The record-union., 1897-01-17
FRANCHISES ANR REVENUE.

of the plant instead of for single sum,
as at present. After due advertisement
the franchise is to be sold to the high
est bidder. No percentage shall be re-
quired for the first five years, but
thereafter it must be paid annually,
and in no case shall it be less than 3
per cent.
Mr.. Mead's other bill, No. 144, pro-
vides for the protection of material
men and laborers on public works. He
says that great hardship is experienced
by laborers and men furnishing mate
rials to contractors. The latter often
then are unable to pay the other par
ties who have no recourse, as, according
to Mr.. Mead, no mechanics lien can be
filed on public buildings, nor of course,
on streets, etc. The bill provides that
contractors shall give bonds and also
that if both contractors and bondsmen
fail Of payment the Board of Super
visors, Common Council or other body
letting the contract, shall in their Off
cial capacity, be responsible.
FISH AND GAME
Several bills have been introduced
which have been referred to this COM
mittee but Chairman Strain has not
yet called them together, although he
has had considerable consultation with
those who have introduced the bills.
Mr. Strain realizes the conflict of in
terests in these matters caused by the
great extent of latitude occupied by the
State and by other conditions, and has
hopes that, by consultation, some COM
promise bill shall be formed which will
take the place of all the others. Fail
ing that, he relies upon constitutional
amendment. Mr.. Cutter believes that
his constitutional amendment providing
that special legislation may be estab-
lished by three-fourths vote will
cover the case and permit different dis
tricts to have their close seasons ac-
cording to their several needs. Mr..
Strain evinces a laudable interest in
enacting measures which shall do JUS
tice to all parts of the State.
STILL TO ORGANIZE
Several committees have not yet begun
to work, some have not even organ
lied, but all expect to get down to busi-
ness the coming week.
APPROVED THE BILL.
The bill, No. 304 printed in full in
the Record Union of Thursday last,
and introduced the same day in the AS
senbly by Mr.. Sims, was under care
full consideration yesterday afternoon
by the Committee on Public Works,
Messrs. Ennis, Seward, North of Ala
media, Strain, Robinson, Canavan, Den
merry, Caminetti, Foreman and Ryan.
The measure provides for the appoint
ment by the Governor of an Auditing
Board of five members to the Commits
sicner of Public Works, appropriates
$500, 600 to purchase dredgers, ETC., for
the Improvement of water channels and
OA
land and property if necessary for
those purposes 1t will be reported back
to morrow, with some few amendments,
and recommended for passage.
The first amendment provides that
the board of five to be appointed by the
Governor shall not be members of the
same political party, thus rendering the
board non-partisan.
In the original bill the Governor was
made ex officio a member of the board
TO preside when present at the meet
ings This is deemed by the
committee inexpedient for sew
eral reasons. 1t makes the board
consist of six members and opens the
door to a possible deadlock. Also, as all
iture must come before the Board of
Examiners, of which the Governor is
member, it would really necessitate
his giving his attention twice to every
measure of the board. The second
amendment, therefore, strikes out the
clause in question.
In Section Z of the bill, as printed in
the Record Union," the Auditing
Board is empowered to condemn the
right of way necessary for the purpose
of doing the work outlined and may
purchase or condemn land and mate
rial necessary to carry out the plans OF
drainage, and may condemn any lands
! which may be by them deemed neces-
sary for the purpose of the Act. Here
the committee amendment adds:
And may also purchase or condemn
lands adjacent to the navigable waters
or the immediate tributaries thereof for
preventing the deposit of debris OF
nels.
Mr.. Hudson's committee-on Counties
and County Boundaries-will organize
on Monday. The first measure to come
before them is Cutters bill, No. 2S3, to
change and permanently locate the
| boundary between Butte and Yuba
Counties.
A meeting of the Committee on At
| taches was held yesterday afternoon
1t will be remembered that by mo-
ton of Coombs on Friday this commit
| tee was instructed to report on Monday
upon Dryden's resolution calling for a
committee of three to investigate the
temporary list of attaches and the ex-
penses of the organization of the