The record-union., 1896-02-06
SHALLSACRAMENTO REFUSE?
Money Needed to Send River Delegates TO
Washington.
The Supervisors Have Plenty of Moral
Support. But There is
Legal Point.

Can Sacramento County afford to re-
fuse to aid in sending the river improve
ment missionaries to labor with the
Congressman, while other counties as
sist?
A committee from the Chamber of
Commerce, composed of Secretary Eel
ter, VIM. Beckman, W. D. Lawton and
Alvin J. Bruner. appeared before the
Board Of Supervisors yesterday to urge
an appropriation to help defray the ex-
pense of sending to washington a del
egation to urge on Congress favorable
action on the bills for the Improvement
OF the rivers and harbors.
Mr. Bruner addressed the board on
the subject, than which, he said, there
was none Of more intense interest to
the people Of this county. Various mu-
nicipal and other bodies have made ap-
propriations. and this county should
give $3.50 toward the fund. Our Con-
gresham is active and earnestly en-
listed in the cause, and united action at
this time may accomplish the desired
end. Sacramento City and county are
as deeply interested in the matter as
any other section, if not more so, and
now is her opportunity to accomplish
something. The Chamber of Com
merce has given 500, the city 5000, and
the county should give the sum asked.
w. D. Lawton called attention to the
fact that Shasta had given $500 toward
the same object.
BEEN THERE BEFORE.
Chairman Morrison said the board
had laid the matter before the District
Attorney for his opinion, and an an
swer thereto had not yet been received.
Personally, he believed the county
should do everything possible toward
educating Congress up to the neces-
sity and Importance of having our river
protected, although a former Grand
Jury had censured the board for hav-
ing on another occasion done the same
thing. Because of this censure mem
bers of the board had gone out and pro-
cured private subscriptions for sending
q county exhibit to Atlanta although
the county at large had reaped the ben
eft.
w. D. Lawton said that Mr. Felter
and himself had interviewed a large
number of citizens on the subject and
they had found none who did not favor
the proposed appropriation.
Don't bring in here the names of
any citizens" said Chairman Morrison,
signed to a petition asking for any
thing of the kind, for men have come
here in the past and asked this board
to appropriate money for public benefit,
ard then as members of the Grand Jury
have voted to indict us for so doing"
A PUBLIC BENEFIT.
William Beckman said that while he
was a Supervisor he had similar eXpe-
rience, but he believed in Supervisors
taking the bull by the horns and doing
what is right. Private citizens should
not be required to raise funds for the
benefit of all, and any Grand Juryman
who would vote to indict a Supervisor
for appropriating money for such a
good purpose should be sent to an
insane asylum.
NOT AFRAID.
Supervisors Todd and Curtis said they
were in favor Of making the appropria-
ton asked for, and If any Grand Jury
should see fit to indict them for voting
for it. they would be willing to take
their chances. Mr.. Curtis concluded
his remarks by moving that the sum
of $3.50 be appropriated as asked.
Supervisor Jenkins said he was in IA
vor Of the appropriation, for his con-
stituents down the river are deeply
interested in having the river restored
to its proper condition, but he preferred
to await the District Attorneys reply
to the communication sent him.
Chairman Morrison said the Atlanta
exhibit had cost him personally upward
Of 5000, and he desired to say at this
time that the money he has received
from the county as salary as Supervisor
has not covered the amount which he
has given to aid public enterprises for
the good of the county.
TIME TO ACT.
Remarks were made by William John
ston, Major W. A Gett and others in
advocacy of the appropriation. Major
Gett said there was no question but
that the board had the. legal right to
appropriate money for such purpose
as that asked. Other counties have
been liberal in this respect and have
profted thereby, while Sacramento has
been too timid to reap the benefit she
should have enjoyed.
Pursuing his remarks, Mr.. Gett re-
ferred to the proposed manner of i'm
proving the river, which should be
great artery Of commerce throughout