, 1873-12-13
GOV. BOOTH.
His Message to tho Legislature Of
California.

tho 1httor, tho Governor says:
Much of this was contrnool IN tue hnsn tlmee,
from unfortunate hnhit of lboray aacon,inY to
future; considerable porton Of II ia for stibsifcs 70
railroads and toll-roat1a and n so,nc tlls.ances It y
heavy burden to threaten tho ba'krnptey ant!
@ In hs tlo most Roony otiook o tho uaenl
future of The people ot ilo sas ! t1 aa tho n'0Ss o''
rerlnps Tho q,ca.!on Of regulating no rates o. rail-
soo trnnsporat!on has boo vloulst! by unnecessary
srlt h3oas ~ tsr ere Ss Ss
highest attribute Of tic satea soye1cigntym,o right
o sn sye IL .pea rege Hf
State hna not powor to rGgulato hcir cafses se
ef claims 70 ass sevfsogy gr ya ahe 9or s.
seners ,,t res ap i pes ten for fregh~vero xc
At time when prices md profits Wcro Bo much higher
cayt It ts Limitation, afordnR 10 wide margin
ns to aow rnlroad eorp9ny TO dlscrimina!e betwee
punish cncmcs, and 10 build up ruin tno tasness
ot my nun that depens upon raEoad .ran'toss.s
on. This maximum, Is nos IN he nature M Of isgis,
rcscrsing 10 lilo Legislature tho right to alter Or
repeal t6o laws under which corporations arS s5sa.S
These things should be kept in view tn establishing
racs: There should bo . falr compensation. Dia.
erminnion between tn,,isianais shonid ~ psaysnss
b prevented by rroia,btna railroad from chsrglng
higher price ovor any portion Of eho roau thom Is
or ysvsr aes s rG In poro @ Tb
classification should 10 publise aud posted up at oil
co as tho ownsrs Of s orioEe%s % @ nar ,af'es so aIS
bo given Of a'y CONTEMPLATED change Any express s
transportation con'lany ehonl 10 entitled to % tho
~ any other. Ii fpir xlmn Is established. md
uniformity between individuals md over distances
classification may 10 in grcat moasuro determined
BY the neeessit'es Of bssnsss may u nas o1s Esouo
ssSn.x Maxm 11 res car ny 10 sed for :, many
required, untt tho companies cnn make ana p,tb!isa
shrss Of c ssa fany 9 8ossby sf be ona
schedule ono GLASS; and The maximum rate Of every
nrsiso Transported. do not think no. b.t Il tue e1.
tlist railroad coiipanlca, win fur opportunities to
construct and operate just tariff Of rstee Of trans
sn pursuing a established policy Of aronR.l,an!!sd
deaaee hase neglected or refused to M perform sr .nes
ta e ea reach eni aud
their oerasona In nluuto detail, forbid FREQ lNsacs.
sesSs every article of freight ssanh d ina
:, 1is a n1 ert e oees.
reiats their systems Of aecoHn.s nnd een'rel them
by tlcnr etactents to recognize thcir true position,
NJ iuw il perfsct. Untor tho operation of tho w,scst,
Bomo cases Of hardship and Inconvenience nhy occur
Tero s no oea o between hesc
Is but one beat route between two points, nesides III
ral'-oad capital docs not conpote.t combines Not
to compel fairness a uniformity BY law Is to tolerate
tho abuses aud expressions Of arbitrary power,
Nlnny Of the rules Of common Inv in regard TO tho
ller conditions very crent from those induced by
tho costrauion Of railroads. The nAture Of contract
a eSea o e Msk tce Is aood md e
right Ut passenger holding thr3ns}l Ticket 70 6top
otur nt intermediate stnloNa EG1ilt moi ha lett 10 tho
ypryug constructions Of curtst and tho analnglus Of
stages posroutes but should be cearly deAnea ny
ntntntr. ,,,
Of the United States that stae INK upon tho gross
receipts Of railroad was not II contict With lat pro
power to regulate commerce and undor tho ditctics
81 ascertaining tho valuo Of railroad in Recons by
ansr os'si1 Il hat s soccs q
property,-tho State distributing amongst thc couu-
tssg ass ws
derive arge portion Of thetr revenue from corEora-
tion taxes Here 1t soels to es ono of he amm.nsies y
n:aintained TINT III property shall be taxed IN psop9r-
tion to ia value. Fully aware that no ohsnge can be
nude In this thaory, nnl impressed with tla bedcf
ceyt uucr IN amendment to tho Constitution, I re-
At tho aa session Of tbs Legislature corta,n couu.
ties wore exempted from the repeal Of tho act known
eene Counties u1ss gnn o OF ho Voters aro
powered to vo onc-tweneth Of the yalue Of Ali tho
property in tho county to Enirena @ company ,;,a Io
tue question Of State aud county subsidies hhs cehscu
to 10 nustcr of argument because # has becon'o
thc wrong Of taking tho property Of mud sis
ing to another The gying OF subsidies has proven
furnishea n, additional and dangerous incentive 10
ereat corporations to control the Government III their
own interest, domoraizes eeslat1on en- makes @ 1w ~
the end 1t defeats a own oatonhible objoct Dy
@ yss e enaSs e o onsezo speh o s
Of enterprise and prevent the competition which
would naturally arise.
After tocapitu1ating the gigantic tracts Of land
held in tho State by Single in,layiannls or cor
porations, mainly for speculative purposes, tho
Governor commcnts
It would be useless to discuss here the abstract the
org at ownerahip OF tho SOIL or the correctness Of the
principles upon which ltis based. The right luis been
e fna 0n s4Swh e. a M es
soeial syatcm that It Is question of great difficulty
e1 es s.oTn noSsf 5
nizc a. IN essential factor il orr civilization. 1t
.--sl,ch as The Mexican langranta With which The
qussitson Of California WAS iensnhssea, tho apparent
81 oi.' 1tI the stats and ac1sral aovsrnmenta II
possblc so greata consolidation Of landed interests.
These aro boyond remedy Some nmendments .; hsye
pesp oi IL has as
due allowance for the suggestion Of tbs sate Beard
Of E9ializatton. that considerable portion 81 tns
tsat the nesessary saeet q TIC Increased appleatlor
iho sse oi fara M III acual eaiivation atil reinan
kre TINT large portion Of tho la1h Of California ar
detrment Il tiio growth and prosperity Of ths stats
and In contryyouon Of tho "uatlral right Of oyer5
born g s to g h e II sf sf
The result OF custom, sanctioned BY society md Fecog
nizo by law y only to tIansfer M tho responsiby
Tho Governor farors minority representation
n compulsory system Of education; equality O.
races In the public schools atiekot-of-lcaye sys
tom in connection with tho Htato Prison: tht