The San Francisco call., 1910-12-31
SENATOR PROPOSES
new COMMISSIONS
Roseberry Outlines LEGISLATION
to Govern Civil Service and
Employers Liability
judicial Reforms and City and
County Government Changes
Are Submitted

Two new commissions are contem-
plated in legislation which was pro-
posed yesterday by Senator L. III. Rose
berry of Santa Barbara as member OF
the committees on civil service and
merit system and employers liability.
proposed civil service commission
is TO have three members, appointed
by the governor for terms of four years
at $4,000 a year There is to be sec
retary at $4,000 in addition to other
employees. The plan is to have all pub
! lie servants under civil service with
the exception of elective officers, those
appointed by the governor the legis-
lature and the judiciary, the chief dep
uty of an elective officer, one warden
OF each prison, one superintendent of
each reformatory and asylum, teaching
forces of schools persons engaged in
work done Jointly by the state and fed
etRl government, state and county
Librarians and physicians and attorneys
doing professional service. In the
event of a man being removed by his
chief he will have the right of appeal
to the commission.
ACCIDENT BOARD
An Industrial accident board is pro-
posed to handle labor affairs. It is to
be composed of two commissioners at
$4,000 a year and the state labor COM
missioner Roseberry said the commit
tee would urge an employers liability
bill TO do away with the fiction of as
sumed risk and place the cost OF acci-
dent on the consumer and not make in
jury a penalty of employment. An al
Tentative provision is included which
will become binding in the event of
both parties fling notice with the
board. It is required that the injured
must be given medical aid for 80 days,
II necessary, and then given a weekly
indemnity of 100 per cent of the salary
in the event of total disability and of
65 per cent for partial disability.
W. J. Hunsaker of Los Angeles out
lined the proposed changes In the
criminal procedure. Following are
some of the contemplated reforms:
To permit three quarters of a
jury to return a verdict, except in
cases of life and death; to permit
comment in the argument on the
failure of the defendant to testify;
to require the court to examine
grand Jurors and to repeal the law
permitting the setting aside Of an
indictment because of the disquali-
ication of a juror; to repeal the act
requiring that defendant be given q
transcript of the testimony adduced
before the grand jury; to permit
greater use of the preliminary. ex-
animation testimony in a trial; to
give greater weight to the testi
mony of an accomplice; to call in a
judge to complete trial in the
event of the disability or death of
trial judge: to give the proSecu-
tion and the defense the same num-
ber Of peremptory challenges; to
give the people the right of appeal
in habeas corpus proceedings
In reporting for the committee on
city and county government, State Con-
troller A. B. Nye said that the state tax
commission was drafting legislation to
carry out the purposes of constitutional
amendment /, providing for the separa-
tion of state and local taxation. The
recommendation was made that a tax
expert be appointed. Regarding the
commission plan of government for
cities, the committee reported favor
ably on measures drafted by the League
of California Municipalities.
COUNTY HOME RULE
County home rule was favored, it
being proposed that each county adopt
its own county government act, to be
ratified by the legislature. Controller
Nye said further that his committee
favored establishing the Office of public
accountant and the installation of i'm
proved accounting systems in all state
departments. Further elimination of
fees in payment of county officials for
their services was advocated. Improved
business methods, especially in the
state PRISONS were suggested. ln6 re-
organization of the state board of ex-
aminers with view to relieving the
governor the attorney general and the
secretary of state of much. routine
work also was suggested.
Russ Avery of Los Angeles supple
mented Nyes talk by saying the com
mittee would have bills providing for
the short ballot for counties, the cleo
tion of supervisors at large, the recall
and the appointment of nearly all the
county officials by the supervisors.
Reapportionment Report
Reapportionment in the state was
reported on briefly by Senator N. w.
Thompson of Alhambra before the state
central committee conference yester-
day. Thompson said that no definite
bill had been prepared by the COM
mittee, but that one would be framed
by the time the legislature convened. |
He explained that the committee had
fhe co-onerafion of the census officials |