The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-29
NEW ELECTION BOARD,
Commissioners Must Re-
nounCe the Hope of
Other Office.
A Long Term Takes a Statesman
Out of the Field for Five
Years.

Mayor Sutro has not yet announced pub
licly the names of the four men who are to
be appointed Election Commissioners I'M
der the law passed at the last session of
the Legislature, but it is regarded as a GER
tainty that Colonel Albert E. Castle and
James Denman will be named.
The politicians who meet nightly at the
Baldwin Hotel cannot understand why
any prominen. men of means should want
! the place, since che salary is only $3.50 a
year. Still they calculate that the patron
age of the commiss ion is immense, involv-
ing as it does the expenditure of 5000 900
every two years for election expenses, be-
sides the appointment of a large clerical
force to register and count the vote.
Certainly James d. Phelan Can be ap-
pointed If he desires the appointment. and
| the Mayor may succeed in persuading him
| that the public is entitled to his services.
! Acceptance of the office would disqualify
Mr.. Phelan for term Of years from serving
as Governor or member OF Congress.
Should he draw short term of two years
he could not be a candidate for three years
from the time of his appointment. Assum-
ing that the long term should be his lot he
could not accept nomination until the
expiration of five years. Meanwhile, Dem
ocrats anxious for leader might besege
his city office and invade his country
home. Obviously this would be most
embarrassing position for man of Demo-
cratic sentiments to occupy. The thought
of the office seeking the man and the man
restrained by law from obeying the will of
the people would certainly vex and annoy
the most vel-headed politician.
The hint is thrown out that Mr.. Phelan
would like to see his brother-in-law, Frank
j. Sullivan, appointed Election Commits
sioner. 1t is not a sure thing that Mr..
Sullivan wants it, for he, in company with
many other followers of his own party
faith, has sought high office. AS a candi-
date for Congress against Charles n. Eel
ton some years ago he displayed style and
speed in running. He believes till this
day that the people called him, but knows
that the House of Representatives did not
seat him. Mr.. Sullivan may consider the
awkward predicament a man might be
placed in who could not become a candi-
date for Congress for five years. To re-
nounce ones right to run for office when
| the office is reckoning to a man is greater
sacrifice than young gentleman of Mr..
| Sullivan's mental attainments and physi-
cal contour could be expected to make.
The esteemed Democrat, Mr.. James Dem
though the people of the Fifth District did
not bestow Congressional honors upon
him. Light service and $3.50 year, with
a good deal to say in the distribution of
patronage, might constitute just such a job
as would suit the inclination of high
minded citizen of advanced years. Even
with the allurements of ease, the renuncia-
ton of future political honors might come
hard to a warhorse of the Denman strain.
| In Registrar Hinton's Office the opinion
is well established that the law providing
for the appointment of the commission by
the Mayor is not in harmony with the con-
stitution of California. The law legislates
the Registrar out of office, and it can hardly
be expected that as good a Democrat as
Mr.. Hinton would relinquish as good a
place as Registrar of Voters without pro-
test. So it is a sure thing that the consti-
nationality of the new law will be tested.
Senator Fay of San Francisco, who advo-
Gated the enactment of the law creating
the new Election Commission, remarked
last evening that the bill came from the
Citizens Defense Association. The argu-
ment was advanced that men who were
candidates for office themselves should not
manage the election machinery.
| The Assembly Judiciary Committee,
which was composed of fairly good lawyers,
among them Judge Spencer and Mr.. Bulla,
regarded the measure as constitutional.