The record-union., 1897-04-07
LEGISLATIVE GEM PUZZLE
The Act Generally Known as the CLARKE
Road Law"
1t Upsets Provisions of the County
Government Act, at All
Events.

The Act recently approved by the
Governor, and commonly known as the
Clarke road law" is creating some
lively discussions among interested
parties, and has stirred up Commission
ers Manson and Irvine of the State Blu
reau of Highways to such a point that
they are seriously attempting to find
out what it is all about.
Commissioner Irvine, when seen yes
terday, was emphatic in the statement
that it is an abOrtiye attempt to en-
body a few of the recommendations of
the Bureau of Highways with lot of
incomprehensibles stuff.
Commissioner Manson carefully eX-
amined the law yesterday, and frankly
stated that he did not know what it
meant. 1t seemed to aim at dividing
and subdividing the road districts in
the county, and while it had been
stated through the press that it was in
tended to take away all the Roadmas-
ter patronage from Boards of Super
visors, he could find no such provision
in the chapter.
The law, Mr.. Manson submitted, pro-
vides that three Road Trustees shall be
elected for each road district, and that
they shall have full power, among nu-
merouS other things, to prescribe and
enforce rules for their own government
and that of their districts, but that I'M
der the general provision of the Act
they can never be elected, as it is spe-
officially stated that the Trustees them
selves shall nominate the places at
which the elections shall be held. This
| ho no
now exists no Trustees to designate the
places of election.
The Act is directly the opposite of
the provisions Of the County Govern
ment Act, which was also approved by
Governor Budd and as the latter bill
was the first to receive the Executives
signature, it's provisions must conse-
quently be nugatory when in conflict
with later Act.
The provisions of the County Govern
ment Act make no change in the road
laws, which have been in operation for
the past four years, and as it is to be
supplanted by Clarke's Act, other per-
sons beside State officials would like to
know what it means, or whether it
means anything.
Another State official, in speaking of
the Clarke Act yesterday, said that
Governor Budd took pride in stating
that he never signed bill unless he
knew what it meant, and that he in
tended to call upon the Governor and
tell him if he would kindly explain the
provisions of the Clarke road law he
would confer a favor on thousands of
people who, after careful study, had
not the slightest convention aS To what
it means.
The history of the measure is rather
peculiar. Assemblyman Clarke at
tempted to have inserted in the county
government bill matter similar to that
contained in the one introduced later,
but the committees would have none of
it. Thereupon, in the last days of the
session-when votes were to be had for
almost any bill-in order to secure
votes to pass some other measure, he
worked tooth and nail for the child of
his fancy. The bill was passed.
About the LIST of this month Clarke
is said to have visited Sacramento and
impressed upon Governor Budd the
great good to be derived from the bill
if it became a law. His pleadings
seem to have had weight. for the Gov
ernor made the measure law.
And now many people would like to
know what it means.