The herald., 1897-02-02
STATESMEN SPEND SUNDAY
Away From the Stress and Fog
of Sacramento
SUpERABUNDANT EMPLOYEES
Altogether Too Many Taxeaters-Mythi.
cal Services
That Contested Election Melodrama In
the Twenty-third District-"Ex-
aminer Petitions"

the TWenty-thfrd DlStrlct- EA-
aminer Petitions"
Especial Correspondence to The Herald)
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.-I took
run from the state capital to this metrop-
oils by way of change of climatic
conditions and political surroundings
for a couple of days. 1t Is true that the
legislature needs to be closely watched,
but as 1t has this week followed the US
ual custom of adjourning over from Sat
urday to Monday, it Is just now too
widely scattered for any one man to
keep an eye on It,"
A WATERY COUNTRY
It is seldom that 1 have ridden over
ninety miles of track and seen wetter
country or a greater supply OF water
spread out in all directions than was
visible today 1t was wet in Sacramento.
in and around the depot; the river was
Camp under the bridge over which the
train passed; and all along the journey
performed by the Oregon express the
eyes of passengers were greeted with
small streams and large ones, well filled
draining bitches, puddles, ponds ana
lakes of various dimensions. 1t was
wet outlook, and vet the aggregate rain
fall In that region is not excessive, thus
far. but sufficient to make the face of the
country green and inviting.
On reaching the west side of the bay
many passengers who had been soJourn-
ing in Sacramento spoke of the differ
erce in the atmosphere of San Francis
CO and that of Sacramento Compared
with the climatic conditions of the state
capital the atmosphere of this bay re-
gion seems balmy and delightful.
STATESMEN AT HOME
A goodly number of legislators came
down today, as is the case every Satur-
day. This might be expected, as eighteen
assemblymen and ten senator's reside i'll
ard represent this city. 1t is here Where
every Saturday and Sunday various leg
islative schemes are incubated, and
when these statesmen return to their
field of labor every Monday morning
they are apt to be loaded with bills, res
olutions, constitutional amendments
and other propositions characteristic
of great and good men with the single
purpose of saving the country in which
they live.
THE SACRED BALLOT BOX
Registrar Hinton of this city, and his
assistants who went to the capital three
days ago on very important mission,
returned tonight Their mission to the
capital was to perform the last act in the
contested election melodrama in the
Twenty third district of San Francisco.
While Mr. Hinton had charge of the bal
lot boxes in the state capitol his vigil
lance and that of his assistants left no
possible door open for fraud. Mr.. Hin
ton ard his faithful assistants as care
fully ard sacredly guarded the impor-
tant documents as though the destiny
Of California depended upon an abSo-
lutely honest recount.
SUPERINTENDENT EMPLOYEES.
During the arrangements for the care
of the ballots before the recount should
begin, the fact was developed that there
were several more employees connected
with The two houses of the Legislature
in certain departments than most plain
people VIII be likely to think necessary.
For rsta &C.. there are 80 employees in
the department of the sengeant-a alarms
of the senate, % in the corresponding
department of the assembly. is under
the control of the capitol commission
ers. and three regular officers under the
control of the secretary of state and
liable to duty. OF course, these consti-
tute but small percentage of the grand
army whose names are on the payrollS
of the two houses and whose services to
the state, With few exceptions, are
mythical.
A VIOLATED PLEDGE.
Fifteen of the assemblymen and SEN
atorS from San Francisco county stand
pledged in favor of the adoption of the
tax reform amendment to the constitu-
tion, which was introduced simultane-
ously by Senator Bulla and Assembly
man Keegan. If all of them keep their
pledges after the fashion of Senator
Braunhardt, the amendment will be sub
mitted, If at all, without the 15 mem bers
from this county, who promptly placed
themselves on the platform of their par
ty last fall and were expected to do
what the promised If elected. When
the amendment was under considera ton
the other night Senator Braunhardt,
who was conveniently absent, sent word
to the chairman that If vote were tax
en- he desired his vote to be recorded
in the negative. 1t is believed, however,
by friends of the measure that the San
Francisco delegation, regardless Of par
ty, will, when the time comes, vote al
most unanimously for submitting such
an amendment to the voters of tire state.
AGAINST EXTORTION
The people of San Francisco are just
now, like the citizens Of Los Angeles
specially interested in the question of
water rates. They are also anxious to
secure reduction in the rates charged
for gas. They realize that they are pay
ing too much for those necessities, and
that the companies supplying them
could make quite a reduction and still
keep out Of the almshouse. The Exam
liner leads the fight for the people. Ex-
aminer petitions, as they are called, are
seen in scores of prominent places and
signatures are being attached to them
very numerously. The petitioners ask
that the board Of supervisors, in fix
ing the rates for the ensuing year, shall
put the figures at the lowest point con-
sistent with fair profits for the water
and gas companies 1t is an interesting
coincidence that the leading daily pa
per Of the north and the leading daily
paper of Southern California, The Los
Angeles Herald, should at the same
time be engaged in brave fight for
the peoples rights and necessities
against the unjust exactions of corpor-
ate greed. May they both win, as they
certainly deserve. RALPH HOYT.
THE POULTRY SHOW.
To Open This Eeyeninp-A LARGE Nrro