Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-18
TIE DEBRIS LEGISLATION.

are the Parks, Chamberlain, Carr, the
Young substitute bill, and the Brooks
bill. The latter, however, must not be
COMPOUNDED with the measures which pro-
pose to deal actively with the debris ques-
ton, being in fact introduced merely to
secure the continuance of investigation on
the subject, and to prevent the loss to the
State of the results Of inquiries which
have already been begun. Of the bills
which propose more or less comprehensive
plans, the Young substitute unquestion-
ably fulflls the general requirements more
nearly than any other. It is the matured
result of criticism and discussion, and
it is free from every one of the objections
which have been urged against the other
propositions. The apparent impractical
bility OF securing such ascheme of district
ing for assessment purposes as would
satisfy taxpayers and fulfill the pur-
poses aimed at, should lead to the
substitution of the principle of general
taxation for the original method of dis
trict taxation. Thus the arguments of OBJ
structionists about mortgaging this or
that portion of the State will fall to the
ground, and thus the apprehensions OF tax
payers would be relieved. The Young
substitute also abandons the plan OF
an appointed Commission, as that
proposition aroused some opposl-
ton. II makes the Governor and
certain other State officers ex otiicio Com
missioners, to act in concert with the State
and the Consulting Engineers. ltprovides
that comprehensive system OF dams to
impound the debris in the mountains, and
of dykes to confne and increase the ve-
locity of the river currents, shall be un-
dertaken with as little delay as possible.
And it proposes that the cost of these
works shall be betrayed by general taxa
ton. These are the salient points of the
Young substitute bill, and it is only
parent that the objections which have
been raised to the Parks bill are in no re-
spect applicable to this measure. 1t is, we
believe, the best adjustment of which the
situation admits. 1t provides for CON-
prehensive relief scheme, which, if the en-
gineers understand their profession, prom
ises to cure the debris evil efectually, and
in doing so to restore large tracts of valu-
able lands to productive uses. 1t embodies
all that engineering science has ascertained
in the premises, and it is, in fact, the only
thoroughly practical and efficient bill yet
drawn on the subject. It provides for
doing precisely what the engineers declare
to be necessary, and with the changes
suggested it would provide means of
accomplishing the work which ought to be
accepted by all who really desire that the
debris question should be settled.
The principle of general taxation once
introduced to this subject viii, we believe,
find general acquiescence. The interest of
the State in the solution of the problem is
certainly not less thanthat of the Federal
Government, and if it is equitable to de-
mand that the entire nation shall be taxed
for such purpose, as is done when we ask
Congress to make an appropriation from
the national Treasury, it must be even
more obligatory upon all the people of
California to contribute towards an under
taking their interest in which is direct
and tangible. The enterprise indeed is so
clearly one of State concernment that
it should require little argument to
convince members Of the propriety OF
providing for it in the manner proposed.
The single consideration that its accom-
plishment involves the addition of large
property values to the assessment roll, shows
that as a business investment it is thor
oughly sound, Apart from questions OF
compensation, however, the sufferers from
the debris can take their stand firmly upon
the equities of their case. The State re-
quires that the working of the hydraulic
mines should not be suspended That
being the case, the State is obviously bound
to see that the results of working the ny
draulic mines are not disastrous to the in
terests of any portion of the community.
The right of the State to regulate the az
fairs of the community is no divine pre-.
rogative, but condition growing out of the
social contract. This condition implies
the extension OF equal protection to all the
citizens, as an equivalent for the surrender
by all citizens Of certain rights. The State
can never evade its duty towards any
part of the community without at the
same time abrogating its authority. The
claim of the debris sufferers for State
help is therefore incontrovertible, and the
plan ofrevenue proposed for the Young sub
stitute would be at once the most natural
and equitable that can be devised. The fact
that no other bill meets the engineering
requirements of the case ought to give thi;
the preference. 1t is well and thorough
ly guarded, it is in full harmony with the
best demonstrated theories on the subject
and we therefore bespeak for it favorable
consideration. Those members who have
visited the devastated districts for them
selves, and who have seen the scope of the
destructive agencies now at work in the
hydraulic mines, do not need to be told
that the case is an urgent one, but We
trust that they will use their own expert
ence to further measure which is more
fraught with benefcent Influences than any
law now before the Legislature.
Tco MUCH MYSTERY.
1t is now asserted that the San Fran.
cisco Citizens Protective Union has not
made any compromise with the mob lead
ers, and that the latter have rendered their
l.. i