Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-04

there can be no doubt aud there is no question OF
their moral and educational value. In the deed OF
the late Mr.. Lick, provision is made for something
of the kind with an endowment OF about haI a
million OF dollars 1t is hoped that it will not be
long before the bequest can be made available for
the purposes prescribed by the benevolent giyer-
In the meantime, something should be done TO
meet this already great and daily increasing need
"The duty of the State to provide the means for
the education of its children does not end with the
common schools" This is the general sentiment OF
the people, and was recognized by the trainers oil
the Constitution, and also inuoreeu as SUCH Dy
the people themselves
Section of Article TX. says " A general diffu-
sion of knowledge and intelligence being essential
to the preservation OF the rights and liberties OF the
people the Legislature shall encourage by oil suit
able means the promotion OF intellectual, scientific,
moral and agricultural improvement And IN Sec
ton OF the same article 1t asserts that 1.-THE Uni
yersity OF California shall constitute public trust,
ard its organization and government shall be per
patuaiy continued in the form and character pre-
scribed BY the organic Act creating the same passed
March 90 1868 (and the several Acts amendatory
thereof subject only to such Legislative control as
may be necessary to insure compliance with the
terms of its endowments and the proper investment
and security Of its funds" etc.
These extracts from the organic Act sufficient
to show that the stability and permanence OF the in
stitution insured against hasty or i-digested
experiment or faetious legislation.
The permaneuce of our University is now assured
If its educational management is what the people
have light to expect, ii the personnel OF It's large
CORPS of teachers is equal the honorable position
it holds 1t will not be long before public appreeia
ton will exhibit itself in tie form OF personal endow
ments ard private muniicence will surpass III mag
nitude the present governmental endowments.
The University, it will be seen, is established
fact and part Of the educational system OF the
State. 1t is not. has often been thoughtlessy
stated, " place for rich mems sons" but it is
ace where children of the poor, well as the rich
may acquire advanced or professional education
without money or price.
Compared with the older collegiate institutions Of
our country, our University il indeed young; d
if not TO be included in the foremost rank who can
say that it does not occupy an honorable place
Already its graduates being felt an influence
in the State Many have already entered upon hon
orable careers-s some in mercantile, mechanical CT
agricultural pursuits, Others in the learned protes
sons In few years they will be visible and
useful power in the land and will make III faithful
and intelligent public service, an ample and gener
GUS return for the privileges received under the in
tellectual training Of their alma MATER AMI through
the wise bounty OF the Commonwealth
JUDICIAL REFORM.
1t is claimed that our present judicial system is
great improvement upon the old, displaced by the
Constitution. This is believed to be true as to the
expediting of suits but is true to the cost Of
litigation, which still continues to be a heavy bur
den upon litgants; and, in cases. the fees and
costs for services are 50 great as to increase the
amount of Indebtedness out OF all proportion to the
original claim and is hardship especially felt in
attachments foreclosures and petitions; and also
in all probate proceedings where the cost of service
| OF process-printing and advertising-in my judg
ment il greatly in OF what is necessary for the
protection of justice.
Some OF the older States have adopted what
deem wiser method of simplifying their legal prac
tce in cutting of all eXtraneOus matter anO lengthy
formula thereby reducing the cost Of litigation t.
| the lowest minimum. IL was the boast of the
authors of the present system that justice would be
brought to every mans door. Logically this may
be true, but if the est is so great as to be beyond
his reach the boast becomes mockery. earnestly
urge radical reform IN this direction.
COUNTY Governments.
The amendments to the Political Code, passed al
the last session. which were designed to provide
system OF government for the counties of this State
having been decided TO be unconstitutional it de
wolves upon you TO frame such bill as Will not con
flict wi the organic law. This measure, and such
general laws your wisdom may suggest for the in
corporation organization and classification in pro
portion to population of cities and towns, which by
Section g. of ArtcleX l., of the Constitution, it i
required you shall enact, are among the most i'm
portant subj cts that will require your attention.
1t is of the utmost consequence to the people that
these laws be carefully considered to obviatt
the necessity of frequent changes, which too Otter
create confusion and doubt, and involve appeals &c
| the Courts.
respectfully suggest that both in the bills relat
ing TO the county governments, as well as the incor
poration of cities and towns taxation be limited
as low rate will suffice to the public inter
| est.
1t cannot be denied that there has been much ex
travagance in the expenditure of public moneys by
the county and municipal authorities Of this State
| and the people earnestly demand Of us change il
this pect and especially is it the in relation
to some Of our cities and towns, the high rates O
taxation levied for their support havl3g elicitet
much complaint.
