A California Republican

Just for fun:

California — One Hundred Years Ago 

December 1908.  “The Citizens’ Relief Committee, appointed at the time of the
San Francisco earthquake, has completed its labors.  The balance now in the banks will be sufficient to afford aid to cases already provided for, but nothing additional remains to be disbursed.…  Subscriptions totaled about $242,000, and the Executive Committee reported January 3, 1908 that approximately $17,500 was on hand in the banks…  Last year, Christmas baskets were distributed to recipients of the charity fund, but nothing can be given next week.  By this time all worthy cases have been investigated and the idle ones have been told to get work.” 
Los Angeles Times (December 16, 1908) pg. II1 

December 1908  “San Franciscans are making elaborate preparation for the resumption of the time-honored custom in this city of celebrating the passage of each old year and the dawning of the new, with an impromptu street carnival lasting from dark on New Year’s eve until long after the bells and whistles of the city have heralded the beginning of the new twelvemonth.  The celebration this year will be particularly interesting since it is to be in some measure an expression of public rejoicing that

, the broad central thoroughfare along which in the years before the fire great crowds surged each New Year’s eve, blowing horns, throwing confetti and making merry in a wild informal way, is almost entirely rehabilitated.” 
Los Angeles Times (December 25, 1908) pg. II6.

December 1908: The budget wasn’t a mess. The budget was on time. Legislators weren’t blaming each other for things instead of working together to solve major state problems.