The Shasta courier., 1858-04-03
Shasta County Legislation.

Shesta COunty LeStslatlOns
were introduced into the Assembly by Mr. Street,
on the 25th ult., and passed.
The one " to regulate the issue of county war
rants" is much needed. If enacted into law,
as we trust will be the case, it will prove very
efficient check upon reckless and illegal issuing
of county warrants.
The other, ito create redemption fund for
the payment of county Indebtedness" will also,
perhaps, answer good end We sincerely re-
gret, however, that Mr. Street feels it his duty to
decline complying with the prayer of the petit
tioners who endorsed the plan suggested by the
Board of Supervisors. In letter accompanying
copies of the bills under consideration, be says ::
' am sorry to differ with the gentlemen who
signed the petition. | esteem them highly and
know they men ofjudgment, but the petition
is not numeronsly signed, and know that there
Is great difference of opinion in the county.
In my action have been guided by three rules
first, not to increase the taxes second, any
change to inure to the benefit of the taxpayer
principally; third to take action that will re-
duce the value of outstanding warrants. think
less it buys up its own Indebtedness at market
value"
1t is certainly news to us to hear /" that there
is great difference of opinion in the county"
upon the plan of the Board of Supervisors. We
published the petition addressed to our Legis-
laturemen some two weeks-we called attention
to it editorially, and, SO far were concern
cd lift cd IN info tha n Y xpax
ers in regard to the object of the proposed law.
So far as we know, it was almost universally
approved. Certainly not single citizen has as
yet raised his voice against it through the pa
pers. And so far as we know, no petition in
opposition has been circulated. If large num-
Der Of our citizens are opposed to reducing our
finances to cash basis in the manner suggested
the petition referred to, they have certainly
kept that opposition very secret. At all events,
right here in town, where, perhaps, half of the
taxes of the county are paid, we have heard no.
thing of it.
We heartily approve Mr. Streets motives in
acting as be has in this matter. We are conf
dent however, that he could have complied with
the prayer of the petitioners, in the main, with
out violating either of the rules which he has
enumerated, and by which he has been guided.
First, the petitioners did not propose to increase
the aggregate rate of taxation. Secondly, such
a division of the revenues of the county as would
inevitably reduce the county finances to a cash
basis, would not q reduce the value of outstand-
ing warrants" and would we think, nnure
to the benefit of the taxpayer principally" al
though it might likewise benefit the present
county ofiicials-but certainly not so much as
the bill now under consideration, for according
to that, the scrip which an official may receive
for services rendered to-day is just as valuable
to make proposals for purchasing the Redemp-
tion Fund with that which is year old
Heretofore the value of county warrants was
dependent upon their age. Hereafter new
warrant will be just valuable rs one of the
same amount year old. We imagine we see
avery broad grin upon the countenances of GER
tain persons who expect shortly to be in posses
sion of sundry very new warrants.
We are inclined to the opinion that there will
be "a great difference of opinion in the
county" in regard to this Redemption Fund
BILL Business men generally look upon it as
dishonorable for man to go into the market and
buy up his own paper at deprecated value
Many of them will hold that what is dshonor-
able in citizen, is undignifed, at least, in
county. However, this bill, if it becomes law
will materially aid in reducing the Indebtedness
of the county, although we think the plan of the
Board of Supervisors would accomplish the same
object more speedily.