The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-10

siearer or more explicit statement OF tine per-
nicious system which governs the admlnisMa-
ton OF our state affairs ever before exhibit
teu lhere is not suggestion EN- bodied there-
in bu: evinces laborious investigation and
desire TO aid the taxpayer in his endeayor TO
reduce the burden imposed upon him bv ex-
travagant and sometimes thoughtless expendi-
lure of public moneys. During the last four
years, through the efforts of the efficient sec
rotary OF this board Mr.. Geo. E. Pratt, over
SloO, 600 has been saved the state. | cannot
praise too highly the labors of this officer l
sIn aware that the general rule for acknowl-
edging fidelity to public trusts and diligent,
faithful performance OF public duties, is rem
dered after de tn. A S there are exceptions to
all rules, desire to Offer my testimony to his
worth snd integrity while living.
CARE OF UNFoRTuNATEs.
In my message TO the last legislature called
attention to the number of unfortunates
which were cared for wholly or in part by the
date. 1t was about l930o0 consist
ing OF insane, orphans, haff-oI phans, aban-
doned children and foundlings, aged INDECENT,
prisoners, feeble minded. juvenile offenders,
deaf, dumb, and blind, soldiers widows and
orphans, veterans at the Yountville home,
and adult blind. l have examined and esti-
mated the same for the last year, and find
there are about 2l,300. or an increase over
that of two years ago OF about 5000. 1t is for
you to determine whether the state shall con
tinue this work. or ask the counties whence
they come to stand the ex pense.
STATE BOARD OF EQUALIZATION.
This board, in its report, suggests three inn
portant changes in The law. First, that uni
versity mortgages be treated like all other
mortgages as to taxation, not SO much on &C
count of the mortgage itself, its effect upon
the university, but for the great injustice in
n1cted upon communities where blocks OF this
property are exempt from taxation and Others
cal ed upon TO make it up. Second. that the
mortgage tax be extinguished. THE intention
OF this law. to wit: to protect the borrower as
much as possible, has not been the practical
result. With no interest limit the loaner not
only adds what the tax is but all he imagines
IL may be, and the borrower is thereby com
PEELED to pay interest on his tax bills from the
day of the loan, to say nothing OF the extra
expense OF administering the law, SO far as
can learn, both loaner and borrower would be
pleased to this absurdity removed
An earnest appeal is made for a careful and
thorough revision of the revenue laws, which
seems to me to be imperatively demanded, and
i desire to add my concurrence to their re-
quest satisfied that the reasons urged justify
such action. In asking for revision of the
codes this subject approved Itself to my mind.
SHIPPING OF CALIFORNIA.
This branch of our industry, like that of
other states of the Union is controlled by ns-
tional laws and is by the general government
taxed for its support England furnished to
America her precedent in admiralty ana mar
thine management and gave us her ideas as to
its fostering care. National laws compel ships
to hail from some port. Local laws permit
heir taxation for local purposes at the mailing
ports. California has but two natural harbors.
San Francisco and San Diego, and they are
known to the shipping world, and vessels OF
this state almost compelled to hail from
them. California encourages almost every
other state industry in most substantial man
ner. Why should she forget industry that
has so uniformly been protected by all nations
OF the earth? The navies of the world have
recognized the enterprise of California in ship
building, and we should do all in our power
70 encourage the merchant ship owners of our
state. The state of New York pas, ed law in
1881 and amended the same in 1892, exempt
ing from state and local taxation oil vessels
registered at anyNew York port, owned by
n n
merce between any port OF the United States
and any foreign port and providing for ex-
earnings ETC., OF all corporations under the
laws of the state for that purpo e.
The fact that the great bulk of our
United States is credited to New York,
may be due TO the liberal tax laws of
that state. There is every reason why Califor-
MIA should give equal encouragement to the
shipping interest," ana the passage of q law as
that in force in New York would be OF material
advantage to the state.
tax on American shipping tends to drive
the vessels away or substitute foreign ones.
The abolition OF the tax would not perceptihly
increase the burdens of other property owners
as many OF our ships are registered from east
ern ports and it would tend to attract to our
ports ships which now stay away. 1t would
stimulate our trade. improve our general taxa
BILE resources, and largely increase the ship
tonnage of these two ports. 1t will take a CON
stitutional amendment to enable any such
measure to be adopted here, and step in that
direction should be made by removing all tax
alton on vessels owned by our citizens which
are engaged in ocean commerce between our
pors and those of foreign nations; and, in ad-
.ditiop 10 this, let it be hoped that the day will
como when those harbors can be ed as the
home ~ all vessels owned in this state and ex-
empte from unnecessary charges of any kind
The great commercial nations of the earth
have ever been interested in this subject for
thel national good, and why should not our
state ne willing to lend ping hand to an
industry that can bring the products OF the
world to our doors? %
ToRRENs LAND COMMISSION.
The transfer OF titles to land in this state has
been regarded by many whose vocation leads
In this direction as cumbersome and confus-
ing, and subject that demands simplifca-
ton. Coneurring in that belief, approved a
bill OF the last legislature tStats 1888. p. l21)
TO examine and report upon the method
adopted in Australia and known as the 1or-
rens Land Transfer Act of Australia"
Iappointed the follow ng named gentlemen
on such commission: Edwin +. Adams of Ala
media, Frank Miller of Sacramento, Bart Burke
OF Santa Cruz, Elliott McAllister of San Fran
AS the report of this commission is to be d.
rec ly submitted 20 your honorable bodies l
- Unable to make any further statement re-
ga. ling it.
GOOD ROADS.
One OF the foremost subjects claiming the
attention of the people at the time assumed
the executive Office, l found to be that relating
tc the betterment of the country ioads
throughout the nation. 1t is q subject that
has LONG. had my thought, and one in which
take profound interest, since am convinced
it is eminently true that Il peoples civilian
ton, progressive spirit aud economic methods
are largely to sbe estimated by the character
and condition OF the highways that are their
means OF transportation and greatly of COM
nunication. IL true of the ancient n n
ions. and the truth has not declined with us
scause this is q railroad building era. On the
pntrerv, we have been so absorbed in the pro-
otion of the latter industry throughout the
aited states that we have lost sight of the
alecessity OF building and maintaining perma-
'nent country highways TO relate to railroad
systems more economically. Now the matter
is SO before us as TO demand immediate atten-
ton, because the fact has been developed tn at
the producer hauling to market to a point
OF rail shipment dozen miles over bad
road, is more distant than the pr oducer who is |
located upon railroad line hundred miles
away.
1t is also apparent to the most superficial OBJ |
server that our bad road conditions in Califor-
MIA are a decided detdment III the matter of
inducing desirable immigration and in PEG.
ping our rural sections. The home seeker OF
today demands, as one OF the conditions of
change and settlement, the largest possible
degree OF the privileges, the refinements and
The advantages OF town life, while at the same
time he enjoys the Independence and free life /
OF rural living.
The construction of good, permanent high
ways Tor trunk lines at general cost OF the |
county, leaving to districts the construction of
FEEDER lines is, in my judgment, the right pol |
icy to adopt. The town, equally with the sub |
urb, is interested in the road between the two; |
every dollars worth of assessable property in |
county is as much the subject of responsibility |
Tor ROAD conditions as is the property OF land /!
owners in the country. ! have vsinly sought |
Tor substant al reason for adhering to the !
present system, which visits the co t of road |