The record-union., 1899-02-09

no compensation for election officers
was provided for, the law would, II
passed, be unconstitutional. He OPP
posed the bill, he said, and would op-
pose any similar bill. He thought that
the people did not want to be put to
the expense Of providing ballots for
such elections He called attention to
the fact that another bill provided that
ballot box should be provided for each
political party at every booth, and by
that means the ends aimed at Secrecy
would be defeated. He felt certain
that did each party have it's separate
ballot box the Prohibitionists would
win out because everybody would want
to pose as being a Prohibitionist. He
| said he was in perfect accord with any
proposition looking to the purity of the
| ballot, but felt that the evil began with
registration, and that it would not be
cured by the bill under consideration,
and it's kindred measures. He thought
Smiths registration bill, properly
amended, would come nearer giving the
relief desired. The speaker said from
what he could learn he understood that
the bill would pass, but he wanted to
get properly on record as being opposed
|
in the interest of the push" and
FOUNDERS but in the interest of an
honest ballot.
ASHE FOR THE BILL.
Ashe, for the San Francisco delega-
ton, paid high compliment to the Su-
thor of the bill, Stratton, and said the
people of San Francisco were much in
earnest when they petitioned for the
passage of the bill.
| DAVIS SCORES SHORTRIDGE.
Davis favored the bill and scored
Shortridge from long taw. He said the
bill providing for ballot boxes for each
political party was only a tentative
measure, and would, he understood
from the author, be withdrawn. He
! felt that the people of the State would
not grumble at the few dollars of ex-
pense attached to such primaries when
the same assured purity at such cleo
tions. The bill, he said, was above all
party consideration. People of all
/ parties interested in pure primaries
were in favor of the measure. He
said that as Californians the Senators
should vote for the good of the whole
State, and ought not consider any sin
gle locality which chanced to grumble
at the mite of expense attached to the
measure.
SIMPSON DON'T WANT IT.
| Simpson said it seemed to him that
the people of the whole State seemed
to be afraid of themselves. He could
see no reason why the people of the
State need pass law to protect them
selves from themselves. He felt that
when the people needed a reform they
would rise in their might and crush
out the evil. Primaries, he said, were
in the hands of the people, who, If they
desired, could rise in their might and
| run them correctly. He did not be-
iieve in so much legislation on prima-
ries, and thought the people at the
proper time would assert themselves.
He could not but feel that the proposed
bill was wrong and that it should be
relegated to the good judgment of the
people themselves. He said the people
were belittleing themselves when they
attempted to protect themselves with
such law.
GILLETTE INQUIRIES.
Gillette inquired of Stratton whether
the bill did not confine a voter to a
particular political party and bind him
affirmatively, inquired whether that
provision would not make the bill un-
constitutional, inasnuch as the Consti-
tuition provided that every citizen
might vote for any candidate, regard
less of party
STRATTON EXPLAINS.
| In closing the debate, Stratton re-
ferred to the several political platforms.
all of which had declared for a general
primary election law. He said the bill
was clear, concise and plain, whereas
the one passed two years ago was COM
plicated. He had no hesitation in say
ing that the bill, if it became a law,
would be constitutional. In order to
protect individual voters. the bill pro-
vided for a board of non-partisan cleo
ton officers. He was not optimistic
and realized that the bill would not
do all that was claimed for it, but he
held that it was a step in the right di-
rection, and had been presented in an
swer to a crying demand. He said
he could not understand the opposition
of the Senator from Los Angeles
| (Simpson), who had intimated that he
favored the bill,
THE BILL PASSED.
two years ago Stratton had assured
the Senate that the bill then up for
consideration was constitutional, and
when he made a like assertion for the
present measure he (Simpson) doubted
it.
Stratton replied emphatically that
two years ago he had not said one word
for the primary bill then up for con-
sideration.
The roll was called and the bill was
passed by a vote of 81 to =, Cutter and
Shortridge voting no. Simpson swung
into line and voted aye.
ASSEMBLY MESSAGE.
A message was received from the
Assembly announcing the adoption of
! S. j. r. {. relative to the false brand
ing of food products, and s. ]. r. 15,
relating to Brigham H. Roberts, and
the passage of the following: s. BIS 100
and 81, and A. BIS 15I and 522.
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
/! Committee reports were handed in as
follows:
| Gillette, for Judiciary-A. BIS 132, to
provide for the satisfaction of real
property mortgages which have been
foreclosed and the property covered
thereby sold, and to provide for the
form of such satisfaction; 149, amend
ing Sections 939 and 963 of the Code
of Civil Procedure; go, relating to the
manner of bringing an issue to trial;
and 800, to amend Section 1853 of the
Political Code-do pass; S. B. 401, to es-
tablish a State Board of Charities
substitute be printed and referred back
to the committee for further consider