GOVERNMENTAL ROSTER OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, From the Organization of the State Government, together with a HISTORY Compiled and Written by WINFIELD J. DAVIS, Member of the California Historical Society, and Historian of the Sacramento Society of California Pioneers, at the request of WM. C. HENDRICKS, Secretary of State. PRELIMINARY NOTE. The official records of the early State administrations are extremely meager and confused, and but little data can be obtained from them. In this compilation, information which could not be obtained from official sources has been supplied from newspapers contemporaneously published, and it is believed that the dates and names are as accurate as it is possible to arrive at them. The articles on the Great Seal of State and the Seat of State Government have heretofore been published in newspapers, but corrections and eliminations have been made for this publication. They have been compiled and written mainly from information derived from official sources. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. The following is a synopsis of the constitutional provisions and laws. relating to the principal executive State offices, which have been in force since the organization of the State Government: GOVERNOR. Election and Term.-The original Constitution, adopted in 1849, provided that at the election at which it was to be submitted to the people-November thirteenth of that year-there should be elected a Governor, LieutenantGovernor, members of the Legislature, and two members of Congress. All the State officers, except members of the Legislature, were to take office on December fifteenth following, or as soon thereafter as practicable, and their term was fixed at two years. The first Legislature, on April 11, 1850, passed a law providing for the election of the next Governor at the general election to be held in 1851; and by an Act passed on March 23, 1850, the general elections were set for the first Monday in October of each year. On April 26, 1851, an amendatory Act was passed changing the time for holding the general State elections to the first Wednesday in September of each year. The amendments to the Constitution, adopted in 1862, provided for an extension of the term of office of the Governor to four years from the first Monday in December next after his election, and the general State elections were set for the first Wednesday in September in each alternate year, commencing with 1863. The new Constitution, adopted in 1879, provided for the election of the first Governor under it on the first Wednesday in September, 1879, for a term of three years from the first Monday after the first day of January, 1880; and that afterward general elections were to be held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, 1880, and each second year thereafter. The term of office of the Governor, commencing with the one elected in 1882, was fixed at four years from the first day of January following the election. Salary. The Constitution of 1849 fixed the salary of the Governor at $10,000 per annum, to so remain until changed by the Legislature. On May 1, 1851, the salary was fixed at $6,000; on May 11, 1852, at $10,000; on April 21, 1856, at $6,000; and on May 6, 1861, at $7,000. The Constitution of 1879 fixed the salary at $6,000, and it has not since been changed. LIEUTENANT-GOVERNOR. Election and Term.-The Constitution and laws of the State have always provided for the election of a Lieutenant-Governor, at the same time as the Governor and for the same term. The Lieutenant-Governor has always been ex officio President of the Senate, and for a time in the history of the State acted also as Warden of the State Prison. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Governor it has always been provided that the Lieutenant-Governor should be promoted to that office, and the President pro tem. of the Senate should act as Lieutenant-Governor. Salary. The original Constitution fixed the compensation of the Lieutenant-Governor at $32 per day during the session of the Legislature, with mileage. By an Act passed May 1, 1851, the compensation was fixed at $15 per day and mileage; on April 21, 1856, at $12 per day and mileage; and on April 23, 1880, at $10 per day and mileage-these per diems to be paid only during the legislative sessions. SECRETARY OF STATE. Election and Term.-Article V of the Constitution of 1849 provided that the Secretary of State should be appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, to hold office for two years. The constitutional amendments adopted in 1862 provided that the Secretary should be elected by the people at the same time that the Governor was chosen, for a term of four years from the first Monday in December after election. Under the present Constitution the Secretary is elected at the same time and for the same term as the Governor. Salary. On March 5, 1850, a law was passed fixing the salary of the Secretary of State at $7,000. On May 1, 1851, it was fixed at $3,500; and on May 6, 1861, at $4,000. Under the present Constitution the salary is $3,000. TREASURER. Election and Term.-The first Constitution provided that the Legislature should, in joint convention, at the first session, elect a Treasurer to hold office for the same term as the Governor; and that thereafter the office should be filled by election by the people. The first Legislature, by an Act passed April 11, 1850, provided for the election of a Treasurer at the general election in 1851 and each second year thereafter. The amendments of 1862 lengthened the term of the Treasurer to four years, from the first Monday in December next after the election, which was set at the same time as the election of Governor. Under the present Constitution the Treasurer is elected at the same time and for the same term as the Governor. Salary. The first Legislature, by an Act passed March 5, 1850, fixed. the salary of the Treasurer at $9,000. On May 1, 1851, it was fixed at $5,000; on May 11, 1852, at $4,500; on April 21, 1856, at $3,500; and on May 6, 1861, at $4,000. Under the present Constitution the salary is $3,000. |