The record-union., 1895-01-12

accountable way. 1t is but two wears ago
In San francisco that about 500 ballots
were altered after they reached tho Req
lstrar and before being produced in court
during contest. What has happened
once might occur again MANY methods
for protection viii suggest themselves to
you. So long as the law remains as now,
and the ballots are liable to such easy
changes, no contest can be guaranteed to
tell the true vote as it should.
If precinct officers OF different politics
can be found who will falsely certify re-
turns, under the very eyes of political
watchers, how little faith is to be placed
in political worker of one party who
has solo charge OF the ballots, a Slight
! change in which might defeat a caudi-
date whose election meant the removal of
the person in whose custody the ballots
were.
Provision should be made for the re-
count of precinct or county before the
Supervisors or Election Commissioners
on establishing to a Superior Court that
there IS reasonable ground to apprehend
fraud or mistake, and a bond being given
1or cost in case the apprehension prove
| untounded. This should especially be
! so as 10 State officers. But before this
change can be made Il satisfactory method
OF preserving the ballots must be devised.
No man should be exempt from serV-
ing on precinct election board because
OF his wealth, and no man should be eX-
cIuded because OF his poverty. The whole
system of appointment of precinct cleo
ton officers ought to be changed. Tho
names of eligible persons should be
drawn from precinct ballot boxes at least
| thirty days before election by a Judge of
| a superior Court or by someone in his
presence, the Same as Jurors arc now
| drawn. The person selected should be
required to make excuses or serve or be
punished for contempt. Then each pOiit-
zeal party managing canvass should be
permitted to have watchers paid by itself
at each booth TO watch the count and re-
turns. Ten days before election the in
spector should be required TO appear be-
| fore the Registrar or County Clerk and
receive his instructions.
w hlle this method would not make the
| board equal, politically, there would al
| ways be IN It's membership good men,
and political parties and candidates
would watch more carefully the result.
THE RAILROAD REFUNDING BILL.
While az legislators you cannot pass
any Act directly bearing upon the sub
ject of transcontinental TRANSPORTATION,
still you may Instruct your Senators and
advise your Representatives III Congress
thereon. And l would suggest that you
so advise and instruct in favor Of Govern
ment construction and control Of the
Nicaragua Canal. | also suggest that
you instruct and advise against all Pa
citic Railroad reiunding bills. The
Government might with profit to the
Pacific States fOreclOse on the property
and operate the mortgaged roads, under
proper regulations, at rate OF charges TO
be measured by the cost OF the service.
Our banking system is altogether too
loose. We do not give sufficient attcn-
uou 10 the interests Of depOsiLOrs, and the
pubic would be guaranteed Increased Sc
curity il our laws were made TO conform
more closely to those of the General Gov
ernment regulating national banks. We
should also provide Tor the punishment
oi all violations of the banking laws by
the officers or stockholders Of any bank
something tor which there does not ap-
pear to De any adequate provision at
present.
COLLECTING TAXEs.
The method of assessing and collecting
taxes in this State is cumbersome and
unjust, and no better plan OF reform in
| this particular could be devised tuau that
suggested by my honOred predecessor,
Governor Markham, in his biennial mes
sage to the thirtieth session OF the LegIs-
| lature. That interesting and able docu-
ment Indicates many abuses the cDrrec-
ZION OF which would save the people large
sums OF money annually.
HAMPERING THE EXECUTIVE.
The Governor Of California must an
mates, but II is not permitted by the law
as It stands that he shall remove one of
them or cause his removal Save in 4 few
cases, except by the tedious process of
an action in the courts, l find myself
confronted with scores of places 10 De
filled which, properly conducted, should
be or the utmost importance in an
efficient and economical administration.
and II among the scores of applicants for
each l should make the mistake Of aU-
pointing the wrong man, there IS no way
under the law, barring the exception
noted, by which the error could be cor
rected.
1t seems needless to say that if the
Governor is TO be held responsible Ior
| the conduct of the departments whose
lncumDentS he names he should have the
control of those fuuctiouaries. In this
State we should either have q system of
continuous tenure during good behavior,
as under the civil service classification Of
| the General Government, or else the an
pointing power, which in the public
mind is held responsible for the conduct
OF the appOIntee, should be vested with
authority 10 remove the appOintee. in the
language of the Constitution, "lOr mis-
conduct, Incompetence, or neglect of
duty, after an opportunity 10 be heard on
written charges
IN CONCLUSION.
It will be seen from the information
hurredly gathered and imperfectIy pre-
sented in the foregoing that the road TO a
substantial Tetreuchmeut OF state eE-
penses IS plain and easy TO follow. Il is
quite within the figures to say that up
ward OF a million dollars year can be