There should be the same spirit OF economy mani
tested in the disbursement OF public funds as witt
| expenditures of individuals.
The flush times attending the development of tn
rich mines of California, and of sister State o
Nevada, were accompanied by the usual spirit o
extravaganza which always more or less prevails il
successful mining communities, and that feeling ha
actuated our public as well as our private expendi
| lures but we are now rapidly passing from sucl
times to the more slow but enduring prosperity
| which results from profitable agricultural, manu-
featuring and CONNER cial pursuits.
Taxpayers are no longer in cOnd ton to responC
| to the heavy demandsmad upon them for the sup
| port of the government, and especially those i'm
| posed byctles and towns.
suggest that in no event should cities and towns
of the smaller class, be authorized to1eyy annua
tax of more than fifty (50) cents the 800; an,
that the larger class should be limited to 81 on TIT
| 800, unless the payment of interest debts now ex
| isting shall require increased rate, The rates
have mentioned should suffice for good government
and when added to the State and county taxes vii
be found to be sufficiently burdensome on the tax
! payer.
it is often urged that the power of local taxation
should be unrestricted those who fix the rate arr
elected directly by the taxpayer; but while this il
so in theory it is not in practice experience hav
ing demonstrated that in municipalities the tax
payers do not constitute majority of the electors
and also learn from the past that local taxes al
most always reach the full limit allowed by law.
limit that will permit efficient government and com
pei economy is the most safe it removes both tn,
| temptation and the opportunity for extravaganza.
! The increase of taxable property, under the pro
visions of the Constitution, is further reason
l,1it
| levied. The values of real pre- perty must I'M SOM
measure depend upon the proportion that the an
nual tax bears to the annual income. and in view 0
| the present tendency to shTinkage in values, thu
taxing power should be sparingfy exercised. TIL
| bankruptcy OF many of the towns in other State
attest the wisdom of carefully guarding the power
conferred in the charters of cities and towns.
TRANSPORTATION.
Steam transportation, both by railroad ard oeeai
| carriage, acquires year by year augmented import
| ance Increased facilities of transportation by raj
! has developed a vast inland commerce, supplement
ing and increasing the commercial intercourse OF
| tons Transportation has become the leading eco
nomc science of the age, and is fast solving many
the most difficult problems in the science of politica
economy. Through the improved facilities OF trans
portaton the products of all portions Of the eartl
| are being brought into immediate exchange
and thus the wealth producing resources of al
countries are becoming the G. mon inheritance
of mankind This new and constantly augmentn,
force is bringing into close competitive relation
the industrial products OF all soils and climates
The breadstuffs produced in hitherto remote part
of the world reach The great centers Of population
and consumption at a cost OF transporta lou so in
considerable to almost eliminate wholly the ele
ment of distance. Two days proceeds of labor a
| the average rate OF mechanics wages England tc
| day will pay the cost of transportation to tina
country on yearly supply of breadstuffs and mea
for an individual from the fertile and productiv
Mississippi valley Measured by relative available
ity, The grain fields of the great We are nearer
the inhabitants OF Lon Ion to-day than the food SUI
plies produced fifty miles from that city were at tn
beginning of this century. Such intimacy of CON
munication subjects the relative productive advar
tages of all civilized countries to the severest test
| of competition. Railroad transportation is now
necessity of modern civilization, and is fast becoiu
ing one of its leading, controlling and directin
forces 1t is adjusting the centers OF population ar
changing the seat OF alth and empire. That 70 C
influencing this degree the interests of men and til
affairs of States could have adjusted itself withou
some friction to interests that had grown out OF tn
old order OF conditions, was not to be expected
The issues that have arisen in the progress of thi
adjustment have presented various phases. Legis
latiye eSpedients have been invoked until almos
the entire field OF legal experiment has been GOV
cred. The history of legislation IN this direction
presents a recurring series Of failurss. Plans of
bitrary and fniexible regulation have been trie
and abandoned In our own Commonwealth tn
entire range OF these plans was discussed and re
jected The fatal error underlying these expert
ments and propositions was the erroneous assump
ton of rreconciable conflict between transports
ton and other economic interests of men, 1t Is tn
popularity of transportation that its own highes
interest is best subserved by encouraging produc
tion promoting prosperity and creating wealth. A
its vital part the interest of transportation
undistingushaby identified with every other moral
POLITICAL financial and commercial interest existing
in civilized society, because the promotion of its
good is reached only through the prosperity OF al