The San Francisco call., 1907-02-08

preserve regularity Caminettfs request
be put. Porter was ruff1ed, but he saw
the force of Curtin's plea, and address,
ing himself to the Democrat, who is
general favorite, said:
Il never refuse the request of a gem
tleman. Coming from you, Senator Cur
tin, grant it. Senator Caminetti asks
unanimous consent to explain. Is there
objection?"
Lesyitt promptly interposed. and with
a bang Of the gavel Porter said:
That settles it, and, raising his
voice. Senator Caminetti, you sit
down"
Caminetti sat The rollcaIl. which
followed Immediately. failed to disclose
a dissenting vote. Save for the ratifi-
cation of the proviso added in the Sem
ate committee by the Assembly, the
work OF the direct primary reformers
is done for the session. The measure
will probably be made a special order
in the lower house for Monday, and it's
original passage there by unanimous
vote leaves small opportunity for re-
pudiation of 1t in its amplifled form.
GILLETT FOR FAIR PLAY
Governor Gillett has gone on record
again as opposed to petty partisan leg
islation by promptly and emphatically
repudiating today a measure intro
duced in the Assembly by Speaker
Beardslee which bears all the ear
marks of an organization attempt to
legislate Pardee appointees out of Of
fee.
The bill introduced by Beardslee is
sweeping in its provision. Enacted, it
would terminate the terms of all State
officers appointed by the Governor as
a pure exercise Of executive power or
by and with the consent of the Sem
ate. on the first Monday in July, 1907,
with the exception of the University
Regents, Bank Commissioners and the
State Board of Prison Directors. At
one fell swoop the decks would be
cleared for Gillett to make four-year
appointments to scores of places. The
San Francisco Harbor Commission, the
Building and Loan Commission and the
attorneyship for the State Board of
Health are among the good things that
would be placed at the Governors dis
posal. To make the measure good. the
bill further provides that no writ of
injunction, restraining order or other
judicial process shall be issued or be
effectual to prevent the appointees
provided for taking Office.
BEARDsLEE SAYS LITTLE
Beardslee professed the deepest ig-
norance touching the origin of the
measure. He explained that its pur-
pose was to prevent holdover troubles
and an outgoing Governor jobbing his
successor out of lot of good appoint
ments. Some weeks ago, when such
a measure directed at Al Lindley and
Jake Transue. Building and Loan Com
missioners appointed by Pardee, was in
process of incubation, Beardslee an
nounced with great fervor that he
would fight any Legislation aimed at his
good friends. Today he fathered
more sweeping measure, without even
learning whence it emanated. Beardslee
admitted that he was not the author
of the bill and claimed he did not
know who was. He declined also to ad-
NIT that he was in a position to dis
close for whom he introduced it, A
mysterious measure, with its mystery
fingers pointing toward the machine.
When the bills to oust Lindley, Tran
sue and Elston were first discussed,
GilIett announced with decided en-
phasis that he would be party to no
such cheap politics. He has not changed
his mind The Governor denied indig-
nantly today that he was responsible
for the bill introduced by the Speaker
or that he would countenance that kind
of legislation. He said: II am in no
way responsible for this measure. 1
say now, as / have said before, that 1
will not be a party to that kind of
political legislation.
NOT AFTER PATRONAGE
Il do believe the State is loaded up
with useless commissions, and I have
recommended the abolition of four of
them. My recommendation in this mat
ter was based solely on a desire to in
ject business methods into the States
affairs, to save money improvidently, IL
not Improperly, spent. I want no legis-
lation for the purpose of placing
patronage at my disposal, and, as 1
have told The Call in reference to the
same general subject, I will veto
promptly such legislation if it comes
to me. I will not play that kind of
politics.
IF the Legislature wishes to wipe
out useless political places, am in ac-
cord with it. but 1 will have nothing to
do with legislation designed to put one
set of men out of office to make way
for others of my selection"
TEST OF VOTING MACHINES
Senator Richard Welch of San Fran
cisco, doubling his ability to secure an
investigation Of the voting machines
used at the last election in San Fran
cisco before the Legislature adjourns,
proposes a general law, which, If en-
acted, will go long way toward pro-
tecting the voter from manipulation of
the machines by boss-owned experts
and toward restoring public confidence
in voting devices.
senator We6h'S bill provides for the
testing and inspection of all voting ma
chimes semipublicly before they are
put in commission for an election. Ac- |
cording to the terms of the Welch bill
the County Clerk or other official |
charged with the control of the election
must, at a date not more than thirty !
days nor less than twenty days pre-
ceding election, set a date upon
which the machines to be employed at |
that election shall be examined, tested |
and sealed. The same officer must no.
tify by mail the chairmen and score |
taries of the several political parties |
nominating candidates to be voted for |
at such election, and every candidate |
who has filed q certificate of independ- |
ent candidacy, of the time and place of |
such examination and test Party Of
fcials and candidates, either in person |
or by expert, are to be permitted to ex-
anime and test the machines and to be |
present at all such tests and examina- |
tions. Ihe tests concluded, the official |
charged with conducting the examina- |
ton must close the machines and seal |
them with a special seal. Then parties |
or candidates may employ watchers to |
insure that in the brief time CLEANSING