Newspaper stories from 1870 regarding F.A. Hihn's tenure as an Assemblyman for Santa Cruz county in the state capitol -Sacramento.


        Special thanks to Stan Stevens of the University of California - Santa Cruz library for the following stories from the Watsonville Register Pajaronian newspaper.

 

1870 Feb 24

Source: Pajaronian              1870 Feb 24             2:1

        Hon. F. A. Hihn, was in Santa Cruz on Monday last, making a brief
visit for the purpose of having an interview with citizens and tax payers
on the subject of the proposed railroads, and the bill presented.  Mr. Hihn
says he is willing to modify the bill or adapt it to the wishes of the
majority of the tax-payers of the county.  He, however, thinks in the main,
the bill offered, is the only practicable one, and will press it to final
passage, unless something is done to show a different opinion in the
various matters at issue.  So says a Santa Cruz paper.  He would have done
better had he consulted the rights of the people when he first commenced
getting up bills.  We wonder what has became [sic] of the Bulkhead Bill?
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1870 Mar 3
Source: Pajaronian              1870 Mar 3              3:4

Very Good.-Mr. Hihn, of Santa Cruz, has introduced in the Assembly a bill
to preserve the secrecy of ballots at elections.  It makes it unlawful for
any election officer. at any election authorized by law, including
primaries, to receive a ballot unless it is properly folded, so that the
names cannot be seen, and unless such ballot is composed of plain white
paper, unruled, or without a mark or device on the outside where purport
can be indicated. - San Jose Mercury.
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1870 Mar 3
Source: Pajaronian              1870 Mar 3              3:4

VERY GOOD.-Mr. Hihn, of Santa Cruz, has introduced in the Assembly a bill
to preserve the secrecy of ballots at elections.  It makes it unlawful for
any election officer, at any election authorized by law, including
primaries, to receive a ballot unless it is properly folded, so that the
names cannot be seen, and unless such ballot is composed of plain white
paper, unruled, or without a mark or device on the outside where purport
can be indicated.-San Jose Mercury.
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1870 Apr 2
Source:         Santa Cruz Sentinel     1870 Apr 2              4:2
        Saturday

        [NOTE:  the Sentinel writer uses square brackets [ ] as well as ( )
          therefore, whenever parenthetical remarks are made by this
compiler
          they are entered in square double brackets = {{ }}.]

"Representative Hihn - His Record"

        This is the last week of the Legislature, and in a few days, each
Assemblyman and Senator will return to give an account of his stewardship,
to the constituents of the various districts.  It has been charged that the
closing Legislature was the most corrupt ever assembled in California.  We
do not believe it.  Compare it with the Legislatures of from 1853 to 1857,
and we think it will not show so much gross bribery and corruption.  Many
bad bills - venal and corrupt bills - have been passed, and but for the
honesty of Gov. Haight, in exercising the veto power, some of them would
have almost ruined the State, if sufficiently strong and legal to be
effective.  But we do not propose to criticise, at present; let history and
the people deal with the guilty, who listened to the "inducements" and
complied with the syren "arrangements" of the lobby.  {{syren : Funk &
Wagnalls Standard Dictionary  v. 2: p. 1175:  4.  An apparatus having a
device with a perforated rotating disk or disks through which sharp puffs
of steam or compressed air are permitted to escape in such rapid succession
as to produce a continued musical note or a loud whistle: used in
acoustical investigations and as a warning signal. - adj.  Of or pertaining
to a siren; hence, alluring; bewitching; dangerously fascinating.  Also
spelled syren.}} {{-annotated by Stanley D. Stevens}}
Our object, at this time, is to refer to the record of our own
Representative, F. A. Hihn.  It has been charged by an "obscure sheet of
limited circulation," published by a "ring," that Representative Hihn has
been too industrious, or, in other words, done too much work - "He has been
too voluminous to a ridiculous extent," says the paid contributor of that
obscure sheet, and then concludes the [slang-banging ?] harangue as
follows:
        "But Hihn's labor is much higher than it is worth, [says "Good
Bye,"] especially when done in such a bungling manner.  I love and respect
a good mechanic, he is modest, is not puffed up, needs no putty to cover up
defects, but with a few skillful licks he executes his work neatly and
well, and looks and acts as if such was expected of him; but I have the
most gigantic contempt for a bungling, blustering, butchering botch (?)
{{he means John Conness}} who wonders why it took more than a day to build
Rome, and who would attempt, without apprenticeship or means of art, to
haggle it up in half the time."
        The good reader is now referred to "Hihn's Record," as appears by
the published proceedings of the Union and State Capital Reporter.  We have
been to some trouble to keep a list of all the bills introducted by Mr.
Hihn, as they were offered, to keep track of their history, and inquire
into their intended effect, if passed to a law.  We find that he has
introduced twenty-six bills, one concurrent Resolution and a Memorial to
Congress.  This certainly stamps him as a man of industry, energy and
ability.  But this is not half the labor that was required of him.  He was
on three important committees, took active and an intelligent part in all
the debates, and hardly a bill passed without receiving either sanction or
opposition; and while he opposed some measures we deemed good, he never
failed to vote against all the bad ones.  His course in reference to our
local schools has ben criticised, but we fail to see wherein the law will
be destructive to our common school interests.  He voted against the bill
to "Equalize Taxation," which we believe was an error, but if correctly
informed, it was not the measure he opposed, but the mode adopted to carry
the law into effect, and especially the officers named in the bill.
        In this connection we call attention to the following evident
facts: When the laws, passed, shall have gone into effect our County will
pay for -
Treas'r & Tax Collector's sal's,  $1,400 00
Assessor ..................................1,000 00
Auditor, ...................................   900 00

