The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-03-02
THE OMNIBUS LOADED.
IT WILL BE ROLLED INTO BOTH
HOUSES TODAY.
County Officials VIII Servo Four Years
Instead of Two, If No Acct
dent Occurs.

Over two weeks ago a subcommittee
was appointed-three from the Senate
and three from the sembly-Committee
ON County Government and Township
Organization to draft a county govern
ment bill, usually known as an "omni-
bus" from its general utility in carrying
in everything with which it is loaded.
The committee so appointed was:
Senators Earl CHAIRMAN, Burke and
Gesford, the last of whom was at his own
request, relieved and Senator Simpson
appointed in his stead; and Assembly
men Schroebel, Afford and Duckworth.
From the fact that the bill would not be
completed until the last days of the ses-
sion, and for the further reason that the
completed bill would be so bulky that the
ordinary legislator would not think of
diving into it's depths in order to pick
flaws, those individuals who have lobbied
for pet measures with poor success in the
two houses, have besieged the committee
with suppicatiOns, prayers, tears, and
probably few curses, 10 Incorporate
those same pet measures in the body of
the general omnibus bill.
Regardless of these opportunities, the
committee has struggled slowly, but
surely, through the heterogeneous mass
of proposed laws, cutting out a section
here, adding a section there; throwing a
hall dozen bills together, and selecting
one from the six; throwing out vast
number which looked suspicious; decid-
ing upon the cOnstitutiOnality of all; in
short, doing more work than any other
half dozen men in the Legislature, except
the clerks who put their work in order,
until last night they came to the lend of
1T all, " and this morning the bill will be
reported back, with the recommendation
that it do pass.
Over 200 pages of solid matter has been
incorporated III the bill, that portion re-
lating to Boards of Supervisors receiving
tue lions share, while many other prop
ositions receive the notice due them IN
other sections Of the bill, and proving TO
the ordinary student that beyond doubt
the old maxim is all wrong, and that
there IS something new under the sun"
Each Legislature, since California has
been a State, has produced with great labor
an omnibus bill, and that new one is
necessary every two years goes TO bear
out the assertion of one OF the oldest of
our legislators, when he declared that the
bill should be called Charity" seeing
that it covered a multitude OF sins"
Prominent among the many interesting
| measures contained in the bill is the sec
ton extending the terms of office of
county officials from two to four years.
The friends of the measure, and they are
legion, urged it's incorporation on the
ground that there would be a great saw
! ing to the different counties in the costs
OF elections, and for the further reason
that at the expiration of a two-year term
the officials were only just becoming ac-
quainted with their duties, and could do
more and better work the last two than
the first two years. The enemies to the
! measure slyly limited that they would be
better able to manipulate public moneys
| in the direction Of their own pockets dur
| ing a four than a two-year term, but their
| ihsinuations went for what they were
worth. which was very small sum total,
and if the bill goes through, the next
comfy officials will hold for four instead
| of two years.
Strangely enough the proposition to in
/ corporate the anti-license sheep tax was
| the last to be considered by the commit
[coNrINUED on EIGHTH PAeE.l