Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-19
THE QUESTION Or GENERAL TAXATION
FOR DEBRIS RELIEF.

Issue has been Joined upon the question
Of raising the revenue for the carrying out
of the proposed debris relief works. The
Young substitute bill having been brought
into lire with the prevalent views on this
point by the introduction of an amend
ment, substituting general for district tax
alton, the Assembly divided upon the prop
osition, and prolonged discussion ensued.
1t is to be regretted that members from
San Francisco and the bay counties should
have thought it their duty to take ground
against the plan of State taxation, for
there can be 10 question that San Fran
cisco is directly interested in the settle
ment of the debris question, and that far
stronger arguments can be advanced in
support of her participation in the work
than can be urged in the case of other
parts of the State. We had hoped that
this great subject would have been ap-
preached in a broad and statesmanlike
manner, and that the considerations which
support the principle of general taxation
would have been given their full weight.
The arguments which have heretofore been
brought forward in behalf of national APP
preparations for the impounding of the
debris in the mountains are based upon the
same principle now sought to be embodied
in the Young substitute, and it may be
confidently asserted that these principles
apply much more strongly in the case Of
the State than in the case of the nation.
For it is obvious that while the future of
the United States would not be seriously
affected even if California was blotted
from the map entirely, the destinies of
the inhabitants of this State are largely
dependent upon the issue of the present
difficulty. Should the flow of debris con-
tinue unchecked, it will not be long before
San Francisco is made to realize that her
material interests are deeply affected, and
that the integrity of her harbor, upon
which her commercial prosperity is de-
pendent, must be destroyed unless she
puts her hand in her own pocket, and sub
scribes literally to relief works which will
then have become infinitely more difficult
and costly. Nor can it be alleged with
truth that there is any part of the State
which is not interested in this matter, and
which may not be called upon to bear its
share of the cost with far more reason
than goes to the demands constantly
made on the national treasury for
aid to distant undertakings. 1t is
indeed short-sighted and delusive sup
position that even If the national Govern
ment should bear the entire cost OF these
works, the people of California would
escape contributing to it. The princi pie
of national aid to State improvements
proceeds upon the theory that the pros
perity and welfare of every part of the
country is of Importance enough to every
other part to justify the taxation of all for
local benefits. To pretend that though
this principle underles national Govern
ment it has not equal cogency in relation
to State affairs, is to assert that though
cohesion and mutual help are necessary to
the stability of federation of States, they
are unnecessary to the stability of a
federation of counties The State is in its
essential elements smaller Union. 1t is
organized on the same general system, it is
amenable to the same general laws, and
principles which are admitted to be sound
when used in connection with national
affairs cannot be impeached when it is pro-
posed to extend their application to mat
tiers of State Government.