The San Francisco call., 1910-12-31
BOYNTON URGES
AMENDMENT Of
ELECTION LAWS
Senator Reports for Committee
on Performance of Plat
form Promises
Direct Primary Leagues Orig
inal Proposals and Other
Changes Favored
By GEORGE A. VAN SMITH

- v <A4N S1N11
Amendments Of the direct prima r,
election law 10 make it conform tc
the bin originally introduced by the
direct primary league were proposed
10 the legislative conference yester-
day by Senator Boynton of Oroville
who viii be president pro TEN of the
new senate
Senator Boynton, in behalf of his
special committee, returned a report
covering the platform promises touch
ing direct primary legislation, the Aus
Iralian ballot, the short ballot, non
partisan Judiciary and the regulation
Of lobbyists On the latter subject Sen
stor Boynton submitted digest of the
Missouri law. but said that the last
legislature did not need any such law
and that he believed the next could
worry along without one
The womanis suffrage question was
disposed Of briefly by Senator c. W.
Bell of Pasadena who presented the
draft Of proposed constitutional
amendment the particular feature of
which was the elimination Of the word
male" from the constitutional quail
ficatiOn for the exercise of the duty OF
suffrage.
DIRECT PRIMARY PROPOSALS
The exceptionally we'll considered r.
port on election laws returned by SEN
ator A F. Boynton for his committee
wa sfull Of cold comfort for those al
legged direct primary champions who
advocated the defeat Of the direct pri-
mary bill two years ago unless 1t was
made a nonpartisan measure That
report not only recommended that the
legislature should return to the pro-
visions Of the original bill touching the
nomination OF United States senators
and the formation Of platforms, but ii
declared for a radicas stInening of the
partisan provisions of the measure il
such stifening could be effected under
the constitution.
The express ,simplification" amend
ments recommended by the committee
consisted chiefly OF suggestions for a
E reduced percentage of signatures for
candidates petitions. and placing limits
upon the time in which petitions might
be circulated and consequently upon
the duration Of the campaign.
The short ballot report was comprised
IN the recommendation that the state
printer, clerk Of the supreme court and
attorney general be made appointive
officers, and the confession that the
committee. could not agree upon any
others 10 be placed in the appointive
list. Constitutional amendments viii
NECESSARY TO take the clerk of the su-
preme court and the surveyor general
out OF the elective class.
other recommendations submitted by
43oynton provided for the removal OF
fhe party circle from the general cleo
tion ballot. the pure Australian ballot
the rotation Of candidates names on
the ballot, life tenure for judges, sub
5ect 10 recall and three alternatives
Tor securing the promised nonpartisan
judiciary. One OF these was the bar
association advisory vote, which the
commission did not favor Another
provided for a separate nonpartisan
judiciary ballot and the third for nom
partisan judiciary section Of the pri-
mary ballot as employed in Washing
ton.
TIE set program Of the conference
was finished shortly before O'Clock
last night. Il was announced by recog-
nized leaders Of both houses that the
organization caucuses would be held
IN Sacramento Monday and it was sug-
gested that a senatorial caucus might
be called for Monday.
The extremely close fight for chief
clerk OF the house between Mallory and
Walker had reached the stage last
night Of an understanding that If
Walker won Mallory would be his as
sistant and vice versa.
The supporters of Ed Whyte Of Sac
ramento declared that he had taken the
measure OF Assembly Sergeant at Arms
Jack stafford. but Stafford declared
that he had votes enough to nominate
him in the caucus and veteran legisla-
tors were Of the samem opinion
The Los Angeles contingent was
vOciferouslE confident that George Co
narts Of Los Angeles would be elected
sergeant AT arms Of the senate, and the
San Francisco and Alameda county
legislators were equally confident if
less demOnstrative in their assertions
of the success of Joseph /. Coughlin Of
Oakland, who was started in the race
by Senator Elect Tyrrell
IIsSNER SPEAKS FOR WORKS
After a meeting Of the Los Angeles
delegation held at the Palace last
night, Meyer Lissner issued an informal
statement to the press in which de-
ciared his confidence in the election of
John D. Works to the United States
senate with a showing Of 75 votes on
the first Joint ballot and by a unani-
nous vote on the second.
Lissner declined to go into details
explanatory of his astonishing state
ment, which he declared was deemed
by him 10 be an accurate forecast made
on what ~we know of the situation. >
Heinsisted that the Los Angeles was
unit for Works. but refused to ar
Ewer questions touching the attitude
of individuals, saying. I'VE are no;
talking about individuals" He also
said that the question Of caucus had
not been discussed.
Questions directed at other members
Of the delegation were met with Tho
direct Information or equally effective
3ntimation that only Lissner was aft
thorized to speak and his refusal to 2,
into details suggested that his state
rnent was made for the purpose a
Throwing a scare.