Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-12-06
LAST NIGHTS NEWS.
Especial to the HERALD by the Western
Union Telegraph Company.

Union Telegraph Company.
Pacific Coast News.
Howard ON tho Raiiw Ceun mis-
si0ners.
| SACRAMENTO, Dec. 5th. Howard
defended the Committee on Cor.
| porations. He acknowledged that
there was some justice in the crlti-
cisms made. He admitted that
there we're some good features in
the amendment suggested by
4 Campbell. 1t requires the Com
missioners to prescribe a system
for railroad or transportation COM
panies to keep their accounts and
imposes a fine of $50, 900 for neglect
or refusal to keep such accounts in
the prescribed form or for collect
ing rates in excess ofthose approved
by the Commissioners. Also, that
officers Of the companies which
shall violate the provisions of this
section shall be fined $4,000 or
imprisoned one year; that in all
controversies the rates of Commits
sioners shall be deemed prima facie
and just and reasonable, and allow
ing juries to award exemplary
damages. Also allowing the Leg
islature to enforce the article on
forfeiture or otherwise. Howard
said this amendment would meet
the objection raised that the Sec
tion did not go far enough. The
speaker supported, at length, the
proposition to elect the Commits
sioners by the people, expressing
his confidence in them as against
appointments by the Governor.
At 12:45 the Committee reported
progress.
Recess.
The ConventIUn-Ar.cru
SACRAMENTO, Dec. 5th.-On re-
assembling consideration of the
railroad section was resumed.
Shafter said it had been demon.
strated by arguments that a Com.
mission was opposed to all the
principles of representative gov
ernment. Section 20, as amended
by the Committee on Corporations,
was drawn so as to defeat every
end intended to be subserved by
the creation of n Commission and
would lead to interminable COM
plications.
McCallum offered an amendment
to elect Commissioners at general
elections every six years and clas-
sify them by lot to go out of office
In two, four and six years there
after.
Campbell introduced an amend
ment providing penalties for the
enforcement of the mandates of the
Commission, in other respects be-
ing like the original.
Estee defended the original Sec
ton and advocated its adoption.
At 4 o'clock Tnman demanded
the previous question, on which
being ordered McCallum's amend
ment was adopted. Campbell's
amendment was also adopted.
Joyce offered an amendment
limiting the profits on railroad
property to eight per cent. De-
feated.
Laine offered substitute for the
whole section, which makes it
mandatory on the Legislature to
pass laws correcting railroad
abuses and for fixing freights and
fares charges. According to this
substitute fares shall not exceed
three cents per mile. Defeated.
Estee moved to rise and refer
section 20 to the Committee on Cor
porations for formulation, it hav-
ing been badly mixed up in
amending. Lost.
Heustis proposed TO give the Leg
islature power to control the Com
missioners by two-thirds vote.
Lost.
Kline offered an amendment by
which railroad officers on refusing
to comply with the demands of the
Commission shall be hung by the
neck till dead. Laughter.
| Wilson amended to make any
member of the Convention ineligi-
BILE to the office of Railroad Com
missioner at the first election after
the adoption of the Constitution.
Lost.
Jones moved to rise. Lost.
Tully offered a substitute placing
the power to regulate freights and
fares in the Legislature and max
ing the same mandatory. Lost.
Heustis moved to rise. Lost.
Section 81, providing for the di-
vision of the State into three dis
tricts from which to elect Commits
sioners was read.
The Convention then rose.
Banquet 80 the supreme Court.
SACRAMENTO, Dec. 5th.-Tbe
members of the Sacramento bar
this evening gave, at the Arcade
Hotel. banquet to the Justices of
the Supreme Court. There were
present as invited guests: Justices
Crockett, McKinstry, Rhodes and
Niles, Chief Justice Wallace not
oeing present on account of severe
illness. Guests were also present
as follows: Gov. Irwin. Judoe
keardon, Judge Terry, x-Chief
Justice; Also Justice w. H. Beatty.
OF the supreme Court of Nevada:
ID. b. Wooif, Clerk of the Supreme e
Court; G. J. Carpenter, reporter of
the Supreme Court; Chas A. Sum
ner, shorthand reporter of the Su-
preme Court, and others. About
forty mbers of the Sacramento
bar We're present and the dining
room was filled to the full capacity
of the tables. S. G. benson, Judge
of the Sixth District, presided. The
occasion was marked by elegance,
hearty cordiality, flow of wit and
eloquence and sociability.
Suicide.
SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 5th.-Geo.
Gardiner, formerly an extensive
horse dealer, shot himself In the
head at SWANS stables, Folsom
street, this morning, infiictiug a
fatal wound. The act ia attr;hutI