The Shasta courier., 1860-01-14
SHASTA COURIER.
Synopsis Of Gov. weI1er's Last Annual
Message.

This document was sent to both Houses on
Monday last, one week after their organization.
We make the following hasty and meagre syn
opsis Of its contents:
The Message commences with an effort to
throw upon the Legislative department the blame
for the extravaganza which has characterized
the expenditure of the public monies during the
year, by making the complaint that his recon-
mendations have received but little attention at
the hands of Legislators This effort to shirk
responsibility will prove futile. If the extrava-
gance is the result of laws passed during his
adminstration-and such is the case--then he
is responsible Certainly if the annual expend-
itures had greatly fallen off during his term, he
and his friends would justly have claimed the
credit thereof for his administration.
While admitting that the expenditures were
greater during the year than they should have
been, he states that the Treasury is in pletho-
ric condition. The amount of money received
into the Treasury from Jan. lst, 1859 to Dec
l5th 1859, was Sl,l7OS35 O3. Expenditures
during the same period, S9l6,ls2 %. These
figures exhibit an excess of income over expen-
di.ures of S254,652 81. From the 18th of Dec
1858, to the 18th of Dec, 1859, the income was
Sl,l95, ,44o 13 the expenditures for the same
period being SLIGO, ,929 I4-leaving an excess
Of receipts over expenditures of S34,5ll SO.
This is the exhibit as made by Gov. Weller
We must confess that it is not such an exhibit as
the country had right to hope for. His fig
ur-s, we are assured, do not embrace the month
ly expenses of the State Prison, nor the annual
interest of S296, 000 These two items added to
his figures, and it will be perceived that, under
a cash system, the expenditures for the year
have greatly exceeded the income. During the
year 1856, the first of Gov. Johnsons term the
expenditures amounted to 81 ,O3o,9l2 10. But
government expenses were then in part paid in
scrip worth from sixty to eighty cents on the
dollar During the year ending the 3lst of Dec,
1887 the expenditures were S699, ,s03 94-being
S452, ,430 Is less than the receipts for the same
period. Thus perceive that during the last
year of Gov. Johnson's administration, the ex-
penditures were 5000, ,se3 81, while during the
last year of Gov. Weller's administration, the
expenditures have been over half million more
That is to say the expenditures of Weler's last
year in office were just about double those Of
Johnson's last year. This is certainly an ex-
hbit not at all creditabie to the party or the
administration of Gov. Weller, and the Democ-
racy of the present Legislature will be deserving
of severe reprobation if the current and ordinary
expenses of the government are not greatly re-
duced during the present year.
A revise of the Revenue Law is favored as
we'll as a reduction of the cost of collecting the
revenue
A geological survey of the State is deemed
wise.
The marriage tie is believed to be too easily
loosed.
lie still believes that a law regulating primary
elections should be passed. He is very careful,
however, not to give any intimation as to how
such law could be framed that would not de-
teat the whole object or PRIMARY elections. The
fact is, Gov. Weller knows that this recommend
alton is an impossible thing. He knows no such
law as he recommends can be framed. If 9TH
erwise, why did he not suggest the main pro,i-
sions of bill which would accomplish his OBJ
ject, and at the same time exclude Republicans
from the right to vote in Democratic primary
elections2 Why? Because he could not.
Laws to protect religious meetings and COM
pell Boards of Supervisors to put up gnide-
boards at points where roads cross or diyerge,
are demanded.
Recommends Lewiston of the 5tate into Con-
Rressoaal Districts.
Thinks law to prevent the adulteration of
wines and brandies should be passed.
Advocates repeal of the law creating the
Office of State Registrar.
Recommends that the Convention question be
again submitted to a vote of the people.
Faycrs the building of a State Capitol.
Thinks the gaming law should be modified.
Its great severity defeats its execution.
The origin of the Pit River India difficulties
is given. Some 200 Indians were killed and
$50 removed to Mendocino Reservation.
Total number of children under Is years OF
age, 1876, being an increase of IL, ,ssS over
the number Of the previous year.
"The amount of swamp and overfowed land,
surveyed and approved by the Surveyor Cen
eral from the passage Of the Act of 1855, until
the 18th of December last, is FIVE hundred and
sixty acres; the aggregate proceeds from this
source is Sl35, ,232 6l.
While the State had possession OF the State
Prison-thirteen months and one half-but 81
conyicts escaped while the number reported TO
have escaped during the three months subse-
quent to the passing of the Prison into McCau-
ley's hands, is sixty -ninel He denounces, the
present system as Infamous, and warmly urges
the establishment Of Branch Prison at Folsom
or some other place.
The criminal laws have been executed during
the year. Judge Lynch has nevertheless occa-
sionally compelled an execution of his man
dates
The great number of homisides is attributed
to the practice of carrying deadly weapons. But
as, under the constitution, all persons may bear
arms, be thinks it useless to encumbsr the
statute books with dead-letter laws against the
practice. We think the Governor is little
lame on the constitutional argument, tut his
conclusions are correct. Carrying concealed
weapons, and carrying them publicly, is, we