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

the expenses of a commission to rep
resent California at the exposition, II
WILL certainly, be necessary to prac-
tice economy in other directions, so as
| to reduce the States expenses else
where in an amount equal to the sum
| SO appropriated, If any, because the
general rate of taxation must not be
raised in consequence of such an ex-
penditure.
COST OF ADMINISTERING OUR
STATE GOVERNMENT.
Complaints have not been infreQuent
respecting the cost of administering
the public business Of the State, and
comparison is sometimes made with
our own as to the cost Of conducting
the governments of other States.
While these complaints are not alto
gether unfounded, yet the comparison
itself is unfair. This State, territorially
speaking, is of vast proportions, being
in width 300 miles, in length over sou
miles, and skirting almost the entire
western boundary of the United States.
Having so extensive an area, so d.
verse a. climate, and so great a variety
of agricultural, horticultural and min
eral resources, we should not expect
to find the expense Of governing this
State no greater than that of other
States of less territorial extent and
fewer resources.
WASTE AND OVER-LEGISLATIO
The great extent of our State, its
wonderful resources, the number Of Of
fetal departments, and the important
provisions in our Constitution and laws
| have heretofore afforded opportunity for
waste and prodigality in the conduct
of the government, to which my dis
/ tinguiShed predecessors in office have
often but vainly called attention.
| In my opinion, among other things,
we suffer much from over-legiSlation.
The best laws are not usually the most
complex. The aim and art of govern
ment is to attain simplicity The best
governed State has the fewest laws,
and the wisdom of legislators may
sometimes be shown to the advantage
of the public veal by refraining from
legislation If our Constitution were
amended so that our legislative ses-
sions should be held every four in
stead Of two years, the people would
derive much benefit and a more stable
and economic government would fol-
low.
Scarcely have our courts, after ex-
pensive litigation, construed and inter-
preted the acts Of a preceding legisla-
tive session, when the same laws are
amended or changed by a subsequent
Legislature. Were our lawmakers to
spend more time in repeating than in
enacting surplus statutes the public
interest would be better subserved. Al
ready we have too many State boards
and commissions. with extensive lists
of subordinate employees, drawing
larger pay than could be earned by
them for similar services within the
lines of private business, and this
should be corrected.
EXCESSIVE APPROPRIATIONS
THROUGH LEGISLATIVE BAR
GAINS.
1t has sometimes happened in pre-
vious Legislatures (and trust no such
instance will here occur that Senators
and Assemblymen have pledged them
selves to secure appropriations for the
public institutions situated in their par
ticular districts, without a thorough in
vestigation of the immediate needs OF
such institutions.
In the heat of legislative business,
agreements have been made with fell
low-legislators having other measures
to be passed. by which votes have been
exchanged, and thereby excessive ap-
preparations have passed both houses
On account of this system of bartering
in votes, and the facility with which
large appropriations have been OBJ
tanned, the officers Of these public in
stitutions have become reckless and
prodigal in the expenditure of public
money.
APPROPRIATIONS MADE PAYABLE
IMMEDIATELY INSTEAD OF OUT
OF FUTURE REVENUE-TRANS-
FER OF FUNDS.
Another mistake on the part of leg
islators has been to make all appropri-
atoms payable Immediately out of the
general fund, instead of authorizing
such payments to be made, as they
should be, at least six or ten months
thereafter out of future revenue re-
ceipts. Such mistaken policy depletes
the treasury, by adding to the existing
demands the amounts of such new APP
preparations. This is a grave financial
wrong. By this improper practice, the
money in the general fund, which
ought only to be expended for the pay
ment of justly accrued demands, is
diverted from us purpose, SO tudl d
transfer of money from special funds
Is required to make up the deficit, it
being necessary afterward to reim-
burse such special funds from the tax
receipts of the next fiscal year.
This system is not only unwise. but
not warranted by good governmental
policy. Each fund should remain
intact. to be devoted to the special
purposes authorized by law. The State,
as we'll as each department of it.
should live within it's actual means.
CLOSING OF THE STATE PRINT
ING OFFICE+REASONS FOR ITS
GREAT COST.
The State Printing Office having
been by my predecessor denied certain
appropriations, has been closed, and
the additional expense consequent up
on reopening it will be shifted from
the outgoing to the present Administra
ton. While this is an essential de-
partment of the Government, through
some unfortunate circumstances it has
been a source of much waste
In thus expressing my views do
not here intend to reflect upon the
ability and integrity of the distin-
guished incumbent The fault lies else
where, and will require legislative rem
edy- Chief among the causes of this
extravaganza is the unlimited power