Mr. Splivalo: PRESENTATION TO THE ASSISTANT CLERK. With the permission of the Speaker I will address the Assistant Clerk, Mr. Dixon. Mr. Dixon: You were appointed, after a well contested struggle, Assistant Clerk of this House. During this session, from that desk you have witnessed the contrary and opposite votes of the two Sargents, and the onslaughts of annihilation from Father Meeker. We, on our side of the House, have been watching you also. And after due deliberation this Assembly has come to the conclusion that you deserve a good caning. This is the cane which we mean to give you-not to apply to you! If ever hereafter, in the course of years, you should feel in the darkness of the world, or that it was closing its doors upon you as against any of your good intentions or ambitions-which I hope will not be the case-you then can look back, with the aid of this reminder, to the past, and reflect upon the many warm friendships which you have made in this House during this session. And we hope that this cane will act as a magnet to lead you in the right way, and secure you in a successful progress through life. Accept, Mr. Dixon, this cane, in the name and on behalf of the members of this Assembly. RESPONSE OF MR. DIXON. Mr. Speaker and gentlemen of the Assembly: I do not propose to bore you with a long speech. Allow me simply to return my heartfelt and sincere thanks. I can truly say that I have passed many pleasant hours with you here, and in general association with the members. If I have done my duty here-as I believe I have-I am satisfied with my work and your approbation. I thank you for this token of your regard. MESSAGES FROM THE GOVERNOR. The following messages were received from the Governor: STATE OF CALIFORNIA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, To the Assembly of the State of California: } I have to inform your honorable body that I have approved Assembly Bill No. 143-An Act to amend an Act providing for the appointment of additional Notaries Public in Sacramento County, approved April fourth, eighteen hundred and seventy. Also, Assembly Bill No. 785-An Act to provide funds for the further reclamation of Swamp Land Districts Numbers Fifty and Fifty-four, in Sacramento County. Also, Assembly Bill No. 706-An Act to amend an Act entitled an Act to repeal an Act to declare and regulate the power of the Board of Supervisors of the City and County of San Francisco to take private lands for certain public improvements, and to prescribe the manner of its execution, approved April fourth, eighteen hundred and sixty-four, approved March thirtieth, eighteen hundred and sixty-eight. NEWTON BOOTH, Governor. STATE OF CALIFORNIA, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, To the Assembly of the State of California: } I have to inform your honorable body that I have approved Assembly Bill No. 768-An Act to quiet title to certain land in the County of Yolo. Also, Assembly Bill No. 755-An Act to provide for the payment of interest on Trustees' orders against certain swamp land districts. Also, Assembly Bill No. 346-An Act to provide funds to be applied to building a House of Correction in the City and County of San Francisco, and to authorize the construction of such House of Correction. Also, Assembly Bill No. 383-An Act to provide and pay for services rendered the City and County of San Francisco. Also, substitute for Assembly Bill No. 112-An Act to amend an Act entitled an Act to regulate proceedings in civil cases in the Courts of justice in this State, passed April twenty-ninth, eighteen hundred and fifty-one. Also, Assembly Bill No. 746-An Act to provide for the better protection of certain lands in San Joaquin County from overflow. NEWTON BOOTH, Governor. REPORTER COMPLIMENTED. Mr. Mott of Los Angeles offered the following resolution, which was adopted: Whereas, The reports of Assembly proceedings at this session, published in the Sacramento Daily Record, are unequaled for fullness, impartiality, and accuracy; and whereas, it is but fitting that the practice of Congress and other deliberative bodies where similar reports are made should be recognized in this State; therefore, be it Resolved, That Charles A. Sumner, reporter for the Daily Record, be and he is hereby allowed a per diem of three dollars and a half, from the commencement to the end of the session, payable out of the appropriation for contingent expenses of the Assembly; and the State Controller is hereby authorized and required to draw his warrant in his favor therefor. Adopted. Mr. Splivalo offered the following resolutions: Resolved, That the Sergeant at Arms and his Clerk be and they are hereby directed to remain one week, to turn over all property in and outside of the Capitol building belonging to the State that is now in his charge, and that they be allowed the usual per diem for that time. Resolved, That the Controller be and he is hereby authorized to draw his warrants on the Contingent Fund of the Assembly for the above named parties, and the Treasurer be directed to pay the same. Mr. SPEAKER: The Committee on Judiciary report back Assembly Bills Nos. 590, 626, 586, 710, 739, 702, 70, 140, 550, 532, 427, 329, 559, 474, and 508; and Senate Bills Nos. 248, 397, 459, 44, 428, 415, and 19; and three petitions; and recommend that said bills be preserved for future reference. SPENCER, Chairman. RESOLUTION. Mr. Reed offered the following resolution: Resolved, That all the Pages of this House, including George Thompson, L. Smart, E. Johnson, R. Hall, and J. Simons, be and they are hereby allowed fifty dollars each, and all the Doorkeepers of this House seventy-five dollars each; and the Controller is authorized to draw his warrant in favor of each of the above mentioned parties; and the Treasurer is directed to pay the same. Adopted. Mr. Wilcox moved the appointment of a committee to wait on the Governor, to inform him that the Assembly is ready to adjourn. The Speaker directed the Clerk to inform the Senate that the Assembly will adjourn sine die at twelve o'clock, and to ascertain whether they have any further business to transact with the Assembly. The Speaker appointed as committee to wait on the Governor Messrs. Wilcox, Spencer, and Splivalo. FINAL MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE. The following message was received from the Senate: SENATE CHAMBER, 1872.