The record-union., 1895-03-26
Eow THE LEGISLATURE STRUCK
BACK.

BOW THE LEGISLATURE STRUCK
BACK.
The legislative records show that the
liquor associations of California went to
Il is another instance of miscalculation
concerning the patience of the people.
Citizens who deal in liquors are entitled
to precisely the same protection under
the law as any other citizens. Their
Property rights are the same, and their
business is entitled to the same consider
ation as is accorded to any other. But
the mistake the liquor dealers make is in
holding their business to be exceptional;
one to be specially privileged; one en-
titled to more consideration than any
other
This error led them to enter the last
political campaign, to close up the ranks
in their organizations and come up to the
Legislature with the demand that the
right of local self-government be mar
rowed and the people prohibited from
fixing license fees above certain figure
for liquor dealing, while left at liberty to
determine the amount of license taxes for
all other business conducted in the re-
spectIve communities. The demand was
for a uniform license tax throughout the
State, at rate below that charged in any
community outside of San Francisco.
So well prepared did they deem them
selves; so well did they think their politi-
cal mines laid that the representatives Of
the dealers stated openly that the required
bill would pass. But therein they were
wofully mistaken, so mistaken that we
confess to a feeling of pity for the men
who made such an objectionable blum
der, and demonstrated how erroneous is
their estimate Of the independence of a
self-governing and self-respecting people.
The first shock received was when Gov
ernor Budd in his inaugural declared en-
phatically in favor of local self-govern-
them was the introduction of the pure
food and anti-adulteration bill. This
measure practically says, "Since dealers
demand special privileges, they shall sell
US straight goods or none at all. For our
money we are entitled to full value re-
ceived." BY the time the bill had passed
one house the liquor men abandoned
their campaign, and were imploringly on
the defensive. Delegations came to the
Capitol begging, pleading that the bust
ness be left alone; all they asked was
summed in the historic plea of JEFF.
Davis to be permitted to go in peace. But
this was not granted, for the bill passed
both houses and went to the Governor,
and whether he approves it or not it will
remain monument to the utter rout of
the army of assault.
But this was not all, as if there was no!
satisfaction enough in defeating the assail-
ants of local self-government, it was re-
solved to rub it in," as the slang saying
has it. The sanitary district law was
taken up by the VOORHEES, bill and
so amended as to make the liquor
interest turn pale. 1t is provide
in that bill that where twenty-five free
holders petition the Supervisors to have
the property on which they reside, and
certain defined contiguous property, set
aside as sanitary district, the Super
visors must submit the proposition to the
vote of the people of the proposed district.
If they vote aifirmatively the district is
established. 1t thereupon becomes a little
government within itself. 1t has power
to make regulations as to the drainage Of
the district, the sanitation of the section,
TO put in sewers and drains, provide for
the disposal of garbage, the abatement of
nuisances, the cleaning of streets, roads,
alleys and walkways, the disinfection of
premises, the quarantining of cases of
contagious disease, etc. The district can
issue bonds to the limit of $4,000 a year
to carry on its work. 1t can assess prop
erty, levy tax, equalize the assessment
rolls, and collect the tax through the
usual machinery of the law, and County
Assessors, Treasurers and Tax Collectors
must serve the district without extra
charge.
This law was passed in 1891. Its con-
stitutionality does not seem to have been
questioned at any time, Notwithstanding
the unusual powers with which it in
vests the district officers. It is the most
sweeping and complete example of legis-
latiye permission to communities to