143 



FOURTH DAY'S PROCEEDINGS. 



Chico, November 23, 1888. 



TRANSPORTATION AND RAILROAD RATES. 



The President announced the appointment of the following Committee 

 on Railroad Rates: Hon. W. H. Aiken, of Wrights; Hon. L. W. Buck, of 

 Vacaville; Mr. Eugene Germain, of Los Angeles; Dr. Edwin Kimball, of 

 Hay wards; and Mr. P. E. Piatt, of Sacramento. 



A communication was read from the San Jose Grange concerning the 

 proper mode of assessing property. 



LAWS ON EXTERMINATION OF INSECT PESTS AND TAXATION 



OF ORCHARDS. 



Hon. S. J. Stabler, Yuba City: I have a few suggestions to make in 

 regard to the first part of this title. I have, during the season, on several 

 occasions considered the matter of the law on insect pests now on our 

 statute books, and on yesterday, during the noon recess, I made some 

 examinations, and am surprised at what I find. It is the opinion of many 

 people that we have not enough laws on the subject, and that they are not 

 sufficiently stringent; that they cannot be utilized and enforced. Now, 

 from my examinations, I am convinced that we have too much law on the 

 subject. Unfortunately, the first laws embracing the subject were rather 

 crudely prepared, and, I am informed, that in the Legislature they were 

 unduly tampered with; that there were too many persons with one idea 

 who wanted alterations or amendments. I find, on examination, that we 

 have a plain, speedy, and adequate remedy under the County Government 

 Bill. It seems to be perfect, but it will not be perfect if the fruit growers 

 of the State merely ask for the enactment of an ordinance and sit in their 

 easy chairs and give it no attention themselves. Now, some years ago, 

 prior to the change of the Constitution of this State, the Boards of Super- 

 visors of the respective counties of this State were very inferior tribunals; 

 by the change of the law they were given complete and supreme jurisdic- 

 tion over very many subjects enumerated in the County Government Act, 

 to the extent of thirty or sixty. Among other things the Constitution says: 

 "Any county may make, and enforce within its limits, all such local 

 police, sanitary, and other regulations as are not in conflict with general 

 laws." 



Section 25, Article 28, of the statute of 1883, in the County Government 

 Bill — " To make regulations for the destruction of gophers, squirrels, other 

 wild animals, and noxious w r eeds, and insects injurious to fruit trees or 

 vines or vegetables, or the pear blight." Now, the statutes being so posi- 

 tive and peremptory that jurisdiction goes as to these different subject- 

 matters — this is as sweeping, well-worded a little section as I almost ever 

 saw, to be applicable in this case. The reason I say there are too many 

 laws is this, and it is the only question in my judgment that can be made 



