The record-union., 1894-03-30
Weather Forecasr.
THE CAPITAL REMOVAL DECISION.

becoming west 10 nortn.
THE CAPITAL REMOVAL DECISION.
The Supreme Court of the State has de-
cided that the action of the last Legisla-
ture in attempting to submit to the vot-
ers of the State a proposition to change
the seat of State Government was abor-
tive. II is held that the proposition IS
made is imperative, and could not be
effective because it was made upon pro-
visos and conditions of vague character,
which are dependent for vitality upon
the possible action of some one besides
the Legislature and the people. In other
words. it was a proposition which the
Legislature had not the constitutional
power to make, and for which no author
ity has been given to 1t by the people
who created the Constitution. Two OF
the Justices 60 beyond this and hold that
the method adopted by the Legislature
was invalid, as no law was passed as re-
ouired by Article Xxx. of the Constitu-
ton.
capital is not to be removed from the To-
cation given it by wisdom and the law,
let the people of Sacramento eomport
themselves seemly in the premises It
is not the occasion for loud shouting, nor
yet for stolid silence and indifference.
We believe that the Supreme Court has
done its simple duty, interpreted the law
as it was bound to do under reason. 1t is
not, therefore, to be praised and gloried
over, or complimented and thanked,
since that would possibly imply that the
court is susceptible to such manifesto
tions.
The removal of the capital would not
have ruined Sacramento; it's retention
will not make it greater than it is. This
city is and will be precisely what its peo-
pie make it.
In commercial and industrial sense
the capital is no help to the city; it is a
hindrance, because it makes the place the
target for all the GROWERS of the State to
aim at, and is inimical to self-helpful-
ness. AS in other States, the capital city
is supposed to be a State pensioner. living
upon the taxes of the people of the State
and inspired by no higher aim than to
have in it's midst biennially group of
legislators for sixty days.
Let Sacramento prove to the world that
it is not dependent upon the capital being
located here, nor yet is it insensible of
the honor and distinction of being the
seat of government of the State. of Cali
fornia. Let it be understood. however,
that if unwise ambition and unholy
jealousy regarding the location of State
institutions is renewed, and an effort
again made to remove the capital, Sacra-
mento has not one dollar to expend to de-
feat such attempts. She holds that the
capital is well and wisely located now;
that the State has no need. nor does pub
lie good demand any change in the seat
bids it, good judment condemns it, and
the very fact of other localities bidding to
obtain it is in itself good reason why it
should not be changed.
But in any event Sacramento should
make it known that she has other inter-
ests too great and commanding tosacri-
ice any means in a campaign to defeat
any possible future Capital legislation.
She should let it be known that she rests
such questions upon their merits, and
viii neither pay for protection nor offer
bribery to be free from assault
This, because it is and has for months
been openly talked about the State that if
the removal question should be decided
adversely to the removalists, a new as
sault would be planned, and that Sacra-
mento would be subjected to extortion
and pressure she could not we'll resist.
Such thing might be possible; We are
unwilling to believe that Legislators are
coming up in any considerable number
to indulge in such practices. But if it
shall so come about, while it is true that
one city has coolly offered to bribe the
people into selling the Capital location
for coin, let Sacramento, give it to be- un-
derstood that she will not be a party to
any similar transaction.