The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-20

tiatiOns were pushed for the building
of the Sacramento, Fair Oaks and Or
angevale Railway. Several private
parties subscribed for the proposed
bonds and an important subscription
to same was promised by the Indus
trial Improvement Association. This
being State Fair time there were is
sued to your membership for general
distribution some 5000 cards bearing
thereon local information for transient
visitors. During the month a special
committee was carefully selected and
pledged to take full charge of all ex-
perimental work connected with the
sugar beet raising, to classify results
and report same to this chamber at the
end Of this year. At the close of the
State Fair a large selection was made
from the exhibits of the products of
this county and were transferred to
this room to round out the display
now being made here.
SIDEWALKS, MANUFACTURES
AND SHIPPING.
In October the City Trustees were
petitioned in the matter of sidewalks
and gradings, and for the better pro-
lection of the levee at the new pumping
plant recently located at the foot of S
street. H. J. Small, Chairman Com
mittee on Manufactures, presented a
thoughtful paper on the manufacture
ing advantages Of this city. A CORE
spOndence was entered into with the
owners of the wooden mills in Oregon,
having in view the removal of their
plant to this locality. also investiga-
tons were commenced looking to the
establishment here of a smelling works
plant. During the. month Of November
William Schaw, Chairman Committee
on Commerce, presented an able paper
on the commercial advantages of Sac
ramento. Investigations were made
bearing on improved freighting facil-
tiles. Action was taken favoring an
exhibition being made of our horticult-
ural products at Hamburg, Germany.
contribution of fruit in jars was
made to the Memorial Museum in
Golden Gate Park and the exhibit in
this room was materially increased.
In the month of December this cham
Der petitioned the Interstate Commerce
Commission in favor Of suspending Ar
ticle 4 of the Act to regulate COM
merce, in case of common points in
Colorado and terminal points in this
State, thereby furnishing additional
advantages for fruit shipments east
ward. A memorial was sent to Con-
gress favoring the establishment of a
Department of Commerce and Manu-
features, and the Secretary thereof to
be member of the Presidents Cabi-
net, also, a resolution was adopted
favoring an amendment to Article T..
of Section of the State Constitution,
so that three fourths of a jury may
find verdict in criminal as we'll as in
civil cases. In January last the South
ern Pacific Railroad Company was pc
titiOned to grant better facilities for
shipments to certain points tributary to
this market where the arrangements
were manifestly to our disadvantage
A memorial was sent to the State
Legislature favoring an appropriation
for the improvement of the Sacramento
River. A resolution was approved in
dorsing the tariff memorial which had
been adopted and sent to Congress by
the State Fruit Growers Convention of
December 2, 1896; also, similar petit
ton was sent to Congress asking that
a specific duty of 212 cents per pound be
placed on imported table grapes, this
matter having been omitted by the
above-named convention. To the fore
going were added recommendations for
the amendment of the national bank
rupt law, a memorial favoring the Loud
postal bill, also a protest opposing the
extension of the term of the President
g T-nt}
LEGISLATIVE MATTERS.
AT a special and well-attended meet
ing of merchants in this chamber in
February last committee was selected
to present to the Legislature objections
to Assembly bill No. 397, amending the
attachment laws in the interest of
Eastern jobbers. The same action was
taken toward Assembly bill No. 302,
requiring canned goods to be stamped,
giving date Of packing. also asking
same committee to oppose the passage
of Assembly bill POI, providing for boil
er inspection. During the year other
measures Of minor Importance have
from time to time received the attention
Of this chamber, while some have not
been submitted to you for considera-
ton. At times it seems that the best
ingenuity of man is evoked to advance
some old office, or invent some new one,
or, having advanced some smooth
scheme to absorb some more of some
body elses money. 1t would often help
one out so much if some genius would
invent a reliable pocket instrument that
could be handy at ali times to detect
what is legitimate and what is frdN1du-
lent as matters were presented for con-
Sideration. Chambers of Commerce,
labor unions and other useful organ
izations should at all times be very
careful when about to lend their assoc
ciate influence for or against matters
coming before legislative bodies They
should not be hoodwinked into being
placed infront of mistaken or designing
men in matters of legislation or in
handicapping public officers in the
proper discharge of their sworn du-
ties. Good, intelligent men should al
ways find an open and fair way to
handle important matters of a public
character. A proper appreciation for
public men and their responsibilities is
at all times advisable. During the
last session of the Legislature the peo-
pie OF this city seemed to properly real
ize their privileged duty toward the mem
bers of that body This was marked,
and especially so with the ladies
Of this city. who seemed to vie with one
another in opening their homes and en-
pertaining the members of the Legis-
lature. their wives and friends, which
they did continuously throughout the
session. This commendable course
should be a precedent to be hereafter
well followed. One of the leading
events of the last session of the Legis-
lature was its starting out with that