Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-02-02
LEGISLATIVE NOTES.


The bill introduced In the Assembly Oh Satur-
day by Nr. Jones 1oT the relief OF II. L. Nichols,
provides .uT the payment of 81 900 per year to
that gentleman while he was Secretary OF state
ClS6S-72), rs one OF the members OF the State
Beard OF Examiners. for which services, it is
claimed. both his Successors and predecessors
were paid.
During the discussion in the Assembly on
Saturday on the bill to encourage apprentices
McGlashan and Gregory (auth0r Of the bil)
made able and eloquent appeals on behalf of
the youth of the state who. i'll their desire 10
learn trades, have TO contend with the oppreS-
sionS of trades-uniOns. Although the Commit
tee Oh Education had reported adversely on the
bill, the Assembly, after listening to the potent
arguments of these gentlemen passed it 10 the
second reading. The bill provides that faithful
apprentices, after serving three years at their
trades. shall each be entitled 10 $50 from the
State.
The adjourned meeting of the Senate Com
mittee an Education further considered the
Perry bin appropriaing S250,ol0 for carrying out
the provisions Of the constitutional amendment
providing for the printing of textbooks by the
State. Arguments were made by several Sen
atoTS on the question as TO Whether-undeT the
peculiar wording Of the laW-it is mandatory
on the part Of the State Board of Education to
have the printing done at the state printing of
fee. Senator Spencer, of Napa, spoke with
much force on the Affirmative side OF the queS-
ton. He held that if the Constitution were not
mandatory in that particular, it would be lend
ing itself TO farce. suppose he Said, :" the
State Board were to go ahead and have the
books compiled, and were to stop there. Then
comes along citizen demanding set of text
books at cost price. He is met by the Board of
Education with the statement that they have no
books: that they had proceeded as far, under the
law as was mandatory; that the law tOr COnsti-
tutonl provided that the matter OF printing the
books was optional with the Board and it had
deeidt d it best not to do more than spend a
great many thousand dollars III having the
books compiled. "What kind Of constitutional
provision would that be, asked Mr.. Spencer
" IN face of the fact that all its provisions are
declared to be mandatory, unless otherwise par
ticularlN specified :? The gentleman argued at
length to prove that the Constitution could in
tend no such ridiculous thing as to require the
State Board of EGucation to eXpeud money to
compile textbooks and then leave the matter of
printing the same optional with them. II the
whole amendment be not mandatory III its
character, it is nothing.
Concerning the criticisms-by journals and
Others inimical 10 the proposition 10 have the
State print its own teXt-books-on Senator
PerryS bill appropriating S250,G00 for the pur-
pose OF carrying the law into effect that gentle
man says that they are entirely without 1oukda-
ton. Ii has been asked why the sum of $780,
000 should be appropriated since the State
Printers estimates figure up only about elioWlO
The fact is. this latter figure represents simply
the cost OF the plant, as it Were-types.
presses. paper, engine and boiler, binding, pay
OF printers. etc. while il is expected that Il
series of Biographies alone, with the necessary
maps plates, etc, will cost perhaps $4,000 adj
ditional. Then there Will be other necessary
expenditures to be net. according to Senator
FeTry'S idea and his estimate is also intended
to cover any difficulties that might be encouu-
claims that the attacks made upon his text
book appropriation bill come from those who
desire to have the will of the people defeated
and are not the result OF honest convictions.