The record-union., 1893-03-08
A RAID ON TAXPAYERS IMMI-
NENT.

Assembly Bill No. TIA has passed the
House with whoop and is deemed cer-
tain of passage through the Senate.
When it was debated in the Assembly the
objection was taken by Mr.. Anderson
that it saddled upon Sacramento County
Sl4, 400 per annum more of salary bur-
dens, or tax of five cents upon every
Sl00 of values in addition to present taxa
ton. 1t creates four new officers for this
county and shifts about the salaries of
old ones, carefully avoiding constitu-
tional inhibition concerning increase of
salaries. But really the devil is whipped
around the stump, so that in effect there
is very fat increase of salaries.
Those who wished the bill to go
through, opposed the exemption of Sacra-
mento County hotly on the plea that it
would delay the bill. 1t was therefore
transmitted to the Senate with the under
standing that Sacramento County, of the
fifth class, should be left out by that
body.
The Supervisors and the County Clerk
have denounced the bill as bad, though it
gives the latter officer an additional dep
uty. The Supervisors have also passed
resolutions and presented them to the
Senate, protesting against Section of the
bill that which takes Sacramento County
into the Act. The Supervisors and a
large body of citizens have called in a
group upon Senator Hart and upon sew
eral Senators and protested. Senator
Hart warmly pledged himself to fight
Section 2, and many Senators have said
that if Sacramento wishes to be left out
OF the bill they will SO vote, but that the
bill must pass.
The bosses, however, declare that Sac
ramento shall not be exempted, and they
boast of their ability to keep her in. The
truth is, it is largely Sacramento bill, and
means pap for official stations. Yet these
Offices were sought by numerous candi-
dates with full knowledge of the salary
rate and of the duties. Lack of assist
ance in an Office seems to have deferred
no one from seeking the stations and
battling through a hot campaign to get
them. For one of them, indeed, there
were no less than five candidates.
The fear is entertained that the bosses
know precisely what they are talking
about, and that, despite Senator Harts
protest, the bill may go through, with
the fifth class included, and this without
other Senators proving untrue, because
there are counties that need the bill and
to which it will be benefcence.
The safe thing to do is to add to Section
an exception that will create a class that
will embrace Sacramento County and vet
leave fifth-class counties in the bill, il
there are any desiring to be retained.
Taking up the United States census. a
class can be created that will exempt
Sacramento.
The people of Sacramento have not
through press, mass-meeting or theil
Supervisors, asked for increase of offices
and salaries. On the contrary, the legis
lative body of the county protests anc
begs the Legislature not to saddi,
more offices and salaries upon oul
people. Taxation is now almos
upbearable, and county needs in othel
directions are pressing. To clap 3 cent
more upon each 500 of assessed valu,
means to break the camePs back.
The officers who engineer such schemes
through can repare-their=pe pelitiss
sbrouds. They have no right, and it il
nothing but impertnence and cold cheek
TO ask the Legislature to increase Offices
and create new salaries without consult
ing the people affected and their legis
lative body, the County Supervisors.
The people of Sacramento County ap
neal TO the Senate not to saddle this nev
burden upon them. They have been law
.b;ding. we'll l-behaved and have dis
obarged their duties as Californians ant
1oval citizens fully and uncomplainingly
mt if there is anything they have don
TO Justify the punishment the Legislator