Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-22

pair of past omissions In legislation upon
the water question Every wire from the
East brings news of parched crops and dy-
ing cattle from drought in half dozen
States. In other years from the same sec
ton comes the census of ruin by floods.
Nature has SO happily placed the seasons
of California that floods are impossible at
time when her crops might be hurt, while
science and enterprise can so combine to
treasure and distribute water that drought
can never CONES. +. 1td.
The enemies of irrigation and progress
are quite Mortified at the idea of asking
candidate for the Supreme bench OF the
State what are his views on the application
OF English law to the use of water for irrl-
CATION in California. These very delicate
and scrupulous people say that the seat of
justice is so sacred no candidate for a place
th5re should be asked his opinions on great
public questions. But our whole judicial
system, in all of the States, contemplateS
that the people shall have an opportunity
at short and regular intervals of keeping
the Courts in harmony with their views
and needs.-IeyO Independent.
We conceive that a grave error has been
committed by the Governor in calling an
extra session of the Legislature. 1t is true
that the decision of the Supreme Court in
the Kern county water cases has laid the
foundation for serious and grievous troub-
les, still, it will be hard to make the irriga-
tors see how they can be benefited by the
call of an extra session of the Legislature,
one branch of which is known TO be hos
tile having before refused to pass the very
measures that will again be presented to
them at an extra session. Knowing this,
the actual irrigators have opposed any call
of an extra session, and it is a surprise to
them that such a call should have been
made, and ayowedly in their interests
Fresno Erpositor.
The Post has been throughout a consist
ent advocate of irrigation, and 1t has given
its heartiest approval TO Governor Stone
man for calling the extra session, and to
the objects specified in his proclamation.
As to the measures which may be intro
duced in the Legislature under that call,
the Post awaits them with anxiety and
stands prepared to judge them on their
merits. There will be no journal in the
State more swift to condemn any attempt,
under cover of the popular irrigation move
ment, to play into the hands of schemers
with selfish aud sinister ends to serve.
But we are content to wait until the Legis-
lature begins to act before criticising its
proceedings an example of forbearance
which not-a few esteemed contemporaries
might copy with advantages. +. Post.
As a general thing the papers of the
State approve of the action of the Gov
ernor The Mercury had advised the call
in fact we believe, ii was the first paper to
do 50. The Senate will be able 10 meet
with It's full number of members. The
Assembly will be two short, Colusa and
Tuolumne counties not being represented.
The work marked out by the proclamation
cannot be done in a day, bat if the work is
such that will settle the water question so
that the prosperity of our State will not re-
ceiye the backset which the recent decision
of the Supreme Court foreshadowed, the
cost to which the State will be put by the
extra session will be money well expended
We mention the water question, particu-
larry, as we consider it paramount TO all
others to which the call relates.-OrorHe
Mercury.
The law, as the Court has interpreted il,
is likely TO be defied, and society is threat
ened with lawlessness and disorder The
Governor, Welding to the influence of these
dangers has convened the Legislature to
cure the evil and allay the popular excite
ment. As the Supreme Court in its objec-
tionable decision has declared the doctrine
of riparian rights to be in force in this
State, and as that doctrine is directly in
imical to the appropriation OF water for
agricultural uses, and as there can be no
progress and prosperity in California with
out irrigation, the Legislature is convened
to set aside this doctrine and pass laws
establishing a system of water rights that
will be in harmony with the popular me-
/.
tons upon which the cultivation of the
soil can be maintained Transcript.
That duty undoubtedly is to enact such
legislation as shall enable the people to
embody in the Constitution the principle
that all the water in every unnavigable
stream in California, whether natural or
artificial, belongs to the public and can be
taken for irrigation and other useful pur-
poses and equitably distributed among
those who wish to use it for such purposes.
= We do not think anything should
be done by the Legislature to reorganize
the Supreme Court. We think it was a
mistake to name that as one of the objects
of the special session. That matter has not
been sufficiently discussed to permit of i'll
| telligent action by the present Legislature.
| And we think it was a bad policy, judged
! from the anti-riparian standpoint, to unite
the question of reforming the Court with
the question of lrrigation.-Sa',ta Cruz Sen
tiRei.
Then because these gentlemen, whose
uprightness, integrity or personal character
is unquestioned by the entire community,
render decision in accordance with the
| law of the land. they should be removed
from office, so as to put in a new set of
Judges pledged to reverse the decision Of
| the Court as it now stands. That the laws
regarding water should be amended in the
! interests of the farmers there is no doubt,
| but that it should be so amended as to
allow Haggin, Carr e. Co. to acquire the
entire of Kern river, and thereby deprive
Miller & Lux of their property, is another
question. Under the Constitu-
| tion the fact of the Legislature now being
in session closes the term of George Hearst
as Senator for California. and makes va
cancy in the Office which must be filled, if
the Legislature performs its duty in accord
ance with the oath taken by its members
| Oakland Times