Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-03-15

by Willis & Stockholm
ASSEMBLY.
SACRAMENTO, March 13, 1880
The Assembly met at $50, pursuant to adjourn
ment, Speaker Cowdery in the chair
Roll called and quorum present.
The reading Of Fridays journal was dispense
with
On motion of Mr.. BRAuyHART, bills on fna
ing file.
Mr.: Fox presented petition relating to intoxica
ting liquors, their manufacture, sale and use.. Re
ferred TO the Committee on Public Morals.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
By Mr.. McCoMAs-To repeal Section 4080 Of th,
Political Code, relating to the planting Of trees
By Mr.. STREETER-To provide for the continuation
Of the irrigation investigation by the State Engi
IReQuires the State Engineer TO examine
into the advisability of establishing uniform sys
tenn OF irrigation, and appropriatipg therefor $780,
BY Nj. Regulating county Boards OF
Health. Referred.
message was received from the Governor an
nouncing that he he'd approved Assembly Bill No
Sl-in relation to seals and sea lions.
FIRsr READING OF BILLS
number Of bills were read first time and re-
ferred to committees.
CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION DEBATES
On motion of Mr.. BEL VALE the Assembly took
up from the second reading file Senate Bill No 1872
An Act To provide for the publication Of the debates
and proceedings of the Constitutional Cony ven
ton.
The bill was read by the Secretary, and the amend
ments made by the Committee ON Public Printing
adopted The only changes made by the COM
mittee the bill as it passed the Senate that
the amount for transcribing the notes is reduced
$1,000, and the amount for printing raised $1,000,
and the printing required to be done at the State
Printing Office instead of by contract-the latter
amendment being found necessary from the careful
estimate of the State Printer, showing that in order
to make firstcass job Of it that amount would be
necessary tlta
Mr.. McCARTr, of Lake, moved to amend Section
2, make the price of transcription Is cents
per folio instead OF 20 cents.
Mr.. BRUNER reminded the gentleman that the
the rate for short hand reporting at $40 per day and
20 cents per folio. This bill gave per diem, and
simply asked for 20 cents per folio and the reporters
did not get any $40 day for taking the notes. 1t
who had in Court to pay 90 cents per folio and
then pay only Is for the kind OF work for
the State
Mr.. You've said that the Committee on Printing
had reduced the maximum to be paid for tran
scription in such manner that the reporters might
not get 20 cents folio. If there 100 900 folios
as is estimated they will only receive Is cents per
folio as the bill stands now Out OF this amount
10,
tienery and all other expenses.
Mr.. MULHoLLASD warned the friends OF the bill
not to oppose this amendment. They would only
create opposition to the bill and defeat it entirely
The amendment was voted down emphatically.
Mr.. MERRY said the Convention itself did not de-
sire to have what was said get out to the people.
1t was nothing but trash and ought not to be pub.
lished. They are utterly worthless, he said for any
purpose and would never be looked at.
MR.. FINLAYsoN's REMARKS.
Mr.. FNLAYsoNMr. Speaker, am surprised to
hear upon this floor that the proceedings of the
Constitutional Convention were of the most trashy
nature and that there is necessity for their
cription. We have already met q stumbling block
in regard to their Interpretation. We went to an
expense then and it is time this matter was settled
1t matters not whether am a friend Of the Consti-
tuition or not. But have this to say-it is the law
Of the land and may last for many years. We will
have to live underit 1t ismore than necessary-t Is
absolutely important that we should have a proper
record of the proceedings that we may get the in
depreciation and meaning and intent of the trainers
OF the Constitution SO that 1t may be the means Of
enlightenng the people OF the State not only upon
the floor Of this Chamber, but in years to come /
say we do not deny the expense. object to ex-
pense at all times But the cry is always made il
bill is brought before the Legisature-fa few thou
sand dollars is necessary to be taken from the treas
ury, '' The poor farmer is taxed" ask nv friend
how much he will pay of this taxi Do the mem.
bers from San Francisco think how much they paw ?
Five-sevenths Of the tax you receive for one pur-
-hospitals-arc paid by San Francisco. Vot-
ing down this measure is not economy 1t is not
retrenchment and reform. The means to secure a
true and direct reform is to have good laws. When
we have good laws they should be so interpreted
that they be understood by those who use theni
that they may be carried out / most cordially
favor this bl-the work will sell for all it costs.
