The herald., 1897-02-07

TOT the people ana l1credSeu taAeSs >~--
fornia, like every other state, is swarm
Ing with men who want jobs Of one kind
or another. AS the labor market Is slut-
ted they fnd 1t impossible to secure en-
ployment by private parties, and hence
their earnest appeals to the legislature,
hoping that the state may give them
something to do. Bills looking in tnat
direction of state paternalism are being
hatched up almost daily. Since those
last mentioned in my communications
there has been a bill introduced by As
semblyman Godfrey to create the office
OF state food commissioner, at salary
OF $4,000 year, with the power to appoint
three assistants with salaries of $1200
each and their expenses, and also an ex-
pert at a salary of s2400 Under the pro-
posed law the commissioner or any of
his assistants is empowered to enter any
place where he has reason to believe any
kind of food or drink is sold, and open
any cask. package or bottle and examine
its contents" OF course this includes
saloons and every other place where
liquor is sold. 1t would even reach the
little corner of an obscure room near the
senate chamber where there is side
board containing the strongest kind of
liquid stimulan.s which are sold on the
sly to thirsty applicants, by a polite
young darlSey. Should this bill pass and
become law perhaps the people of this
state would experieno. betterment in
the quality of foods and drinks common
ly used, so that the $4,000 paid to the tast-
ing and smelling food commission would
prove good investment. Then again,
perhaps it would be just that much
money worse than wasted, for it is unde-
niably true that the existence of a use
less office is always a demoralizing ele-
ment in society.
Assemblyman Lacey has introduced
Dill TO provide for a commissioner of
scaffolds, so to speak, such official to be
appointed by the labor commissioner.
The proposed new officer shall examine
scaffolds. ropes, blocks, pulleys, ETC.,
used in the repairing and painting of
buildings, and ascertain whether they
are safe. For such service the inspector
shall receive from the state treasury $1O0
q month, and such little perquisites as
may naturally come to his net in consid-
GRAFTON of his finding the apparatus in
specte6 secure and safe The last item
OF compensation is not set forth in the
bill. but take the liberty to add it on my
own responsibility.
Still another bill Of this character
worth special mention Is one for the an
pointment by the labor commission of
an agent, or commissioner, or whatever
he may be called, who shall have power
to go into court of justice. or alleged
justice, and at his own sweet will REQUIRE
the magistrate to remit the costs of the
suit when the party in litigation against
whom the costs would otherwise be as
sessed Is poor man or woman and un-
able to pay for the luxury of a lawsuit
one of the few clear minded and highlv
honorable senators said to me: why.
such powers conferred upon a public Of
hcial would make him a veritable auto
crat. Besides, he need not be long with
such snap. in accommodating a fortune
There Is absolutely no earthly occasion
for any such officer, as under the laws
now a l1tigant can avoid the payment of
COSTS II actually unable to pay. and he
makes affidavit to the fact.
1t is such bills as these that mako 1er-
islation in the average state capital ap-
pear like a huge farce, put upon the
stage for the amusement of the people
instead OF serious, conscientious effort
oy their public servants to promote the
best interests of the commonwealth.
WATERY SURROUNDINGS.
Sacramento IS wet through and
through. There Is water on ali sides
water under foot, and water overhead
1t keeps coming down day and night.
scarcely stopping ten minutes in twenty
four hours for a respite. There is not
likely to be any reason for complaint
from lack of rain in this part of the state
and persons here from the south are re-
joicing over the fact that the southern
counties are also getting a good supply
of needful rain Still a cessation of this
long continued downpour, and a day of
sunshine, would make everybody at the
state capital smile like children with
their stockings full of Christmas pres
erts. bill put through the legislature
providing for such a change of weather
conditions would just now be in order.
RALPH HQYT.