ITEMS OF INTEREST January 14, 1911 Issue

ITEMS OF INTEREST

Governor Bass of New Hampshire in his inaugural address, among other matters, recommended the ratification of the proposed income tax amendment to the federal Constitution, favored the nomination of United States senators by direct vote of the people, publication of campaign expenses, and creation of a public service commission. Governor Pothier of Rhode Island also recommended a public service commission. Governor Dix of New York spoke for economies in the business of the state. Governor Plaisted of Maine urged the adoption of business methods in the administration of the affairs of the state, the abolition of unnecessary offices of the state and a wise consolidation of departments, a direct primary law, the ultimate election of United States senators by direct vote of the people, a corrupt practice act, and approval of the income tax law. Governor Foss of Massachusetts favored direct nominations in primary, popular selection of United States senators, people to have the right to start legislation and to stop it, a "Greater Boston," abolishment of the railroad, gas, and electric light, Boston transit and highway commissions, and the creation in their place of a board of public utilities, state and city cooperation in the ownership of docks and terminals, removal of all duties from food products, Canadian reciprocity, immediate installation of vocational and trade schools, ratification of a constitutional amendment for income tax, speedier action in superior court dockets, paying judges higher salaries, prevention of delays in criminal cases now an outrage, development of inland waterways, initiative and referendum, workmen's compensation law.

Tide lands, constituting about fifteen miles of harbor frontage and long held by the Southern Pacific and other transportation companies, have been declared public property by Superior Judge Bordwell in a decision in a suit filed more than a year ago by the municipal harbor commission of California. An appeal will be taken. The present value of the land is estimated at more than five million dollars. The judge held that the state was trustee of the people and that the granting of patents to tide lands was a violation of the trust.

The United States government has brought suit against the Southern Oregon Company to recover 96,676 acres of land in southern Oregon, valued in the millions. The grant stipulated that no tracts greater than one hundred and sixty acres were to be sold to any one person. According to the federal authorities, all of the grant, save 6963 acres, was sold on June 22, 1875, to Joseph Miller, agent for Collis P. Huntington, Charles Crocker, Leland Stanford, and Mark Hopkins.

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