The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-06-02

a Capitol building far and away superior
to that of either Ohio, Pennsylvania or
Illinois.
Just where ACKNOWLEDGMENT to the
State' at such rate will land the people
we leave it for taxpayers to consider.
But no matter what the cost of Capital
removal, on the basis of the relation of
population of counties to the whole
population of the State, Yolo will have to
pay per capita, one ninety-fifth of the
cost, Fresno one-thirty eighth, Los An
geles little over one-twelfth, San Fran
cisco about one-fourth. On the basis of
assessed values, however, YoIo will pay
about -ffty-ninth the cost, Fresno
about one-twenty- eighth, Los Angeles
more that one-fourteenth, and San Fran
cisco will pay about 81 per sent of the
whole cost. Now are these counties
prepared to assume such burdens to
crafty the ambition of San Jose? But
passing these suggestive figures, and
( which are not nearly so strong as their
further elaboration would make the
showing, all the silly talk of our con-
temporary, the Mercury, about "aggran-
dizing the State at our expense, to the ex
tent of 81 100000 and ten acres of ground"
will deceive no one. The trade Of thirty
acres Of improved property with build
ings thereon superior to the many and
standing the State in fully 81, 900, 900, for
ten acres of unimproved land and pros
pective 100000 that San Jose promises
TO raise, but for which she cannot be
legally held, fact well known in that
city, is too unbusiness-like and absurd
to be considered seriously. 1t is of the
order of ACKNOWLEDGMENT" to which the
people of the State who are to foot the
bills will pin no faith.
The basis the Mercury lays for sup
port of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT" chatter, is
that California may have Capital
worthy of her people and her fame";
Capital more central, healthful, beautiful
and progressive" The entire matter of
complaint Of unhealthfulness may be
dismissed as a fabrication: that of CEN
trality as flat absurdity, and that of lack
of beauty as bit oflocal self-conceit. Gov
ernor MARKHAM has well put it that he
has never known Of lack of candidates
tata off hoaaYro II 9
salubrity against Sacramento. People
who have INDUCED in these fictions of
unhealthfulness in this city, have done
so without warrant or reason.
We reassert, and the whole people
know it to be true, that there was and is
no demand of the people for change of
the seat of government, and that no other
| spirit than that of local ACKNOWLEDGMENT
moves San Jose. To quote the Mercury.
sit is an evidence of mental simpleness''
to deny it. Citizens of San Jose of repre-
sentative character tell US frankly that it
is with the idea only that San Jose will
benefit that they contend for removal.
| The constant presentation by the Mer-
cury of the issue as one between San Jose
and Sacramento proves this to be true
We believe that the people, if it ever
comes to them, will weigh the question
as against need and cost. There is no
need, and the cost to them for State Gov
eminent under it will be quite the equiv
alent of piling up their taxes by nearly
one-siXth of addition.
If, aside from all local views. it could
be shown that the people were to be bene-
! fitted by a change, their taxes lessened,
the cost OF State Government reduced,
vicious legislation limited, political
honesty promoted, and general pros
perity conserved, by catering to the mis-
| taken idea of San Jose that the Capital
there will do anything more than make
her target for every growler in the
State, we would favor removal.
Heaven knows that had not local con-
ditions grown up around the present To-
! cation, during a period of many years.
disturbance of which would be injurious.
! Sacramento would not expend a breath
to retain the Capital. We're it not here
to-day and knowing what the people do
know, as the result of being made State
| target, the voters of Sacramento would
not cast a single handful of ballots to
bring the Capital here.
| Let the Mercury dropits present style of
argument, and by something more digni-
fed and sensible than talk about streets.
and sewers, and schools, and Sacra-
mento's attempt to equal San Jose
heaven save the mark as to most things
and come down, if it can, to the cold com
mon sense of the matter; in what way are
the interests of the taxpayers of Califor-
mia to be benefited, and their burdens
lightened by ratifying the unhappy am
| bition of San Jose boomers?
AND NOW COMES A PRACTICAL
TEST.