Per annum, ..........................  $ 3,300 00
        Of this amount the State will pay in round figures:
Treasurer's allowance, ........... $    750 00
Tax Collector's      "         ...........       600 00
Assessor's              "         ...........       800 00
Auditor's                "         ...........       400 00

Total State's apportionment, ... $ 2,550 00

        Balance, payable by the County, $750 per year.  And yet the State
does not allow our County any more than to other counties; but we will from
now on have as much allowed to us as other counties get.
        In a few days Mr. Hihn will be here, among us, to answer for
himself.  In the meantime, we offer for consideration the following list of
bills introduced and acted on, drawn up and presented by our able
Representative, during the session, so that the intelligent reader may
judge of their merits or demerits.  We may have failed to enumerate all the
bills, give the correct number or title, or true status of their history,
condition and final effect, as the list is made up from the data, kept from
time to time, as action in the premises was taken:

        Assembly Bill No. 6 - An Act amendatory of and supplementary to an
Act to incorporate the town of Santa Cruz, approved March 31, 1866.
(Passed.)
        A. B. No. 7 - An Act to provide means for the government of the
county of Santa Cruz, and for the payment and funding of the debt of said
county. (Passed.)
        A. B. No. 38 - An Act providing for a preliminary survey of the
harbor of Santa Cruz and Salinas Slough, in Monterey Bay. (Passed.)
        A. B. No. 54 - An Act to amend an Act entitled an Act for the
protection of game, approved May 15, 1854.  [This bill provides that
persons shall have the right to kill quails on their own lands at any time.
The object of the law is to protect vine-growers and farmers in our
mountains, where quails are as much a nuisance as gophers in the valleys.
The bill is on its passage.]
        A. B. No. 120 - An Act to amend an Act entitled an Act to authorize
the Board of Supervisors of the several counties of this State to grant the
right to construct whar's [sic]  on the overflowed and submerged lands of
this State, approved April 18, 1858. (Passed.) [This act authorizes the
Board of Supervisors of the several counties to grant wharf franchises
under certain restrictions.  This bill was carried after a severe fight.
It is a good act and will have the effect to stop the granting of special
wharf franchises by the Legislature.]
        A. B. No. 184 - An Act to prevent forest and field conflagration.
(Defeated.)  [This bill, as originally drawn, was not generally acceptable,
especially to the city members, although it was heartily endorsed by most
of the members from the agriculturial [sic]  districts.  It was amended so
as to avoid the objections raised, but was finally defeated by the mining
counties' and city members, who believed that its provisions tended to
infringe upon the rights of gentlemen of leisure, emigrants and travelers,
to build a fire whenever they saw proper.]
        A. B. No. 264 - An Act to authorize the county of Santa Cruz to aid
in the construction of railroads and other roads in said county, and for
other purposes pertaining thereto.  (Passed Assembly.)
        A. B. No. 268 - An Act in relation to the delinquent taxes on
moneys at interest, secured by mortgage or otherwise.  (On file.) [This
bill proposes to compromise with the delinquent taxpayers on taxes on
mortgages by proposing to accept 30 per cent. of the amount due as a
payment in full, if paid within six months.  There are now about $300,000
due the State on these taxes, the collection of which, for the past five
years, has been successfully resisted, particularly in San Francisco, and
is now in litigation.  It is believed that it is better to accept 30 per
cent. than to, perhaps, lose the whole.]
        A. B. No. 276 - An Act to provide for the appointment of a deputy
by the Surveyor-General to procure patents for land granted to the State
and to arrange other matters pertaining to State lands. (Defeated.)  [This
bill should have become a law.  It provided that a deputy be appointed who
should proceed to Washington and there to represent the State in the Land
office, and attend to the settlement of the many vexed questions which
prevent the listing over of the lands to which the State is entitled to
from the United States, and the issueance of patents by the State to the
purchasers of school and swamp lands.
        A. B. No. 569 - An Act to prevent gambling in public buildings.
(In Committee.)  [It is feared that this bill will not become a law.  All
are equally tender on the subject.]
        A. B. No. 552 - An Act to authorize James Freeboom, B. A. Barney
and associates and assigns, to lay down gas pipes in the town of
Watsonville.  (In Committee )  [The passage of a general law authorizing
the corporate authorities of any town, city or county, to grant gas
franchises and do away with the necessity of the passage of this bill
should be enacted.]
