The Placer herald., 1874-02-14

and the people are N many places quite ex-
cited at the notion of the Legislature put
ting it off another year. There has been a
bill reported to the Assembly by the com
mittee, and will undoubtedly pass the Sen
ate.
LOCAL OPTION.
Chressler presented petition to the AS
sembly, signed by 1,004 persons, asking
the Legislature to enact local option and
civil damage law. Paulsell also presented
a petition from l 200 citizens of San Joa-
quin County, asking for local option law.
CONTESTED ELECTIONS.
Mr.. Norton, of Placer, pr scented a re-
port on the contested election of the city OF
San Francisco that for plainness has seldom
been excelled. 1t shows that the mommit-
tee was mbued with a spirit of impartality
not often found amongst partizan legislators.
The report says "from the evidence before
us we are unable to arrive at any definite
conclusion as to who is entitled to seat on
this floor from the city and county, wheth r
it be the sitting members or the contest
ants" They refer the whole matter to the
House.
WHITES AND BLACKS.
Mr.. Cowdery made lengthy and rather
able speech upon this bill to strike the word
"whte' from our school laws. A number
took sides, and quite warm debate was
had. Mr.. Norton in few well-timed re
marks favored the bill. Williams opposed
it in quite an address. Murphy moved to
strike out the enacting clause, and his mo-
ton carried by AZ ayes to "a noes. This
was to me an astonishing vote.
CHARITABLE OBJECTS.
The report of the Committee on Public
Expenditures, signed by Laine, announces
new doctrines upon this subject. The State,
according to this document, has no authori-
ty to grant any money to any charity of
any kind. The Legislature has no authori-
ty to take of the public money and apply
this money for any benevolent object. |
take issue with the whole tenor of this doc
ument. 1t is one of the highest, most i'm
perative and binding obligation of society
to take care of the poor, the disabled
"Charity, like mercy, should be Free;
should not be constrained"
ATTORNEYS.
Mr.. Keyes introduced a bill to admit
each court to judge of the qualifications of
its own attorneys. The lawyers all fought
the bill; but Keyes hung on and finally car
ried his measure by vote of 10 to II.
THE BRIBERY.
In this case not much has as as YET been
developed. This man Brown has been a
weather-cock in politics--always for himself
and if he has now corrupted any one by
giving out money, it is out of his usual way
of doing. He would always rather receive
than pay out. Mr.. Norton showed com
mendable zeal to ferret out the truth, even
if that truth should inure his friend. There
does not appear to me anything but little
of Browns bragadocia-he would rather
boast than eat. He mover was reliable in
politics.
To amend the Political Code, by Mr. Nor
Ton. This is a voluminous bill, containing
43 pages printed matter and 124 sections.
So far as could judge it is a good bill and
the amendments needed. The labor on this
bill is immense.
CORRECTION.
In my last letter mentioned the amount
of cotton lands in Fresno, Kern and Tulare
counties as being over fourteen million acres,
and you make me say over fourteen thou
sand
Yours, etc,