Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-23
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE.
EXTRA sEssroN-THIRD DAY.
SENATE.

SENATE.
THURSDAY, July p, 1886.
Inc senate met at IL A. NJ, Lieutenant-tioy
ernor Daggett in the chair. Roll called and
quorum present. Prayer by the Chaplain. Min
utes of preceding day read and approved.
HoNoRING GENERAL SHERMAN
Boone offered a resolution providing that a
committee of three be appointed by the Chair
TO proceed to the depot to receive General W. T.
sherman, who would shortly arrive from san
Francisco, and extend to him the courtesies OF
the Senate. So ordered and the Chair appointed
as such committee Senators Boone, Filcher and
De Long.
MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS
The Chair announced the appointment of the
Committee on Rules, as published in the REC
oRD-UNIoN yesterday
The several officers of the Senate were called
TO the Presidents desk and took their oaths OF
Office.
Appointments of subordinate attaches were
announced as follows: Porter to Sergeant at
Arms, Carter jackson; for the gallery, Hank
Jones; Lieutenant-GOyernors room, G.. Robin
son; Porters-John II. Farrell, Daniel Ccglan,
W. S. Linn; Rear Porter, E. Clark Gatekeep-
ers, Hugh Lynch and Jos Wagner; Watchmen
Charles Connell. Oscar Marshall and J.
Toohey; Psges-James Longshore, Walter
Toomey, Harry Nottingham and F. Lascey
Cross. from the Committee on Rules, submit
ted report providing rules for the Senate, so
inOse OF the last session as TO con-
form to the requirements of the present extra
session idoing away with the clerks of all but
two or three committees.
Perry moved that the position Of Engrossing
Clerk be declared vacant, irasmuch as the per
son elected to that position had not presented
himself, and probably would not. The motion
provoked some debate, and finally. on motion
of Baldwin, was laid over for one day.
Kellogg offered a resolution authorizing the
Sergeant alarms to appoint a page. Adopted.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Cross-An Act to create the State Board OF
Water Commissioners and prescribing its duties
and powers. Provides for the appointment OF
one Commissioner by the Governor and two
each by the Senate and Assembly. The Board
is to acquire by location, purchase or con-
domination such water rights, bitches, etc, as
may be deemed necessary; TO construct works
for conducting or impounding the waters of the
streams of the State for irrigating and other
beneficial purposes to the different localities
where the demands for water are sufficient to
reimburse the State within reasonable time
for the expense thereof The Board shall fix a
uniform price for water. sufficient to pay the in
terest on bonds issued under an Act to provide
funds for the erection and maintenance of State
water works and the expense connected with
the maintenance of the same. The Board shall
be entitled to the State Engineer and Surveyor
General, The salaries of the members of the
Board shall be $3.50 each per month";
By Whitney-An Act to provide for the for
nation of water and irrigation districts and for
of the State. for agriculture and other purposes.
Provides that the State Engineer shall lay of
the arid portions of the State into water dis
tricts Each district shall include the lands
susceptible of irrigation from a common source
of supply, so as to provide for an equitable dis
tribution of waters in proportion to the acreage
susceptible of being irrigated. Boards of Su-
pervisors are given control of water courses and
sources OF supply and waters passing through
their county for distribution i'll other counties,
etc.
By Cross-An Act to submit to a vote of the
people of the state the question of creating and
maintaining State water works for irrigation
and other beneficial uses
By Cross-An Act to provide for the erection
and maintenance of State irrigation works.
Provides for the issuance of bonds for that pur-
pose.
A BILL WITHDRAWN.
Reddy asked and was granted the privilege
of Withdrawing the bill introduced by him on
the preceding day.
PETITIONS PRESENTED.
BY Kellogg, from the citizens of Butte Reddy.
from citizens of Fresno and Kern; Wright from
citizens OF 1olO; Baldwin, from citizens of San
Joaquin Johnson from citizens of San Bernar-
dino Whitney, from citizens of Alameda Nc
Clure, from citizens of San Francisco and Ala
meda-all in relation to irrigation.
MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR.
The Governors message was presented to the
Senate and read by the Secretary. During the
reading the CON mittee appointed to receive
General W. 7. Sherman appeared Within the
gate, when the Senate took recess for ten min
utes. During the recess the General was intro
duced to members, and was afterwards invited
to a seat at the Presidential desk.
