Page:History of California, Volume 3 (Bancroft).djvu/492

474 colonel of cavalry, the commission being issued in December.

On December 4th the legislators brought their minds to bear on revenue management. It was decided to suppress all the old offices connected with the custom-house, and to intrust all the business to a collector at a salary of $1,000 and a clerk at $360. At the next session provision was made for the organization of a 'civic force to sustain the system of government adopted,' for which purpose the ayuntamiento was required to prepare at once lists of inhabitants between fifteen and fifty years of age. The staff of the squadron was to consist of a colonel, lieut-colonel, sergeant-major, and standard-bearer. The government was also authorized to organize an infantry company of riflemen. The leading commissions in the civic militia were subsequently given to Alvarado and Castro respectively, both commencing their military career with a rank that in Spanish times could have been reached only by long years of service in the lower grades.

It was now deemed necessary to choose a chief executive of the new government in place of Castro, who had hitherto acted in that capacity as president of the diputacion. Accordingly, at the session of December 7th, Juan B. Alvarado was declared to be governor ad interim of the state, with a salary of