- Is ~
should be repealed. The STATE has bae"
shametuiIy defrauded by the pavment tcr,
scalps that have been shipped into the
State from Oregon, Nevada, Arizona ana
Mexico. The law provides that after II,
scalps are examined by the Board of
supervisors OF a county they shall be ds-
stroyed by fire, thereby eXtinguishinr
all evidences of fraud; and as the Sinner,
Vlsors have no interest i'll the matter, and
simply act as agents of the State, it ia
manifest that no extra effort has been
made To check Irregularities, an ths
Board OF Examiners have no means of
preventing this swindie upon tho State.
1t Is TO be hoped that this law will be ro-
pealed.
SANTA CLARA PEBBLE MINDED HOME.
This property was left when Glen Ellen
was occupied. When approved the bill
approprlating Sl25, 900 TO iuish the latter.
was given TO understand that the Santa
CARA property was worth about $4,000.
III the summer OF 1891 several offers.
ranging from $4,000 to SIS.UJJ, came In
me loF my approval. j refused them on
TWO grounds: First, the great discrep-
ancy between the reported value and tho
oilers made; second, and more potent. ON
the ground that it was thought bv those
III cnarge OF the w hitter School that the
girls should be sent away and cared for
py separate institution. If that were 10
be done, the Santa Clara plant, at 900.
was the available property tor that pur-
pose. 1t was atterward determined to re-
tam the girls at W hitler, and since that
time no Otler has been made for this
property, and it is still under the man
agement OF the same board. 1t can ba
GeaIt with at any time without further
legislation.
CODE COMMISSION.
L have been requested by large num-
TN a
orabIe bodies the Importance OF a careful
REVISION OF the codes OF this State. 1t is
urged that as the present codes were
lIauled PRIOR 10 the adoption of the new
constitution, many additions and inuu-
meraDle changes have been made by the
Legislature since that time; that it is now
over twenty years since the same were
adopted; that an Intelligent revision
would be OF iHcalculaUle value to all, aud
mat the cost of such revision would be
sughG as compared with the benefits de-
rived. With the exception OF the revi-
sion that the codes received in 1850 TO
make tnem conform in language TO the
changes III the names OF courts provided
by the new Constitution, there has been
no attempt at revision since the codes
went into effect, January l, 1873, and it
would seem essential that the many laws
passed and amendments made TO tho
codes themselves since that date should
be codlued into harmonious whole. l
would suggest that the Governor be en-
powered To nominate three capable attor-
heys OF this State, TO be confirmed by the
Senate, as such commission, under such
Instructions as your honorable bodies
may see ut to prescribe.
PRIMARY ELECTION LAW.
The voice of the people tbrouoh the
ballot, when free from restraint of every
kind, becomes their true expression, 10
render thlS grand privilege secure is the
solemn duty Of the laW-malliug power.
Expense III contributing to this end. il it
but fulfill It's purpose, is unworthy of
consideration. Our present election law
has been thoroughly tested, and so far as
l have been enabled to observe. its work
lngs have proven satisfactory.
The system could, however, be I'M
proved by The adoption OF some method
the counting of the votes cOuId
De more rapidly performed, particularly
so III our larger cities. Suggestions Will
De presented To you, with changes which
experience has demonstrated to be ueces-
sary, and to which l desire to ask your
serious consideration.
our attention Is called TO the urgent
necessity OF establishing some form Of
procedure regulating ana controlling pri-
mary elections. The danger to our Gov
eminent lies in the loose and very often
~ OlAlB BSIIO AildlIiSI III which LNGSe glHr-
tons are conducted, regardless of the
rights OF communities, ImperiIinp thair
safety, and entirely under the control of
the worst elements Of society. Like
laws, which protect the voter at
a regular election, should shield him at
these primaries.
1t is absurd to declare that the voter has
the right at general election TO vote for
whom he pleases, when those tor whom he
must vote have been placed before him,
without giving him an opportunity of de-
cIarIng his choice. The privilege of
nomination is strangled at the birth and
be must follow the dictates of a conven-
tlon corruptIy ssembled, or quietly abb
stain from the use Of the franchise. This
IS an evil growing by what it feeds on.
lho Liberties of the people by
deUarIIng them from the free ana uu-
Vfam meIed exercise OF personal choice.
PAEDoNs AND ColIMUrArIoNs.
This subject, if faithfully and intefIi-
SehIly considered, presents one of The
most trying duties imposed upon tho
Executive of the State. The vast number
oi conNlGts III our prisons, the utter iln-
possibility Of ever being able to know
the whole truth affecting any of The
crimes alleged, naturally causes any
thoughtful Governor to hesitate ere he
assumes to exercise the extraordinary
foStSu III nlu Dy Iue Constitution
Oh the State, whereby he can set
aside the legal verdict of the established
courts OF The land. Fully realizing tho
grave responsibility resting upon mo in
that regard, L established policy which
has proven so satisfactory that thoso VINO
are familiar with it assure me it is a great
Improvement on all former methods.
In my last message reviewed tins sub
ject at great length, explaining the sys-
tenn have adopted and the satisfactory
results arising therefrom. The Board of
Prison Directors has continued to render
me valuable aid in the examination of
applications for Executive clomency, and