The herald., 1898-03-22
WORK FOR DEMOCRATS

The Democratic executive committee
for Los Angeles county will meet in this
city next Saturday, March 26th, when,
among other things, the plan Of organi-
cation and work for the coming campaign
will be considered. In anticipation Of
this meeting the reorganization sub
committee, composed Of Abbot Kinney,
chairman, D. Neuhart and M. w. Conk-
ling, has issued circular to the Demo-
cratic voters indicating the following
lines of work that, in their opinion,
should be taken up.
In national affairs there are two
amendments that should be made a part
of the federal constitution: First, the
election of United States senators by a
direct vote Of the people; second, the abo-
Iition of the electoral college in the cleo
ton of president and vice president of
the United States, the vote for those Of
flcials in the state to be direct and with
out the existing superfluous and danger
GUS intermediates. There can be no
valid reasonable opposition to these re-
lOTlIS. 1HGy dlS llOt PciNy quCotiOhs,
and the necessity for their establishment
has long been apparent.
An amendment to the state constitu-
tion along the following lines is recon-
outside of the marine league, and juris-
aiction and protection of the state q Cali
fornia to be freed from state or local tax
alton and placed on an equal footing
with those of states and nations not tax
ing such ships, and to free California
ocean ships from the present handicap.
A new county government bill is de-
clared to be necessity. 1t should place
in the hands of each county the power to
fix it's own salaries and all details Of gov
ernmental methods not in conflict with
the general plan of county government
throughout the state.
Second, mandatory act obliging
municipalities to accept the county as
sessment as the basis of their taxing
values, and the collection of all taxes at
one place, by the county tax collector.
The grand jury list submitted by each
judge to be published fifteen days before
the grand jury is drawn, and all exam
nations of public business to be public
The petit jury is also in need of remod-
cling. No juror should be called upon to
try more than one case each year.
A reform should be undertaken in the
management of aid to indigents. The
present system is making beggars.
What is needed in county affairs is a
judicious revision of the system of gov
ernment, looking to better service and
lower taxes. These our candidates must
be closely pledged to secure. The CEN
trail committee should be instructed to
hold to strict and prompt account any
Democratic officer who may neglect his
duty.
The district attorneys office needs
overhauling. The county treasurer
should also be county tax collector.
Mortgage foreclosure fees and the
charges for the public administration
of small estates require modification on
careful and conservative lines. County
expenses must be reduced. This is an
easy thing to do without injury to the
public service. The referendum, SO
favorably known in the voting on bond
issues, should be extended in it's appli-
cation to other important public ques-
tions.
Is there any good citizen who could
conscientiously decline to subscribe to
a platform composed of the foregoing
planks? The duty of the Democratic
party of Los Angeles county is set plainly
before it.