The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-11
GOVERNOR CAGES INAUGURAL.

csm of his official acts when they deserve it, or to be
silent when he improperly sacrifices the attitude OF
Governor to assume that OF factona leader in his
party. His tart temper toward the press has meas
urably prevented unbiased review OF his inaugural
address those journals which otherwise would have
gladly analysed, in friendly spirit its many express
sions of proper public policy The Call is uninfuenced
by any antagonisms, and Governor Gage will find no
more loyal supporter of every right act of his ad
ministratlon than this paper, will he find more
conscientiousy remorseless critic of the wrongs and
mproprieties into which his too careessy chosen
surroundings may lead him.
Being man to public affairs it was expected
that his inaugural would deal in those generaities
which are usually chosen such occasions, and
intended merely to crafty State pride and stimulate
party enthusiasm.
The State is quite impressed and favorabl affected
by the contrast between the usual and the actual in
augural upon which the Governor assumes his Office
His reference to Our vast supplies a for
the number of our State institutions, and he might
have gone further and shown that their administra-
ton, under all parties, has cost less per capita of in
mates than in parallel institutions of typical States in
the Middle West and on the Atlantic seaboard. The
people expect him manage the public trust that
is upon him that this record of economy will be
changed only to be made better, and he is expected
to remember that this be only by considering fit
and not personal political obligations in his ap-
pointments. When the two joined and such an
obligation can be paid without violating the prin-
ciple OF fitness, the people will tolerate what is
garded as partisan gratitude. Otherwise they will be
properly intolerant of such policy.
There is always criticism OF the prevalence OF the
American lawyer in our executive and legislative
Offices. OF the y-six signers of the Declaration of
Independence twenty-four were lawyers OF the re-
naming thirty-two, eight farmers, nine were
merchants, three statesmen four physicians sol
diers, one sailor, one printer, educator
veyor, one foundryman, one shoemaker In the diff
erent branches of the Government since that proper
ton has been quite steadily maintained.
1t is suspected by laymen sometimes that the law
yer is in office to add such completely to the statutes
to increase litigation for the benefit of his probes
sion. If this suspicion be justified Governor Gage
has laid himself liable discipline for unprofessional
conduct by recommending that there be as little egs-
ation as possible. His declaration that "the best
laws not usually the most complex, and the aim
and art of government is to attain simplicity; the
best governed State has the ewest laws" is an
aphorism that will seat itself in the public mind and
memory. His reference to the 'log rolling of ap-
propriations is as sound in theory as it would be
economical in practice.
But alas! for the tendency Of human nature, the
day is far below the horizon of the future when an
appropriation will be able to stand on its merit The
practice of log rolling began in Congress with the
river and harbor bill, Henry Clay, in introducing
that bill to the House from his committee, eighty
years ago, aware that every member with thunder
shower creek in his district had something in the pot
said: mr.. Speaker, the committee recommends the
passage of this bill, and l take it, as took my wife,
for better or for worse
The Governors recommendation that the State
trea he 10
come and outgo concurrent is good and ought to be
feasible. AS he points out appropriations all payable
out of the general fund become payable at once
while tax collections still six months off, and
past appropriations have exhausted the fund or are
still depicting it. State warrants must then issue and
be hawked at discount, to the public discredt If
way can be devised to have the inflow and outflow
OF the treasury concurrent and equal each other
will improve the credit of the State and economic
the administration of its business.
The Governor has watchful eye upon the cause of
extravaganza in the State Printing Office ard in the
erection of public buildings and he should keep that
eye open.
His recommendation of an intermediate appellate
court does not harmonic with his counsel that ees-
laton be less and simpler to abae the cause of liti
CATION Our judicial establishment is now as ample
that of States with twice population and its in
crease will not be in the interest of economy Let
the Supreme Court Commission stand as permanent
relief to the court of last resort and put no further
burdens the people
In the Governors opinion the county suits for re-
covery of large commissions from the State are
based upon typographical and not a legislative
omission, and at the time he points the inn
policy OF such SUITS if they have valid founda-
ton.
In view of the vacuum in the treasury threatened
by those suits, and to get justice that has been long
delayed, he presents the of the State for recov-
cry OF principal and interest expended in the Federal
behalf during the Civil War; under the act of Con
gress OF July II, 1861. The State slept upon her
rights in that matter until every other State in the
Union had made its case and most of them had been
reimbursed When California at last appointed her
agents, required by Federal law, nearly dozen
years had passed since those claims accrued and the
difficulties surrounding the States agents in making
the required proofs vastly increased. 1t took