The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-01-05

tional amendments voted upon at the
| last election. When the newspaper
proprietors now urging these claims
properly reflect upon the matter their
good sense will. think. suggest that
even newspaper claims against the
State may be excessive, and in that
sense unjust.
have approximately estimated that
the people of this State are taxed UNI
der the present election system at the
rate of about $3.50 for every ballot cast
and counted at each general election
It is astounding that such expense
should go along for years unchallenged
If we are now to have primary cleo
ton law, such primary elections
should, under no circumstances, be
made a tax upon the people, as under
the present general election SYSTEM
otherwise it would largely increase the
present extravaganza tax burdens.
! Some immediate action should be
taken to relieve the people of this
State from the enormous expense Of
conducting elections, rather than in
creasing them.
COUNTY CLAIMS AGAINST THE
STATE FOR COMMISSIONS FOR
| COLLECTING TAXES.
| This Administration is confronted by
startling claims Of various counties
against the State, amounting to about
81 800 eco, for commissions alleged to
be due suck counties from the State
for collecting State taxes.
Although these commissions were
abolished by the Act Of the Legisla-
ture, approved February %. 1893, con-
tracts have been made by these coun-
ties with attorneys to enforce the col
i lection of such commissions.
| The spirit Of the county officials
which inspires these demands is neither
patriotic nor business-like. The officers
of the counties should remember that
these suits, if successful, will return
to plague the inventor" in the form
of increased taxation. The people Of
the State will be, moreover, ultimately
compelled to pay through taxation
whatever amounts may be expended
by the several counties for the COM
pensation of counsel and the payment
| of the other expenses incident to the
litigation; and since the counties form
a part of the State it is clear that
they will gain nothing by the litiga-
ton. but sustain loss of whatever
sums are paid in their attempts to col
| leCC tn6Se COMMISSIONS.
Furthermore, should these suits sue
coed, the State Treasury would be
drained Of the necessary money to pay
its current expenses for at least six
months, and until the receipt Of money
from the State taxes Of the next fiscal
year. One of the technical points
raised by the ingenious counsel for the
counties against the State is that the
oc%
| to, was not passed by a majority of
| twenty one Senators. Assuming that
the Supreme Court should decide that
it could look behind the enrolled bill
(Which, however should not be the
law, my personal examination of the
original roll-call shows that the Act
in question was passed by the requi-
site vote, namely, of twenty-one Sen
ators, but mistake arose in, the print
ing by the omission of the name of one
Senator.
This leads me to say that laws
passed by the Legislature should be
most carefully and closely examined in
both Senate and Assembly before final
action thereon, otherwise serious err
rors may arise, entailing expensive It'll
cation, as in this instance, and, also,
possibly jeopardizing public rights.
LIST OF CONTROLLER WAR
RANTS SHOULD BE FURNISHED
TO THE STATE TREASURER.
The State Treasurer is obliged by law
to pay all warrants of the Controller
out of the funds drawn upon, and to
report these payments to the Controller
at the last of the month.
Section 433, Subdivision 49, of the
Political Code, specifying the duties of
the Controller, requires him to furnish
the State Treasurer with a list of war
rants drawn upon the treasury. The
language Of the section is certainly
ambiguous as to the time when this
list should be furnished to the Treas
urer; and, am informed, that it has
not been customary to issue such lists
in advance of the presentation Of the
warrants. This is a very serious mat
ter for the State Treasurer, as it
would not be a difficult task for
forger to alter the face amount of
these warrants, which are frequently
assigned by the holders, and pass from
hand to hand.
The subdivision referred to should
be amended so as to require the Con-
troller to furnish the Treasurer with a
list of the warrants and their amounts
as soon as drawn, and in advance of
their possible presentation. This will
enable the State Treasurer to compare
the warrants presented with the lists
furnished by the Controller. and avoid
all possible criminal frauds and i'm
positions.
CALIFORNIA WAR CLAIMS.
The claims of California against the
General Government for furnishing,
equipping and paying volunteers dur
ing the Civil War, aggregating over
$4,O0O,000, are still unsettled. Various
bills have been from time to time in
troduced in both the United States
Senate and House of Representatives,
but they have been either abandoned
after introduction or referred to COM
mittees without final action taken
thereon.
On June 9, 1898, the United States
Senate adopted a resolution in the
matter of H. r. 1895 respecting these
claims, and appointed three Senators,
viz, Teller, Pascoe and Stewart, to con-
fer with the House of Representatives. |
A provision for the payment to this
State of So 951, 1852. in full settlement
of California's claims, has been includ- |
ed in the Senate amendment.
California cheerfully furnished to the
Federal Government soldiers in defense
of the Union, and, while the nation had
the right to this support, it had no
right to the money, amounting to over
81, 100000, which the State advanced
for the equipment Of its volunteers;
and this money should now be restored
to the State, with interest.
O,1r Sena tors and Representatives in |