The herald., 1893-01-29

take into consideration the necessities
OF the people within the boundaries of
the proposed new division, the justice of
the measure and the capacity of the peo-
pie within the county to exercise these
newly acquired political rights with
utility to themselves as we'll as to the
state at large. The new county must
present to the legislature a sufficient ar
ray OF facts to justify the partition. rhe
happiness of people does not always
depend upon the enactment of laws, but
on the equity and expediency of the
laws that are enacted. A county is
political union, and it is one OF the du-
ties OF the creating power to have euch q
union composed of harmonious ele-
ments, in order that the tranquility and
happiness of the people may be con-
served.
A learned writer upon the best form
OF government uttered truism when
he said: THAT but little else is re-
CURED to carry people to the highest
degree of opulence from the lowest bar
barism, but peace, easy taxes and
tolerable administration OF justice, all
the rest being brought about by the nat
ural course OF things" The absence of
these requisites to good governme Mt,
coupled with diverse and hostile inter-
ests, have produced this agitation for
separation in San Bernardino county,
which running through long chain of
connections has at length affected the
whole body of the people seeking sep
aratlon, until the tension is so great and
the relations so strained as to preclude
cooperation upon any matter of pub
lie character. An enforced union of
| euph bootila op1 nppooipf, claimants q
San Bernsrdino and Riverside would be
a political crime and disastrous to every
interest in both sections of the county.
The opposition of the San Bernardiro
people to the division of the county is
natural, as 1t wishes to draw from the
Riverside section large revenue for
court house building and general taxa
tion. The desire of Riverside to avail
| itself of the right accorded to it by the
constitution and escape a burdensome
and oppressive tyranny, is also natural.
Rivs rside doee not claim superiority
over any section of the state. Our peo-
| pie are no better and not worFe than those
of other sections. What she has accom-
plished has been done by industry and
frugality.
Let us be charitable, however, for pas
sion and policy may sometimes force
men to act part that their Judgment
and better nature condemn. | do not
wish to cast aspersions upon any section
of the state We should, as good citi-
zens, be loyal to every section and fall
into line in the march of industrial de-
velopment, and resent an injury to one
as an injury to all.
desire to call attention to some of
the tyrannicsl acts of the board of
supervisors in the imposition of bur-
dens and unjust determinations
against seciions OF the county not con-
tiguous to San Bernardno city:
In June, 1891, the board of supervis-
ora called an election to vote $3.50, 900
bonds for new courthouse, which was
veted down -+hP v.n,slJe opIuIun vuvsIuu
OF San Bernardino city and its environs,
the board OF supervisors, after the prop
osition was voted down. expended
nearly 100000 for new courthouse.
In order to meet the expenditure the
taxation was increased for state and
county from $l.60 to ~ on the 500.
The people of San Bernardino county,
not included in the radius of the
county seat, we're incensed at this ac-
ton of the board, and many protests
were published against this unneces-
II.
paclfy the people, they again submitted
the proposition to the electors to vote
bonds to run q period of 20 years for the
sum of $3.50, 600, for the purpose OF con
structlng and completing q county court
house in the city of San Bernardino.
(nearly 100000 having already been
expended in q summary manner by the
board for this purpose).
'INp nnOnln aVpin v0fpd 1Ooipot bo
and by large majority of the
els, yi5 OF the whole country. In def.
ance OF public sentiment and majority
far greater than the law required to de-
feat the measure, the board proceeded
to carry on the construction of the court
house. and are now erecting and paving
Tor the same by levy for that purpose,
and it is admitted by the builders that
half million dollars will be expended
before the structure is completed.
L now propose to show the discrimina-
ton IN the assessments between the
school district of the city of San Ber-
nardino and the school district of River
side. In 1891 the increased valuation
in the whole county was 20 per cent
over that of 1890, being an increase of
~ per cent over the previous year. In
the city school district of San Bernar-
dino, which comprises now and did
then the entire city, the increase was 10
per cent, while the increased assess
ment in the school district OF Riverside
was 30 per cent. A tabulated statement
shows an increase in the assessment of |
nearly every section of the county that
voted against bonds; but the percentage /
OF increase in Riverside 10 25 per cent |
over any other section of the county and |
40 per cent over that of the city OF San |
Bernardino. This discrimination |
against Riverside and the territory trib- |
utary to it is SO apparent and marked |
that it cannot be coneidAred an accident,
but skillfully prepared and premedi-
tated scheme to force the burden of the
construction of the courthouse and gem
eral taxation upon Riverside and other
sections.
In the territory of San Berngrdino
city before referred to the assessed val
uation of property in 1889 was "a, ,4S7,- !
5S5. The assessed valuation in 1892
was $4,00S 439, reduction in three
years of over $400, 000 In 1891, in the
present limits of the city of San Bernai-
dino, the valuation WAS "a, ,267 ,4S9; in
1892 it was 4,00S, ,4S9, being decrease
from the previous year OF $3.50. 600, while
the decrease of the entire county was
but Slbl .S44 q decrease in San Bernar-
dino city of $10S 600 more than the en-
tire county, while within the school
whose limits are mainly within
the corporate limits of the city of Riv-