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

Washington, D. c., in 1898, and received the
eminent This was followed by the National
Road Conference" held at Ashbury, N j., n
July last, and will be followed by the "Nationa al
Road Parliament" at Atlanta. Ca, in october
next.
In March. 1893, congress by act authorized
the creation OF bureau of government road
inquiry under the direction of the department
of agriculture. To the head of that bureau
Gen. Roy Stone was appointed by the presi-
dent / have been in close communication
with General Stone on the subject OF ROAD I'm.
provement, and have extended him all the ald
could in gathering Information concerning
road conditions in California, ana at MS re.
quest have recommended an agent TO represent
him here in the distribution OF good road ny
erature, printed by the federal government
such as the proceedings OF road co1ven.l,i6o,ns,
road laws OF the several states, ROAD puliulng
materials in the United States, construcuon Oh
earth roads, etc. 900 -
am informed that General Stone will yisit
California during the session OF your pouy. l
bespeak Tor the distinguished engineer such
reception as will best forward his inquiries ana
advance the good road movement in our state;
In the summer OF 1893 / gave seml-omclai
sanction to the use of the executive tue IN alo
OF state road convention, which was helo az
the capital in Sc ptember and was the hrst roao
conference of state importance ON the coast
II had its inception in the public spirit OF the
Sacramento County Humane society, and It's
expenses were borne by the people OF Sacra-
mento 1t was not fruitless OF results OF graf
flying character, though it fell far short OF the
hopes OF Its promoters. 1t was nrst eHoTt
hlu IL IL ulu no Otner BOOQ IL SCI III iuotioh
forces which, 1 trust, will continue to move
until practical results of the most benehclal
character are attained. An adjourned session
of the convention was held in San Francisco in
May, and though profitable. was lightly at
tended A second annual session of the or
ganization will be held at the capital early in
February. have no hesitation whatever in
advising your honorable bodies to give it all
encouragement and cheer. Its delegates are
chosen from among the best citizen hip of the
state. Twenty OF these delegates have been
selected by mVgelf to reDresept the state at
large.
| am in receipt, at late hour, of letter
from General Stone, who, speaking for the
honorable the secretary of agriculture, urges
me to invite your attention to this good road
subject; which had already done. The secre
tary adds that information received by him
reveals the intention among Legislators
throughout the union to give very muc at
tention to the subject of highway improve
measures to be considered chiefly will be the
"st' te Aid System of New Jersey" estate High
way Commissions" effective Road Laws"
utilization of Convict Labor" "Width of
Wagon Tires" Discovery of Road Materials"
Substitution OF Money Taxation for the Stat
utory Labor System" etc.
There is such diversity OF opinion, says the
letter, on these subjects and such msappre
hension concerning methods best to employ to
secure good roads at least cost, that it is desir-
able that agreement in detail be reached be-
fore legislation is attempted for without such
agreement there is danger that nothing vslu-
able Will be accomplished, because of the diff
cuiVy VI uurlHOHlZlug 1nQlV1Qual Oils. Inc
general, for the secretary, advises that at the
opening of the legislature Il temporary joint
commission be erected. perhaps out OF The
membership of the legislature itself, with the
addition of expert engineers and others who
have knowledge of the whole subject, to con-
slider all road propositions, hear all su!-
gestions, and reduce the whole to such
form that the matter may be most intelligently
handled by your honorable bodies.
As conceive that such temporary advis-
DRY board may be erected without mention
able cost to the stale. and the de tim Mt of
agriculture at Washington advises me that if
some such plan is adopted the federal govern
ment will render all possible assistance, fur
nish all information at its command, ana keep
each commission posted ds to what each other
commission in the several states is doing, do
not hesitate to advise you to create such adj
visory commission and to reinforce it with
few members distinguished by their knowl-
edge OF road conditions and needs, and OF en-
cheering science. OF course to accom- plish
anything such a body, if created at all, should
be named almost Immediately.
Committing this whole subject to you with
conviction of its supreme importance, and be-
lieving that road reform lies at the base of
nearly all the other great economic reform
lies at the base of nearly all the other great
conditions of life and prosperity in our land,
l solicit for the whole matter your earnest
early and profound attention.
FIFTY CENT LIMIT.
Taxation is always vital question to the
taxpayer. Be it ever so moderate it is always
CdpdulC vi unucISOlllS IcuuCLlOll.
1 was nominated and elected on a party plat
form which pledged the people, that the tax
rate should not exceed so cents on each 800
of taxable property, l soon discovered that
this rate was a purely arbitrary one to adopt,
and left me no definite foundation upon
which to estimate the resources to be derived
under it. After assuming office, Immediately
sought the most reliable sources of nforma-
ton, to wit the office of the state board of
equalization and that of the controller, and
upon these data the valuations of 1890 we're
adnntad which vipl1ed md ufta
deducting fixed charges, as the law allowed
the remainder represented the gross expendi-
lures for permanent improvements. was then
able to furnish every interested legislator with
detailed statement of our financial condi-
ton. Notwithstanding this information, it
was unheeded and vas obliged to veto $780,
limit should not be exceeded. In 199l-92 the
valuations were increased enough to reduce
the average rate for these years to A cents
A similar course was adopted for the benefit
OF the last legislature, with the same results.
The valuations of 1892 we're accepted as my
der to keep within said limit, t was obliged to
veto 81 600. 900 of appropriations.
In 1s93-94 valuations were sufficiently re-
duced 10 increase the rate for those two years
to an average of 53.4 cents, making for the
four years of my administration an average of
4S.7 cen on the 800. While this is the low
est rate since the state W as organized it should
and can with proper legislation be reduced
Ali that was left for me to do was TO veto still
more appropriation bills, in order to reduce:
IL
exceeding in amount that of all the executives
since the adoption OF the state government
could but feel that | had reached the limit in
that regard. Let it be hoped that my success
sor be spared that trying ordeal
On questions of appropriation the legislature
should act with caution, for it is presumed to
be the proper Judge of their necessity. Such
action would avoid the responsibility so often
unlustly thrust upon the veto power for pro-
lection
methods of DerfOrminR state work and
fully observed and noted the defects and n
my message to the last legislature clearly
pointed out many OF them
The question as to whether our people out
side of incorporated cities are called upon to
pay greater aggregate OF taxes in proportion
to actual valuations than those in other states
is debatablc and very difficult of ascertain
ment, and am rot prepared TO say they do.
have given the subject much thought, but
cred thatit is almost impossible to make COM
parsons
But our purely state taxes are much higher
than the average states OF the union This is
our people to look to the state for aid in every
direction, throwing the burden of responsible
ity that shoCld be borne by others entirely on
her shoulders. thus leaving her, as it were
without friend.
The constantly increasing number of unfor-
tunates to be cared for is anoth cause We
have about 296, 900 voters in the state while
we support in some manner over %, 600 UNI
fortunates; being in the ratio of to very 3
voters Of the state. This is appalling Are we
on the part Of those that could be cared for / IL
other ways? BY this system of unrestricted
charity are we not doing more harm than
good? That many of these cases win appeal
it be gainsaid that, if the respective localities
Ill which these unfOrtunates live and ask iOr !