The record-union., 1893-01-04

that they are no longer i'll favor of capi-
tai punishment. He therefore advises "A
thorough discussion, and il it is true that
/ the people desire change i'll the law, it
should be made.
ENTRADITION-CoYoT
He advises amendment of the law re.a-
tive to eXtradition so as to put the cost of
return of criminals upon the counties. If
the State is to bear the expense, then the
Legislature must appropriate a larger
sum to meet 1t than heretofore. He ad-
Vlses repeal of the coyote scalp bounty
law as too expensive.
AUSTRALIAN BALLOT.
Il believe the Australian ballot, So
called, has proved to be all that its most
ardent supporters claim for il. Every
talr-minded, intelligent and patriotic citi-
zen must acknowledge that its principles
are correct, aud accord with those Of our
Tree institutions. 1t enables every citizen
10 exercise the right of suffrage in secret
manner, and 10 express his choice as to
VINO shall be the servants Of the people,
without intimidation or undue influence.
rms has natural tendency to purify the
ballot and encourage better class of men
10 come before the people for their sut-
lrages. Many amendments are suggested,
ana some seem very necessary, notably
one that Will enable election officers
TO more speedily count the ballot and
compute the vote. The experience at the
last election should enable YOU to SO
amend the law as To render it as nearly
perfect as law Of this character can well
beD
NOTARIES SOLDIERS HOME GOVERN
oR'S MANSION.
lie advises that the limitation upon the
number of Notaries be removed. The
territory occupied by the Soldiers Home
at Santa Monica should be ceded to the
United States.
Although almost every administration
for years has recommended that there
should be a Governors mansion, and
aithough almost every citizen in the State
is heartily in favor of the same, yet year
alter year rolls by and nothing is done.
When l recall the difficulties under
which l have labored, and under which
future Chief Magistrates OF this State
must labor, cannot refrain from asking
your favorable consideration, and [ sim
cerely trust that you will give this sub
Ject an unbiased careful and business-like
examination. have no doubt that the last
Legislature would have appropriated a
SuInclent sum to provide a Governors
mansion had l requested it, but owing
10 the great economy which l was
compelled to demand OF every State Off
Ger, L could not consistently ask it, and
would not now if it could in any manner
be considered selfish. am not in favor
OF extravaganza, but advise a moderate
appropriation.
INSURANCE.
Referring to the Eastern laws requiring
the insurer to fix the value of the prop
erty insured at the time of underwriting
ana lor contribution TO payment Of losses
by each insurer, the Governor SAYS: "If
insurance companies are to be the Judges
OF the value Of property destroyed, why
,yNft he, Ill /
tnat Judgment at the time of writing the
risk? ? Why should they accept premi-
~ um year alter year on policy, say of
so,UOO, and then compel a settlement on
basis Of $1,000. This is an important mat
ter and affects nearly every property
holder in the State. Such law would be
just and right, and would in no way in
Jure the companies, and would, L sin
cerely believe, remove one of the greatest
incentives for unlawful destruction of
property. l earnestly recommend that
such law be enacted by you"
NICARAGUA CANAL-OUR RIVERS.
The completion of the Nicaragua Canal
is looked forward to by the Governor
hopefully, and the scheme of the canal
commended, and also competing railway
lines. AS to the rivers, he saws: 1T has
been truly said that navigable streams
are Gods free highways. open at all
times to the rich and poor alike-to the
raft and flatboat as well as to the floating
palace. While these streams are wholly
under the control of the Federal Govern
ment, yet your honorable bodies should
at once and emphatically demand the at
tentton of Congress to the great necessity
of restoring the Sacramento and other
navigable rivers of this State to their for
mer condition as soon as it is possible to |
be done.
Congress annually appropriates mill !
ions of money for the improvement of |
rivers which do not possess one-eighth |
the commercial importance of our |
streams, and, comparatively speak |
ing, are without merit. One-sixth. |
and often more, of the entire apprOpria- |
ton for rivers is applied to restoring the |
levees and preserving the banks Of the |
Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. The |
navigation Of California streams is in |
deplorable condition and should receive |
immediate consideration by the Federal |
Government"
In my inaugural address I said ali that |
l deemed necessary upon the mining |
question of the State, and | saw to Won |
again that | meant every word that | said !
l can only reiterate that we must look to
Congress for assistance, both for our
mines and streams. This request should |
be made upon the hypothesis that it is the |
duty of the Government to provide |
means whereby the important industry |
of mining can be revived without infiict- |
ing substantial injury to other interests. |
1 honestly and firmly believe this can. |
and some day will be accomplished.
WORLDS FAIR-FUNDED DEBT.
The Governor recites the appointment
Of Commissioners under the Worlds |
Fair Act, his visit-without cost to the |
State-to Chicago with his staff on the oc- !
Ginn nf tho 6n1ipatinn nf tho h,,;l
and advises encouragement of Califor- |
MAS share in the exposition of 1898
He deplores the result of the vote of the !
people on the Funded Debt proposition. |
He cannot think the people meant to re- |
pudiate the debt, nor yet to have a tax |
levied to pay it off. He believes the .eg- |
islature has the power to refund the debt |
without submitting the question to vote |
of the people, because it is not the "crea- !
tion'' of debt, such as is prohibited hv |
the Constitution. The Legislature al |
ready has the power to pay the debt. |
therefore it has the power to extend it,
with interest on deferred PAYMENTS
Except S25l 900 the bonds are held bv the |
State for school and University benefits, |
"and inasmuch as the item of interest |
which the State pays upon them is simply |
in lieu of a like amount which would |
have to be raised by taxation did |
not the bonds exist, there can be |
no substantial objection to refunding
them upon that ground. The thorough |
investigation which l have given this
subject convinces me beyond question of
doubt that the Legislature possesses
ample power to legally refund this debt.
or make any other provision for the pay
ment deemed expedIent."
CONCLUSION.
After reciting the result of the vote on