The advocate., 1895-01-16

All OF the bonds due In 1906 are held by the
state school fund as permanent Investment
and 5000 Of those payable in 1895 are thus
held. I would suggest that the state school
fund be authorized to take up those bonds
above named that are not held by them, and
that the time Of payment OF the entire amount
be extended, subject to payment RS the option
OF the state, at the rate OF per cent. interest.
This would make On absolutely safe invest
ment for the school fund.- and would leave the
money In the hands Of the people.
Lotteries and Gambling.
Your attention is invited to the provisions Of
the constitution prohibiting lotteries and the
sale of lottery tickets. There is no law to en-
force this provision OF the constitution. If II
ia possible for one form Of gambling to be
worse than another, this one Is the most fruitful
OF evil. It reaches out into every village OF the
state, and the churches and the religious or
ganizations are contaminated by IL would
urge the passage of o law prohibiting lotteries
of every character and the sale OF lottery
tickets under any device, with penalties severe
enough to make it effective.
Bribery Law.
recommend the passage Of law making
tbe acceptance OF bribe by any public officer
crime, and providing adequate punishment
therefor Such o bill passed the hous'
of representatives in 1891, and again In 1898
but In each instance failed to reach a vote IL
the senate.
Prior to 1869 the law made it equally crime
to give or to receive bribe. In that year thi
legislature repealed so much Of the law as
made it o crime to receive bribe, leaving in
force only that part OF the statute maxi
ing IL o crime to give o bribe. 1t was argued
In support Of this partial appeal, that II both
parties to the transaction were subjected to
punishment there would be nobody willing to
testify to the facts II there is any force In
that argument, 1t would seem that the po rtioI
Of the law which was repealed is the one which
should have been left In force, and the portion
which was left in 10 rec should have been re-
pealed For it is possible that per-
SON who had bribed public oficer might
make the fact known, especially II the bribe
had been exacted under color OF office, and un-
willingly paid but it is much less likely that a
public officer would proclaim his own disgrace
by publishing that he himself had been bribed
However this may be, the result has not justi-
lied the argument, and the theory Of excepting
the brbe-taSer from the just penalty OF his
crime Is not In harmony with enlightened pub
lie sentiment.
It should be understood and agreed by good
citizens everywhere that no public ofhcer has
any right to receive dollar for any act OF his
whatever in his public capacity, except the
salary or fees which the law gives him. The
emouments Of legislators, city councilman
and OF some other officers OF trust and power
are very small But no man is compelled tC
assume such office against his will and II be
seeks it with the hope OF making up def
ciencies in his salary by using his official posi-
tion for his private gain, he Is an enemy TO the
public, and should be in the penitentiary
instead Of in public office
Election Laws.
The perpetuity OF our government depends
upon free ballot and fair count. Our cleo
tions should express the free and unbiased
will OF the voters. The average Judgment o.
the people can be safely relied upon, and IL II
proves occasionally TO be wrong, the mistake
will be corrected at the earliest opportunity.
The enactment Of the Australian ballot Law
was very decided and advanced step In the
right direction, and has the unqualified ap-
proval Of the majority OF our people. 1t would
be well to provide that the county central com
mittees OF the three parties receiving
the highest number OF votes at the las
election be required to select the judges and
clerks to which their party would be entitled
and place them In the hands OF the mayors o
the cities, or township trustees at least ter
days before the day Of election. This would
place it beyond the power OF any ofilcial u
select inefficient men TO act for any other party
An amendment providing for square at the
top OF the ticket in which anyone who desired
to vote the entire ticket could make cross
would facilitate voting It would also seem 81
though some inexpensive provision might bt
made by which the votes could be counted az
they are cast so that the result might be an
nounced in fow minutes after the polls are
closed.
Commissioner Of Elections.
The law providing for commissioners Of cleo
tions should be repealed and the mayor ant
council Of cities should have charge Of thI
registration. The work can be better done
with far more satisfaction to all concerned, an(
at q much less cost.