Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-12-17

trlct court, ueclueu tpe c"so vi
Geo. G. Knox VS.. the County OF
Los Angeles. 1t Is true that Judge
Thornton ruled the case against
Knox on the merits, but it was on
slightly different grounds from
those stated by us. The Judge de-
livered his opinion from the bench
as follows: The Legislature alone,
under the Constitution, has the
power to fix the salaries of officers
created by it, and cannot delegate
such power in an indefinite man
ner to the Board of Supervisors of
a county, or to any other body.
Consequently the act Of the Legis-
lature empowering the Board of
Supervisors to fix Capt. KnoX's
salary, during his term as Irriga-
ton Commissioner, at a sum not to
ereeed $40, 600, was null and void.
To make the act operative the Leg
islature itself should have stipu-
lated some determinate salary for
Capt. Knox, so Judge Thornton
holds. We confess that $4,000
seems to US q goodly remuneration
for any modest young gentleman
for services as Irrigation Commits
sioner, and the more practical sort
Of people will breathe sigh OF re-
lief, as the times go, on their es-
cape from the payment of their pro
rata OF a rather formidable sum,
when all the circumstances are
considered. Make it s., 800 and we
are in favor OF straining the letter
OF the law to remunerate our pub
lic-spirited fellow citizen. But
$40, ,000-ye Gods and little fishes,
with minnows in the perspective,
spare us!
Owing, probably, to the hurry of
the dissolution OF the old and the
Inauguration of the new City Coun-
Gil, no provision was made for con-
tinuing the sprinklipg of the
streets. We assure the new Coun.
cllmen that they can do nothing
that will be responded to more
cordially by our whole people than
making provisions for laying the
dust, which has again become an
intolerable nuisance. If 1t is not
in their power to make @ perma-
nent contract, which is hardly nee
essary in view of the close approach
of the rainy season, they can GER
tainly make daily or weekly con-
tracts without exceeding their au-
thority. The nuisance has simply
become frightful already. 1t is
agony enough to know that it must
last for a whole week. We heart
lily trust that there is no purpose in
the breasts of Councilmen to make
it any longer. The taxpayers are
all heartily agreed that tho streets
should bo sprinkled, whether their
tax rate be large or small. 1t is
necessity to the public health.
Joe Bayer has got down from
trip to the adjacent mountains. He
carried up with him his Spencer
rifle and his trout fishing appar-
atus, with full supply of varie-
gated flies OF the most approved
pattern, such as were calculated to
take the eye of the finny and
speekled Inhabitants of the granite
bedded Cucamonga creek. He had
no sooner dragged out of the stream
fourteen pound front than four
teen hundred pound bear put in his
appearance, smiling tho air in q
disdainful and aggressive manner,
as if bologna sausage, iiverwurst,
and other delicacies of the civilized
palate, were within his reach.
While the bear was pondering
their devious and inviting aroma,
Joe bayer raised his deadly Spencer
rifle and shot the mammoth forest
ranger dead. His hide is being
stuffed as an ornament to Congress
Hall.
The tesselated pavement of the
entrance and vestibule of the Baker
Block is now being laid. 1t is COM
posed of tiles imported direct from
London; and, when the work is
finished, the effect will be elegant
In the extreme. The patterns are
unique and complicated. When the
last details are added to the Baker
Block, the completion of which
has been somewhat extended over
the original estimate as to time, 1t
will be the most thorough business
block in California. There is no
edifice, in private hands, in San
Francisco which will compare with
it. 1t will be, In fact, Il close ap-
proach, in extent and complete
ness, to the Equitable Life Tnsur-
ance Compauy's building on Broad
way, New York.
How is it that the IXL sells
Burt's French kid button shoes at
S2.75?
The regular monthly meeting of
the Horticultural Society was held
at the Society's Office Saturday
afternoon. 1t was resolved to hold
fair next Spring for the exhibit
tion of semi-tropical and other
fruits. The time is not yet fixed,
but it will probably be held during
tlo HlOuIu VI MdTCDt dJ u llule
when oranges and lemons are in
their prime. The Board of Direct
ors will now fix the time and pub
lish premium list together with
the rules governing exhibits.
Fruit-growers throughout the State
Will be invited to compete, and an
invitation will also be extended to
| Florida and Louisiana.
Mr.. Preuss, of the Central Drug
Store, has been engaged for several
days past in arranging one of the
finest assortments of perfumery .
other toilet articles in prepara
for the Christmas holidays, .
we have ever seen, but If our 1
City Dads do not soon do &C