The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-03-17
YESTERDAYS PROPOSITION.

The proposition the REcoRD-UNIoN
yesterday submitted to the people of this
city, was not the result of any sudden in
SEPARATION. 1t is one this journal has been
engaged in shaping for several months
It required long and careful calculation
and examination of the past to arrive
with approximate accuracy at the several
totals, and the proper distribution of the
whole sum.
The plan outlined is directly abreast
with contention the RECoRD-UNIoN has
maintained during the last three years.
and with persistency has advanced. 1t is
a scheme that this city has faced for ten
years, and which grows the more diff
cult of accomplishment the longer it is
postponed.
1t is very gratifying to learn that its
publication yesterday awakened the live
lest interest. Approval of the plan has
been communicated to this Office from all
suggested, but generally such are based
upon false premises or insufficient knowl-
edge Of the law which now governs the
action of the city in securing the new
capital for improvements.
As to one suggestion, we see no
reason for rejection, to wit, that in the
item of general street Improvement
fund" should be included the words
street cleaning. If only $4,000 were
placed in the street improvement fund
instead of 100000, and $4,000 in a street
cleaning fund, the latter would last about
three and half years. But if the people
even for one year should experience the
benefits of well-swept crossings and daily
cleaned streets by the best methods, we
need entertain no fear of their ever per-
hitting the STRENGTHENING fund to die
out.
There are few people of whose criti-
cism of the RECORD UNIONS article we
have knowledge who would serve their
country well by silence and this city bet
ter by dying. 1t has come to this simple
at once, between progressiveness and
silurianism. There can be no compro-
mise. There is an irrepressible conflict
between progression and retrogression
that ought to be settled now and forever
so far as Sacramento is concerned. Just
as soon as the whine is set up, I'VE can't
afford it," the reply must be an answer
ing shout, 1--WE will afford it"
a Southern California city of less popu-
iRtion and wealth expended larger sum
for less comprehensive improvement on
basis of twenty years payment, instead
OF forty. a smaller city in another State,
with about half as much taxable wealth
as this and three-fourths the tax rate.
carried out 100000 Improvement inside
OF two years anu Is 100000 better Or
to-day, eight years afterwards, on her
assessment roll, and her tax rate has
fallen q little more than so per cent.
The proposition is simple understands
BILE, unmvolved. All it calls for is within
reason, and can be accomplished by a
very simple, entirely just process. which,
after the new charter goes into effect, will
be forced upon the city whether silurians
like il or Motive refer to the assessment
roll, But the one thing to do is to resolve
now that the suggested improvements
shall be made, and that, too, without adj
vance of the tax rate; that we will no
longer debate these things, but settle
upon them once and for all, leaving
only the details as to methods and the
financial questions to be considered.
There is very strong probability that
within the year two, possibly three,
manufacturing industries of large proper
lions will be established here. PROPOSE
tons are already at hand that mean the
introduction of these works employing
large numbers OF artisans. These will
certainly be followed by others at no
far distant day. We must keep abreast
with this advance on the industrial side
of the question. While we aid that from
nrivate means and in public spirit, on
the municipal side through the agency of