Los Angeles herald., 1893-01-01

X
school was built. All the insane and fell
ons had to be transported either by rough
sea voyages to San Francisco or over the
sun scorched plains Of the San joaquin.
In this matter the state has been crimi-
nally negligent, as many an insane or
sick felon has died on the way to the
porcine belt.
But there are other and far graver
causes for complaint. AS a general rule
Northern California swallows the entire
national appropriations. 1t has been
true for several years in regard to river
and harbor improvements and the arid
land surveys. II South California were
a separate state, with two United States
senators and two congressman at Wash
ington she would get her fair share of
the public plunder
Ii stalks indicate the direction of at
mospheric currents. then the division OF
various societies into Northern and
Southern California governments is GER
tainly significant of the rapidly ap-
preaching political division. Long ago
the various religious bodies in South
California separated from their parent
organizations in Northern California.
Many instances might be cited. A noted
one is the recent unsuccessful attempt of
uhOCpisCOpdIldue VI OUubu OdllIOI0ld W
establish separate diocese. Many of the
secret societies are thus divided; also
many social organizations. Note the
many interpretations and busines houses
in the south with the words Southern
California" attached. All these facts
go to chow the natural tendency of the
people. 1t comes from the soil and the
climate-the purest patriotism. Nature
is working out her grand design for the
separation of the two CALIFORNIA;.
Happy are they who place themselves
in harmony with her laws, let the lines
lead where they may. In this, as in
other things, her greatest law is evolu-
tior. Undoubtedly it is her decree that
separate people shall dwell on either
side of Tehachepi.
Is state division legal? Section of
article iv of the federal constitution
permits states to be partitioned upon
the consent of the Legislature of the
state concerned but the territory thus
partitioned cannot become state and
be admitted to the union without the
consent of congress.
In consonance with this principle,
since the adoption of the federal consti-
tuition in 1888, there have been no less
than IL state divisions, beginning with
Vermont from New York in 1892, and
ending with the annexation of the
counties of Berkeley and Jefferson in
1866 by the state of West Virginia from
the state of Virginia. The latter state
filed bill in hancery in the supreme
court OF the United States denying the
right OF the aforesaid counties to separ-
ate themselves from their mother state
and join the new state. The supreme
court decided in favor OF West Virginia
and thus settled the legality of state
division forever.
The next important question is, can
South California pay the expenses of
separate state government?
Now as to the actual cost of state gov
ernments. Let a few official figures suf-
fee.
Southern California has an area south
of Tehachepi of about 10000 square
miles. The census OF 1890 gave this ter
ritory population of 204 1869, which is
greater than that of FIVE other states of
the union.
The official report of the state con-
troller for 1889 shows total value of all
taxable property of 81, Ill ,590,979. The
state rate of taxation that year was 1872
cents on the 500. The same report
elbows that the total value of all taxable
property in Southern California for the
same year was $165, 241 AIT. Suppose
now, that in 1889 South California had
been separate state, she would have
had the priIcely revenue of 81, 193, ,043 at
the high rate of 1922 cent?.
| In 1892 the the total assessment of the
seven southern counties OF South Cali
fornia amounted to $175, 1885, 1888. The
state tax rate this same year was 43.4
| cents on each 500. At that low rate
(for California; it would have raised a
revenue for the new state of $763, 1888.
To compare this revenue with the ex-
penses of different state governments,
open the New York World Almanac for
1891, at page 250, and read:
The state government of Alabama for
1889, with population Of 1913. .O17, cost
| SOL 100, which was raised on rate of
45 cents.
Delaware, with population of 1885,
\ 493, cost $120,028.
Florida, with q population of 39l ,422.
| cost $399, 400, on rate Of 80 cents.
Mississippi, with a population of
1,2S9.600, cost 5000, $3.50, on a rate of 40
cents.
New Hampshire, with population of
376,530, cost $4S8, ,629, on rate of 20
cents,
Rhode Island, with a population of
345, sos, coat $937 ,O95, on a rate of 18
| cents.
Vermont, with q population of 332,-
422, cost 1927 ,929 on a rate of 20 cents.
According to the above showing, care
fully drawn from official figures, South
California can pay the expenses Of state
hood as easily as can Alabama, Arkan-
sas, Florida, Mississippi. New Hamp-
shire and Rhode Island, and that on
very much lower tax rate than was that
OF 1885,, The fact is, an effectual state
| government Can be run on 35 cent
rate, which is 10 cents lower than the
| lowest party pledge made to the people
in the last gubernatorial campaign.
Do the people of South California de-
sire separate statehood? A canvass of
the question made in 1890, by the writer,
in each southern county. answered the
question most emphatically in the af-
| frmative. Since that time the move
ment has grown in strength. Every
selfish act of the north, from hogging
congressional appropriations to man
aging southern citrus fairs, has intensi-
fed the feeling.
And not alone in California is the sub
ject of state division being agitated.
Western Colorado wants separate state
on this side of the Rockies. Eastern
Washington, beyond the Cascade noun
tains, and Northern Idaho want to join
in a no ~ state Tn fact new stataa like