Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-07-02
THE ACTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPER
vISoRS.


THE ACTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPER
vIsoRs.
The action of the Board of Supervisors
of this county in commencing suit against
the hydraulic miners is not justified by the
circumstances. They in fact propose to en-
tail upon the people Of Sacramento an ex-
penditure which will certainly not fall be-
low $40, 900 or S25, 900, and may be double
either of those amounts, and this heavy
outlay is to be incurred for no more ra-
tional purpose than to arrive at the adjudi-
cation of a case which is already before the
Courts, and which is sure to be settled
without any special cost to this community.
The obvious and fatal objection to the pro-
posed suit is that it is entirely superfuous.
The only issues are now pending, and when
they are determined in one case they will
be determined in ALL If, in the suits now
before the Courts, it is decided that the
hydraulic miners must not run their tail
ings into the rivers and streams, the case
of Sacramento county will be at once de-
termined. These suits, moreover, are Ger.
tain to be settled before any suit brought
at this time can be heard, and therefore the
institution of these proceedings can only
be regarded as reckless squandering of
the peoples money.
1t must also be pointed out that since
Mr.. George Cadwalader is already the
counsel for the plaintiffs in the pending
suits, and since he is bound to employ all
his abilities on behalf of his present
clients, it is mere work of supererogation
to retain him again to do precisely what
he is already engaged to do. Mr.. Cad
walader is doubtless warranted in endeav-
oring to do the best he can for himself, but
in case of this kind, where the issues are
already joined, and where no fresh retain.
ers can be supposed capable of stimulating
counsel to further efforts ON behalf of the
farmers, it is evidently the part of wisdom
for Sacramento county to save its money
and profit by the Judicial decisions which
are being sought by its neighbors.
There is no more necessity for separate
suits on the part of this county than there
is for separate trials of a score of suits
all OF which are directed to the same OBJ
ject The people of the Sacramento valley
only demand one thing, and that is that
the flow of debris in the rivers and streams
shall be stopped. That demand has been
formulated by Marysville, and proceedings
have been begun to enforce it. Nothing
can be palmer than the fact that if Marys-
vile wins her suits the problem is solved
as regards the whole valley, and therefore
there is neither necessity nor justification
for commencing other suits at this time.
If the question were OF the initiation of
legal proceedings there would be no such
objection to the action of the Supervisors.
But as the case stands it is impossible
to make it appear that this community has
anything whatever to gain by paying Mr..
Cadwalader or anyone else So, 900 as re-
tanning fee, and by committing itself to a
further large and indefinite expenditure.
There is no difference of opinion as to
the necessity of putting stop to the dam
age done by the deposition of debris in the
rivers, but because we all think alike in
that respect it does not follow that we must
agree to whatever superfluous and needless
expenditures are proposed, when it is clear
toevery man capable of reflection that we are
already certain to reap all the benefits OF liti-
cation without being called upon to pay the
expenses. The test of any such proposition
as the one before US is, what good will it
do US? Now it cannot be shown that the
proposed suit will do us any good. 1t would
be precisely like fifth wheel to a coach.
We already know that Mr.. George Cad
walader is bound to exert himself to the
utmost to procure the cessation of debris
depositing by the hydraulic miners. We
know that if he is successful in the suits
in which he is engaged we shall have ex-
actly the same benefit as the people who
pay him enjoy. We know that the de-
termination of one suit involves the settle
ment of all. For what purpose, therefore,
and for what consideration should Sacra-
mento county be called upon to spend s2o,-
600 or S25, 600 in this business!
1t will be very difficult for the approvers
of the scheme to answer these questions.
It lies upon them to show that the county
is in danger of losing some advantage
which it can secure by instituting suits OF
it's own. We say that the existence of no
such advantage can be demonstrated, but.
that as the case stands the Supervisors
actually propose to throw away $40, 200 or
s25, 600 of the peoples money for no con-
ceivable object. 1t is also in order to
point out that many of the people whose
money is thus to be taken are engaged In
mining themselves, and that to force men
to pay the expenses of attacking the indus.
tries by which they live is quite new line
of ethical development But we take our
stand upon the firm ground that this is
wholly unnecessary and useless expendi-
ture that it could not possibly bring us
any other results than we are certain of
without it; that it cannot either hasten
solution or render fortunate one more
probable that it is in fact scheme all
the profit of which is to go to the lawyers,
and which promises no tangible returns of
any kind whatever to the county, And
for these good and sufficient reasons we
assert that it ought not to be counte.
nanced.
THE LAST BLOW AT REFORM.
The removal by the President of the
Commissioner of Pensions, Mr.. Bentley, to
make room for an Indiana politician of the