The record-union., 1893-10-11

any acts performed by former officials?
That is the way it looks; for. [ am Told.
that the present city officials claim the
right to change the grades OF sidewalks
| regardless of results to individuals.
For example: A man has built store
and laid the floor on a level with the side
walk grade as given to him by the city
officials. Now | am told that the present
city officials can raise the sidewalk and
leave his store floor down below the
| grade-perhaps force him to raise it,
Is this justice? Or is it only the popu'
| lar cry? Get out of the way of the Jug
| gernaut car Progress or be crushed!
| If l use little sharp or forcible Ian
| guage, which may seem to carry the tone
OF rebuke, or to insinuate censure of in
dividuals. want it understood that it is
only my opinion of acts. l will assert
right here that L have not feeling of an
imosity against any person in this city
| Tor elseWhere), official or other.
Things are often done, or advocated, by
| myself as well as others, which will not
bear the test of the inherent sense oi
right and wrong in man-which is the
true test of all actions, laws, ordinances
and theories.
am not opposed to progress, though
may differ from many about methods of
promoting it; probably more from the
younger and more enthusiastic or enter
prising men than from the older heads,
who have seen more of life, and are, in
consequence of age, more quiet. Perhaps
this younger life and activity, though not
devoid of error, is just what the country
needs, but feel sure that little caution,
or even censure, deserved or unde-
served) will not hurt them.
Many are praising our present Mayor
for his energy, claiming that he has done
n ~
time than anyone who has occupied the
position.
What has he done, and what has he
done it with? Does this praise amount
to anything more than boast that he has
made the old silurians shell out for inn
provements, which they would not have
made voluntarily?
Those who have counseled and ap-
proved the issuance of the ordinances
under which this has been done are en-
titled to equal credit, or equal blame, as
the Inherent of sense of right and wrong
in man may award it (and accord it,
If these improvements were being made
from general tax on all property, they
would possess one merit which they lack
1t would take much
beauty in the appearance of the city to
counterbalance in my mind) wrong to
one individual Especially if that indi-
vidual was myself.
If the city authorities will overhaul the
ordinances and discard those which are
useless and repeal those which are palpa-
bly, unjust, they will have done more
good in my estimation) than all OF the
Improvements which they can force onto
individuals will amount to.
A Mayor has no power to do any great
thing for city; the law prescribes his
duties, and if he fulfills them conscien-
" 10 ia TO ft,a Of oil
mon. Il believe we never had Mayor
who did not do this.) Ii he makes mis-
takes about what the law requires or per-
mlts, he is perfectly eXcusable and can
not justly be blamed; because it is self
evident that the English language cannot
express the meaning of statute so that
common people can understand it.
1t takes our brightest intellects-whc
have made the subject prominent study
for years-to explain the true meaning OF
a written law; and how they can manage
the English language so as to make plain,
what cannot be made plain by the Ian
guage, in the written law, is mysterious
paradox Ito me).
! have had some experience in business
and my judgment is that business cannot
prosper generally here under the present
rate Of taxation, consequently L would
like to see great efforts made to reduce
bequeath heavy debt to posterity, con-
sequently [ am a gO-slow silurian.
would have liked first,-to have the
sewage system put in as good condition
as our locality will permit; next, the
clearer water procured, and then the busi-
ness streets. one after another, made
good.
Younger men think it better to press
all of these improvements onto an over
taxed community at once. Perhaps they
are right in that; but when they disre-
gard the rights and conditions of any
citizens, feel sure that they are wrong.
Try it by the true test.
If join others for the purpose of test
ing the legality of auy ordinance, it is not
wholly from a natural feeling of resist
ance to injustice. think it may be wis
dom to show that those who are "clothed
with little brief authority" must not
disregard the principles of equity when
making rules and regulations to govern
others; or, on the other hand, if they
have that right, and their fiat is law, the
people ought to understand it. Justice
and law should be synonyms. If they
are not, it may be well for the people to
know it. NJ. A. BURKE.
Sacramento, October 9th.