The record-union., 1895-01-10
BANK COMMISSION.

Whlch IL acts. could this have been done
the great bank excitement in this State
might have been averted. The Commits
siouerS had given ample warning to the
proper authorities, but were poweriess to
do more under the law. This is an i'm
portant matter. and should not be suf-
tered to pass unheeded. The labors of
this commission are ably set forth in their
report
BUILDING AND LOAN ASSOCIATIONS.
The last Legislature passed in Act es-
tabllshlng this board. 1t, like the Bank
Commission, is supported without direct
tax upon the people, and It's objects are
similar. Its report presents a commend
able degree of earnest, faithful work, and
certain changes in the law are deemed
necessary in order to enable it to accom-
Plush the objects sought. Il is to be
hoped due attention Will be given to their
requests.
STATE LIBRARY.
The report of the Trustees and Libra
ran shows that the Institution is con-
unuaIly progressing, and holds high
rank with the older and longer estab-
ilshed libraries OF other States. The law
library Is complete, while many valuable
additions have been made to the miscel-
laneous collection. The recommends
tions OF the Librarian meet with ap-
proval,. ana their usefulness would be in
creased were his suggestions embodied in
statutory form.
L am further confirmed in my opinion,
as given in former message, that item
lied bills, other than the purchase of
BOOKS, should be transmitted TO the State
Board OF Examiners for their investiga-
ton. The taxpayer should know how
ana Tor what purpose his money is eX-
pended. No one department Of the State
Is better than another, and rigid scrutiny
IN all expenditures should be the uni
NlNa Tr,. 81
fourth ana torty-nftn fiscal years, as ex-
hlDlted by the Secretary of its board in
MS nnanclaI statement, aggregate ST.
Zo2 10, and the names OF payeeS, number
OF voucher and amountis is all the iniorma-
tlon possessed by the taxpayer. This
system OF transacting public business is
radically wrong, and the law should be
altered, placing this institution in the
same category and on the same plane as
other public officers. Apart from the
question as to the honesty of the pay
ments, the partialty extended to one de-
partment OF the State, as against all
others, is unjust. The entire system OF
checks should be uniform.
CAPITOL COMMISSIONERS.
The report of this commission gives in
detail the expenditures incurred in the
adornment and beautifying of the
grounds, and also shows economic man
agement in the disbursement of monevs
intrusted to its care.
L fully concur in the request for an
preparations to bituminiZe the streets
surrounding the grounds, particularly as
the property holders facing them are de-
! sirouS OF joining in such Improvement:
and also recommend the granting of the
sum asked for the improvement of the
grounds lying east Of Thirteenth street.
While the Capitol building proper is un-
der the sole charge of the Secretary of
State, cannot refrain from asking an
appropriation in his behalf for the imish-
ing OF the dome from the second floor in
tne same artistic manner as the lower
portion. 1he work speaks for itself, and
Is OF character warmly commended by
every one who visits the building.
also recommend an appropriation for
| the tIIlng OF the first floor in keeping
with the newly laid one above. | have
had an estimate made Of It's cost, amount
ing to $4,000, and request will be sub
mltted for It's completion, which l trust
you will see fit to grant.
The adornment of the State Capitol
| should be matter OF State pride. Local
| feeling should not intervene to prevent it
! being made sucn, for though it NAV, in a
measure, benefit the immediate locality,
1t should not be viewed in any other light
than the broad one OF its being the prop
erty of the whole State, in which every
true citizen is interested
BOARD OF PUBLIC wORKS-DRAINAGE
AND PROTECTION OF OVEEFLowED
LANDS.
The report Of this commission shows
that the State of California, by virtue of
the Act OF Admission and the Act of Con-
gresS OF september IS, 1850, commonly
known as the Arkansas Act, acquired
title to all the swamp and oyerilowed.
salt marsh and tide lands within its DOr-
ders, estimated approximately at 100
900 acres. The lands embraced in the
Arkansas Act were granted 10 the State
under the implied obligation that thev
should be reclaimed. The State has since
that time passed various Acts, having in
view the accomplishment of that Dur-
pose, but leaving the work of reclama-
ton to private enterprise. No general
system was prescribed by the Legisl ature,
but conditions have enforced the expend-
Iture, by private land owners, in work of
reclamation, of sums Of money aggregat-
ing SIS, 1o3, 464, and in addition to this i'm
mense sum the State has expended in
this direction the sum Of So lgl, ,5SS.
1t was not, however, until the last ses-
sion OF the Legislature that the State un-
dertook to provide a general system Of
drainage and protection. This it did by
providing Tor the appointment of a Com
missioner Of Public Works, and this leg
lslation has resulted in a full report and
estimate for a system of drainage and
protection works for the Sacramento
Valley. Your especial attention is called
to this subject, and | earnestly recon-
mend the passage OF such laws as will iu-
sure the thorough reclamation aud pro-
lection of these lands. The State is at
least obligated to the owners of lands now
III danger OF lnundatiOn to furnish a gem
eraI plan of drainage works, and to
furnish proper supervision of those por-
tIOns OF private and district works always
hnlg fgTNFt GfN-tNf4 hi.
become parts OF the general system that
Will be necessary to insure safety.
Delayed action in the matter OF system
atlc work IN protecting the lands and
property now endangered would be un-
wise economy. as the direct benefit to the
State IN protecting large number of
acres OF productive and valuable land
from the danger of overflow would be
adding to the taxable wealth Of the State
countless acres now practically valueless.
This is too great to admit OF question.
NAVIGABLE STREAMS.
The Importance of keeping open, free
from distractions. the navigaUle streams
of the State, is SO manifest, and appeals
so torclbly to every thinking person, that
1t would seem waste of time 10 call
your attention thereto. AS stated in a
former message, "Navigable streams are
Gods free highways, open at all times to
the rich and the poor alike-to the raft
and the ftat-boat as we'll as the floating
palace"
For action in this direction we must
look to our representatives in Congress;
but earnest efforts on your part will ma
terially assist them in their endeayors to
secure proper legislation enabling us to
acquire the desired benefits and to obtain
a just recognition of our wants in this
regard.
NICARAGUA CANAL,
The building of this great commercial