Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-02-19
TIE LEGISLATURE.
Saturdays Session OF Both Eouses-Ths
Earbor commissioners The Contested
Election Euddle-Eo Representative for
soIann

Saturday and transacted good deal Of business
The special files were passed over and very large
number OF bills read first time. In the Senate q
very interesting report was presented from the mi
nority of the Committee on Commerce and Naviga-
tion and in the Assembly an effort to seat Dozer
an Assemb'yuan from Solano county failed, and the
seat is left vacant.
! The Senate met at 10 A NJ, Lieutenant Governor
Daggett in the chair
message was received from the Governor, an
bouncing his approval of B. $50, to provide con-
| tingent fund for the Senate.
Indefinite leave of absence was granted Knight
and Cox on account of sickness.
Kellogg introduced resolution to pay L. W. Buck
| his mileage from the county seat Of Solano county
and his per diem for forty-one days. Also alesolu-
| ton to pay l.. W. Buck Sl027, for his expenses
in conJesting the seat OF j. NJ. Dudley, as Senator
from Solano county. Both we're referred to the
Committee on Contingent Expenses.
English, from the Committee on Irrigation, Water
Rights and Drainage reported back adversely the
bill to promote irrigation.
Perry introduced bill to regulate the mode of
committing persons convicted of felony the State
Prison IL provides that persons convicted of felony
shall be committed to the State Prison nearest to the
| county seat where the c1se is tried The Warden
Of the State Prison shall be Immediately Notified by
the Sheriff, and the Warden must send come suit
able person take charge OF the prisoners and con
| duct them to the State Prison.
Lynch introduced Senate bill Leyerson's A. 3.
| 1872, to prevent common carriers from making dis
ordinations aud unjust and extorenate charges on
the carriage Of goods in violation Of law The bill
was killed in the Assembly.
Ryan introduced bill to amend Section 3548 Of
the Political Code, relative TO proceedings against
delinquent purchasers. The bill applies specially to
swamp lands, and requires thoss taking up lands to
keep the interest paid up, so to prevent swamp
lands being held for speculative purposes.
| Cross introduced a bill 10 amend Section $50 of
the Code OF Civil Procedure so as to give the Judge
the power, after IN injunction has been issued, to
| increase the amount Of the bond
Johnson introduced bill to amend Section 1769
of the Code Of Civil Procedure. 1t enlarges the
powers OF guardians by providing that he may COM
pou1d Tor all claims and interest that the ward may
have, or heir, legatee or dstrbutee.
| The apportionment bills ard the road law were
postponed until tc-day and the Senate took up the
general file and large number of bills read
first time, among them Yrooman's bill to provide
for the improvement Of streets, lanes alleys courts
places and Sidewalks and the construction OF sewers
| within municipalities.
Reddvs bill allowing any railroad in the State TO
consolidate its capital stock, debts property assets
and franchises with those OF any other railroad in
this State or any other state, was read the first
time. Cross was the only Senator who voted against
it, and argued that II the Bu' terworth bill Vici-
GUS, which allows the consolidation Of one line Of
road, this BILL which allows the consolidation Of any
and all roads and franchises is doubly so. When
the vote was announced he wanted TO know whether
this anti-monopoly Senate had all fallen down. and
he alone was left standing with the people, and what
had become eli the San Francisco E11miner.
Whitney, from the joint Committee on Commerce
and Navigation, submitted a minority report frcm
which we make the following extracts
To the Honorable the Senate and Assembly of the
State OF California: The joint Committee on Com.
merce and Navigation of the Senate and Assembly
have attended to the duties devOved upon them
by the Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. II, and
beg leave to report follows: 1t proceeded to San
Francisco to facilitate its Investigations and in
order that it might have the full benefit of any sug-
l
terested in the subject OF inquiry. fhe fullest OPP
portuuity was given, and invitations to be heard
extended to all persons
The investigation into the official acts of the Har-
Dor Commission also carried on mostly in San
Francisco to give the great st facility to the labors
OF the committee. A visit to the seawall showed
that this important work has progressed satisfac-
tory in the past, and it may be said with pride that
although the work is not constructed to nehaf OF
the proposed extent upon the plan originally adopt
ed yet the facilities OF commerce at the present
time superior to those afforded in any large port of
the world. There have already been constructed Sol
feet of seawal, at expense of SS9i,671 &C. Sheds
for the accommodation Of the immense grain pro-
duct Of the State have been constructed 100 feet in
width and 1000 feet in length, along the seawall
where the wheat crop may be landed and remain for
fifteen days awaiting shipment without charge to
the producers The State may point wi pride to
this state of affairs
1t is in contemplation to commence another Sec
ton of 600 feet of seawal the money in the State
'e'>AeAAs
to Justify this undertaking. When the advantages
that have altesdy been derived 70 the state, not
on y in increase of revenue, but IN diEninution Of
the burdens OF commerce, are considered it is safe
to saw that the work should not be unnecessarily
postponed. Among the advantages that may be
mentioned are the following
l. 1t permits consguors to concentrate their car
goes thereby enabling the ship to take in her
at one point, saving expense to the shp-owDer.
