Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-03-05

point in the cited is frequently overlooked,
it has been in California.
" But in older lands this view is becoming more
and more accepted, that drainage works for large
areas OF country, well as sewerage systems for
cities, are constructed by district cooperation, upon
the principle that each piece OF property which con
tributes sewage or drainage waters to be carried
down and delivered at the ultimate outfail is inter
ested in the efficiency of every foot Of sewer or
drain through which such sewage OF drainage waters
! must run to reach that points and also upon the
cofrelatlve principle that all property thus depend
ent upon an Indispensable par OF important sys
TEN, Is Interested in the success OF the works as
whole, and hence should bear portion OF the cost
| OF their construction and maintenance.
MANY cases Of the application of this principle
IN the ordering of public affairs might be cited the
community OF interest is recognized in taxing unm
proved and unoccupied property 10 meet the cost Of
constructing water works. as Is frequently done by
municipalities; and the operation Of our public
schools depends largely upon tax revenues collected
| from those who have no possible concern in the
| working OF the educational system, other than
general interest in the welfare of the country this
| latter to be advanced by cultivatng, at public ex
pense, the minds OF people who otherwise night
| remain ignorant.
| Then again we have the dir,ct interest in the
navigability of the rivers, which, of course there
exists the region whence freights may be car
aied or to which delivered, by means of them, or by
means Of other lines OF travel whose freight rates
| are affected by the rates therefore on the rivers
And still again there is the principle of anintimate
| community Of interest existing between the by
| draulie miners themselves and the mountain regions
| III which they are located
| The Act to promote drainage has recognized these
principles and in the outlining of the district which
| has been formed the State Board of Drainage Com
missioners was governed in their action by then
will be seen by their record of proceedings pub
| lished last May
And finally we have a recognition of the principle
of direct benefits in the provision for special
| sessment on each acre of swamp land reclaimed by
| the works to be carried out in any instance
To sum up on this question of the justice of the
| principles Of taxation embodied in this law, We
have: lsacssD. - - ,s,..9s
| First-A State tax of fifty cents on each one
| thousand dollars in valuation
Second-A district tax, in addition to the State
| tax, of similar amount
| Third-A tax or assessment on the water used in
| hydraulic mining
! Fourth-An assessment for benefits on lands re-
| claimed by the work.
| Now, Mr. Speaker, suppose that State tax money
were to be all used IN the rectcation OF the river
channels and in holding back the gravel which is al
| ready In the tributary streams and threatens to
come into those below and Destroy them Is there
a member of this Legislature that can say there is
anything unjust about that? Have we not seen that
the State is in honor bound to do thus much-hound
in h nor to the General Government and TO her own
! citzens2
And again, suppose that Districttax money and
that water assessment money were TO be all devoted
| to holding back the sands which flow into the dis
trict would there be anything exceedingly IN Just
| about that! Have we not forced the community Of
interest so we can not but recognize this just!
Granting these points, let see how the m tier
| will stand this next year. The district tax and
miners water assessment under the Drainage Act
this past season produced about one hundred thou
sand dollars 1t was stated by the State Engineer,
and by the President OF the Board of Directors OF
the district, in evidence before the Investigating
Committee, that it would cost twenty TO forty
thousand dollars per year to keep up the dams al
ready built. Now. since then believe one of them
has received more damage, and we will put the
Hfrnra for rapp md add Oh AnrrIla tba
| amount stated by those who ought to know
Suppose it will be necessary to spend $50, 900
those Two dams this next year, there will be still
surplus OF $50 900 deTiyed.rom the miners and from
the district to be used for other purposes or. with
the result of the State tax, 20 toward restoring
| the river channels.
1t is false impression, Mr.. Speaker, that the
whole State is to be taxed to hold back the sands
now being put in by the miners The money de-
rived from State taxation, and more toe, will go to-
wards rectying the of the State in the past
| il will go towards redeeming some of the States
pledges to the General Government concerning thsse
rivers; it will go to do that which the state Will he
| forced speak sdvsediy, Mr.. Speaker-it Will go
towards doing that which the state will be force
do in the near future, and what viii do, whether
you stop hydraulic mining and repeal this drainage
| law or not.
