The San Francisco call., 1899-12-20
Dismay Caused by a Joker in the
General Appropriation Bill.
Adorable Walter S. Maxwell of Los Angeles
Is on the Governors Slate to Succeed
State MneraIogst A. S. Cooper.

predecessors, Messrs. Irelan snd Craw-
Iord. 1t is further asserted that Mr..
cooper went so far as 10 refer contemptu-
ously If not disrespectfully 10 the Mother
Lode by asking II the Father Lode and
sister Lode should not receive some no
uce from the State authorities.
When the Legislature convened last
winter some persons behind the scenes de-
ciued 10 punish Cooper for contempt. A
pan 10 take appointments out OF his
hdhus ana tC direct the expenditure OF the
bureau appropriation was adopted. The
promoters OF the punishment scheme
were not familiar with the provisions OF
tne constitution, hence their plans have
come TO grief The persons bent on get
tng even with Cooper had the following
PROVISION inserted in the general appro-
prlatlon measure:
For support OF State Mining Bureau. in
Guiding salaries. $50. .O00 provided that t2O-
700 OF said sum shall be expended in max
ing practical and scientific examination OF
the mother lode, and other mineral districts
IN california, including the oil districts.
ana preparing brief and accurate history
OF such districts and the development pro-
quot. resources. methods OF working and
future possibilities OF the mining and oil
industries IN u.s. IN IN California Such examinations
20 os tnade by competent experts expert
enced In California mining. and assistants.
an OF whom shall be appointed and their
compensation fixed by the Governor.
The chairman OF the Senate Finance
committee, General Dickinson. perhaps
uld not know that the constitution of
this state lsection "a. article IV) con-
tanned the following:
Every act shall embrace but one
subject, which subject shall be ex-
pressed in its title. But if any sub
Ject shall be embraced in an act
which shall not be expressed in its
title, such act shall be void only as to
SO much thereof as shall not be ex-
pressed in its title"
There is nothing in the title Of the gen.
eral appropriation bill pertaining TO the
scientific examination OF mineral dis
tricts, oil regions, and the future possi-
bilities of development. There is Moth
ing IN the title relating to the appoint
ment OF experts and the fixing OF their
compensation by the Governor. hence the
whole provision is void. The bill contains
this simple title: IAN act making appro-
priation for the support of the govern
ment of the State of California for the
nfty-hrst and fifty-second fiscal years"
General Dickinson is not wholly 10
blame in the matter The blame rather
rests on Lieutenant Governor Neff, who
appointed a soldier instead OF a states
man TO the responsible position Of chair
man of the Senate Finance Committee.
II this constitutional inhibition had been
in the articles OF war the general. doubt
less, would have observed II.
In the Assembly affairs were not much
better. The Speaker, in making up his
L.
Angeles statesman. instead of a common.
everyday, constitutional lawyer. at the
head Of the Ways and Means Committee.
The bill with it's unconstitutional little
Joker. ran the gauntlet OF both commit
tees and both houses OF the Legislature
and reached the Governors office, where
ignorance OF the constitution Is real bliss.
Governor Gage approved the bill and in
due time appointed the experts. Bowers
and Watts.
Along in the spring or early summer
somebody told the Governor that the
"joker" was too thin, but that didn't Jar
his Fxcellency. He went right ahead and
recognized Bowers and Watts. Mireralo-
gist Cooper cared not n fig for the Icy
that the State had a constitution. told
him that the joker wouldn't go. Attorney
General TREY L. Ford was also advised
that the volume OF legislation" IN the
appropriation bill was void.
In the course of events somebody must
have told Gage that gold bricks had been
passed TO Bowers and Watts. because a
meeting Of the trustees OF the Mining Bu-
reau was called at T. r. Bishops office
and II was arranged that Mineralogist
Cooper and Governor Gage should be
there. At this session Cooper was asked
TO ratify the appointments made by the
Governor but the Mineralogist refused TO
ratify, hence the character of the meeting
took the form Of Indignation rather than
Of ratification. Cooper stands now where
he stood when the joker was born. Cages
plight is no better than II was when he
signed the bill
Cooper is serene but firm. He knows
that Attorney General Ford and State
Controller Colgan are we'll posted on the
proposition and cannot open the treasury
TO Bowers and Watts. Cooper also knows
that his own days are numbered He Is
advised that the adorable Walter s. Max
well of Los Angeles has been slated to
succeed him as State Mineralogist. In ap-
pointing Mr.. Maxwell the Governor ex-
poets TO recognize personal beauty and
make a concession TO polite society. Mr.
Maxwell possesses all the qualifications
necessary for drawing n salary and spend
ing II i'm legitimate and refined channels
The Governor is sure that his friend Wal
ter will never speak OF the Mother Lode
in terms other than those Of profound re-
spect and reverence.