The message is as follows:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
SACRAMENTO July y, 1886
To the Senate and assembly Of he STATE Of CaLior-
nid-GENTLEMEN: My proclamation in bringing
you together in extra session of the Legislature
calls on you to Iegislate and take action on only
two subjects, namely:
First-Irfigation, or water rights; and
Second-ReOrganiZatio of the Supreme Court
The proclamation sets forth my views fully on
those subjects and the urgent reasons which i'm
PEELED me to call you from your homes and oc-
equations at this sultry midsummer season.
The emergency is great and pressing. 1t de-
mands prompt, wise and careful action. Reli-
ance upon our statutes and upon the judicial
interpretations of the law to regulate satisfac-
torily water and water rights in this State has
practically failed. Public opinion is united and
irresistible in the demand Tor legislative action
which Will prevent threatened disaster to our
vast agricultural interests. In many sections of
the State, embracing vast area now attracting
a rapid tide of immigration, a feeling of dissat-
isfaction and irritation prevails regarding the
claims and threatened or pending action of ri
parian owners, which may eliminate in danger
to the peace and good order of the State unless
averted by just and timely legislation.
Until the contentious arising between the ri
parian and irrigation interests are adjusted upon
an equitable and practical basis-intrenched in
our Constitution and laws, and safe-guarded in
our Courts-immigratio will be retarded, agri-
cultural developments checked, and all the in
dustrial resources OF the State crippled or i'm
paired.
The merchant and business men in general
feel at this juncture that their prosperity is at
stake. They unite with the farmers and ffuit-
growers in this urgent call for redress of griey-
ances on the all-absorbing water question
Property worth millions of dollars-including
alike the large tracts owned by the rich and the
small farms by the settler-is threatened with
destruction pending the settlement of this ques-
ton of riparian ownership. 1t is a question OF
far-reaching and vital importance, which ma
terially affects the interests of agricultursts in
many states aud Territories, and one which, in
this State, has reached a painful crisis in con-
sequence OF the recent decision of the Supreme
Court in favor of riparian owners.
That you are alive and earnest in the interests
of the tillers of the soil-the interest of all-is
evident from the fact that such a large majority
of your honorable body have united in a re-
quest to me as Chief Executive to call this extra
session of the Legislature. Believing with you
in itsimperative necessity, have done my part
in the good work by promptly responding to the
call. 1t now remains with you faithfully and
theoretically to do your part by legislating on
the lines indicated in my proclamation. One
of the certain and not remote results of such
action ty you will be the division of large land
holdings into small tracts. where men OF hum
BILE means can, by industry and thrift, convert
the arid land into productive fields, orchards
will then dot the land
With regard 10 the second subject recon-
mended IN the proclamation for legislative
action, my views are clearly put forward
That the Supreme Court, under the present
eumbrous system, has failed to realize the aims
and accomplish the results intended by the
trainers of the State Constitution, is palpaoly
evident to all interested in the efficient and sat
isfactory working of our judicial system
The legislation recommended for enactment
is not of character in which considerations of
political or party advantage should enter or are
involved.
This fact will tend to make smooth your de-
alterations ana shorten the duration of session
from which the people have reason TO expect
decisive and highly beneficial results.
GEORGE SToNEMAN, Governor
SUPPOSED TEST or STRENGTH
Kellogg moved that the. Senate take a recess
till 2 P. NJ. on Monday. Del Vale Routier,
was lost A motion TO adjourn for the day was
also voted down.
Recess till . p N.
Afternoon Session.
|, The Senate reconyened at JPN The follow
ing committees were announced By the Chair
Judiciary-Cross chairman. Baldwin, Boone
Days, Del Vale, johnson OF Sonoma, Kellogg,
Lowe. Mcclure. Perry, Spencer of Napa, Taylor,
Nrooman, Whitney.
Engrossment-FiIeher(C Chairman Cross, NAH
Ter. Palmieri.
Enrolled Bills-Johnson of Sonoma CHAIR
Saanl, Chandler, Langford, Mcclure, barker,
Wallis.
Pr nting--Keilogg Chairman, Baldwin, Boone.
Kelly, Steele.
Finance-Knight (chairman) Cox, Days, De
Long, johnson of San Bernardino, kellogg.
NFooman.
Contingent Expenses Attaches and Mileage
Lynch tChairmaD), Del Vale, Drum, Maher,