Sacramento daily record-union., 1881-02-14

dangers which are now threatening the State, and
again that, in my opinion, that legislator is not
a safe legislator who will hide himself behind the
| people that ne is demanded by the people Of his
section OF the country, who know nothing about this
| thing, to vote for this measure or that measure
Now, then, expect that this bill will be repealed.
think the fat has already gone forth that this law
must be wiped out that relief shall be given to
the people of this section Of the country But tell
you, Senator's that the result OF your action upon
this bill-f the bill be repealedwill be such that
in the future and in the future, in my estma-
ton, you will look back upon your actions with
| any great degree of pride say that if you repeal
this law you are going to gre us up TO destruction,
devastation and ruin, and you offer us nothing in
lieu OF it. Now, the Senator who introduced this
BILL in his speech few days ago, referred to me as
being in opposition to the present law at the last
session OF the Legislature wish to state here that
the Senator, unintentionally, no doubt, misrepre-
sents me upon that He also said that the Bee, a
newspaper of this city, opposed to it at the last
| session. In that he was also mistaken, for that
| paper came out in its issue last night and denied
the statement which the Senator made. 1t is true
that the Bee, like myself, opposed to the bill
known as the Parks bill, but that is not the law
| which the Senator is attempting to repeal The
| Parks bill did not become law. | did oppose it,
and by that means l incurred the censule at the
| time of large portion of the people OF my own
city, who thought 1t was wise measure but some
OF them have since seen their error and have
/ t. at opposition. But l in favor of the present
law, and spoke for it and voted for it,
Mr. Hill would like to ask the Senator just
one question: Ii it were the duty OF the hydraulic
miners take OF their debris and tailings
under the Parks bill
Mr.. Davis-NO, it was not the duty under the
Parks bill Of the miners to take OF their own
debris. The only measure that was willing to ad-
vocate Mr.. President, one year ago, was the meas
ure which offered for this work State aid and that,
it seems to me- the Senator ought to know. Well,
was opposed to the Parks bill but the Young bill,
which granted State aid in the prosecution of this
work, was in favor Of, and every Senator knows or
ought TO know that advocated it on this floor.
| wanted law that would carry out the plans and
recommendations OF the engineering department,
and | didn't ask for anything more my people
that the experiment which the State Engineer had
recommended should be thoroughly and honestly
carried out and that is carried out under the provi
sions of the bill which you now seek to repeal.
| Now Mr. President have SAID more upon this
question, perhaps than | am justified in saying.
don't know that ought TO have consumed so much
time as have in this discussion. / have tried not
to repeat those arguments that have been made
on this question, but | presume have to some
extent. | don't know that have added to the force
of anything that has been said, but | know this,
that my people will demand that say something in
opposition to this bill. simply now say this-that
| believe it is unwise TO repeal the drainage Act.
believe that the law IS just as good to-day it was
one year ago, when the Senator from Marin so elo-
QuentW advocated II. OelleNe IL Is JuSU as GOOu
to-day as it was one year ago. when the Senator from
San Francisco, Mr.. Enos, advocated it upon the
highest grOunds-upon the ground of the duty OF
the State to help those portions OF the State that
were unfortunate. | am sorry that he has changed
his base. | am sorry that in his remarks which he
made Yesterday, that he was guilty OF the mpropr
ety. to put it mildly, of making attack upon one
OF this Board of Directors, who is the presid
ing officer of ordinate branch of this Legislature
am sorry that he was guilty OF the impropriety OF
doing that, but do not think that the reputation
of Mr.. Parks will suffer any from that attack. One
| year ago, the Senator from San Francisco was al
ardent admirer of the honesty, intelligence wisdom
and craftsmanship of chat gentleman to day, fol
reasons best known to himself, but which we know
nothing about he has changed his position upon
| the question, and whatever Mr.. Parks may be-
whatever he may lack in the elements OF manhood
or of craftsmanship, or of decency, asserted by
| the Senator from san Francisco, will say this o
him. that he is this year what he was last year-that
he has not changed. He is man that never flop:
when he once makes up his mind that he is on the
right track, no matter how potent or valuable the
influence that may be brought to bear upon him.
Now, Mr. President, hope that this bill will no,
pass that the present debris law will stand. To my
people it is question of life and death If this law
stands where it is my people can remain where
they are-we will make the struggle With the
little assistance which this State has given them in
| the matter they are willing to struggle on anC
struggle on and pay taxes for the purpose of bene
fitting the whole State-for the purpose of rectifying
the river channels OF this State but, ii you repea
this bill, many Of them will have to leave the
| country. They cannot remain where they are. To
day thev are covered up with several feet of the
flood of waters which have come upon them. In the
county OF Sutter, am informed, there is not foot
of dry land. Follow the river down into Yolc
| county, and the county OF Sacramento and other
portions of this State, and you find just the same
| condition of things. Now, certain Senators upon
this floor, who to-day i'll favor of the repeal OF
this bill, are willing that appropriations should
| be made for the benefit OF other sections OF the
country, and that the people who are now suffering
this devastation and ruin by reason of the floods
that they should help pay the taxes to help improve
their locality The Senator from Santa Clara asked
this State for appropriation not for any purpose
of utility but simply that the grounds Of the State
| Normal School might be beautitied | myself am
willing that the people of Yuba and Sutter counties
should be taxed for that purpose but he is not will
ing that his people should be taxed to protect and
help u.s. The people Of the city of Sacramento
asked for appropriation for the same object, for
the Identification OF the grounds OF the Capitol, but
they are willing stand in and help u.s. and thereby
help themselves. The people of Los Angeles county
come here and have asked for an appropriation
amounting to $50, 600 for the purpose of building a
Normal school, of which there is need, in my es-
tmation | voted with them upon that proposition,
because did not want Los Angeles to secede from
the state and for other reason and still the Sen
atOr from Los Angeles is not willing to join hands
with us and help us in the hour of our dire neces-
sity. did not expect the opposition of some OF
these Senators. How much do We ask from you,
Senators The paltry sum OF $4,000, not any
more, from this great State OF California for the
purpose of carrying on this most important work
$4,000 for this great purpose; $780, ,000
for this great work. This tax upon any
individual of the State would simply
amount to nothing. A man assessed for
$4,000 worth of property pays the small pittance OF
S5 That is the only tax upon the people of the
State outside of the district, and still they come
here and say that this bill should be repealed, be-
cause it is imposing terrible and burdensome tax
upon the people. There is no merit in any such
cuse at all believe that the people of this State
if they understood this question as every Senator
upon this floor ought To understand it, believe
that the voice of nnetenths of the people of this
State would be against this repeal measure, and
say if this Senate wishes to gain reputation for
itself for wisdom and for craftsmanship, it will let
this law stand where it is, and vote against repeal