The San Francisco call., 1899-01-29

on Monday the measure to be the SUBJ
ject of further consideration.
Senator Stratton has written for The
Call the following article relative to the
bill:
I have been requested to give my views
relative to pending legislation affecting
suffrage and the publication of primary
and general elections.
My connection with this matter has
been without sentiment, and l have en-
deavored TO look al the questions involved
| from practical standpoint The subject
! is. While somewhat technical, an impor-
tant and interesting one. The enactment
of new primary election law is called
for by great majority of the citizens of
the State, regardless of party affiliations.
The proposed law now reported faVorably
by the Joint Senate and Assembly Elec-,
visions five salient features. The bill is
in its terms and operation both simple
the various political parties are held at
the same time and place, respectively.
These elections are guarded by the same
provisions and safeguards as apply in
cases of general elections. They are under
the control of the State and the applica-
ton is made of the Australian ballot sys-
In addition to this it has been the aim
of the measure to prevent frauds as well
shown that to merely punish an offense
does not, as to primary elections, correct
the evil; abuses must be made impossible
as well as punished as felontes II perpe-
trated.
It is to be hoped that the friends of this
measure will in large part disregard i'm.
the bill and will unite in urging it's
passage lin view Of the great good to re-
suit therefrom. 1t seems to be, and I
think properly. considered that one of the
dangers to the republic lies in the primary
election system and that reform should
well begin there.
In addition to this second measure
pending provides in detail for the punish
ment of each and every offense against
n m q ole
This, therefore, would insure not only
prevention, but punishment, as well.
Another matter connected closely with
this subject is that of a change in our
system of registration, whereby the same
will be not only simplified but rendered
much less expensive
One of the demands of the State seems
further to be the adoption of some voting
machine which will prevent frauds in the
count as we'll as in the casting and tabu-
lation of the vote.
In view of the fact that the merits of
the respective voting machines have not
been sufficiently tested q bill has been In
troduced providing for the appointment
OF commission. consisting of the Cover
Voters of San Francisco, whose duty it
will be to employ practical mechanical
experts and to eXhaustively test all voting
machines submitted.
The commission is authorized and di-
rected TO manufacture not less than five,
nor more than ten, of all machines of such
design as commend themselves for the
election in San Francisco and elsewhere
If desired these voting machines may be
put to practical test whereby all voters
who desire may informally cast their ball
lots by or through them. This will pre-
clude the chance of any improper report
or manipulation, and will be so open as to
be above suspicion or opportunity of
fraudulent manipulation.
The commission will thereupon be re-
quired to report the result of their ex-
periments to the Legislature, together
with contracts which they are Obliged TO
secure from patentees showing the exact
cost to the State of the adoption of anv
particular machine. There will be. there
fore, an open, practical test. and the cost
of the machines will be known before the
Legislature shall be asked to act
We can afford to wait two wears for
an innovation of this kind and the +irna
consumed in the meanwhile will not have
been lost.
There are other technical measures con.
nected with elections now pending which
need not be gone into.
meet any one individual too hastily with
reforms of this kind to the exclusion ~
other officials and citizens, regardless 0f
party, who are assisting in this movement
and are lending their hearty eo-operation
to the enactment of these necessary laws
F. S. STRATTON