Year: 1878

body has gravely decided to crush mat
ter of great importance to the people of the
State, on the score of economy. After
forty days OF gross extravaganza, where
in the contingent expenses of the present
Senate were only SIX times as much as its
predecessor and four times that of the one
preceding it, the Democratic majority
suddenly discovered that this measure
must be killed. Why? because the ex-
penditure Of the money necessary to carry
it out would injure the party. The pro-
ceedings were briefly as follows:


On the 4th of the present month, a res
olution passed the Senate by which the
Committee on Irrigation were authorized
to proceed TO the San Joaquin and other
valleys in Southern California, which have
suffered materially at times from drought,
and make such examination as would bet
ter enable them to frame an irrigation
Bill, and cOnduce to better understand
ing of other matters referred to them.
Sunday was the day fixed for starting, the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company hav-
ing placed car and engine at the dispos-
al Of the Committee, free OF charge. An
nouncements had been made through the
local papers Of the districts to be visited,
stating the dae when the Committee
would he at certain points and urging up
on interested parties the importance of
meeting said Committee and furthering
the end in view. After an inexcusable
amount Of "child's play" in adding TO
the Committee first Senator, then in
cluding the Committee on Mines and
Mining, then the Judiciary Committee
and, not content with SO much folly, fl
nally including all the Senators represent
ing agricultural districts Of the State-on
Saturday last, the day previous to the
advertised departure OF the Commission,
Senator Pierson moved to recind the reso-
luton authorizing the investigation and
this in the absence Of the original mover,
Raymond, Of Sacramento. During dis
cussion on the motion to rescind, Mr..
Raymond entered the Senate Chamber
and the question ofexpense figuring large
ly in the debate, lie pledged himself on
the floor Of the Senate to pay every dollar
Of expense incurred by the Committee,
and said that il would not cost the Sta te
one single quarter Off dollar. Said he:
Do not refuse to have an investigation,
and send these people home TO their con-
stltuents to tell them that you ignore their
wants for few paltry dollars" 1t was
further proposed by Fowler, friend Of
the measure, TO cut of all additions to the
Commission and leave the matter in the
hands Of the five members of the Irriga-
ton Committee, as originally proposed.
But all to no purpose ; they refused to
listen to him the majority was determ-
ined and the motion 20 rescind was carri-
ed.


Aud now comes the sequel, in answer
TO the natural question, "What caused
the Democratic leaders of the Senate to
oppose this measdre so strenuously ?"
The trouble, rs set forth by the Sacra-
mento Bee and the Capital correspondent
Of the San Francisco Uyoacie, is simply
that Senator Raymond is gaining too
much glory at the expense of the Democ-
racy. Only this and nothing more. Hay
mond is said to look with c0vetous eyes
upon the gubernatorial char, anG Ned
Lewis is troubled in the same way Pier
sons wants TO be Attorney General and
other Democrats, in and out of the Senate
are anxious for recognition at the hands
of the people when election comes again.
Raymond got away with the lot OF them
on the land question early in the session,
they fairly turning tail to the platform on
which they were elected, SO far as that
matter was concerned and they could
not allow him TO champion the irrigation
matter and travel through the Southern
part of the State in the interest Of the
farmers OF that section. So the stale cry
ofeconomy, though SO thoroughly explod-
ed by Iaymond's offer TO foot the bills,
WIS uCellleu suIlClcllI " ucIcdl inc iHCds-
ure.


The Democratic leaders in Che Senate
are entitled 10 all the credit that may
accrue from their actions in the premises,
but it occurs to us that Mr.. Creed Hay
mond has the best end Of the matter
perhaps more so than il he hnd been al
lowed to depart and make the proposed
examination as mcmber Of the Commit
tee on Irrigation, of which ne is certainly
the most prominent member, though not
Chairman. A thousand dollars expended
in the manner proposed might have been
Of great benefit to the farmers of Cdlitor-
nn, and it will be difficult to make them
see the economy of the Senate's action.