The record-union., 1893-02-16
WAYS AND MEANS.
MILLER AND LEONHARDT EACH
TO GET SOME EXPENSES.
The Bill to Create Board of Public
Works and to Make Appropriate
ton Under Fire.

! The Assembly Committee on WAYS
and deans took up the claims of Messrs
Miller and Leonhardt for contested cleo
ton expenses last night. The commit
tee came to the conclusion that Mr..
Leonhardt had good cause for contestine
the seat of Assemblyman Miller, as the
vote was very close, and there was q
doubt as to what district Mr.. Miller was n
resident OF. The committee will recon-
mend that each of the gentlemen be al
lowed SS25 for expenses and ATTORNEYS
fees.
! Mr.. Jacobs was before the committee
and made strong argument for his bill
providing for the reclamation of lands.
and at the same time assaulted the bill
which provides for the creation of a Board
of Public Works and an appropriation of
S50,O0a for the reclamation of lands. He
was opposed TO all salaried Commission
ers, and thought the bill asking for the
appropriation was needless and extrav-
agant measure. The bill for which he
wanted favorable recommendation pro-
vides for the appointment of members of
reclamation districts who shall receive a
| salary of $40 per day while actually en-
gagged. Mr.. Jacobs claimed that his bill
! will accomplish the necessary results and
at practically little expense. He pro-
/ tested against giving the hard learned
| money of laboring men for what he
| called visionary schemes.
| Mr.. Rose explained the origin of the
| bill which Mr.. Jacobs fathered. 1t was
| drawn before the late Reclamation and
| Drainage Convention met, and does not
express the sentiments of the people nor
provide for general system of reclama-
/ To SniA IT, /
first, last and all the time, and is now, to
the reclamation of swamp lands
! The people of nine or Ten counties want
| the appropriation. 1t will eventually
cost about $40 or Sl2 to reclaim the land
which will be worth at least $50 an acre.
! The taxable property of the State will be
increased millions of dollars. In Mr.
Roses opinion, there is no doubt about
the feasibility Of reclaiming the swamp
| lands by the provisions of the bill. 1t is
proposed to dig a waterway which will
have sufficient fall to drain the swamp
lands.
Resolutions of the Boards of Supervis-
ors of Sacramento and Yolo Counties
were read, heartily indorsing the passage
! of Mr.. Anderson's bills asking the crea-
ton of a Board of Public Works and an
appropriation of $4,000. Beside every
person Mr.. Rose interviewed favored the
bill and Mr.. Jacobs was the only OBJ
| jector.
The only question in the mind of
| Chairman Mathews was whether the
lands could be reclaimed under the pro-
visions of the bill. If he thought the bill
was feasible be would favor an appropri-
/ alton of 81. 100000, if the funds of the State
could stand that amount.
Mr.. Arnold, Supervisor of Colusa,
| thought the lands could be reclaimed
and many surveyors, he said. We're of the
same opinion. He has been interested in
| swamp and overhowed lands for the past
twenty-five years, and the only plan to
recover them is to provide a deep canal
TO drain the lands. If the land under
water is reclaimed and raises one crop it
Will pay the cost of retaining
| Assemblynan Nann corroborated all
the statements made by Rose and Arnold
| lie portrayed the situation along the
| Sacramento River, and every year the
condition becomes more perilcus and
the lands decrease in value. Unless
something is done to drain the lands
| the State will lose millions of dol
lars of taxable property. Progress is
now withheld because capitalists will not
invest in the lands along the Sacramento
! River for fear OF floods. Mr.. Vann hoped
the committee would report the bill max
| ing the appropriation favorably.
The committee finished listening to
arguments, and to-day will take final
action on the bill appropriating $4,000.