Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-05-23
OUR DEFsnsgs AGAINST FLOODS.

In view of the contemplated improvements
to the city levees. and in accordance with the
request from the Board of Trustees, City At.
torney Anderson has collated and submitted
the following to the Board as the law at
present existing upon the subject and the
method pointed out thereby for making such
improvements
First-Under the Act of the Legislature
approved March 80, 1873 Statutes of 1877
rs, D. S52), the Board of Trustees is author
lied to adopt and establish system of levees.
canals and drainage, and TO construct and
maintain the works necessary thereto.
Secondary plans or systems, the cost of
| which is over 500. 600, shall be submitted to
| a vote of the electors of this city for adop-
ton or rejection.
Third-At the time of the submission of
the plans or system adopted to the electors, If
the cost be over $40, 600, there shall also be
| submitted three propositions relating to the
manner of payment for carrying out the plans
or systems 1. Shall the money be raised
| for carrying out such plan or system, by the
| issuance of bonds? 2. Shall the money be
raised for carrying out such plan or system.
| by the issuance Of certificates of indebted
| ness {? 8. Shall the money be raised for car
rying out such plan or system, by direct tax
alton? The electors shall select one of these
methods.
Fourth-The Act of 1878 is silent SIS to the
manner of calling an election upon these ques-
tions, but we find the mode and manner laid
down in Article ", Sections 20, 81 and %,
of the Act OF April %, 1868. providing for
the government of the city of SACRAMENTO.
The Act of March 80, 1878, supra, is supple
mentary to the Act of April %, 1868, and
gives further powers to the Board
Fifth-The Act of 1878 is silent with re-
gard to the manner of making assessments
and of the collections after assessments are
made. Also there is nothing said as to the
manner of issuing bonds or certificates of
indebtedness, fixing time of payment, amount
of each bond or certificate, interest, etc.
Thus if the Act Of 1878 should be taken as it
stands, without the aid of any other enact
ments, there would be no way to make an
assessment, nor to collect the tax, nor issue
bonds or certificates. 1t was certainly the in
tention of the Legislature to render this Act
operative and effectual and to that end we
must treat that Act as supplementary to the
Act providing for the government of the city
of Sacramento, passed April %, 1863 which
last-named Act prescribes the manner in
which all assessments shall be levied and
taxes collected, under the General Revenue
Act of May IL, 1861; and Article v, Section
~, Oh tHc tACb VI 1OOO, scctuS also w PiofidO
| that the Board shall have the power to "levy
and collect special tax" to pay debts and
obligations created in the interest and for the
protection of the city.
Sixth-The Board shall prepare full and
complete specification of the contemplated
plan or system, the estimated cost of the
same, and include the three modes of raising
the money to carry out such plan or system,
and advertise the same, together with the
time and place for the qualified electors to
vote upon the propositions. The election
shall be held within fifteen days after the
publication has been made. judges and in
spectors of such election shall be appointed
by the Board.
1t is expected that the subject will receive
further consideration at the meeting of the
Board this morning, with view to an early
submission of the question to the electors of
the city in regard to the appropriation for
the work