The herald., 1898-01-26
KINNEY'S VIEWS ON REFORM
OTHER SPEAKERS MAP OUT
THEIR PLANS AND IDEAS
Mr.. Keller Presents a Resolution
Which After Very Long Debate
Is Tabled a

| va w Soe hiiQ otiG0l ltSL UlBnt, LII.
Harris acting as chairman in the alb
scence of President Wright. Secretary
A. w. Fisher stated that the meeting
had been called for the purpose of adopt
the society. The actual membership of
the Jeffersonian club, he said, was now
in the neighborhood of 200.
Abbot Kinno the first speaker of the
evening, thouso, that in order to turn
the city and county of Los Angeles into
| a Democratic section 1t was necessary
for the party TO gain the confidence of
the people. The great question was how
| to go about it.
| The speaker then went into the evils
and inadequacies of the assessment of
the people, as now constituted. His
| scheme was to have but one assessment,
| as it exists now in Ohio and many other
states, to be paid in one place, and when
that should have been done then the
property would be clear. He believed
that the plans of the Democracy on that
line. when fully explained, would suit
the people, now dissatisfied with the
present system.
WIN ieleIeHCe W the puDllC duTTln-
istrator and the administration of es-
tates, he claimed that the fees of the
official eat up the estates His PROPOSE
ton was to abolish the place altogether
or else modify the conduct of the office
itself.
People do not realize the increase in
population, wealth and money, and do
not know what their officials do. The old
time township system of officials was all
right in small villages, whenthe popula-
ton was homogeneous. Here the sys-
tenn answers no longer. Nobody can
now control the public officers and there
is practically no supervision by the
people over their own affairs. The grand
jury is useless for criminal business. 1t
is supposed to manage the affairs of the
officials, but the manner of the inquis-
itorial body's selection and the secrecy
of its doings constitute fatal weak
ness, Bosses can fix grand juries. The
remedy pointed out by the speaker was
to force the judge to sign the grand
Jurors list and have it published twenty
days before it's drawing and then good
body of men would be selected. All ex-
aminations of public affairs by it should
be done publicly. A higher standard
Of officials would be the result.
The condition of criminal procedure
too, was not satisfactory, inasmuch as
the conviction of rich criminal can
hardly be secured. Practically there is
defeat of justice as long as his money
lasts. The speaker said that the peo-
pie of the state also had right to pro-
lection. A majority of the jury, he
opined, should decide cases, so as to
avoid the scandalous examples of hung
juries, too often rendered ineffective by
one stubborn or corrupt individual. The
general county government is too
grossly expensive. Each county
should be allowed to regulate
it's own taxes, salaries and expenses.
There was no reason, in his mind, for the
maintenance Of a tax collector where
there is treasurer, to whom taxpayers
could pay directly. The administration
of the system of charities, a system
which is not conducive to self-reliance
in the person of reduced circumstances,
but makes him a regular dependent
beggar, was also touched upon.
The welfare of the community de-
pended upon what the speaker had out
lined, he believed, and would appeal to
the people. 1t would show that the
Democracy is trying to do good for them
and would lead to the success of the
party.
THE PRIMARY LAW
Attorney Conkling explained the pri-
mary election law. He pointed out where
it was faulty, but, in his opinion, it had
much to commend it, nevertheless It
would prevent hobos and FOUNDERS from
voting early and often in different wards
and precincts, because the penalties
were precisely the same as in cases of
fraud at general elections. He antici-
pated some trouble, however, in the mat
ter of voting for delegates to the numer-
Gus conventions, for state, county, su-
pervisorial, district or others, because of
the ambiguity and contradictions in the
law. Other difficulties might spring up
in the matter Of getting the tickets right
The speaker advocated good schooling
in this matter for Democrats, so as to
would prevent the throwing out of tick
cts for irregularity.
j. H. Melvill of the Democratic city
central committee, reported that lists
had been submitted to the supervisors
ana clly COuHCll, Wlln the names OF
Democrats who could be selected as
primary election officers He anticipat-
ed that the redivision of certain pre-
cincts by the supervisors would cause
trouble unless advertised. The speaker
endorsed Mr.. Kinneys remarks, espe-
cially on taxation, and hoped that the
Jeffersonians would meet oftener, as
politics were getting warmer.
Mr.. Fisher announced that arrange
ments are being made for Governor
Budd's address to the club on state is
sues, which will occur within two or
three weeks, when he visits this part of
the state when other speakers also
would be heard.
wise plan for the organization of the
Democracy of Los Angeles. mapped out
his idea. 1t consisted of the formation
of Jeffersonian ward clubs, each one to
have as valuable adjunct a member of
the finance committee of the main club.
Everything up to this time had pro-
ceeded in the most peaceable and pleas
ant manner, but when Mr.. Keller of the
Seventh ward presented resolution en-
dorsing that of the Democratic city CEN
trail committee of the 22d inst, respect
ing the ownership of the water system
by the city. things began to hum and ]