The record-union., 1899-02-15

Der of Commerce, was called on, and re-

DEF OF commerce, was called on, ana re-
sponded as follows, for the Chamber:
We know that in many countries it
has been the custom for people to as
semble once each year in their villages
and elect a chairman, and then and
there, by popular vote, decide all the
questions for the year about tcxation,
roads and the support of the poor
These township meetings were held
in New England in colonial days. In
the Southern colonies the custom is
that a board was organized by the
Governor of the colony in each town
ship, and vacancies in the board We're
thereafter filed by the remaining mem
bers of the board.
Both in the North and South the peo-
pie became independent of the central
authority, and unanimously opposed
the exactionS of the English King and
Parliament.
AS new States We're formed, after
the war of independence, the present
system of county government was es-
tablished The voters elect their rep
resentatives to supervise and legislate
upon affairs within the county limits
A Grand Jury is appointed each year
to investigate the administration OF
county affairs.
Our system is well-nigh perfect. Let
me express the opinion here that the
people will not consent to the abolition
of the Grand Jury, and let me add that
the Supervisors will find it to their in
terest that the annual investigation
by the Grand Jury should continue.
The Americans are jealous and fault
finding. If no inspection is made by
Grand Juries then rumors will begin
and grow and become a. great detriment
to US all.
Strict justice must be given to those
who serve us, and strict justice in
cludes protection and commendation
for those who are honest and faithful.
The majority of men are honest, and
the Supervisors as a whole are entitled
to our thanks and praise for their
services as public officials.
This nation is composed of about
5000 counties, and each county, on an
average, contains two cities or towns
The county is the unit of our political
organization. Out of these units are
built States and Federal Government.
The Federal Government may be de-
stroyed, and the State Governments
yet still our counties will surely re-
main as they are now. The 5000 coun-
ties in this empire are like the blocks
of granite out of which the walls OF a
huge building are created. Into that
building are fashioned floors and parti-
tions like unto our State Governments
Over the whole structure is placed
roof, just as the Federal Government
is over US ALL. Fire may come and
burn away the floors and the roof, but
the eternal walls will remain I'M
changed, and the building can be again
erected in a better manner.
The citizens of California rejoice to
see the Supervisors assemble for con-
sultation, and believe that our liberties
will not be surrendered to any central
lied power.
After Mr. Miller's address the AS
sembly broke up into groups and en-
joyed a season of social intercourse and
introductions, the affair being quite in
formal and therefore the more pleasant.
They then adjourned to the banquet
room, where the ladies had prepared an
attractive collation. and there paid due
attention to the .viands after which they
resumed conversation and social cour-
tesies. Us ,,0s
Following were the Supervisors pres
emit:
Sonoma-F'rank Glenn (Chairman).
Gallant Haines, Joseph McMinn, HUI
bert Austin, ]. H. Putnam
Shasta-O. Gruttner, Herbert Bass.
Sutter-John Burns (Chairman). e. ].
White, H. Smith and wife.
Glenn-V C. Cleek.
Siskiyou-Dayid Horn (Chairman),
Stephen knight, Charles Happier. H.
H. Patterson.
Tuolumne-Thomas A. Hender, H. NJ.
Pease.
Marin-Frank Gordon, Paul P. Aus
tin, George E. Rea, H. A. Pfister, NJ.
Stern, John Roll, S. F. Aver.
Fresno-J H. Sayre (Chairman), H.
E. Burleigh. Phil Scott, Thomas Mar
tin, w. P. Manly, w. P Cummings and
Pope.
Alameda-T. D. Wells, John Mitchell.
Will Church, Charles Roe.
Yuba-John Steinman.
ventura-E. C. Crane, D. A. Smith,
A. B. Smith.
Del Norte-John Miller.
Tulare-D. " Robinson.
Napa-W. A. Trubody and wife, 7.
w. Bush.
Yolo-J. G. Fredericks (Chairman),
w. o. Russell, J. n. Decker, J. e
Snider.
Mariposa-H. w. Cornett.
Tehama-W. D. Russell, w. +. Lun-
ing.
San Luis Obispo-F. H. Smith, J. w.
Gillian.
Placer-R. H Copp. Albert Kennedy,
L. D. Adams, A. w. Remission.
There We're Representative from sew
eral other counties, whose names were
not on the visitors book.