The Placer herald., 1859-01-08

have voting population of some one hundred
and twenty thousand. only forty eight thousand
| one hundred and thirty-fve dollars were received
| from this source last year, the tax being three
dollars per capita, and the States share sixty
| per cent In nearly one-thrd of the counties
| no poll tax was collected. as will be seen by re-
| ference to the report. In 1851, none whatever
| was collected in San Francisco. and during the
past year only one hundred and ninety-one dollars
! and seventy cents There cannot be less than
thirty thousand males over the age of twenty one
years in that city and county, and if collections
had been made the State would have received
some fifty thousand dollars. instead Of less than
one thousand dollars. In the meanwhile. FL Do
RADIO, with voting population of little more than
| ne-half that of San Francisco, paid this year
eight thousand four hundred and sxty-four dol
lars and fifty cents. 1t will also be found that
more than two-thirds of the whole amount re-
ceived by this source was paid by eight counties,
| to-wt: FL Dorado, Sacramento, Calaveras, Ne
vada, Placer, Sskiyou, Sierra and TuOlumne.-
Whilst San Francisco has larger population
than any other county in the State, no less than
! fourteen counties paid larger poll tax. 1t is
but justice however to the county to say that Of
other taxes it pays one-ourth of the whole amount
received into the Treasury. If the law was pro-
perly enforced throughout the State, a sufficient
revenue could be collected to pay the annual in
terest accruing on the public debt. BY devolving
the duty on the collector instead Of the Assessor
| the amount will certainly be increased, and there
| fore it is recommended
A reduction of the fees for the collection of the
public revenue is recommcnded-the Governor
concurring with the Collector in the opinion that
the whole revenue system needs revision as there
are many practical errors in it, Indeed, it is
claimed that some of our laws are uncOnstu-
! tional.
From the report of the Secretary Of State it
appears that there are 1880 copies of the Journals
of the Legislature on hand. An unnecessary
number has been heretofore ordered printed by
the Legislature. The amount of money appro-
priatcd by the last Legislature for the publc
printing was $50, ,000-S40.000 Of which will be
expended for the printing of the fiscal year. This
is the first time the expenses of the State print
ing has come within the appropriation; and Il
further saving of at least $4,000 per..annum on
that work, it is believed can be made.
The Governor recommends thorough revision
of the Criminal Code, and agrees with the report
Of the Attorney General in recommending a mo-
dificaton Of the law for the better observance of
| the Sabbath by striking out the unconstitutional
sections. He also favors the abolition of Grand
! Juries
A modification of the law creating the Office of
State Register, is considered necessary, by per-
hitting the record of births, and deaths to be
I optional with parties interested; the record of
marriages and divorces tC be obtained from the
Courts and it be made the duty of Proba te
Judges to report to the Rcgiscer the deaths of
persons upon whose estates letters of administfa-
ton are granted; also to require the reports Of the
County Assessors to be made to the Registrar in
stead of the Surveyor General. These changes are
recommended, Or else a total repeal of the office
The proceedings had in the State Prison mat
ters are rgcountcd. OF the result of the proceed
ings instituted by McCauley, the Governor says
In September. McCauley brought an action
against the State Prison Directors, as private
citizens. to recover possession of the Prison. and
/ dan for nj mi nfrv n
case was submitted to jury. and verdict was
| rendered in favor Of defendants. An appeal was
taken by plaintiff to the County Court. and here
the jury acquitted two of the defendants (thc
Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of StateD and
| gave Judgment against the other for Sl150
which being trebled, according to our statutes
amounts to Sl2.4J0. An appeal, of course, WAS
taken to the Supreme Court, where it is under
stood a decision will be rendered in few days
To perfect this appeal. was compelled to exc
cute bonds in the sum Cf $4,000. Whatever the
result may be. the Legislature ought not to al
l'f the Prison to pass beyond the control Of the
State. McCaulcy has instituted further suit
for the recovery OF property which he alleges
was taken by the State Prison Board when they
obtained possession of the Prison
The sureties of Bates are found insolvcnt. and
it is doubtful whether any part Of the 100000
OF Bates bond can be recovered
No attempt has been made to sell the State
interest in the water lots at San Francisco, as
provided by the Act Of April 2Sth, 1858, as at the
present time the expenses attending such sale
would consume the entire proceeds.
The passage of a law is recommended requr-
ing the examination of Physicians and Druggists
before permitting them to practice medicine or
dispense drugs.
Further amendments to the Attachment Law
are considered necessary.
The former suggestions for y law regulating
! primary elections are renewed.
JSpc
| imposed upon those who are engaged in retailing
liquors. Under the present laws any one who
can pay for license is authorised to sell ;and.
as a consequence. there are many persons en-
gagged in this business who are entirely destitute
of character or responsibility | would suggest
| the prOpriety Of amending the law so as to re-
quire the applicant to give ten day public
notice of his intention to apply for license
Let the application be made to the County Judge,
who should be authorized to inquire into the
moral character and fitness of the applicant for
the occupation. If not satisfied on this subject.
| let the license be refused. Incorporated cities
have their own government. and, therefore, should
be excluded from this law. An Act of this
character will, it is believed, have a sautary
effect in lessenng the number or grog shops, and,
consequently Of crime.
The Governor favors a thorough geological
survery of the State, by competent Geologist.
The military system of the State is considered
very defective. and attention is called to it.
The Public Schools are in healthy condition.
For the last year the State has contributed to
their support S55, ,3S2 H.
The report Of the Superintendent of Public In
struction will show that there are now 40,5S0
children in the State, between the ages of four
and eighteen. The number under four is 2S.5SS.
making the whole number of children 64,OSS, and
of these nearly two thousand are orphans. The
total amount paid to teachers is S2O32I6, and the
number of children attending the schools, 10 S22.
The aggregate amount expended for school pur-
poses during the year, $3S9,9l4.
The State Insane Asylum has now 273 patients