Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-01-09
GOV. PERKINS INAUGURAL.
Delivered at the State Capitol
January 8, 1880.

citizens NTabcIdl W 4AAAii5H1J
deeply impressed with the responsibilities 1
assume, I am here to comply with cusVoil
which has properly prescribed that an an
coming Chief Executive should briefly outline
the poliey by which his official conduct shall
be controlled.
While adhering to those political prlnci-
nles held by the party that nominated me Tor
the Office, the duties of which L assume To-
~dav. vet l should be remiss did not make
public recognition of the very cordial support
T received from many who differed from me
in mere political creeds. The representatives
of those creeds, with others, hold membership
in both branches of the Legislature, and their
combined intelligence and wisdom L invoke
in aid of iudicious and wholesome legislation.
Steady prosperity and material advance
ment have attended the short life OF this
Commonwealth To the ordinary sources
of wealth, which give so much sta
bility to business enterprises, have been
added fabulous fortunes from the mines,
ever melting to industry and enterprise
and Offering fields of operations adapted
to the desires of the most moderate as well
as provocative of undertakings broad
enough to tax the resources OF the most
SKILLED engineers. and the boldest financial
operators. The gain to the wealth OF the
world exceeds two hundred and fifty millions,
and as n factor in the financial life OF the ma
ton it has served as a great balance-wheel
in the monetary system. The natural re-
suits flowing from productions largely IN eA-
cess of consumption are manifested IN Univ
ing cities and town, in comfortable hoIhes' III
a large individual Independence, in trans
portation facilities in pace, if not In advance
of the age, in complete educational facilities
and in all the Accomplishments OF an ao-
vanced and advancing civilization These re-
Elections should inspire us with gratitude 10
the Great Architect of the universe, as wei
as impel us to exert ourselves to bring to
perfection what has been so well begun.
The organic law which for thirty years
served as our sheet anchor, has been set aside
by the people and a new one substituted Ii
shall receive from me a faithful interprets-
ton and enforcement in spirit and letter.
Whatever it possesses promotive OF the pub
lie veal will become apparent by actual test,
and if it contains concealed dest1uctives they
will soon be uncovered by the people. A
conservative purpose should characterize
legislation in pursuance of the new tunda-
mental law. and the required alterations
should be so wisely adjusted as to cause the
least possible friction in the social and busl-
ness systems. Sharing in the earnest desire
of my able predecessor to put into immediate
effect certain provisions of the new Constitu-
ton. and thereto prompted by the sollclta-
lions of eminent citizens, united with GoV-
ernor Irwin in the selection of three gentle
men to act as Commissioners in the prepare
ton of such amendments to our present codes
and statutes as would make them harmonic
with the provisions of the new Constitution.
The established reputation for learning and
ability of the gentlemen thus selected Justl-
fies me in commencing to your consideration
the results of their labors, which, 1t Is comb
IDENTIFY expected, will facilitate yours; and If
it is found that they have rendered real
public service, | feel confident that you Will
provide such compensation as shall be Just.
However wise may be constitutions and
laws, prosperity must spring from individual
and associated effort, industry, intelligence
and economy from strong hands and Gull
tured brains working in harmony. Manual
labor can accomplish little without inteli-
gent direction, and mere intelligence IS inet-
fective without the strong arm OF labor to
execute its designs. Capital can do abso-
lutelv nothing while depending upon itself
alone. But capital, intelligence and labor
uniting produce results beneficial to each of
the trio, and add to the wealth and happi-
ness of the community. One OF the
Offices of government is to give en-
couragement and protection to labor
and capital. The more thoroughly and en-
tirely that Government protects and encour
ages the use of labor and capital, the nearer
does it approach to a state of perfection.
regard the relations of the working classes to
their employers as among the most pregnant
problems of the day. Also that it Is one Of
the highest duties of the State to so frame her
laws as to tend to the intellectual and moral
advancement of her laboring classes. One of
the auxiliaries to their elevation is an avoid
ance of wealth Capitalization, with the at
tendant power. The smaller taxpayers COM
plain that they are made to bear an undue
proportion of the State burdens; that the
weather. classes are ingenious in inventing
methods whereby their properties escape pay
ing the just charges for its governmental pro-
lection, and that the laws favor the rich at the
expense of the poor. 1 do not concede that all
the complainings in these directions are well
founded but the fact that such sentiments
find pregant expression is sufficient to put us
on dilligent inquiry as to their foundation
and to impel US to seek and apply adequate
remedies But wise distinction must be
drawn between statutory protection of the
laborer and utopian plans of dreamers that
teach men that they can live without indus
try at the charge of the more wealthy and
provident classes. He is an enemy to soci-
ETY. who attempts to inculcate the doctrine
that any one class owes any other class a
living.
STATE PRISON.
BY wise provision of the new Constitution,
the State penal institutions are to be placed
under the sole control of Board of Prison
Commissioners appointed by the Executive
After January l, 1882, the Constitution pro-
hibits the contracting of prison labor, and
then an additional responsibility will devolve
upon the Prison Commission. We cannot too
early turn our earnest attention to consid-
GRAFTON of the uses that can be advantageously
made of convict labor, so as not to conflict
with and degrade the free labor of the State.
For the handling of cur cereals alone, up
wards of 25,OO0,0O0 sacks are required an
nually, besides large quantities for other pur-
poses. Millions of dollars go abroad yearly
for the purchase of these necessary articles.
It must be that the diversified soil and eli
mate of this State are able to produce the
lutte from which the burlap is made. Its
manufacture is not difficult, nor is the re-
ouisite machinery complicated, though some
what expensive. If the raw material can be
grown in California, of which l have no doubt,
its manufacture by convict labor would open
a new industry to the husbandnan and its
r !, ii ,,,,,,art would cheaDen the cost of