The Trinity times., 1855-05-19

to audit and pay the per diem of officers Of
said Legislature for sixty days, so soon rs
their services are rendered, and accounts are
certified to by the proper officers of their re-
spective bodies. Provided. II there should
not be so much in the treasury at any one
time. then each member shall receive pro
rata PROPORTION. from time to time until he
has received the full sum to which be is enti-
tied under this Act
On the 30th of January, the Governor
transmitted the following message, returning
the Act, and assigning his reasons for with
holding his APPROVAL
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
Sacramento, Jan 80, 1855.
To The assembly Of California:
An Act entitled IAN Act requiring the
Controller to audit certain bills of the MEM
bers of the present Legislature" is herewith
returned to the House in which il originated
without approval
The Act requires the Controller to audit,
and the Treasurer to pay out Of the general
fund which may be on hand, or which may
be hereafter received, per diem and mileage
Of the members of the present Legislature for
sixty days, so soon as their services are rem
dered and accounts are certified to by the
officers of their respective bodies"
Aware that the failure Of the State to pay
on demand and in CASH for services perform
ed, subjects the representatives Of the people
and all others in her employ TO serious IN
convenience and loss, if I believed that the
Act under consideration remcdicd the evil,
or would materially better their condition,
would willingly give it my approval. In fact,
! if the amount Of cash therein appropriated
and set apart were now in the general fund,
it would give me sincere pleasure to assent to
the Act becoming law.
But. in view Of The fact that the State
Treasurer reports there is, at this date, no
cash in the general fund, aud also that the
| Controller and Treasurer concur in opinion,
that. for the reason that nearly, if not quite
all the revenue accruing Hnder the last as
sessment, has been already received and dis
bursed. Il Sufficient amount Of cash to meet
the requirements Of the Act will not have ne
cumulated in that fund within seven months,
! am satisfied that It's approval, 50 far from
| beneGting the members and officers Of the
Legislature, would in the end, prove iniur-
Gus to them aud to all others directly inter-
ested. Injurious, because calculated greatly
to weaken public confidence in the ability OF
the State to promptly meet accrung liabili-
| ties, and, of course cause material deprecia-
ton in every description of State indebted
/ ness.
At this date, the total amount Of Control
lers warrants outstanding, exceeds two hun
! drca thCueaol dollars
Most of these warrants were issued for
materials and services long snee furnished
and performed, and the holders of them are
doubtless desirous. and expecting to receive
in cash from the general fund, the amount
called for on the face Of each, which is clear
! " their right, as soon as a sum sufficient for
their redemption shall have accumulated
But the Act in question. if approved, would
compel the proper officer TO postpone the pay
ment Of these warrants until each member
Of the present Legislature shall have receiv-
ed the sum Of one thousand dollars, and each
officer his per diem for sixty days, amounting,
| in the aggregate, to about one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars.
The knowledge Of the existence Of such a
! legislative enactment it is believed, would
not only greatly depreciate Civil Warrants
now outstanding, and infict unnecessary
| hardship on existing creditors Of the State,
but would also in the same degree, deprecate
those hereafter to be issued, thus largely in
creasng State expenditures for the reason
that the amount Of such depreciation would,
in almost every instance, be added to the
cash value Of articles furnished or labor per
| formed.
Ii has been urged in favor Of the passage
Of this act, that there exists "A combination of
bankers and brokers, for IT, purpose of de-
preca.ing the Civil Warrants OF State. II
it be true, which is by no means certain,
that there exists such a combination the
act under consideration, so far from dsband
ing this combination and defeating its objects
by rendering less profitable the purchase Of
State Civil Warrants, will actually effect the
depreciation, which it is alleged, the comb-
nation is laboring to produce, and instead Of
reducing, will greatly increase the profits
arising from the purchase and subsequent re-
demption Of evidences Of state Indebtedness.
regret that J cannot, in this matter, CO.
operate with the representatives Of the peo-
pie, but entertaining the opinion, from which,
| feel confident, you viii not, after more
careful inquiry, dissent, that the act in ques-
ton will not only fail to afford the relief de-
signed bv its passage, but viii operate to the
prejudice Of all Interested, by depressing the
credit Of the State. and deprecialing every
description Of State indebtedness ! feel called
upon to withhold my approval, aud herewith
return the act for your further consideration.
In this connection, and in explanation. If
may be proper to state that, on former oc-
caslon, sanctioned an act containing similar
provisions with the act herewith returned,
but not only was the total amount therein ugo-
yided for comparatively small, but the greater
part OF the sum appropriated was actually in
the General Fund, and les disposition clearly
T under the control Of the Legislature at tAl
date OF the approval Of the act. Now, how
ever, different state OF things exists. The
Treasurer, at this date, reports that there i,
no cash in the General Fund, and tile Con
troller and Treasurer concur la the opinion
that there w,li not be- for months to come
sufficient cash in iho Fund to meet the lo
. quremonts o. tue act IL is proper here @
state that, before deciding upon my own ae-
ton in tie premises, submitted The ac tl
J the Controller and treasurer Of Stats, with i
view Of aseertau.lg the construction by tueu
placed upon It's provisions. The Conuo.el
stated thai lac would issue warrants Oh tDl
: General Fund ia tae usud iorm, bat would
D. 10 f.tt