The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1893-03-20
MAYOR C0MSTOCK'S REASONS.
Why the Capital Should be Retained
at Sacramento.
State Institutions Quite Generally Dis
tributed-The City Healthier
Than San Jose.

The San Francisco Examiner. Yesterday
contained the following letter from
Mayor Comstock of this city, giving some
OF ms reasons why the Capital should re-
main where it is. Says the Mayor:
In response to your request for my
views on the proposed removal of the
seat or government from Sacramento to
Nan Jose, have to say that in the brief
period OF time allowed me I have been
unable 10 do more than outline my ideas,
as follows:
tlrst-The political influence of the
Sapltal being at Sacramento has always
peen beneficial TO the State, and has not
resulted IN injury to other parts of the
state, as witness the establishment of the
IolIowlng State institutions, viz: Whit
tier Reform School, Los Angeles County;
Insane Asylum at Stockton; Insane
Asylum, Agnews, Santa Clara County;
insane Asylum, Mendocino; Insane
Asylum, San Bernardino: Insane Asy-
Ium Napa, County; lone ReformlSchool,
Amador; Home of Feeble Minded, Glen
Ellen, Sonoma; Veterans Home, Napa;
Normal School, Chico, Butte County;
Normal School, San Jose; Normal School,
Los Angeles County; Home of Incur
abIes, San Francisco; State Prison, Marin
County, and the recent State building
provided for San Francisco.
''Second-The Constitution as it now
Sacramento the seat of Government until
changed by law, and provides how the
law shall be passed and how it shall be
submitted to the people The proposed
amendment is in the same words as the
original from beginning to end, except
ing the substitution of San Jose tor Sac
ramento, and then adds: Provided that
the State shall receive donation of site
OF not less than ten acres and 81 600 900
before such removal shall be had.' 1t is
proposed TO place this bid for sale of the
seat of government in the fundamental
law of the State, to stand IN the Constitu-
ton as long as that instrument shall en-
dure. Whether the offer is accepted or
not it would be a blot upon the State, and
would disgrace us in the eyes Of our sis
ter States. The offer to sell the Capital for
the paltry consideration mentioned
would be part of our Constitution and
could be expunged only by another
amendment.
"Third-The resolution was not law
fully passed: 1t did not have the requis-
lite two-thirds vote of p in the Senate. 1t
is a fact that only 20 Senators voted for it.
Intentionally or by mistake the vote of
Senator VOORHEES,, who voted no. was
recorded aye This error misled the
Sacramento Senator into changing his
vote from mo- to aye for the declared
purpose of moving a reconsideration.
For the first time in the history of legiS-
lative proceedings the right of member
to have his vote recorded as he wished to
give it was arbitrarily refused.
"Fourth-The resolution was rushed
through the Legislature at midnight with
indecent and improper haste. No oppor-
tunity was given for debate or considera-
ton. In the Assembly the friends of re-
moval made speeches in its favor and
then, by parliamentary tactics, prevented
the friends of Sacramento from being
heard. The libelous articles of Sacra-
mento newspaper were read with in
Hammatory comments to the members,
and a whole city was held responsible for
the act Of one paper which has since
been repudiated by Sacramento. Under
the influence OF passion thus land per-
haps JUSTLY aroused a favorable vote was
hastily obtained from men who ordinarily
would have acted with more elaboration
and more discussion was permitted in
the Assembly over resolution to pay n
committee clerk than over this to change
by sensational amendment the seat of
government. The fact that debate was
refused shows that the partisans of re-
moval knew the weakness of their cause
"fitth-The Capitol building and
grounds comprise thirtytiye acres.
Thirteen acres of this, upon which the
building is erected, was donated by the
city OF Sacramento and the city paid
large part of the purchase price for the
other part of the grounds. 1t is built
of granite and iron and in the most SUBJ
stantial manner. AS a capitol it is su-
perior in all the elements of architecture
and durability to every other capitol in
the Union, except the National Capitol
and those of two other States. Not less
than S5,000,000 is invested in it. BY re-
moval all this would be nearly total
loss, as the building is unfit for any use
except that for which it was designed.
Beside S5,000,000 more would be required
to make capitol such as the State ought
TO have if the amendment is adopted.
''SIXth-The contest involves more
than the loss of the Capital Such a
calamity we could endure, but it includes
in its consequences the destruction of the
fair and just fame of our city as one of the
most healthful and prosperous in the
State, and our character as an enterpris-
ing, moral and hospitable people. There
are but three cities of importance in the
State, viz: Alameda, San Diego and
Vallejo, that can show a more healthful
record than Sacramento. This assertion
cannot be successfully denied, for it has
been demonstrated by sanitary statistics
annually for the last forty years. The
advocates for removal, having no better
reasons, are compelled by necessity to
make this unjust assault upon Sacra-
meuto and its people. 1t is an assault
that will do no good to the character OF
the State or its citizens and will introduce
bitterness and other disturbing elements
into important legislation for many years
in the future. w. ID. CoMSToCK."
AFFIRMATIVE REASONS.