The San Francisco call., 1905-03-13
MANY BILLS IN HANDS
! OF GOVERNOR.
SOME OF IMPORTANCE
MUST ACT IN FEW DAYS
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SACRAMENTO, March 12-There is
no one in California who would envy
Governor Pardee the job now before
him and with which he must wrestle
for the next few days-that of passing
upon the several hundred bills from the
last Legislature still in his hands and
approving those he deems worthy. Some
of the measures may be very bad ones
and the Governor must know that each
is keenly scrutinized before his name
goes on it. Some are very good ones
and it is just as necessary that their
merits be not overlooked.
AS pointed out by Governor Pardee
in his closing message to the Legisla-
ture, there Is no question that the
greatest work accomplished will inaug-
urate the gigantic engineering feat of
reclaiming the inundated lands of the
Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys.
Though this bill has not as yet been
signed by Governor Pardee it will be
within the next few days. This bill
esta blshes a board of trustees of a
great reclamation district, carries a
sufficient appropriation TO insure the
proper inauguration CT the work and
provides for system of assessments
that will in time insure the reclamation
of hundreds OF thousands of acres that
surpass in richness the famed valley of
the Nile
HYDROGRAPHIC WORK.
Another bill of almost equal impor-
tance to the State is that carrying an
appropriation of $4,000 to balance
! like appropriat ton by the Federal Gov
ernment for carrying on the work of
! he-hydrographie, topographic and for
estry departments of the State This
work deals essentially with the ques-
/ tion of the reclamation of the arid and
/ semi-arid lands OF the southern. portion
/ of the State.
Appropriations for the carrying on
! of the horticultural, viticultural and
/ agricultural experiments are also i'm
portant, including plan for the inves-
! tisation of the growth of the walnut in
various portions Of the State and the
ravages of pear blight. But they are
not more important than the plan pro-
vided'for the investigation of the condi-
! ton of the creals of the State. The bill
! providing for the latter work estab-
! fishes a commission to investigate the
causes of the small percentage of glu-
ten in the California cereals and pro-
vides for the remedying of the evil as
soon as remedy can be suggested by
the scientists that will carry the inves-
| tigation through to a definite result
And bills providing for the educa-
4 ton of the rising generation that will
4 till the lands that are to be reclaimed
/ for the use of man are among the i'm
| portant measures adopted. One pro-
| vides for the appropriation of S150, 600
| for the purchase of an agricultural
| farm to be operate by the AGRICULTURAL
! department of the University of Cali
fornia. Another provides for the ap-
preparation Of S150,000 for the erection
/ Of building on the campus at the Uni
versity of California for the use of the
/ theoretical department Of the college
I of agriculture. Still another carries an
| appropriation to rebuild the station of
| the forestry department of the univer-
! slty al Santa Monica
PRISON IMPROvEN- ITS.
| The decision of the Legislature to re-
I wise the State Prison acts and to re-
| construct the two great penitentiaries
of the State will also meet with general
| approval. Governor Pardee will sign
| the McKenney bills, covering these re-
! forms, without question, as he strongly
favored the policy that resulted in
/ their passage. One provides for the
appropriation of more than 100000 for
! the construction of 800 additional cells
at each Of the prisons, the extension
of the wall at San Quentin and the
around Folsom prison. The prison acts
| We're also changed so as to make San
Quentin a prison for first offenders be-
yond the age of 80, Folsom a prison
| for incorrigibles and the Preston School
+ of Industry the place of confinement
! for all male offenders over the age of
| is and under 80, and Whittier School
| an institution for the training Of lads
under 16 years that have offended. An
other bill In the Governors hands pro-
| vides for the placing of the girl in
mates of Whittier in private institu-
| tions and homes.
! Interesting to all taxpayers are sew
era1 bills that will receive the approval
! of the Governor. A tax commission has
been created, and during the two years
! that intervene between now and the
next session of the Legislature this
! commission will busy itself with an in
vestigation OF the revenue laws and
suggest advantageous changes. The
Legislature that has just concluded it's
labors provided for a direct inheritance
tax, a life insurance tax and corpor-
alton license tax. 1t is certain that
these acts will yield a large revenue.
and that the commission will find other
means to increase the revenue of the
State when the next session convenes.
EDUCATIONAL BILLS.
From the standpoint of general in
terest the educational bills, perhaps,
are in the lead. One of wide impor-
tance is that providing for the redis-
tribution of the moneys of the State
among the counties. Another appropri-
ates s150000 for the construction of a
new building for the State Normal
! School at San Francisco.
/ Among other important bills passed
! by both houses and that are now in the
| Governors hands awaiting his ap-
! proval are the following:
An act to legalize the titles to State lands
! that have been sold as tide lands when in
| fact they are salt marsh lands or vice versa
| Authorizing the State Board of Harbor Com
! mssioners to insure the wharves and build
/ ngs of the State located on the water front
Of San Francisco.
! Reducing the punishment from death to life
| Imprisonment for attempted train wrecking.
for the purpose of robbery, when no lives
are lost as the result of such attempt. The
purpose of this bill is to more readily secure