The morning call., 1895-02-01
HANDS OFF.

Despite the popular manifestation OF OPP
position to outside interference with the
affairs of San Francisco the over-earnest re-
formers at Sacramento seem determined to
force some kind of Legislative investigation.
The movement now in the ascendency is
to provide committee OF three authorized
to carry on examinations in any part of
the State, clothed with extraordinary pow
ers and given lease of life continuing un-
til six days after the meeting of the next
Legislature, two years from now.
There is nothing in the situation either
of the city or of the State to justify such a
commission. The bill concentrates the
power of all the grand juries. of the State
into the hands of three men and endows
them with the powers of medieval inquisi-
ton so far as to inquiring into public or
private business is concerned, but leaves
them powerless to provide even the SEM
blance of a remedy for any evil that may be
discovered.
The people of San Francisco desire the
exposure of frauds and corruptions where
ever they exist, but they desire the ex-
posture to be made by the ordinary authori-
ties of our land. Why do we maintain a
Mayor, a Board of Supervisors, a District
Attorney, Sheriff and Grand Jury, if
we must rely on outsiders to seek out our
criminals for us? Why should the State
be put to an extra and heavy expense, and
members of the Legislature be taken away
from their legislative duties to perform
work that ought to be performed by local
authorities? Why should an investigation
be made by a commission, which has no
other power than that of investigation, in
stead of the regular law authorities, who
have power not only to investigate, but
to prosecute and to punish?
There is not the slightest need of the
proposed committee further than its SER
vices may possibly be required to inquire
into the management of State institutions
and the conduct of State business. So far
as local affairs are concerned, now is the
time to give the Grand Jury system trial.
Let US see what it can do. The men who
compose the present jury are representa-
tive of the better element of the city. No
one has yet impeached either the purpose
of the Grand Jury or the character of it's
members. 1t is conceded that they pro-
pose to act vigorously for the punishment
of crime, and they ought to have fair
field in doing so.
We have no confidence in the Grand Jury
system, but we hold it as firm conviction
that every organized community should
have in itself the power to deal with its
local problems of whatever kind. We can
not be running to the State every year for
investigating committees. We cannot be
always relying on extraordinary commits
sions with extraordinary powers. We must
have complete local self-government, and
this is the best possible time to begin. The
Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, the Dis
trict Attorney and the members of the
Grand Jury have the confidence of the peo-
pie. Nothing else is needed for the work
before them. The Legislature should re-
iect any bill providing for State inquisi-
ton. We want none of it. San Francisco
can take care of herself. Cannot Oakland,
Los Angeles, Stockton, Sacramento,
Fresno, San Jose and San Diego do like
wise?