        A. B. No. 585 - An Act supplementary to an Act entitled an Act to
incorporate the town of Santa Cruz.  (Passed the Assembly.)  [It authorizes
the Board of Trustees to establish and improve public squares.]
        A. B. No. 637 - An Act to amend an Act to provide for the
management and sale of the lands belonging to the State. (Passed Assembly.)
[This law makes certificates of purchase or location, or duplicates of
Registers or Reviewers of the U. S. Land office, evidence of legal title.
This is a very important bill for the protection of the pre emptor.
Heretofore he could not maintain an action for the possession of his land,
unless enclosed, until the issuance of a patent.]
        A. B. No. 706 - An Act to amend an Act entitled and Act to provide
means for the government of Santa Cruz county, and for the funding and
payment of the debt of said county, approved January 31, 1870. (Passed
Assembly.)  [This bill authorizes the levy of an assessment and collection
of a special school tax in Soquel and Aptos districts, where money is
needed for building purposes.]
        A. B. No. 693 - An Act to amend an Act entitled an Act to regulate
fees of office, approved March 5, 1870. (Passed Assembly.)  [This act
corrects several errors and inconsistencies caused by Senate amendments,
but does not effect Santa Cruz county.]
        A. B. No. 674 - An Act for the relief of John Hames. (Passed
Assembly.)  [Authorizes the issuance of a duplicate certificates of
transfer of sceool [sic]  lands.]
        A. B. No. 324 - An Act concerning estrays and animals found running
at large in the county of Santa Cruz.  (Passed )  [Extends the Santa Clara
county estray law, with a few amendments, over Santa Cruz county.]
        A. B. No. 419 - An Act to better regulate the practice of medicine
and surgery.  (Strangled in Committee.)
        A. B. No. 454 - An Act concerning the office of Tax Collector in
the counties of Contra Costa and Santa Cruz. (Passed.)  [Makes the
Treasurer elected in 1871 ex-officio Tax Collector, at a salary of $1,400.
If the Legislature of 1868 had not committed the serious blunder of
repealing the act of 1866, which made the Treasurer Tax Collector.  Our
present Treasurer could just as well of acted in this capacity.]
        A. B. No. 450 - An Act concerning public roads and highways in the
counties of Santa Cruz and San Diego. (Passed.)
        A. B. No. 451 - An Act to provide for the payment of the funded
indebtedness of the State of California, and to contract a funded debt for
that purpose. (Passed.)  [This is the most important act of the session.
If it goes into effect it will reduce State taxes at least thirty-three per
cent.]
        A. B. No. 458 - An Act to provide for the adjustment of claims
against the county of San Mateo. (In Committee.)  [This bill was introduced
rather late, and probably will not pass this session, but San Mateo county
may as well understand at once that sooner or later it will be compelled to
pay what is justly due this county.]
        A. B. No. 519 - An Act to grant certain salt marsh and tide lands
to the inhabitants on the town of Santa Cruz. (Passed to engrossment.)
        [From last night's papers we see Mr. Hihn has introduced a bill
authorizing Santa Cruz to aid local railroads, and a bill relating to the
Clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Placer.]
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1870 Apr 7
Source: The Pajaronian  1870 Apr 7              2:1     C. O. Cummings,
Editor

The Sentinel of last week publishes Mr. Hihn's Record ! and says that
during the short time he has been there [in the California Legislature] he
has "introduced twenty-six Bills, one Concurrent Resolution, and a Memorial
to Congress!"  Great Heavings, how ink and paper have been wasted !  We
cannot see the necessity of trying to prove that Mr. Hihn is a man of
talent, or that he has earned his money.  The people can judge for
themselves as to whether he has acted honestly or not.  It strikes us as
not being in good taste.  It looks like anticipating an adverse judgement.
On railroad matters we have not been hand in hand with him, but have never
questioned his industry, and furthermore think he has done as well as any
member which composed the late Legislature.  Out of the 26 bills introduced
by Mr. Hihn, we would like to ask the Sentinel, how many have now upon them
the Governor Haight's Signature ?
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1870 Apr 7
Source: The Pajaronian  1870 Apr 7              2:2     C. O. Cummings,
Editor

The California Legislature of 1869-'70 came to a close on Monday night last
at 12 o'clock-a time when graveyards yawn and ghosts wander over the land.
And now, these, shadowy ghosts of men which made up that remarkable
Legislative body will haunt no more the groaning Capitol.  Retire, thou
cheap editions of many bills done up in calf, nor venture to show
yourselves until "the thing" has blown over.  Do not, we beg of you, put
yourselves up for office again on the strength of this Winters work.  Vale,
Vale !