Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-19

GSdNNS Mbulu NC lOuIh W b0 ~
ter and far different from that
which would characterize gath
erlng held under present condi-
tions in the state of California. The
same arguTo Toent applies with only
difference of degree to the division
of states or counties. Some years
ago, when the legislature of this
state was asked to create the coun-
ty of Riverside from portions of
San Diego and San Bernardino
counties, the strongest argument in
favor of the act, which undoubtedly
secured It's adoption. was the fact
that residents of San Diego county
We're compelled to come to Los An
geles by rail, thence down the coast
to San Diego, consuming at least
three days for the round trip and
requiring an expenditure OF from
S25 to $50 in money in order to visit
their county seat for the payment
of taxes, attendance upon the
courts as witnesses or parties llti-
CANT, or the transaction Of any
other business calling them to the
seat of county government. I have
never heard that these people have
become dissatisfied with the crea-
ton of the new county which has
enabled them to transact their Of
ficial business conveniently and ex-
peditiously.
Court Expense Heavy
The laws of our state provide for
the holding of sessions of our su-
preme court in three different parts
of the state, fact resulting in very
heavy expense because of the du-
plication of court records the main
tenance of additional officials, and
which is rendered necessary solely
by the vast extent of our territory.
AS 1t Is, however, 1t very frequently
happens that lltigants are COM
PEELED to attend the sessions of the
supreme court at distance of from
500 to 600 miles from their homes,
involving enormous expense,
amounting in many cases almost
to a denial of justice. Under such
circumstances do not the burdens
of government come near to ex-
ceeding its benefits? And, If so,
should not relief be granted by
proper and legitimate means even
to the division of the state?
Another, and possibly the most po-
tent argument in favor Of state dt-
vision Is the fact that 1t would In
crease the representation of the Pa
oi1c coast In the United States sem
ate. At present the entire Pacific
seaboard, with its coast line Of about
1000 miles, has but six representa-
tives IN this body, whereas tho At
lantic seaboard, not including the
gulf states, has twenty-elght repre-
sentatives, and, with the gulf states,
thirty-two United States senators,
With the great era of development
upon which the west has entered,
have come most urgent demands for
greater attention from our national
government. Our harbOrs need Inn
provement; our coast defenses are
utterly inadequate; we should have
far greater number of war vessels
patroIling tho Pacific, and In numer-
GUS other ways we are not receiving
our fair and just proportion of the
expenditures of tho general govern
ment. / believe that this is due more
largely to the small number OF our
representatives in the upper house of
congress than to any other cause.
Even our nelghbors on the north ad-
NIT the fOrce of this argument.
jealousy Is Admitted
The jealousy admitted to exist
between the east and the west is
equally apparent between the north
and south of this state. What as
sistance was ever rendered by any
representative In congress from
the fierce struggle which resulted
in the establishment and improve
ment of San Pedro harbor? 1t has
not been forgotten that it was
with the greatest difficulty that at
an election a few years ago, at
which the question was submit
ted to the people, bonds for the
improvement of the sea wall at
San Francisco were carried by the
voters of this state. The fact is,
and 1t may as we'll be admitted
and declared, that the improve
Inent of this harbor at San Fran
cisco or Eureka is of no more ma
terial benefit to the residents or
Southern California than would be
the Improvement of the harbors
at Portland or Seattle, and 1t Is
lust as evident that the compile
tion of an adequate harbor at San
Pedro or San Diego would be pos
itively detrimental to the material
interests of the northern part OF
the state.
The state of California by its po-
culiar location and Typographical
formation Is subject to the most
widely varying conditions of cli-
mate, resulting in greatly diversl-
fed products and constantly con-
f1icting interests. In round num-
bers, 1t is 800 miles from its north
ern to its southern boundary line.
In the north, the climate Is tenn
perate; in the south-semi-tropl
The north is one of the most
heavily wooded countries in the
world, so that its timber interests
are paramount. The south Is prac-
tlcally without forests available for
60 nf IIITnhnT Tn6
north ia well watered by living
streams; the south is a semi-bar-
rem country until fructified by the
application of irrigating waters.
Climatic Differences Great
These differences in climate, con-
ditions and products make 1t al
most impossible to pass general
laws which will satisfactorily meet
the re Quirements of both sections
The fact of their existence en-
al ;e. members of The legislature
10 make free and almost unlimited
i,se of that most per1.lcious ele-
rnent of state legi5 alton, the trad
ing Of votes, thus rendering pos
sit'Ie the passage OF acts. which,
while satisfactory to one section OF
the state, are entirely useless, II
NOT absolutely detrimental to the
interests of the other. For many
years the mining interests of the
north were enabled to maintain
their privilege of dumping the
slickens from hydraulic mining
upon fertile farms Of the Valleys
because of the support they oo-
tanned from members of the leg
islature from Southern California
who were not materially interested
in the subject, In return for sup
port which they gave southern
members for measures hich they
had introduced into the legislature.
A short time ago an assembly,
man from this county, whose CHAR
acter and integrity are above re-
proach, declared his belief that
separation is the only course upon
which Southern California can de-
pend for the consideration to
which its wealth and population