The San Francisco call., 1903-01-31
PASS NO CLASS BILL.

THE first part OF the present session OF the Legs
latuTe has been rather fruitful OF bills that
Ike class legislation. One is the proposition
10 exempt a certain amount of personal property
from taxation, which its author says will be pop
ular with the class favors. Instead Of such
ure il would be wisdom to seek means by which all
personal property, regardless OF class ownership,
shall be properly assessed
Other measures pass over assumed personal classes
among our citizens a1d are aimed at certain classes
Of industries, putting upon them some form OF
strctiOn useless the public and nimca to the in
dustries against which they are aimed OF this sort
Is the flash test oil bill. The oil industry of the
State and the consumers OF fuel oil should be the
Judges OF what is best in respect to the use OF oil
Hit be true TO be established, that the bill
is in the interest OF oil rehners, It should pass
Ii appears 10 be demonstrated that California crude
OIL in natural state is adapted for use as fuel by
rhe devices that are already in II this be
the forcible placing OF rehner between the pro-
duoer and the consumer raises the price OF fuel to
the latter and lowers the price OF oil the injury
Of the former. 1t would appear by the evidence sub
mtted that our crude oil stands in no more need Of
refining processing fit for fuel than does coal
Il flows from the well fit for and the Legislature
should beware OF imposing needless restrictions and
burdens upon its use
Another law is the one proposed to punish all en-
poyers who use the labor Of youths OF IS more than
zine hours day. An ambitious youth OF I8 may
well choose TO increase his earnings in fruit cannery
drier or packing establishment by working longer
than that But matter what his wish and ambition
his employer IS Penalized if he accept his service.
On ranches where the of the house work there
are but few boys OF IS who do not work usefuy more
than nine hours day and from that kind we get our
best Such matters are better left to individual
choice and preference and should not be hedged about
by penal statutes The of the age is voluntary
ideness and not voluntary work and the laws should
not add to II by prohibiting the thrift and industry
OF such as desire to get in the world.
There is cheerful view to be taken OF the pro-
posed fantasies in legislation Their introduction
evidence that the field really needfu of legislation
IS well covered already and bound by statutes, and
therefore certain legislators feel it necessary to justify
their Office, and perhaps magnify it, by proposing
empirical legislation.
A State fifty years old should be well dressed in
OF approved pattern and necessity and the
additions 10 the suit need be only such are neces-
sary to respond to development and the occasional
appearance Of issues incident thereto. There is
enough legitimate work if carefully DONE to occupy
Legislature in providing for the many State insti-
tutiOns have, and, while making such provision
in safeguarding the rights of the taxpayers who sup
port them Outside Of that the field of legislation
is too limited to the purposes of Legislative
acrobatcs and contorions.