The record-union., 1895-01-12

necessity of some thorough scientific in
Vestlgation on the lines attempted to be
followed by our agricultural associations
| and related commissions, which include
horticulture, viticulture, forestry, etc.,
and IN pursuance thereof made large gifts
10 tne States for the purpose of endowing
universities. y Notwithstanding the es-
adjustment, in accordance with this pur-
| pose, OF the University of California, we
have spent since 1880 on horticulture, in
appropriations and printing, over 500, 600,
and IN viticulture, in appropriations and
printing, S22l,3ll 90 or total for the two
| OF about S425. 900. And yet am informed
| that these organizations and departments
DO not own one experimental station, an
! orchard, vineyard or nursery. L learn
also they have eXpenslvely furnished Of
fces and many valuable books and in
struments. 1t is known that some of the
| officials connected with these commits
sons are able men IN the departments of
knowledge indicated, and could, under
| dlnerent circumstances, render valuable
! service to the State. The work could be
| done lar better and at a much less cost by
the appropriate departments of the Uni
| VerSlty OF California or the Stanford
| I University, if they would undertake it,
In each of these institutions of learning
| there Is a professor specially trained in
all the matters contemplated by law
! that the commission should control.
/
! cuted in this way, but the result arrived
at would have higher standing among
! educated men, and The cost TO the state
would be much less. The reports of these
commissions and bureaus Will reveal to
the Legislature the significant fact that
othce rent, salaries, etc., consume an in
ordinate amount OF the appropriations set
apart for their maintenance. All The
work that possesses any value to the peo-
pie could be done for not to exceed 80 per
cent. of the cost if each commission were
! merged into department of the Uni
versity.
These observations apply with equal
pertinence and force to the Mining Bureau
and the scientific functions assumed TO be
discharged by the agriculture societies..
The agriculture societies as now man
aged are OF but little or no benefit to the
people. There is but slight competition
between classes or sections and but small
rivalry in anything except horse-racing.
Three annual tairs-One south of Iehachl-
| pl, one between that point and Sacra-
cramento, and one north of sacramento
would serve better to stimulate whole
some spirit OF emulation and rivalry than
! the present plan of a lair in nearly every
county, encouraged by State aid. The
place OF meeting could be changed yearly,
and an annual appropriation of -, 200 for
! ach would be amply sufficient in addi-
! tlon to the means provided by the local
! directors. Three district societies and
! one state society would be far better than
| the existing system.
| The Mining Bureau costs the taxpayers
/ upwards OF $4,000 biennially, and our
district fairs upward of SZUO.00C, not in
/ Guiding printing. The saving that would
/ be accomplished by placing the commits
| sions referred TO under the management
OF Cne or both OF the universities would
/ be from $50, 900 TO S3UO,OOO biennially,
not TO speak OF what might be spared To
the people in the matter of printing the
reports.
LARGE LEAKS.
The evil consequence OF permitting the
State Treasury To become q grab-bag,
( into which capacious hands may be
/ thrust with lmpunity for the benefit of
/ certain sections or interests is fOrcI bly, IL
/ lustrated in the operation OF the law by
( which counties obtain a bonus for the
maintenance OF each aged person IN in
! digent circumstances supported at pub
lie expense. 1t is a tit companion of
the statute awarding bounty on coy
( Ote scaipS. The result IN eacn case has
I been numerical increase in the objects
OF the states concern. The estimate of
the Controller of the amount necessary
/ TO meet the demands of the different
counties arising from the care of the aged
poor for the ensuing two years is the
enormous sum OF SS00,0J0, whereas for
{ =
sos, 500 u. The increase has been steady
and persistent, and if It should continue
/ III the same proportion, ten years hence
the amount required for this purpose
alone would run into the millio S.
! Society must OF necessity take care of
its dependent poor, especially those
| whose accumulation OF Years renders
! them unable to take care of themselves;
/ but it Is submitted whether local COM
muniLies might not perform this duty
more economically and efficiently on
their own account exclusively, without
assistance from the State. The allow
auCe from the State for each OF the aged
poor on a county roster is often greater
/ than the expense of his maintenance,
leaving residue OF profit and eucOurag-
ing fictitious enlargement of the roll.
There Is no more reason why the State
should contribute to the support of the
poor Of local communities than there
should be Tor al appropriation to help
along the fire or police departments OF
the different towns.
[ therefore recommend the repeal of
! Chapter No. S6 OF the Statutes OF 1893,
entitled. AN Act to appropriate money
for the support of aged persons in indi-
/ gent circumstances.
I also recommend the repeal of Chapter
No. l9S OF the Statutes Of 1891, entitled,
An Act HXlng bounty OIL coyote scalps"
The Controllers estimate OF the cost of
carrying oGt the provisions of the last
named Act Tor the ensuing fiscal period
/ Is S-UU,UO0. Here Is an easy saving, then
OF a million dollars in these two items
and il we are sincere in our purpose TO
retrench and reform, there is no good
reason why the saving should not be
made.
REDUNDANT OFFICIALS.
The attorney for the State Board of
Health and the San Francisco Board of
I 4lal hot CyEt, q I,1
aDoIIsned) receives as much as the Secre-
tary OF State, State Treasurer or Attorney
General. Many officials With less duties
to perform, who are not compelled To
change their residence or torego other
business, receive more than these last
named State officers; and others still,
well as certain employees, are furnished
with their living, in addition to their
pay, which latter is much in excess of
that received by citizens who perform
similar service for private parties. 1
speak now only of such as do not re-
quire special education or training for
the positions which they till.
WHAT THE CONTROLLER SAYS.
Having made my canvass for the Gov
ernOrship on the lines here indicated il
is d matter Of peculiar qualification to
me TO find the Controller, who IS OF the
party that opposed me in the election,
verifying, III the annexed extract from
his report just issued, what l said to the
people in the campaign:
Compared with other States, of even
far greater population, this amount
| (9o,OOU,0OO year. is simply enormous.
There Is no good reason for such ex-
trayagance. While it is true our State is
large IN territory, its products many and
varied, and we are now undergoing what
might be termed a creative or formative
period, nevertheless there are numerous