.. IL saves the fnmer the cost of drayage and
storage Of his wheat. Beth these items Of expense
fall upon the producer.
8. 1t would exempt the State from the enormous
destruction of piling by the to edo and the plank
ing by the wheels and hoofs Of draying It. has
been estimated that the saving TO the State from
these sources alone would equal the interest on one
million doll RS at three per cent. per annum. The
urgent repairs upon the old bulhead and wharyes
necessary to keep them in order mas been upwards of
$50 600 during the last two years, which would in
effect be saved.
g. The construction of the seawall renders the i'm
provement of property along the water front pos
| sble. Warehouses and manufsctor es can now be
built, where without this work, only temporary
wooden structures could be supported. This has
caused an increase OF several hundred per cent in
value of the property within the seawali, which is
savtd BY the State for by its construction and
modification OF the water front line there has been
created large number OF valuable lots, which can
| be disposed OF or held for public purposes.
! During the investigation but three causes of COM
paint against the actions of the Harbor Commits
| sioners developed or suggested:
! First-That they have caused Broadway or Spear
street wharves to be widened at considerable eX-
pense but without corresponding increase revenue
1 Co the Staie These wharves have been assigned to
/ the Pacific Coast Steamship Company and the Ore
! gon Railway and Navigation Company. 1t was sug-
gestei that by this action OF the Commissioners
! favoritism was shown TO these companies aud to
| their agents We however, find thst the improve
ment did not add to the revenues OF the companies
of their agents. but was demanded by the merchants
and draymen Of San francisco for their own Sc
commodation Before the widening, teams were
compelle, to stand in line sometimes for more than
tweaty-four hours before being able to dis
charge their loads upon the vharves, until
the detention and expense became almost Intoler-
| able. After the Improvement the teams could come
and go without delay. The evidence Of merchants
and draymen contained in the printed testimony
fully sustain the action of the State Board Testi-
mony, pp. l50 154, 216).
| Second-It was complained that in one or two in
stances the dredgers of the State had entered into
competition with private parties to their loss and
to the cost OF the State, well to the benefit of
| the favored lessees This complaint was confined
chiefly to the dredging OF the slip in front of Bryant
street, between Main and Beaie streets. For the
purposes of this report, we deem it sufficient to
| state that attempt made By private parties
to enjoin the performance of this work by the Hsr-
Dor Commissioners. On trial before the Superior
Court it was decided that not only had the Board
the right, but it its duty, to dredge this slip.
In return for this service the State receives in in.
crease of rents 81 400 per n, at expense OF
about 81 ,200 per annum. (See testimony of William
L D.
committee believe it contrary to sound pubic
! policy for the State to come in competition with
private interests either in dredging or other pri-
| vate enterprises.
Third-lt also complained that portion Of
Bryantstreet wharf has been leased to the Mer-
chants Dry Dock Company, at monthly rental of
| S275, when the wharf otherwise employed W 4uld
| WELD revet of upwards of 81 900 per month.
II appears that the State several years ago leased to
that Dry Dock Company portion Of the water
front near North Beach at the rental Upon
the completion Of the seawal in front of the
leased premises they became valueess for the pur-
poses Tor which they were held. The Harbor Com-
missoners then assigned the company their present
location without any increase in rent. By the
terms OF the original lease, dated August 10 1874
the premises were granted for term of ten years
with the condition that the floating dock should be
removed at any time that the premises
might be required for harbor improve
ments, without the payment OF damages.
The removal to the present locality was about the
beginning Of 1879. IL was then thought best 10
make this arrangement TO prevent threaten ed liti
CATION, and since that time the arrangeme nt has
continued without change Toe committee is of
the opinion that the Dry Dock Company had no
right against the State which they could have main
tained and that the price plid for their present
clmmodatlons is totally inadequate to the privilege
they enjoy. Many complaints have beea Cfered to
the committee in regard TO the charges made BY
this company for the use Of their dock. But the
committee has not thought this subject within the
scope Of their inquiry. The committee is OF the
opinion that the Harbor Commissioners should at
once take steps to terminate the special privilege
now enjoyed by the Dry Dock Company, or see that
the State receives adequate return for the prop.
erty held by il.