The San Francisco call., 1897-01-04
TIE STATE LEGISLATURE.

The State Legislature will be called to
order to-day for the work of its thirty
second session by the selection of its Off
GERS, the appointment Of its committees
and the introduction of its first batch OF
bills.
That the present session OF the Legisia-
ture will be one OF the most important in
the recent history of California no one
who has examined a list of its mem bers
or considered its already outlined duties
can possess doubt. From every section
of the State have been gathered its best
qualified and most popular citizens to
form the present Legislature. They have
been elected as the result of campaign
in the close contests CT which only men of
merit could win.
The present Legislature, therefore, not
only represents in a peculiar sense the
people of California, but is also to an un-
usual degree the possessor of their conf
dence. The quality of its constituent
membership is an assurance that this con-
fidence will be neither disappointed nor
abused and that the present Legislature
will, during the next sixty days, disiin-
gush itself by faithful, honest work well
and intelligently performed.
The first and one OF the most important
functions of this Legislature will be the
election of United States Senator who
shall serve the people of California and
of the Nation at Washington during the
next six years. The political com plexion
of the Legislature is an assurance that
the selected Senator will be Republican.
The quality of the Republican members
of the Legislature is a further assurance
that the choice of Senator will be made
with care and tnat the gentleman upon
whom that high honor may fall will, in
the eminence of his character and abilities,
in his unselfsh devotion to the cause OF
Republicanism. in his high aspirations
to serve California and all her people, be
Senator of whom our Comm onwealth, with
cut regard to party, shall have increasing
reason TO be proud.
While the work of choosing Senator is
progressing the other important duties of
the Legislature will get under way. The
reference of the work of the Code Commits
duction of bills aimed at such an amend
ment of the irrigation laws as shall
cause them TO give general satisfac-
tion, the consideration of measures affect
inc {ha o;1 nd
| necessary in view of the recent decision
OF the Federal court. the passage of laws
in the interests of the mining industry,
the formulation of a statute placing the
insane asylums of the State under the
control of a commission, and the probable
| reorganization of the judicial system of
California, in order that the wheels of
justice may be accelerated, are among
the many matters which will occupy the
attention of the Legislature. With all
of these measures and with the many
others which Will arise during the session,
the Senate and Assembly has each men
OF ample power and character to honestly
and ably deal. The people of California
may therefore rest assured that the pres
ent legislative session will be credit to
the State in the extent of its service and
in the honesty and ability with which it's
| important and grave duties will be dis
charged.
We feel confident that each and all of
the members of both Houses will be al
taehed TO the sublime truth. expressed by
the immortal words of Abraham Lincoln,
that this is "a government of the people,
by the people end for the neonlen