Year: 1874

Freeman bill. We shall therefore have
testimony taken on the freight and fare
question, and as a result a more dispas-
sionate verdict. 1t is to be hoped the
Freeman bill will pass the Senate and
become law in its purity, that the whole
subject may 60 back to the people for
trial. If defeated in the Legislature, it
will be said the railroad captured the Re
publican party, and did not give the peo-
pie the opportunity to test the regulation
system. As the tail Of the dog will cure
its bite, LET US hope the monstrosity will
pass and the people learn wisdom at the
hands Of experience.


INVESTIGATIONS.


| ] Learn that the investigation into the
contract system Of the State Prison has
convinced the committee against it, and
it will so report. The evidence was taken
very fully and will present more strange
facts.


In the San Francisco City Hall inves-
tigation, | have had the opportunity to
examine the facts upon which the report
Of that committee will be based. San
Francisco was to build a City Hall to
cost 81 100000. Yorba Buena Park was
set off for it. The small triangular points
between Market and McAllister streets
was divided into lots which it was hoped
would sell for enough to build the Hail.
/ That plan failed and the lots fell short by
far Of the expected income. Tho founda-
tions Of the building were laid in concrete
at a cost of 100000. Thirty-three million
bricks have been put into the walls and
the first story is not up. Two million
five hundred thousand dollars have been
expended, and the estimate is that it will
cost over four million dollars when com
pleted. 1t is the old story of fine plans,
low estimates, by contracts and universal
chagrin. The people of San Francisco
are divided. Part want the bricks torn
down and the Park sold off in lots to
get the money back, and new Hall Of
moderate size and cost erected in the old
Plaza. The other party want the build
ing finished up at once, cost what it may
| am quite sure the legislative committee
will report back without recommends
ton. This is the whole question in a nut
shell.


The investigation Of the State Unver-
sity develops that the Agricultural Col
lege has been poorly constructed +; that
DR.. Merritt has had sole management of
the construction Of the building and has
worked without plans and specifications.
The result is that though the Regents had
supervisory power, they did not, indeed
could not " boss the job," that the money
has not been stolen, but too literally ex-
pended. That is the whole of the matter.


The bribery investigation as to the SEN
atorial election moves on tonight, when
the first testimony will be taken Sum
mers Of the Assembly is chairman of the
committee. The general feeling is that
1t will result in nothing, and that the
charges grew out Of rumors. Men may
be morally certain Of misdoings and yet
be unable to prove them.


A committee has been raised to inquire
into alleged swamp land Irregularities.
If the committee is diigent, it will be
able to present and lay bare history of
astounding frauds and thetts. | spent
some time not long ago upon this subject,
and saw enough to convince me there
is broad and fruitful field for investiga-
in this direction.


MEASURES BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE.


The appropriation bill has been intro
duced in the Assembly. This is very
early in the session for this bill, but it
will awaken more than usual discussion,
as all the charities are omitted and sever
al subordinate officers left out in the cold.


President Gilman Of the State Univers-
ity addressed the Legislature the other
evening on the subject of fostering the
University. 1t was labored and apollo
getic. The truth is, the University has
been diverted from its primal purpose.
1t was endowed by the United States
Government for the purpose Of making
agriculture and mechanical arts its main
studies. This has not been done, and le-
gally the endowment could be revoked
The Regents feel this and are striving to
worm out of the muddle. Gilman says
agriculture cannot be made separate
study successfully; that general culture
must underlie it, etc. This may be true
but does not warrant perverson of the
endowment. A movement to have $500
copies of the address printed has been
defeated once, but was at last carried.
This Legislature shows a disposition to
bring the University people close up to
the mark.


Farley has put forward good meas
ure providing for probationary asylum
for people suspected Of insanity, where
they may be kept for examination for 80
days. AS il now is, they are retained in
jails and prisons with bad results.


Among the propositions to amend the
Constitution is one to amend section 10
article IL, so that Assessors and Collect
ors of town, county and State taxes need
not be elected by the qualified electors of
the district. | think that the second
thought will condemn it. 1t was right
purpoSely reserved to the people to choose
their ownAssessors who create the base for
all tax levies.


The two houses have agreed upon the
No-Fence bill and it will become law.
A proposition has been introduced to
amend the Constitution so as to prevent