Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-03-02
THE APPROPRIATION BILL oUaHT TO
BE PASSED.

lature TO make determined ebert 1or TIE
passage OF the appropriation bill, These
members must not lose sight OF the fact
that they and their party viii be held re-
sponsjble for the failure of the bill, and it
is very serious matter to force upon the
Executive the necessity of calling an extra
session, by refusing to provide the means
OF carrying on the Government OF the
State. The Republicans cannot now es-
cape accountability for this condition of
thipcs. for it is evident to the public that
If the appropriation bill fails it will be for
no other reason than that these members
refused to allow it to pass unless they
could also carry the superintendent bill.
It is necessary to point out as clearly as
possible what this position means, and
what it implies. There can be no doubt
| that it is open to the charge Of involving
threat, and threat which is practically
directed against the people Of the State.
| If the members of one party were to de-
clare That unless they were permitted to
bring up and pass measure Of partisan
| significance, they would set fire to the
Capitol, there could be no mistake about
the character of the proposition. But
| when partisans assert that the machinery
of the State Government shall be brought
to a atandstill unless their demands are
complied with, the menace is as real as in
the case supposed, if not so audacious on
its face.
We are convinced that the Republican
party cannot afford to be put under the
necessity of carrying the odium of the
purposeful defeat of the appropriation
bill We say this because We desire to
see the Republican party successful, and
because we wish to save it from errors which
might prove disastrous in their conse-
quences. 1t is impossible to disguise the
fact that there remains no serious obstacle
to the passage of this bill, and no obstacle
which cannot be removed if the Republi-
can members will work in harmony. The
apportionment bill, even from purely
partisan standpoint, is not an urgent
measure. There will be no general cleo
ton in this State until the fall of 1882,
and it would be time enough to call an
extra session for the consideration of that
and the county government bill, next
winter. 1t is not as if the Republicans
were required to surrender any legitimate
opportunities, moreover. The defeat of
the appropriation bill is not necessary to
secure called session. The rational pre-
sumption is that Governor Perkins will
find it necessary to call the Legislature to-
gether in order to apportion the State and
to pass the county government bill, in
any event, and therefore the Republicans
appear to be taking upon themselves an
amount of responsibility which it is neither
polite nor necessary for them to assume.
The appropriation bill can be passed be-
fore the close of the regular session. OF
that there is no doubt, and therefore those
who prevent its passage will be held &C
countable. Even if there was no prospect
that the Governor would call an extra
session for the consideration of the appor-
tionment bill, it would still be unjusti6able
to defeat the appropriation bill on any
such grounds. No party can retain its
hold upon the people unless it shows a
disposition to put the interests of the CON-
monwealth above the interests of party.
No party can expect to be continued in
power if it makes the fact apparent that
it seeks only partisan advantages, and
that it is willing to sacrifice the general
interests to these requirements. Honora-
bic gentlemen do not perhaps fully realize
the popular view of these questions, but
we are very sure that if they persist in
their opposition to the passage of the ap-
preparation bill under existing circum-
stances, they will when they return to
their constituencies discover that they
have committed very serious blunder.
1t may be argued with great force that
the chief failures Of the present session are
attributable to the new Constitution, if it
can be shown that the Republican members
did not deliberately tie up necessary legis-
lation. But if that can be proved it is
clear that the entire responsibility for the
failure will be transferred to them, and
this responsibility the party ought not to
be made to bear. We do not believe that
the Democrats will offer any opposition to
the passage of the appropriation bill, but
if they should, the responsibility for its
failure will be theirs, and the Republicans
certainly owe it to themselves to give their
opponents the opportunity of committing
themselves on this head. If they do not
take this course it will be in vain for them
hereafter to accuse the Democrats of being
the real obstructionists.
In short, the Republicans must look into
the situation, and estimate its bearing upon
their future. Manifestly it rests with
them to-day to bring up and pass the ap-
preparation bill. Can they afford not to
do this? We are satisfied that they can
not afford it, and that they have every.
thing to lose and nothing to gain by
further obstruction. No party advantage
to be derived from the new apportionment
can counterbalance the party injury to be
incurred by refusing to provide the means
for carrying on the Government. That
refusal would be made weapon of by the
Democrats, and it would be most FORM
liable weapon. We therefore hope that
wiser counsels will prevail, and that the
session will not be allowed to close until
this vital and indispensable bill has been
passed.
THE DEFEAT OF THE DEBRIS REPEAL
BILL.
The Assembly has refused first reading
to the bill to repeal the Drainage Act, by
a vote of 80 to Sc, and the motion to re-
consider this vote was yesterday tabled by
a vote of 40 to So. The long struggle