Year: 1874

|
how often during the past session have l found
this out? Many time would like to have re-
tired to nv virtuous couch; but alas! the HERALD
or the Sum- or the Tribune letter was not written,
| and the time and tide would not stop. But my
object in giving the quotation was to remind you
that the Legislature was about over That time
had carried it nearly over another space of four
months in our history. The history of Legis-
lature is not like that of the men who compose
it, Its history is written soon as its laws are
written up.


REFORMS.


This session was to be one of reform and re-
trenchment. There is nothing harder than to
adopt change in regard to expenditure. All
objects are appealing to the Legislator, and he
is called stingy if he does not assent to every
demand made upon him, and this Is particularly
the case where benevolent institutions are the
recipients Then, another difficulty in retrench
ment is that each department comes before the
committees and show their figures Tor the ne
cessties of their particular department The
Controller has his demands made out; the Sec
retary of State his, the Ire elsurer his, and de-
ficiency bills often come in to get from the
Legislature what they say must be had to make
| up the amount necessary to pay the honest in
debtedness of the State. This is no ideal sketch;
but one of reality. For instance, deficiency
bill now before the Senate Finance Committee
that originated with the Assembly Committee of
Ways and Means. $4,000 is asked for def
cheney on State printing, etc; SO, 900 to pay at
torney fees for tax suits, and there was $4,000
originally appropriated; 81 500 deficiency Tor
postage and expressage in the Secretary OF state
office 50 800 originally granted. And l
might go over many many others, and each OF
these items will be proven to be necessary OBJ
Iect for which to grant money.


GOVERNOR S MANSION


On this subject l scarcely thought it good
policy to sell at this time and only justi-
fable lesson on economy. The Legislature
will have this building fitted up as a printing
Office and armory. The grounds will hardly
be improved at State charge. If Sacra-
mento could afford it she ought to do it, but she
is now bankrupt She has and half mil
on of bonds outstanding that she cannot pay
the interest upon, nor has she paid it for some
years.


CAR CoNDU CToRs.


This bill, which effects only the city of San
Francisco directly, has reference to great prn-
ciple whether State step in and prevent
the expressions of the capitalist or the en-
poyer when the laborer consents, and say to
them, "You shall not permit men to abuse
themselves by laboring 16 hours per diem, nor
snail you, Sir, nlfe yourself out 10 anyone 10
labor l6 hours per diem" 1t treats this class as
infants, in this regard, and steps in to save
them, upon the grounds that State can exercise
certain police regulations for the protection of
society. l think the law is constitutional,
though many think not.


VALLEJO COUNTY.


Your delegation is divided upon the propriety
of creating a new county out of the territory of
Solano county to be called Vallejo county. DR.
Martin voted for the measure, and expressed
his convictions clearly upon this question. He
thought the interests of the people there de-
manded this move the only one by which
harmony could be restored to that community;
the occasion grew out of the tendency to CEN
tralization of power. These people of Vallejo
acted unjustly. arbitrarily, and oppressively by
moving the county seat from Fairfeld-a GENITAL
locality-to the one corner of the county; they
had property enough and people enough for
county government, and their interest being dis
tinct from the rest, he voted to create new
county as the only means left by which justice
could be done the parties 1t Is absolute
tyranny to take the distant portions of Solano
county down to Vallejo to attend to court bust
ness Norton takes the other side.


APPoRrroNMENT


Upon the question of the present apportion-
ment, DR.. Martin also voted No" He, like
very many, believed and expressed himself op-
posed to the present bill, becouse it unjust,
and that the present basis for apportionment was
all wrong; that the constitution ought to be
changed, amended in this respect and more
elements than numerical strength enter into the
reason for representation. The present system
was leading to a Capitalization of power in the
city of San Francisco and the country around
it. The present bill has given away the power
to change our constitution, if the people
should call such convention. The numerical
force around the centre of power would con-
tinue that power. There ought to be some
measure devised, the Dr. remarked, to avoid
and remedy this concentration of power in one
city He also thought the bill unfair to his
own county, and unconstitutional all the way
through. There ought to be county repre-
sentation, so that each county would be repre-
sented by member and the balance divided
according to numbers. The practical workings
will be felt when too late to remedy. These
were the reasons influencing the Dr. in his
vote.


STATE PRISON.


In the Assembly the debate called out upon
the State Prison bill was chiefly in reference to
letting out cenvict labor The enemies saw that
this system brought convict labor in competition
with Tree labor. An amendment passed on
Saturday not permitting convict labor to be
nired LOT less than 10 per cent. of the value of
Tree labor. That is if free labor was $lOO
per diem convict labor should not be given for
less than $500. On Monday reconsideration
was had, and this amendment lost Mr.. Nor
10 .on made some able and logical remarks upon
this system of convict labor coming into the
market against free labor. He took the side of
labor, as he did in the street car bill


ASSESSMENT


lhe1e has been much complaint upon the
manner OF assessing the real estate of the coun-
try. 1t is now the law that all the vines trees,
houses' fences, etc., shall be given in and their
value computed, and then the land Mr.. Boggs
proposes IN his bill to assess all that deed