Weekly Trinity journal., 1874-03-21
FROM THE CAPITAL.
SPECIAL TO THE TRINITY JOURNAL, 4"
SAcRAMrNTo. March. IS, 1874.

The week indeed has been an eventtul
one in public affairs, and in contemplate
ing my gathered notes, scarce know
how to present them all within allotted
space.
In the first place the Local Option law
has passed the Assembly, and when a
clerical error shall have been corrected
by the Senate, it will 60 to the Governor
for approval. 1t has been rumored the
Governor viii veto it. cannot believe
it. Booth long since announced he would
not question the policy of any act of the
Legislature. He might veto measures
for constitutional objections, but not 9TH
erwise. Boiled down, the
LOCAL OPTION Law
Is simply submission of the question of
license or no license in town, townships,
counties and cities, TO the vote of the peo-
pie in such districts. The vote is to be
had ut Il special election held on petition
OF one-iourth Of the voters in the district
where the test is to be made.
This is a triumph in legislation which
speakes in volumes for California. An
other temperance law yet in allegiance is
that prohibiting the sale of liquors to
drunkards. Another law WHICH has been
approved by the Governor prohibits pret-
ty waiter-girl saloons. Being found so
strict as to prevent all concerts where
women take part, O'Connor, its author,
has introduced a bill to correct that
stringency.
THE NEXT EVENT
OF the week was the unanimous report Of
the Senate Judiciary committee against
Freeman's Freight and Fare bill. A por-
tion OF the committee reported back Il
bill to regulate treights and fares, which
has been denominated Irwin's bill, as he
is generally recognized as its author. The
committee also reported back Senator
Bartlett's bill providing for Railroad
Commissioners, with a substitute for the
same. The Freeman bill is admitted by
all who have cooly examined it to have
been wrongly based, treating as it did of
long distances at high rates, for benefit Of
short distances, where, by competition
and nearness Of market, the rates can
never become extortinate. The Irwin
bill proceeds upon directly the opposite
theory. 1t proportionally decreases rates
for long distances, classfies goods accord
ing to accepted commercial customs and
law and prescribes the rate for each class.
1t afiixes penalty for discrimination and
extortion. 1t shows study and intent to
deal justly. The Record admits that the
bill appears just, but as yet has not de-
clared for or against it. The Union,
Bulletin and CaU denounce it in hot
terms. They take short distances and
make comparative showing with Free
mans bill, wherein the Irwin rates are
slightly higher, but fail to treat the rate
schedule as a whole. Their first love be-
ing dead, it was not to be expected that
these journals would do less than mourn
her. Bartlett's bill for commissioners to
gather data and accumulate evidence rel
ative to railroad management, and report
to the next Legislature, has many friends
and will receive fair consideration.
A great deal of senseless excitement
has been got up by the so-caIed Inde-
pendent press over the Harbor Commits
sioner bill. This is all in a nut she'll.
The Codes gives the Governor the appoint
ing power in naming the State Harbor
Commissioners, and the term of Office is
not properly limited. The bill simply
fixes a term, and provides that the Leg
islature shall elect the Commissioners.
This is depriving the Executive of pat
ronage, and OF course n howl is raised
about it. To make it all the more bitter
we are told that the Railroad is at the
bottom Of it and hence it must be defeat
ed. The fight over the measure is not
yet ended, and day by day assumes new
features.