The morning call., 1895-02-17
THREE COMMISSIONERS CALLED
FOR AND THEIR SELEC-
TON REGULATED.
THEY MAY SIT ANYWHERE.
WAYMIRE THINKS IT WILL Re-
SUIT IN GREAT SAVING TO
THE STATE.

OF the Judiciary Committee was in
PRODUCED without common. There are
TO be three commissioners, one APP
pointed by the Governor and two to be
elected by both the houses Of the Legisla-
ture in Joint session. This commission is
TO be authorized to count ballots, to look
into the clerks or attaches unnecessarily
employed, also to investigate frauds.
"a number of changes have been made,
but all are for the purpose of making the
commission stronger and more efficient"
said Judge Waymire this morning. az
consider that it will result in saving the
State a large sum of money by doing away
with useless employees and commissions.
The salary is barely nominal. This was
Intentional. I am sure if we can get
commission composed of such men as
Judge de Haven there can be no doubt that
the result will be beneficial to the State"
The following is the full text of the bill:
AN ACT
To provide Tor a commission to investigate pub
lie offices, institutions and departments OF
the State Government and OF the counties
cities and counties or municipalities there
Of: 10 inquire into the acts of all. public
officers. employees and attaches of such
offices, institutions and depar tments of the
g State Government and of the counties
cities and counties and municipalities
thereof; 10 inquire into acts of corruption,
misfeassnce and Misrepresentation OF pub
o.. lie moneys or public property by such Off
GERS, employees and attaches, and their Off
cal conduct generally; to investigate vio-
lations of the election laws and frauds and
errors alleged to have been committed in
the last election and other elections and to
count the ballots for State officers; and TO
authorize the discharge of unnecessary Off
GERS, employees or attaches.
The people of the State of Califor MIA, repre-
Eented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as
follows:
SECTION l. For the purpose of obtaining just
and aecurateinformation to enable the Legis-
lature to correct any abuses or corruption,
misfeasance, or misconduct of any public Off
Ger, or in any public Office, institution, or de-
partment OF this State government or in any
county, city and county, or municipality
thereof, and for the further purpose of investi-
eating and reporting violations OF the election
laws of this State, and TO ascertain whether or
not frauds and errors were committed in the
counting and Canvassing of the ballots cast at
the last election in this State for State officers
and in making returns OF the result of said
election, and for the other purposes hereinafter
named, there shall be appointed commission
Tor investigation and inquiry TO consist OF
three persons, residents and citizens of this State
One OF said commissioners shall be appointed
by the Governor within FIVE days after the pas
sage OF this act, and the other two shall be
elected by joint convention of the Senate and
Assembly, TO be held within five days after the
passage of this act.
Sec. >. Said commission shall be organized
by the election of one of their number as chair
man, and theelectlon OF secretary, who shall
be a stenOgrapher.
Sec. 5. The said commission, or a majority
thereof, shall have power:
!. To sit in any place in the State, and to
make and enforce rules for the regulation of
their proceedings.
.. To Investigate any public Offices, institu-
tions, departments OF the State government,
and of the counties, city and county, and mu-
inequalities or commits sions thereof; also the
official acts OF all public officers employees and
attaches; to inquire into acts OF corruption,
misfeassnce, malfeasance and nisappropria-
ton and misconduct by such public officers, en-
ployes and attaches OF this State, or of any de-
partment thereof, or of any county, city and
county commissions and municipalities
thereof
5. To investigate violations of the election
laws OF this State OF whatsoever nature during
the election held within the last preceding six
years.
4. To recount the ballots cast at the last gem
ora election in this State for State officers in
municipalities Of this State.
>. To recount the ballots cast Tor State officers
at any general election which may be held dur
ing the existence of said commission in any
county, city and county or municipality of the
State.
g. To send for persons and papers, including
the ballots cast at any general election for State
officers. :,
:. To issue subpenas and cause service
thereof.
s. To compel the attendance of witnesses and
the production OF books and papers, including
ballots cast and returns made for and concern
ing State officers in said election.
2. To administer oaths to all witnesses who
may come before the commission.for examina-
ton, and 10 compel witnesses in attendance to
testify before said commission.
10. To preserve order; to compel witnesses
who testify to sign the deposition taken before
such commission whenever such commission
shall deem such signing desirable and sd-
svisable.
IL. To inquire into and ascertain whether
any public officer, clerk, deputy or attache is
unnecessarily employed, and to recommend
the discharge of any officer, deputy, clerk or
. attache WHO can be dispensed with without
detriment to the public service.
II. To appoint secretary and such other as
sistants as may be necessary TO enable the COM
mission to perform its duties promptly and
Sec. 4. The stenographer provided in this act
shall take the testimony, or cause the same to
be taken and Transcribed under the direction
of SAID commission, and do and perform all
acts required OF him by said commission as its
secretary, in the making out of subpenas or
other process, and generally perform the duties
required by said commission.
Sec. 5. Every person summoned and who
shall attend before said commission NAV be
compelled to testify, and shall not be permit
ted to refuse to testify or answer any question
upon the ground that an answer thereto NAV
tend TO prove or may prove such witness guilty
OF misdemeanor or criminal offense, or be-
cause any answer 10 such question might or
would compel the person so testifying to be a
witness against himself; but the testimony SO
given shall not be used in any prosecution or
proceeding, civil or criminal, against the per-
son so testifying person so ties Trying shall
not thereafter be liable to indictment or pre-
sentation by information, nor to prosecution
or punishment for the offense with reference
TO which his testimony was given, and NAV
plead or prove the giving of testimony accord
ingly in bar of such Indictment, information