The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-03
IN SENATE YESTERDAY.
Amendment Proposing to Exempt
Stanford Property Passed.

LII Inc senate yesterday morning Sem
ate constitutional Observation-Disclosures
in all-being a special order were taken
UP, and A. c. A. %, Clark a resolution
proposing to the people of the State of
California an amendment to the Con-
sfitution of the State by adding a new
section, to be known and designated as
Section 10. Article TX thereof, confirm
ing the founding of the Leland STAN
ford. Jr., University, delegating certain
powers to the trustees thereof and au-
thorizing the exemption of certain of
It's property from taxation, and proyid-
ing that endowments and other prop
erty held for the benefit Of the univer-
silly might by legislative enactment be
exempted from taxation, was read.
Snortridge, in speaking to the amend
ment, said the exemption proposed was
necessary for the life and purposes of
the university. and such being the case
ne thought there could be no opposition
TO submitting the proposition to a vote
or the people. He passed from the re-
cessfty to the desirability Of the propo-
sition- He submitted that money put
into educational Institutions was money
Well expended. He held that such leg
islation as that proposed was wise and
Judicious. and that California was tardy
in the recognition Of the fact. He cited
the Constitutions of twenty-four other
States of the Union, all of which pro-
vided that the Legislature should not
TAX endowments and other property
held exclusively for free educational
| lacliities. He called attention to the
Iact that 1t was only intended to submit
the proposition to the people. and that
II oy their vote it was adopted the
LEGISLATURE would still have right to
TAX the property If 1t so desired.
simpson said that two years ago two
pills. looking to the exemption of STAN
ford property from taxation had been
before the Legislature. and that he had
opposed both for the reason that he
believed they were unconstitutional.
lie though the present proposition was
wholly different, and he proposed to
vote TO allow the people to say whether
or not the property of the great univer-
sity should be exempted.
Morehouse said the university reared
by the late Leland Stanford. and FOSTER
ed by his noble wife. was growing ran
idiy and he hoped to see 1t not onlv
the greatest institution of learning. not
only in the United States, but in the
world He appealed TO the Senate on
behalf of education and enlightenment.
and on behalf of an institution which
charged no fees, to let the matter go
before the people.
| Gillette opposed the amendment He
commended that special legislation of
any kind was vicious and bad. He had
he said only kind words for the uni
versity. and was proud of 1t, but with
the Constitution on one side and the
university on the other. he thought it
wise to call a pause. He attacked the
clause which provided that the Legfs-
iature might grant the trustees of the
university corporate powers and privi-
leges. He wanted to know who could
pierce the veil of the future, and see
what abuses would follow such a. pro-
vision.
Suppose, said Gillette, that the
Southern Pacific Company. the greatest
corporation In the State. and the one
that has done more than any other to
build up and enhance the prosperity Of
the State-suppose it should ask for
such an exemption, Would we consider
It? Certainly not. We would condemn
It as wrong and vicious Why, then