The record-union., 1893-03-03
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE.
CONTINUED FROM FIFTH pAeE.l

| CONTINUED FROM FIFTH PAGE.
duced by the Committee on City, City
and County and Town Governments.
! The bill provides for organizing and
maintaining paid fire departments
within cities and towns, or cities and
counties in the State, to be under the SUI
pervision and control of Boards of Fire
Commissioners, respectively.
The bill was a duplicate of Senate Bill
No. 50, which was killed in the Assembly
few days ago, through the efforts of Mr..
Kahn OF San Francisco. In short, it is
said to be measure boosted by San
Francisco politicians to place the fire
department into politics.
The Legislature a few weeks ago passed
favorably bill allowing Sacramento City
to incorporate under charter which had
been formed by fifteen Freeholders of the
city, and which had been ratified by the
people at an election called for the pur-
pose.
The Sacramento charter provides that
the fire department shall be appointed
by and in charge of the Mayor, the Board
OF Aldermen concurring, while the bill
proposed by the San Francisco politicians
provides for paid fire department, thus
causing conhiction of legislation if the
bill became a law and there was the
rub"
Senator Hart entered vigorous obiec-
ton when the bill came before the Sem
ate, and it was re-referred to the commit
tee with instructions to report it back to-
day.
In the meantime Sacramento had raj
lied her forces and when the committee
met Clinton l.. White, Captain 7. b.
l1n1I IL
members of the Board of Freeholders
that framed Sacramehto's charter, were
behind the handsome Senator.
There are present." said Senator Hart
citizens who were Freeholders during
the formation of Sacramento's charter
who desire to be heard upon the bill |
believe the intent of the Legislature has
not been to pass laws which were COLI
tlicting or which would conflict with the
operation of Sacramento's charter, but |
suggest that the committee listen to those
same x-Freeholders.
Clinton l.. White said: 1.-THE Legisla-
ture has passed bill granting to Sacra-
mento the charter formed by Board
of Ereeholders and ratified by her citizens.
That charter provides that the Mayor be
the head of the fire department, and that
he shall make all appointments in that
department.. with the concurrence of the
Board of Aldermen.
This bill provides for the election of a
board of three Fire Commissioners, pro-
vides salaries, and desigpates.their duties,
and as 1t Is general provision it can in
no way be reconciled to the Sacramento
charter bill already passed. This bill
interieres, not only with the charter of
Sacramento, but also those of Los
Angeles and Stockton.
I'VE do not care Tor the bill-do not
care to defeat the bill, if only you will
lnav Coz nrntn Il
what laws are made for San Francisco,
but we don't want them for Sacramento,
particularly if they be incliued to upset
our institutions; but if this bill becomes a
law, it will supersede the Charter Act,
because it is general throughout the State.
Ii the bill is good Que, then amend it,
by STIMULATING that it shall APPLY only to
counties OF the first Glass;
In support of his assertion that gen.
eral law would supersede a sectional
one, Mr.. White quoted a number of
authorities. He said it would surely be
hardship on any charter to emasculate it
in the same Legislature that had ratified
it.
Senator Mathews suggested that an
amendment be inserted TO include onIy
cities of the first class.
Mr.. White objected to such an amend
ment as there was no classification of
cities under the laws of the State.
please leave US out" he continued, I'VE
don't want to Interfere with your legisla-
ton, but leave us out"
Mr.. Dunn of Los Angeles said the bill.
il passed, would mean ruin to the CITY OF
Angels, and that it would take a tax lew
of more money than there was in the
county to sustain the fire commission.
Any ordinary city, he declared, would
be ruined by such law. He did not OBJ
ject to San Francisco having such a law
if she wished it, but it was not needed in
Los Angeles. He had no objection to d
100000 population clause being inserted.
Chairman Bailey said he would enter