1 conclude that the principles of this Drainage
Act in the matter OF taxation are lust that the oh
jects accomplished properly objects to be accom-
pllshed by or with money raised rs the means are
! raised under IT,
And now, sir, We me tc the fourth question in
the politico economical aspect Of the case:
/ "a Does 1.-THE Act to promote drainage-eon-
tain proper safeguards for its just application and
| honest adminst. alton?
l cannot see, Mr.. Speaker, how the interests of
| the people could be more guarded than they are in
| this law. The money is expended by the public
contract system by these officers appointed BY the
| Governor Contracts for works necessarily let
to the lowest bidders, and performed to the salts
faction of the Board Of Directors and the engineers.
There is no more latitude given these Directors in
this respect than is given every Board of CommIs-
soners | ever heard Of. Nc more than is given the
| City Hall Commissioners of San Francisco ; no more
| than given the Park Commissioners of San Fran.
cisco no more than given the Boards Of Directors
OF either one OF the insane asylums and not
much as given the State Harbor Commissioners.
| have heard that great overs CHIT made in
not requiring the State Board of Examiners to audit
the accounts of this Board of Directors OF the drain
age district. Now, Mr. Speaker, how absurd Is this
proposition What could the Board of Examiners
know OF the affairs Of this or any Drainage Board
sufficient to enabe them to audit their accounts,
unless they the Examiners, made themselves famil-
lar with the works, contrac and circumstances in
every casef The Board of Examiners is composed
of the Governor, Secretary of State and Attorney
! General. Could YOU expect these gentlemen to
visit the scene of the works OF this Drainage Board,
post themselves on prices and materials, etc, keep
the of the bids submitted and contracts let
Why, SIR this is the work for which a special Board
\ is appointed, and to set one Board to watch the
other would be a mere matter of form, unless both
Boards equally informed on the subject of the
! business. | say this is an absurd criticism, and
does not deserve our consideration If there is any
way OF making this law more safe in its provisions,
say, sir, let do 1t. But don't let US raise cap
| tious and fiimsy faults proposition to repeal
where at best they are only applicable a motion
to amend
Hurrying forward Mr.. Speaker, for this is sub
ject of great scope we come TO the final question on
/ the subject itself
(e.) If desirable, could the operation of this law
be suddenly arrested without great loss to the
people of the State?
say, sir, it could not Here we have ten or
twelve large engineering works designed to accomp
lish half dozen different objects in the great plan
for promoting the drainage OF this valley. ISee Part
ii. and Ill. Tin one) Report State Engineer, Jan
uary 1881. These works were prosecuted up to the
/ last moment of time the weather would permit of
work IN the field this past fall. Some of them were
comp eted, and some were not; and all were sub
jected to the ravages of an unprecedentedy severe
| winter There has been damage to them as there
would be to extent in any event and under any
| circumstances Left in their present condition. as
all Of US who know anything about practical work
should fully appreciate, these works will be de-
stroyed whereas, if they cared for and brought
to a state approac hing completion, or extended to
safe stopping points, as the may be- they will
accomplish good purpose, or at least demonstrate
within the next two years definitely what ear be
done IN the several ways now attempted. Would it
not be folly, ask, to stop this work :? WOudit not
be crime TO throw away the peoples money in this
way
| shall vote not to repeal the Drainage Act and
trust to the good sense of my constituents when
they properly informed on this subject to bear
me out in my Judgment. | believe, sir that there
has been persistent effort made TO misrepresent
this matter to the public. know that there is a
| widespread misunderstanding OF it, and do not
hesitate to take my stand the side that know is
! right and act in accordance with conviction, and
not as prompted by cowardce
..@s.-1.z...z-s.z.n~~s.
Isn't it awful cold ?" queried Smith, as
he met Jones on the car the other day.
| II Ill, f.rr,l,lo -.