Mr.. MAYS opIsIcS.
Mr. MAY-Mr Speaker, my colleague, Mr. Merry,
raises his voice here and has instructed upor
several points IL is instructive TO me when he in
this chamber mnies the character of the Consti-
tutioual Convention. had supposed knew some
OF the members. Ihad supposed they were men
who ranked in the first class of the virtue and in
tegrity of California He says the report of the de-
bates are trash" [ do not believe it. do no.
believe the Constitution itself is trash. In some
respects do believe It is the very capitalization
of political wisdom, but | do know it is a noble
document, and | believe the average of the men
who framed it are representative men Of California
When this Assembly met here | would have laid
down hundred gold dollars for volume of the
debates OF that Convention. To-dav-although
thirty days are only left would give dollar a
day for such volumes. l want them in the
hall-in the Library 1t may be in the providence
of politics that may be politician before die l
want to know the bedrock OF craftsmanship.
want to see the foundation stone u on which the
Constitution Of the State of California rests. You
must not talk to me about sixteen. eighteen or
twenty thousand dollars. 1t is a mere bagatelle /
believe if the Legislature had had those volumes
before 1t this session it would have saved the State
twice the amount. 1t would have shortened some
of the debates That is my opinion. The gentleman
travels and discusses the relative value OF
newspapers. He says certain newspaper, did not
catch its name Il suppose some of our San Fran
cisco papers-was valuable paper once, and nobody
reads it now. do not care whether they do or not
that has nothing to do with the question. Gentle
say the Constitutional Convention refused to
have this work done There were reasons pressing
upon that Convention which were good. II had bu,
a limited appropriation and early in the session il
Oh n 10 hat
to-, short to do the work, and regretted that
/ had urged upon this floor appropriation. of SC
small sum for it. The money would not go round
80 they could perform the work the people ntrusted
to them. should like report of the work done ir
Committee of the Whole. There valuable work
done there that ought to be crystaized and il
the art preservative of all arts which ought bt
in black and white, where can see it, and where
our children can read it. have received letter.
from my constituents asking where they can Obtain
these volumes. They have got the impression tina
they are already published, and they want to bu,
them. They are willing to pay down coin for them
| believe the Constitution itself, If it does not ex
plicitly provide for the publication at least open
the door for it. 1t says that nothing contained il
the instrument shall prevent the Legislature from
paying the expenses of the Convention. take i
that the publication is of the necessary expense
of the Convention. believe it IS in the Legitimate
expenses and that it is in the line of statesmanshi
to say by votes. There is not man VIII
does not want these books unless it is the honor
and yet does not want these books. / want them
for the Convention has done q work that is bette
than l at first thought it was.
REMARKS OF MR.. DEL VALE.
Mr. DEL vALLE-Mr Speaker, I wish to answe
some of the sophistries of my friend from San Fran
CISCO He started out with one OF the stranges
arguments l ever heard in my life that the publ
cation will be of material value to the people c
Californa-and he stops right there, without con
sidering what the value Of these debates is. l hav
particular reasons for defending this measure, an
for those reasons have brought this matter befor
this House. opposed that very instrument +; re
GREETED that il had become the Constitution of til
State of California, and for that very reason wan
| to have my mind clear upon the subject. wish t
have what information | can; and why? II il
true that every word in that instrument was made
| subject Of argument and discussion, in order
understand what each word means, we must go at tn
very foundation Ionofthatinstrument. Thatinstrument
the effect, and how can arrive at the eject il "
do not search for the cause that produced it In
result IL not consistent with the evidence We have hS
| fore us We must ascertain the manner in whia
! this instrument became the law Of thu Ind Ths
is all desire. believe, allhous.i in opposition
my friend from San Erancisco, that the publicaho
OF these deoafes will be Of essential, material an
financial benefit to the people of the State of Cal
fornia not only that, but the State will be rein
bursed every cent it may expend in the pubIicatio
OF these debates. In every State OF the Union yo
have the debates of the Constitutional Convsatior
l made public II we I'D the debates of this Coz
vention before US during the discussions here, il
stead of being one third behind we would have a
| most p sssed all the bills have had before u
| The very first day Of the session we met with
| stumbling block in darkness, without anything
I guide us but our sole judgments. This instrumeI
is new to all OF us, therefore whatever we la,
| done we have done without guidance, without an,