The record-union., 1896-12-13
toned" and none agreed upon that no
Californian was chosen
HOMIE GOVERNMENT

HOME GOVERNMENT
Kern Echo: We learn from an Oak
land paper that Senator Stratton OF that
county will offer in the coming session
of the Legislature an amendment to the
State Constitution that will be decidedly
in the nature of an innovation. He pro-
poses to place counties in position
which will enable them to frame their
own charters" or county government
Acts. At the present time al towns and
cities in California having over o,oOo
inhabitants may frame charter to
their liking, and Senator Stratton pro-
poses to give to counties a correspond
ing power in the direction Of home rule.
We do not remember to have heard
| of SO farreaching a proposition in this
direction, and until the plan is ex-
| planned quite fully it would be danger
Gus to venture an opinion upon It's
merits. But one thing is very plain.
| The tendency of the times is strong to-
ward lf-government, or home rule,
and to get California in line some more
| or less radical changes in her organic
| act are needed. But whether the change
should be as radical as indicated above
| is matter for the most careful consid-
| Grafton
| Somewhat in the same direction, but
less radical, is an amendment that will
| be offered by member from this
| county. This, we are informed, will
| merely go to the matter of fixing sala-
ries of county officials. 1t will propose
to clothe Supervisors with power to at
least say how many deputies may be
| paid for in connection with the work of
the different county officers having
| house increases and reduces it's number
| from time to time, just as a business
house in creases and reduces it's number
| OF employees as business increases or
falls off. The Stratton amendment
would, of course, include this idea, while
| going much farther.
HOW KIND AND CONsIDERATE
! riverside Press: Sacramento has
adopted an ordinance declaring that
after March 1st it shall be Illegal for
anyone to keep more than two cows in
that city. If that sort of thing con-
| tinues in the State Capital we may ex-
pect an ordinance forbidding the graz
ing of horses in the business streets.
another prohibiting turkeys browsing
on the moss ON the roofs, another abol-
| ishing duck ponds within two blocks of
the Postoff1ce, and still another exclud-
ing suckers form the State House
| grounds. There is no doubt but that
Sacramento has a spasm of metropoli-
tanism.
SHIPPING CHARGES.
Santa Barbara Press: The writer, a
| little over a year ago, came past the
| F'arallones in a large sailing ship. 1t
was beautiful, clear day, with a fair
wind for making port. A tug was
picked up, and the ship being kept un-
der light sail, hardly pulled a pound.
Over the bar it was as smooth as a
mill pond. The pilot hailed just out
sid, of the bar. His services We're re-
fused and quite properly, and his part
ing words as we left him astern were:
We'll, you'll have to pay half, damn
| you, anyhow" The half in this case
was $50. The law required that in case
| the pilot be employed he should re-
ceive $3.50; if he was not employed that
he still should receive half. This sort
| of injustice drives away trade and
| throws it more each year into British
| bottoms who can pay our vexatious
charges better because they are other
wise free and clear of taxation.
The English language IS spoken by
about 125,000,0O0 persons. while the
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