The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-04
EovERNoR BUDD's FAREWELL.

The last message of Governor Budd
Is unique, grotesque in many respects'
and will excite quite as much amuse-
ment for attempted adroitness ana It's
omissions as for it's insistence upon the
high virtues Of the Governors ADMIN
istration. It's literary merits Will not
place it among the "Curiosities' and
it will probably find place in the polit-
ico-literary junk pile.
1t opens with a bill of Indictment OF
fifteen counts to show that when Mr..
Budd took charge of the office OF Gov
ernor the whole State was on the
downward road to ruin, every thing
was at loose ends, extravaganza, cor
ruption and the devil to pay; even the
political subdivisions of the STATE
known, as counties had no constitu-
tional existence; and really anarchy
reisned all around, according to this
Gubernatorial chronicler.
Though these fifteen distinct counts
of all things evil and damnable con-
stituted but a part Of the bad, corrupt,
out Of joint and satan-smeared, we are
told without the crack of a smile or the
slightest indication that the Governor
intends to make merry in a satlrlcal
way: "This was, in part, the condl-
ton of the State when I assumed the
responsibilities of this office AS
relinquish them, am glad to say that
these conditions have undergone
radical and permanent change"
Did time and space permit it would
be, an easy task to overhaul the rec
ord and put the seal of insincerity
upon most of the allegations. One will
serve to illustrate. For instance, our
roads were disgrace, and the money
spent upon them largely wasted
through ignorance Of the art of road
quality in character under certain cir
cumstances It serves Mr.. Budd well
in this case. The State owns but one
road, a short stretch between a point
beyond Placerville and Lake Tahoe. Not
another streak of dust is possessed by
the Commonwealth. Bills were passed
by the last Legislature providing for
the Inauguration Of a State road sys-
tenn, and to stimulate. aid and advise
road building by counties, but Mr.
while approving a measure re-estab-
fishing the State Highway Commission
under q. new name, and providing foi
the salaries of the Commissioners and
their office employees. They have for
two years. with unfailing promptness,
drawn their salaries, but having moth
ing else under the sun to do their ON
cial existence has been the beginning
and the end of radical and perman-
emit change in road conditions stand
ing. to the credit Of Gov. Budd's Ad-
mfnistration-
1t will be news to the people to learn
that California was not paying 1ts
debts that it was under financial
cloud, that county governments ex-
listed sby permission only" that useless
Institutions had sprung up concerning
which this reform Governor has erect
ed radical and permanent change.
1t will likewise be news to the people
when they read this remarkable mes
sage to learn that while the Governor
claims he kept his official residence
at the Capital that under the law his
'.home was elsewhere"
Assuredly. neither residence, official
or otherwise. has been maintained by
him at the Capital as the law pre-
ecribes, and seven-tenths of the Cub
ernatorial business has been transact
ed elsewhere" and at the increased
cost to the State. Thus it will not sur
prise citizens to learn that the State
has paid out large sums of money
for mileage and hotel bills of State
officers and boards located at the Cap
ital who have been compelled to travel
elsewhere in order to report to and
counsel with the Governor.
There is pretentious claim of econ
omy accomplished. money saved by
reason of the policy of the Governor
but this at best is but one side of the
ledger account For instance, it is es-
-
-imated by those qualified to make the
calculation that for every dollar claim
ed to have been saved by the closing
of the State Printing Office. there will
be visited upon the State two dollars
of expense. Tt is to be borne in mind
also, that during Gov. Budd's term
there has been far less of building, and
repairing of State buildings than IN
earlier years. since happily we have
arrived at that period in State life
when we may be said to have nearly
completed our outfit of State institu-
tons demanding structures and
grounds.
While the Governor deplores the fact
that the Legislatures in his term We're
politically antagonistic to him, he is
compelled to concede that even Re-
publican Legislature concurred with
him, and aided him in effecting GER
tain beneficial changes in an economic
al way in the financial system, by
which the General Fund has been
placed upon sound basis. While it is
very true that the Governor in his
term vetoed appropriations amounting
to over $4.OOO,0 600, analysis of the fact
would deprive it of very much of the
credit the message claims for the ac-
tion. For example, the vetcing of the
appropriation for the support of the
State Printing Office by no means