The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-03-13
AN IDEAL COUNTY SYSTEM.

The San Jose Mercury" comments
despondently upon the fact that the
County Government Acts in this State
are forever being patched. 1t does
seem that we no more than get an
linking of the meaning of one Act than
We are treated to another requiring
new Interpretation by the courts, and
Involving county officers in new per-
plexities. The present bill of amend
ment before the Legislature is de-
nounced by the Mercury" as gar
ment of patch work, mere mass of
amendments to the law now in opera
tion. Our contemporary therefore con-
cludes that it is time thrown away to
it comedies that the bill if it should be
resurrected from the files, may be bet
tered by striking out certain lines. sec
fions and provisos, but it is objection
able to Santa Clara County even then
because it adds to the expenses of coun-
ty government by practical increase of
salaries
We are in hearty sympathy with our
contemporary in its complaint about
the constant unsettling of the county
government laws. It is full time that
we had stable systems for the coun-
ties, with the temptations to upturn,
undo and remake all removed. This
can be done however, only by the en-
actment of a code for the counties that
will be so near perfection-as perfec-
ton in laws goes-that no one would
venture to suggest a radical change.
To that ideal condition of law max
ing we may not hope to attain for some
years. Statutes are of human produc
ton and hence the subjects of error and
the witnesses of experiment Perhaps
we will not get satisfactory County
modification of the Constitution as will
permit of special legislation for coun-
ties. 1t is simply impossible now in a
general and uniform Act to satisfy the
people living under widely differing
topographic, climatic and industrial
conditions in such an area as that OF
California. In order to adjust sala-
ries and fees we classify the counties
now, but to do so we make but a seem
ing of respect for the Constitution by
setting up as many classes as there are
counties, thus reducing the matter to
farcical level.
Nor will we have a satisfactory coun-
ty government system until the fine and
nimble fingers of contractors, builders
of bridges, sellers of road and other
machinery are withdrawn from med
ding with the process of making the
law. Indeed, we may doubt whether
it will be, possible to erect a really just
and fair law on the subject as long as
the advice of several hundred county
Supervisors in Office is taken. Unhap-
PLY among so many there are prevail
prejudices and in many cases stubborn
ly set against progressive ideas. No
satisfaction has ever yet been drawn
from a County Government Act builded
Boards Of Supervisors. We are stat
ing in that a well-known historical
fact. The reason for it we do not pur-
pose to treat, since it would be profit
less If but one or two boards had
the making of the law we would GER
tainly get better results.
We will have sound, serviceable and
satisfactory county government system
when We frame a code for the purpose
upon the experience of older States.
where there has been a century or a
half century of experience in governing
localities within a State. With such
guides. under the application of the
wisdom Of sincere men conversant with
legislation and the needs of the peo-
pie ard experienced in business meth
DDS, we may establish a system that
Wills last, and not be ripped up every
two years and superseded by a new
one
If a body of business men had the
administration of a business equal in
money value to the amount expended
for county government involving prop
erty of about the same value; concern
ing about the same number of people
and affecting the same order of inter
ests and rights, can any doubt that
they would set UP a system at once
economic, simple, just and profitable
to the capital invested?
ment in the business world, political
subdivisions of the State ought to be
able to do for themselves. But as
the matter must have legislative sane
ton it would seem that the Legislature
ought to be able to establish a scheme
of county government and management
that would be stable, economic and
just, a bar to peculation, an obstacle
to fraud, protective of the taxpayers
pocket, and yet so broad that any
county could progress under it to the
full Of its capacity.
The whole county government sys-
tenn in California Is unwieldy 1t has
too much machinery; it attempts too
much in the way of establishing a local
Legislature; it reposes too great DOW
ers in some places, and they are too
much restricted in others. The new
law. when ii comes, the law that is sat
isfactory, will be greatly briefer than
the present Act. or the proposed one
now before the Legislature. 1t will
- lucid, distinct, unmistakable. It