The morning call., 1893-01-04

TO collect whatever Is deemed a just and equit-
able amount. Tie people VIII expect at your
hands some measure that Will Insure the desired
result.
The Governor speaks at length OF bis endeavors
TO render justice In the matter OF pardons ana
explains The system under which, 10 eoniunc-
tioD with the Board OF Prison Directors. he
works. After having acquired all obtainaole in
formation upon a case. II he thinks well OF the
application or is even doubtful of it, lie submits
the evidence before him. without recommends
tion or comment OF any kind. to the board That
body pursues its investigation Independently
aud upon Its conclusions and his own ne DE-
cides. He says:
Before the adoption OF the system which /
have thus at some length explained. i was much
impressed with the proposal TO create board OF
pardons, but am now satisfied that the method
adopted Is accomplishing all the good results
that could be expected from such noara. NOT,
withs;anding the fact that 1t would be great
relief 10 me. and TO all connected with tile office,
should such board be created. do not believe
that the change Is necessary.
When | reflect That there are confined In our
Stale prisons from two TO three times as many
prisoners in any other State in the Union In
proportion 10 our population am only TOO gao
OF legitimate excuse to lib rate applicants Tor
pardon.
| ascfibes ii to the fact that the Stale statutes
| create an excessive number of penttentIary Of
lenses, and because our judges impose excessive
| sentences as compared with other States. He
| is fayoraby impressed with The working OF
| the parole system In the East aud suggests It's
| adoption here.
|
! 1850 10 1860 The executions for murder In the
FIRST degree we've 100 per cent OF the convictions;
| between 1860 aud 1870, 73 per cent; between
1870 aud 1880, % per cent: between 1880 aud
! $780, 16 per cent Tie number OF life sen
fences in the first period were none; 10 The
sscond period, I pr cent OF the convictions; IN
| the third Ierlod, 10 PER cent, and IN The fourth
| period. 20 per cent; the percentage not accounted
| for being fer Communications, suicides, escapes,
| awaiting execution, etc.
From the sta islics just quoted 1t would seem
TO be almost conclusive that the verdcts OF juries
| In murder eases Indicate that the minds OF the
! people have changed. and that they are no longer
| In favor OF capital punishmr nj.
The Governor recommends the repeal OF the
| coyote scalp bougIy law. and has this 10 say
! regarding the ballot law:
believe tie Australian ballot, so called, has
proved 10 be all that its most ardent supporters
clam for Ii. II enables every citizen TO exercise
| Tie right OF suffrage Ia a secret manner. aud TO
| express his choice as 10 who shall be the
! servants Of the people. without intimidation or
! undue Influence Many amendments are sug-
| gested, aud some seem very necessary, notably
| one thai will enable election officers 10 more
speedily count The ballots and compute The vote.
L sincerely hope. however, that much Careful
! thought and close scrutiny will be bestowed
upou every amendment suggested to your honor
| able bodies.
The Governor urges the Legislature to pass
| law TO protect insurers against insurance COM
panies, and specifically recommends provision
| for an adlusier in behalf of insurers.
He has this 10 say In regard 10 the Nicaragua
canal: feel that every person on this coast
should encourage the building OF the Nicaragua
canal and assist The enterprise IN every way pos.
sible. When California can ship her grain in
bulk by this route. the saving In gram sacks,
expensive handling and reduced freight rates
Will be enormous, TO say nothing OF other and
very numerous advantages which IL would afford
our PEG. lie generally. here is little that your
honorable bodies can do except perhaps to eX-
press TO the Congress OF the United States Ia
some sui abs manner your approval OF the ell
terpriSe. and the great and la ting benefit II viii
be TO this coast and to the country.
10 This connection the Governor calls attention
n Fha nf.n ~ EAha
Government on the navigabe streams OF ;he
East and hen directs notice 10 the deplorable
condition Of The Sacramento and san Joaquin.
This, lie urges, could ana should be remedled.
The disposal OF the funded debt OF the State,
which amounts 10 81. 52S. 500 ana which fell
due on January 2, 1898, now becomes a charge
on this Legislature through the rejection by the
people at the last election of the proposition 10
refund ii. The Governor has this to say on the
subject:
The thorough Investigation which / have
given this subject convinces me beyond ques-
ton of doubt that the Legislature Possesses
ample power TO legally refund this
It's payment deemed expcdent 1t is IN fact
debt created by ourselves and due TO ourselves.
While The Regents OF the University could re-
fuse TO receive these bonds, 1t is equally true
that The University is a State Institution. in
every sense OF the word ward Of the - ate, and
no mere bubble or technical obi elton Is 10 be
feared from that source. L am convinced that
the people would be better served by refuIding
this debt than by its liquidation at this time.
In conclusion he says: was nominated on
platform which made a pledge TO the people that
limit should be placed upon the gross expeudi-
lures Of the State. which should not exceed 80
cents upon each 500 Of valuation of taxable
property. 1 take pleasure. ihet efoTe, In report
Ing TO your honorable bodies that far the
pledge has been faithfully kept BY reference
TO the reports OF the Stale Board OF Equalization
You viii see that the tax rate for the year 1891
was 446 aud for the year 1892 asa, and that
had there been no changes in the ,InatiOn OF
assessed property 1t would have been 4S.S and
1852 respectively.