The record-union., 1893-01-21
" LIAR AND COWARD. I"
COUNTY DIvIsIoNIsTs IN A WARM
BATTLE.
Young Man Atherton of San Bernar-
dino Gets a Severe
Scoring.

An adjourned meeting of the Senate
Committee on Counties and County
Boundaries convened last evening at s
o'clock in Department Two of the Su-
preme Court, with all members present.
Senator Eli Denison of Alameda pre-
sided.
At a previous meeting it was decided
that the Riverside bill should be first
consided, and should occupy the time of
two sittings. At the same meeting it was
also agreed that the advocates of this
measure were to have two-thirds of the
time of the first sitting in which to pre-
sent their arguments, and the opponents
one-third.
At final session this condition was to
be reversed, giving the supporters of the
project the usual opportunity of present
ing evidence in rebuttal. After a read
ing of the bill William j. Mcintyre, City
Attorney of Riverside, opened the dis
cussion. lie said:
The rapid advance in population and
wealth during the last decade of the great
State of California has directed public at
tention to each of the large counties in the
southern part OF the State, notably to San
Bernardlno County, whose area exceeds
that of many of the States north of the
Potomac RIVER. The breaking up, in Il @
future, OF these great counties of the State
into smaller political divisions was at the
time OF their formation considered inevi-
table when a progressive development
justified legislative action.
Imperial counties, when the adjective
IS applied to great geographical areas,
must pass away. Their continued exist
ence in the rapid development of the
State at large would suggest stagnation
and lack of growth. The history of this.
as well as Of other States, shows that the
small counties are the best governed, the
most economically administered, and af-
ford better protection for life and prop
ertv.
In passing upon the bill creating River
side County, the Legislature will take
into consideration lthe necessities of the
people within the boundaries of the pro-
posed new division. the justice of the
measure, and the capacity of the people
within the county to exercise these newly
acquired political rights with utility to
themselves, as well as to the State at
large. The new county must present to
the Legislature sufficient array of facts
TO justify the partition. The happiness of
a people does not always depend upon the
enactment of laws, but on the equity and
eXpedlency of the laws that are enacted
n county is political union, and it is one
of the duties of the creating power to
have such a union composed OF harmoni-
Gus elements, in order that the TRANQUIL
ity and happiness of the people may be
conserved.
A learned writer upon the best form of
government uttered a truism when he
sud: THAT but little else is required TO
carry a people to the highest degree of
opulence from the lowest barbarisn. but
peace, easy taxes and a tolerable admin
lstration of justice. all the rest being
brought about by the natural course of
things" The absence of these requisites
to good government. coupled with di-
verse and hostile interests, have produced
this agitation Tor separation in San Ber-
nardino County, which running through
long chain OF connections has at length
affected the whole body OF the people
seeking separation, until the tension is
so great and the relations SO strained as
To preclude cooperation upon any matter
OF public character. An enforced union
OF such hostile and opposing elements as
san Bernardlno and riverside would be
political crime and disastrous TO every
interest in both sections of the county.
The opposition OF the San BernaruinO
people 10 the division OF the county is
natural, as 1t wishes to draw from the
Riverside section large revenue for
courthouse building and general taxa
tion. The desire OF Riverside 10 avail
itself of the right accorded to it by the
Constitution, and escape a burdensome
and oppressive tyranny, is also natural.
Riverside does not claim superiority
over any section of the State. our peo-
pie are no better and not worse than those
OF other sections. What she has accom-
plished has been done by industry and
1rugality.
Let us be charitable, however, for pas
sion and policy may sometimes force
men to act a part that their judgment and
better nature condemn. do not wish TO
cast aspersion upon any section of the
State. We should, as good citizens, be
loyal 10 every section and fall into line in
the march OF industrial development, and
resent an injury to one as an injury to
all.
desire to call attention to some of the
tyrannical acts of the Board OF Supervis-
ors in the impos tion OF burdens and un-
Just Determinations against sections of
the county not contiguous to San Ber-
nardino City:
In June, 1891, the Board of Supervisors
called an election 10 vote S350,OO0 bonds
1or new courthouse, which was voted
down at the polls.