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It takes time to make these changes, especially if the Constitution must be 

 amended. If it were not for the delay it would cause, the next Legislature 

 should appoint a commission to thoroughly examine into this irrigation 

 district system and see what should be done to strengthen it, with 

 instructions to report to the next session of the Legislature by bill or 

 otherwise. This, however, causes delay, and time is valuable. Such 

 action would be preferable to no action, provided a competent commis- 

 sion were appointed. Such a commission would report in 1897. If a 

 constitutional amendment were then considered necessary, such amend- 

 ment could not be ratified until 1899, when a bill carrying out the 

 provisions of such an amendment could be enacted, and the present 

 century would be closed before anything would be accomplished under 

 the new programme. 



It might be better for the next session of the Legislature to submit a 

 constitutional amendment, as above suggested, for the action of the peo- 

 ple, and also appoint a commission, who should report to the Governor 

 before the next election, when they could recommend the adoption or 

 the defeat of such amendment, and two years of valuable time could 

 thus be saved. Such a commission should be composed of a first-class 

 constitutional lawyer, a first-class financier, a good competent civil 

 engineer, and about four practical irrigation men, who have given irri- 

 gation a study and who know the practical workings of the present 

 system and the needs of the irrigated sections of the State. 



It is not necessary for me to remark that in the opinion of most of our 

 people California is a great State. It cares for its needy wards in a 

 munificent manner, its public schools are the pride of our people. Agri- 

 culture and horticulture receive the fostering care of the State. Our 

 people enjoy the finest climate, and, under favorable conditions, reap the 

 richest harvest of fruit and grain of any people in the known civilized 

 world. We have here the foundation of an Empire State second to none 

 in population or wealth, when our natural advantages are properly 

 developed and the obstacles in the road to future greatness are properly 

 removed. That greatness will eventually be reached, but the date of its 

 accomplishment depends upon the wisdom with which the law-making 

 power of the State shape our statutes so as to enable the people to make 

 two blades of grass to grow where none grew before. 



Adjourned till Friday, November 23d, at 9 a. m. 



