The record-union., 1896-02-28

strictly responsible for them, and the
result is admirable. The Mayor should
be more ornamental than otherwise
Put the power into large body and let
the Mayor attend to matters of mere
dignity, reception of guests, etc.
Mr.. Carmichael-I am opposed to the
large body. 1t will cost enormously
But the body chosen should be of men
able and willing to serve the city re-
gardless of pay. I might agree to two
houses, say one from each ward for an
upper house, and three from each ward
for the lower house. But eighty or
ninety would be preposterous for such
city as Sacramento.
G.. d. Irvine-I am a believer in the
referendum. This idea of Chancellor
| Walker approaches it. Long ago / was
convinced that safety is in the larger
| legislative body, and complete separa-
tion Of the legislative, judicial and ex-
ecutive functions. Hence the Mayor as
executive officer should be supreme in
his appointments. / held to that two
years ago, when the trouble on that
! head began here. Small bodies are
more easily handled by the schemers.
Large bodies being more representative
are harder to handle by the corrupt. If
the three political parties each nomi-
nate so, then the people will have 240
| from which to choose, and we will stand
the chance of getting better results and
safer and more economic government.
! 1t would really cost less if we did have
to pay more men. But I'd have the up
per branch salaried only, the lower, or
popular branch, to be unsalaried. Thus
| l.
city interests, or at least more of them.
! With that and power in the Mayor to
| appoint and likewise to reInove his ap-
pcintees, and we would come nearest
| to fixing responsibility.
Charles Baker-Mr. Carmichael is OPP
posed to large legislative bodies, yet
he proposes one for such a population
as this, of thirty-six, in two divisions.
Then he is in favor of large legislative
| bodies, and does not know it. 1t has
been argued that smart rascals are more
dangerous than ignorant ones. Do not
| be afraid of that. In a large body the
smart honest men can stand off the
smart rascals. I think intelligence,
education, is what we want in in all
places of legislative and executive trust,
and we will have more of it's effects in
| ity of fraud If some were crooked,
still we'd be likely to have more straight
men in the large body.
| j. H. Leggett-The thought of the
Chancellor is somewhat new to me, but
it convinces me. 1 am in favor of the
larger body Those who wish to infiu-
ence corruptly will have harder work
with the larger body and less chances
| of in "a oh a
educational standard is high, but more
Of success and cleanliness there and in
/ New England is attributable to the rep
resentative character of their legisla-
! tive bodies, which are far larger than
in the great States. class Ohio, Penn
! sylvania and New York as equal in in
| telligence and education with Vermont,
/ Connecticut and Massachusetts. They
stand on a fair intellectual level. But
! in Vermont who hears of corruption
in the Legislature? How little Of it
there is in the Massachusetts houses,
or in Connecticut? But how is it in
New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio? 1t
| is a singular and striking fact that is
demonstrated by this comparison. It
| is not more difficult to legislate in
large than small body. Our House of
Representatives is swifter than the SEN
ate. How was it in the tariff and silver
purchase bill cases? The House made
no unnatural delay. It was in the SEN
ate that there was lack of celerity
Power should be reposed in the legisla-
tive body rather in the Mayor, because
one man is more easily chosen by the
machine and boss element than sixty or
eighty.
Mr.. Anderson-I favor large member
ship in the popular body. To the lower
house there should be no pay. 1t would
put the work on the salaried house and
make the popular branch scrutinize it.
Frank Atkinson-I know something of
New England. The town meeting there
is not controlled by politics as are our
bodies here. Political tricksters and
| cliques have small favor in them. I
favor the large body system for that
reason. 1t is more representative and
we can afford to trust the people to
govern themselves.
Mr.. Waring-I ask the Chair if our
Trustees could be compelled to vote
openly on the Mayors appointments,
would not that cure an evil he com
planned of in his essay three weeks ago?
Mr.. Weinstock-It would modify it,
not cure it.
Mr.. Arnold favor the larger body
system, l believe Chancellor Walker is
right. The larger body would conserve
economy and really be less expensive,
for it would have larger interests at
stake The larger body is sure to be
the more representative, the smaller
| more. likely to be subject to corrupt and
selfish influences. Better pay a good
price for legislation and have it clean
and government economic.
The Chair here suggested, to test the
effect of the debate, that a motion be
made to try the sense of those present
| as individuals on the subject of larger
or small legislative bodies for cities.
On motion of j. H. Leggett, it was taken
and resulted, in favor of the larger body
| system AZ, opposed 8.
| The club then adjourned for two
weeks, when the Committee on Fire De
Partment will submit a report which
will be discussed.
VOICE OF THE PRESS.
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