} April 1st, 1872. Mr. SPEAKER: I am directed to inform your honorable body that the Senate, on this first day of April, refused to recede from its amendments to Assembly Bill No. 112-An Act to amend an Act entitled an Act to regulate proceedings in civil cases in the Courts of justice of this State. Also, Senate Bill No. 432-An Act to authorize the Controller to issue duplicate warrants. Also, adopted Senate Concurrent Resolution-Relative to printing Reports of Agricultural Society. FERRAL, Secretary. REPORT. Mr. Gibson made the following report: Mr. SPEAKER: Your Committee on Enrollment beg leave to report that they have examined and found correctly enrolled Assembly Bill No. 112-An Act to amend an Act entitled an Act to regulate proceedings in civil cases in the Courts of justice of this State, passed April twentyninth, eighteen hundred and fifty-one-and that the same has, this first day of April, A. D. eighteen hundred and seventy-two, at eleven o'clock and thirty-five minutes, been transmitted to the Governor for his approval. GIBSON, Chairman. Mr. James offered a resolution to pay the gas men of the Capitol one hundred and twenty dollars each for the session. Lost. Mr. Splivalo offered a resolution to pay E. Johnson and Lawrence Mank, porters, seventy-five dollars each extra. Lost. FINALE. Shortly before midnight the Secretary of the Senate came into the Assembly Chamber and informed the House that the Senate had transacted all its business, and was about to adjourn sine die. Mr. Wilcox, from the committee to wait on His Excellency the Governor, reported that the committee had performed that duty, and that the Governor informed the committee that he had no further communication to make. VALEDICTORY. The hour of twelve o'clock having arrived, the Speaker addressed the House as follows: Gentlemen of the Assembly: When human nature and human wisdom shall have attained perfection, unobjectionable legislation may be anticipated. Until then, conflicting interests and geographical antagonisms will assert themselves in the State councils, and divide men into parties and subdivisions of parties. As the hour of final adjournment has arrived, in obedience to custom, I am expected to make some remarks to those with whom I have been associated, and over whose deliberations I have presided. Some of our determinations have not seemed to meet with universal approbation, and yet I apprehend that experience will demonstrate that no positively mischievous or oppressive measure has passed into statute this session. A watchful press has notified the people that much has been done in this direction; while little credit is vouchsafed for the inauguration of measures which must exert an influence favorable to the development of our resources and the equitable adjustment of the burdens of government. We have taken such action in relation to revenue laws as must tend towards a more just equalization of taxation, and, consequently, to reduce taxes. The reduction of harbor dues lightens restrictions upon commerce, and greatly reduces charges heretofore burdensome upon the agriculturist and manufacturer. We have relieved those sections of the State demanding its repeal from the operations of the so-called Five Per Cent Law, and retained its provisions in an improved and guarded form for those growing and expanding districts whose people demanded its retention with a pronounced unanimity that no faithful representative could afford to ignore. We have responded to the voice of the metropolis, and placed within her power and control the means of securing such railway connections as her position and necessities require, and as are calculated to further her interests if judiciously used. If in years past similar provisions had been made for terminal purposes, a whole community would have been spared the anxiety of the past few days, and probably the taxable property of San Francisco would have been many millions in excess of its present standard. A code of laws has been enacted, in, the preparation of which much time has been employed. The Legislature has assumed that it comprised a system adapted to the requirements of the community, and the good or bad results which future experience shall develop, will mainly rest upon the Commissioners charged with its preparation. I apprehend that in the main it will be found to work well. If not, subsequent legislation can readily remedy defects, guided by the intervening experience under its workings. I must be indulged in reprobating that selfish and narrow spirit which combined to defeat a new legislative apportionment. Since the last apportionment the agricultural and commercial centers have steadily advanced in wealth and increased in population, while in the remaining sections of the State the reverse is the rule. The disposition to cling to power is natural, but in this instance its exercise, and as exercised by one branch of the Legislature, is to deny the right of representation. It is the assertion of the right of taxation without representation. It is indirectly the revival of colonial subordination. No free and intelligent people will submit to so plain and palpable an outrage; and time will avenge this gross wrong, unless there is a called session to enforce obedience to constitutional rights. In conclusion, I recur with great pleasure to matters personal to myself. The uniform kindness extended to me places me under obligations to each member of this body. Gentlemen, you have my thanks, and best wishes for your health and prosperity in life. |