The San Francisco call., 1899-12-23
EXTRA SESSION TOPICS
RECEIVE ATTENTION
GOVERNOR GAGE REPLIES TO
MERCHANTS PETITION.
Rambling Response Leads the Sign
ers to Believe That the Chief
Executive Will Convene
the Legislature.

Governor Gage in a letter to II. p
has acknowledged the receipt o
an extra session petition. The petition
was signed by merchants and brokers o
this city and forwarded to Sacramento OIL
December Is. Following is the text o.
the Governors reply:
STATE CAPITOL. Dec. n. 1899
Henry +. Sonntag, President. and Edgar
Painter, Secretary, North Central Improve
ment Association, and Gentlemen OF the
Committee OF Harbor improvements
Your letter at hand. together with your
petition, requesting that at an early date
convene a special and extraordinary ses-
sion OF the Legislature of the State. for the
purpose Of enacting such legislation as is
necessary to enable the State Harbor Com
missioners Immediately to construct and TO
breakwaters as in their Judgment are de-
manded by the changed conditions and the
rapidly increasing necessities OF the COM
mercial and shipping requirements of the
port of San Francisco.
request OF this character. made over
the signatures of such splendid body OF
gentlemen, distinguished. among other
things. for their wonderful business sagac-
ity, as well as for their great wealth. in
fiuence. integrity and honor. certainly in
dicates the Importance OF the question un-
der consideration; and l beg leave to as
sure you that in view OF its gravity 1
Will give the subject further and careful
attention at my earliest opportunity
While i am well aware OF the necessity
for amendment in our laws to increase the
powers OF the State Board OF Harbor Com
missioners. in order that IL may be en-
abled to care for and meet the constantly
increasing demands OF the shipping inter-
ests affecting the great and hourishiag city
OF San Francisco well the entire
State. 1 am likewise deeply impressed with
the idea that an extra session would
avoidably entail considerable unusual ex-
pense upon the State.
In order to properly determine whether
the interests OF the people OF the State
would be best subserved by call for an
extra session for this purpose will be
obliged TO consider arguments against such
course as we'll as those advanced in favor
OF IL, among which latter are these fur
nished by yourselves. and also the data
furnished by the State Board OF Harbor
Commissioners.
Under the policy OF State economy by me
maintained. perhaps IL Is not inopportune
to observe that in the mere matter OF
vetoes alone have thus far saved the peo-
pie OF the State $2.676 131. Again. the gen
eral and special appropriation bills during
the two first years Of my. able and hon
orable predecessors term amounted TO more
than 5000. 202. whereas these appropriations
under the first two years Of my official term
are less than $500, AIS, making a balance
so far as these items alone are concerned
in favor of this administration for its first
two years OF more than 81. 1872. .7S4. Adding
TO this last sum the amount Of my vetoes
and you have a gross saving of 81. .s6s9l5
Or. in other words. by vetoes and by COM
parative economy / have already saved to
administration upward OF 5000 per day.
Sundays. holidays and all included. during
entire OI1Clal lcTT silOulu
or should not live out the term OF office.
Or again limiting this computation to the
first two years OF my administration. II
Is equivalent TO a saving OF more than
$4,000 per day And Notwithstanding this
economy. every institution OF the State has
had liberal but not lavish allowances.
While mean saving in any OF the State
departments has not been and will not be
my policy, still my resolve to continue TO
economically administer the affairs OF the
State leads me TO give serious considera-
tion to the matter OF expense which would
accrue from extra session.
AT very early time however. / shall
give the subject the deliberation TO which
its Importance is entitled. and meanwhile
] will be pleased 10 receive all further in
formation which you others may desire
10 furnish. Very respectfully yours.
HENRY T. GAGE.