The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-31
THE DROUGHT APPROPRIATION.
Asst December it became public that the people
81 = con Siderable section OF two counties In this


their livestock over to seeding time, without
sources for procuring seed grain and in many in
stances were pinched in their supply OF the neces
saries OF lie The extent OF the emergency has since
been measured in the closing OF banks in the towns
to which the stricken region is tributary, because
there was no business for them and their assets could
not be realized on because OF the prevailing lack OF
resources among the people.
When this emergency appeared at the close OF last
year was seen to involve the interests OF the pubic
and the State such extent that public action was
immediately required to relieve the distress and mltl
gate to the minimum the harm to the reputation OF
the State which must come by the spreading abroad
OF exaggerated and sensational reports.
California is the second State OF the Union in area,
and the first in the variety soil, climate and re-
sources The district affected by drought IN Monterey
and San Luis Obspo counties bears the same relation
and proportion to the rest OF the State that county
in New Jersey does to the whole area OF the Middle
States But abroad the OF that limited and local
disaster presents to the minds OF men all California
scorched and scared by drought beyond the posslbl-
ity OF self-support Of her people.
Aware OF this the mercantile organizations OF this
city and the State Board OF Trade at once took meas
ures to ascertain all the facts, to make public the
boundaries OF the troubled district and the conditions
therein which had caused the only real distress that
followed the drought.
The Examiner had already commenced exploiting
the matter newspaper sensation and had by sub
scription raised a small sum OF money, OF which it
constituted itself the almoner, and with its commits
soners" artists reporters and wagons with its ad-
vertisenlents printed on them, entering upon
winters campaign OF newspaper sensation which
all thoughtful men saw would lnti1ct the
maximum OF damage upon the State while
affording the minimum OF relief to those who
needed it, To avert this and to carry the snten peo-
pie over to more propitious season. was the problem
which confronted the State The Governor OF the
State, being without available public funds tor the
purpose sought some quarter in which an advance
of the funds necessary could be secured upon the as
surance that the Legislature, soon to be IN session,
would refund the money and appropriate as much
more as might be found necessary to carry on the
relief work until better season made the needy peo-
pie again self-supporting
Upon application to Mr.. Claus Spreckels the Gov
ernor was offered by that gentleman a check for
$4,000 to be used in supplying forage for ranch
stock food for the people and grain for seeding 1t
was determined that half that would do the work.
and Mr. Spreckes therefore advanced $4,000. This
sum was put in the hands OF Mayor Phelan, Mr..
Dohr1nann OF the Merchants Association and Mr.. A.
B. Spreckels commissioners, to apply 1t to the Pur
poses for which it was advanced
public emergencies which the State had funds to
meet the late Nh Charles Crocker advanced the
money, on one occasion in the large of $4,000,
and in both cases was duly reimbursed by appro-
priaton made by the Legislature. These precedents
made it clear that the Governor could solicit and the
State receive advances OF money in emergencies and
that the Legislature could recoup the party making
the advance
The cash advanced by Mr.. Spreckes was imme-
datey devoted to the purpose for which it was in
tended The office machinery OF the Merchants AS
ISOLATION was used in the orderly transaction OF the
business without cost to the fund distributed and in
due time bill was introduced in the Legislature by
the representative of the aided district for the return
OF the money to Mr.. Spreckels, and was passed in
both houses without dissenting vote,
AS this bill remained in the Governors hands, after
adjournment without action, Mr.. Dohrmann, presl-
dent OF the commission distribute the fund, made
inquiry OF Governor Gage to his Intentions con
corning it. informing him that there was balance OF
the money advanced by Mr.. Spreckels on hand, to
the amount of about $4,000, the OF which was
necessary to continue the relief work but that its de-
voton to that purpose would be optional with Mr.
Spreckes if the appropriation failed to receive the
Governors signature To this the Governor made
answer by way OF inquiry, asking: Did not the
Examiner donate $1,000 to the relief work and
was not picture of the check printed in The Call,
and did not this paper publish abroad compliments
to the philanthropy of Mr.. Spreckels?'
To this Mr. Dohrmann answered with a statement
Of the facts, as above narrated, and thereafter the
Governor withheld his signature from the bill, as he
states upon constitutional grounds, and the appropr
alton therefore killed.
II the Governors objection constitutional, it is
unfortunate that he put it other grounds in his
communication to Mr.. Dohrmann, for the letter
answered only the objection made by the Governor,
to wit that the money was philanthropc donation
by Mr. Spreckels, and demonstrated that it was an
advance made to the State to meet emergency, at
the request of Governor Budd. Had Governor Gage
put his objection upon constitutional grounds in the
first place the Relief Commission would have sub
mitted an argument in answer thereto. But as the
matter stands Governor Gage objected to the appro-
priation on one ground and killed it on one entirely
-