Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-19
THE MESSAGE.
Boston.

The most striking feature of the Gov
ernor's message is its dead silence concern
ing the late extra session of the Legisla-
ture. Since the session was intended to
be a brilliant and material stroke of policy.
the non-reference to it can he construed in
no other way than confession on the
part of the Executive that it was a dis
NAL failure concerning which the least
said is the soonest mended. In this I'D
mission is displayed greater wisdom than in
any affirmative utterances in the docu-
ment
The review of the financial condition of
the State presents nothing new and en-
bodies no striking suggestions. In the
satisfaction the Governor finds in the re-
dueed rate of taxation the raising Of
assessments is quietly ignored. Had that
been treated scarcely so satisfactory con
clusion could have been logically drawn
\ low rate upon advanced valuation com.
pared with higher rate upon low yalua-.
ton does not prove a reduction of the bur-
den Of taxation. But if the increased.
valuation secures greater equality of assess
ment, there is a gain by the low rate irl
the more equitable distribution Of the cost
of government maintenance. 1t is very
true that the tax rate for 1881 was csc,
and in 1882 so, and in 1888 49,. but the
assessment of 1881 fell short $2S 100000
and that OF 1882 over S47, 100000 COM
pared with 1880. In 1883 the assess
ments amounted to 2653, 267 ,679, as against
S579, S70,449 in 1882. In 1881 they aggre-
gated $729, 2l$,9l1. The increased cost of
government was not proportionate and
hence the declination of the rate of taxa
ton cannot be said to be more than a
natural result. 4 reform in the financial
system, requiring State moneys to be paid
in Is collected, and disbursed only upon
warrants, is suggested and is commend
able. 1t was expected that the Governor
would have suggested the erection of
busincss-like checks 10 prevent fee-stealing
in State Offices, and the failure Ia do 50 Is
unaccountable in the light of recent expe-
riences.
The Governor very properly approves
the efforts made to secure a creditable cx-
hibit Of California products at the New
Orleans Exposition. His recommendation
that fund be placed at proper disposal for
guarding the State against the assaults Of
pestilence is in accordance with the advice
of the State Board of Health, and should
be adopted. The Governor also properly
calls attention to the duty Of the Leslsla-
ture TO faithfully carry out the will of the
people in the matter of the school book
amendment. lie advises that the hor;i-
cultural and viticultural interests be fos-
tered by stringent measures to prevent
adulteration and o2unterfeitiug Of wines
and products His statement of the work
and benefits of the State Board Of Agri-
culture win receive public approval, and
his advice that the propagation of food
fishes be encouraged Is economic advice.
The irrigation question is discussed, and
the establishment of definite system for
the use Of waters advised The advice We
believe to be wise that suggests the estab-
lishment Of the State Engineering Depart
ment upona permanent basis. The Governor
in considering the condition of the State
prisons does not seem to have discovered
that the .iute manufacturing experiment is
a fiat failure, nor has he any suggestions to
offer relative to separation of hardened
offenders from neophytes in crime-a mat
ter 50 much debated at this time in cor
nection with proposed Juvenile reforma-
tories. The National Guardsmen will
be gratifed to know that the
Executive advises liberal policy toward