The herald., 1896-12-11
Its Usual Share of Sensation.
Air Ships and PugiIism
THE OUTLOOK POLITICALLY
George c, Perkins Will Have No Serious
Opponent
Forecast of the Coming Session at Sac.
ramento-Revision Of Taxation
and Proposed Amendments
(special CORRESPONDENCE


SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. s.-What
with phantom "air ships" pugilistic ex-
hibitions of science" the annual horse
show, and rather more than the average
number of homicides, suicides and high
way robberies. this city has been for
some days past, and is now, in decided
ly sensational condition. But San Fran
cisco people are so accustomed to SEN
sational conditions that they could
hardly be contented with any other
kind.
The weather here is superb, equal to
the best winter weather ever known in
Los Angeles, or for that matter in any
other portion of the world. Business IS
lively, on the surface, but nobody is
heard to complain of an production
Of prosperity Indeed, some business
men and firms declare that they have
not vet been able to catch glimpse of
the "era of prosperity" for which they
and others are eagerly looking and i'm
patiently waiting.
PERKINS FOR SENATOR
In political circles thought and discus
sion seem to be centering on state rather
than national questions. A great deal
is being said and written concerning
measures that will probably come before
the legislature soon to meet 1t is not
given to the mind of man to fOretell
what may or may not be done by our
state law makers during the winter,
further than that certain questions of
paramount interest to the people at large
will receive attention. 1t looks as
though the election of a United States
senator would be disposed Of without
protracted contest, as there is scarcely
a shadow of doubt that Hon. George
C. Perkins will be reelected without for
midable opposition. Since the Repub-
licans are on top it is the general feeling
that Perkins, who is clean, bright hon
orable man, and has a good record on
the funding railroad bill and other i'm
portant issues should succeed himself,
and he probably will.
THE WRIGHT LAW
1t is expected that the Wright irriga-
ton law, now that the United States
supreme court has affirmed it's consti-
tutionality, will be up for amendment
1t is universally conceded that it can be
amended for the better A variety of
amendments are already being proposed
by parties in various counties, who will
be represented in the lobbies at Sacra-
mento with demands for this that and
the other kind of changes in this I'M
portant law. Doubtless the subject will
occupy the attention of each house dur
ing considerable portion of the ses-
sion.
TAXATION REVISION
But probably the most important piece
of legislation that will claim attention
is the proposed constitutional amend
ment with reference to tp,Xation. The
belief long prevalent Throughout the
state that the revenue system of Cali
fornia needs to be revised has recently
taken the form of an organized move
ment for the submission of constitu-
tional amendment that will give the leg
islature full authority over the subject
of taxation. Under the constitution as
it now exists the hands of the legisla ture
are tied, so far as relates to the kind of
property that shall be taxed and that
which may be exempted. The iron-clad
constitution shuts off legislative action
in that direction. There is growing
feeling among taxpayers of all classes
and irrespective of party politics, that
the time has come for change. Peti-
tions to the legislature asking for the
submission to the people of such an
amendment are being circulated and
numerOusly signed. In fact. this work
has been going on for several months
and, I am informed at tax-reform head
quarters, nearly $4,000 such petitions have
been signed by legal voters and sent in
to the proper parties here. And now
they are coming faster than ever.
The movement is becoming more pop
ular every day. A large number of re-
Gently elected members of each house of
the legislature favor the submission of
such an amendment and have so ex-
pressed themselves. Eleven assembly,
mer-elect and four new senators from
the San Francisco districts are COM
mitted to the proposition by their en-
dOrsement of the amended plank in
jected into the platform of the Demo-
cratic county convention. Several Re
publicans here are also known to favor
1t, and are anxious to use their official
influence in carrying it through. Be
sides those in this city and Alameda
county. there are several prominent
members of the southern part of the
state who are equally earnest and de-
termined in the same direction. Among
the latter is Senator-elect r. N. Bulla of
Los Angeles, who two years ago was
the recognized leader of his party in
the assembly Senator Bulla recently in
formed me that he would do all in his
power to secure the adoption of reso-
luton in the senate for the submission
of the proposed amendment. He added
that our revenue system needed over
hauling and improving; that it was alb
surd. ridiculous, and, in many respects,
unjust. Other Republican members
have expressed a willingness to join
hands with Democrats and Populists in
this important movement
Thus 1t is proposed to remove the con-
stitutional barrier which for many years
has prevented the people of California,
through their legislatures, from making
any advance in tax reform. Judge Ma
guire, Joseph Leggett, James S. Rey-
nolds and a host of other active, earn
est advocates of progress in the line of
taxation laws and methods will use their
influence in trying to induce the legis-
lature to take this first step toward a
much-needed change. More anon.
RALPH HOYT