The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-28

pervlsors OF the county rescind their &C
ton canceling the great register on and
i after February H. In this effort he i
ably assisted by some of the best politi
clans in the county, who can see nothing
gained and everything to lose in such
move.
1.-The cancellation of the great register
OF Alameda County this year." says Mr.
Bishop. with no provision for the ex.
pense of re-registration, will result in the
Acknowledgement of at least % per cent Of
| the voters of the county. Experience has
shown in the past that without effective
and persistent work large class of voters
will not take the trouble to go to the
| County Clerks or Assessors office to have
their names placed upon the great regis
ter. and more particularly will this be the
case If voter is to have a polltax bill
thrust under his nose Is condition pre-
dent to registration. The polltax is OBJ
noxious to nine-tenths of the people gen
orally and ought to be abolished.
! ut is claimed that it is obligatory upon
| the Board of Supervisors to order the can
collation. of the old registers. The matter
is left wholly to thediscretioD of the Board
OF Supervisors. The law reads:
/ There shall be in each of the counties
and cities and counties, in the State, where
registration is now required by law to take
! place previous to each general election,
and In other counties or cities or counties
when required by the Board of Super
visors. new and complete registration OF
! the voters of such counties, and cities and
counties, who are entitled thereto, and
who apply with the proper proof.
The law, it will be observed, leaves il
discretionary with the Board of Super
visors of Alameda County to order or not
to order new registration of voters, and
under the circumstances it would be the
exercise of bad discretion at this time
with no provision or authority provided OF
conferred by the law for an appropriation
to meet the expense of such new register
| or registration.
1.-The election the present year is a very
| important one, and to disfranchise voters
by canceling the great register, without
ample provision for re-registration, would
be an outrage upon the voters OF the
| county. 1t is the duty of the County
Clerk to cancel the names of all voters not
appearing as having voted at the last
general election, also the names of all who
! have died or known to have removed from
| the county. If this is done the bulk of the
great register will be materially reduced
! and voters saved the trouble of re-regis-
tration. The former action of the board
! In ordering the cancellation should be
reconsidered in the interest of the voters
of this county, as | can find no law re-
| curing new registration this year.
Joseph Henscher of San Leandro, who
was the Republican nominee for the posi-
| ton of County Treasurer at the election
two years ago, says he indorses the posi-
ton taken by Mr.. Bishop. and believes it
is the sentiment of voters throughout the
county. Many others in the city and
throughout the county have sent him
word they thoroughly Endorsed the posi-
ton which he takes on the question.
County Clerk Frank G. Jordan has dis
missed all the Deputy County Clerks
throughout the county named for registra-
tion purposes. and intends to await fur
Their developments before he does much
work. He stands ready, however, to go
ahead and carry out the requirements of
the law, should the Supervisors insist on
new registration. The leaders of every
party unite IN declaring that it is an i'm
position on a county official to compel
him to do out of his private purse the
work that has heretofore been charge
against the county, and prefer to let the
register go over until the Legislature can
cure the defect which makes it his duty
to bear the cost of the new register.