Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-02-06
CALIFORNIA. LEGISLATURE
XIII. sEss1oN-TH1RTY-sEcoND DAY.
[Phonographically Reported for the REcoRD-UNIo,
by Willis & Stockholm
SENATE.

Reported for the RECORD UNIon
by Willis & Stockholm
SENATE.
SACRAMENTO, February 8, 1891
The Senate met in regular session at 10 A. NJ,
President Mansfield in the chair.
Roll called and quorum present.
The journal Of Yesterday read and approved
PETITIONS.
Mr.. Nrs presented the following memorial from
prominent citizens of Oakland:
To the Senate and House of Representatives of the
Stale OF California: This memorial respectfully
sbowesh that there are several anti-Chlnese bills
now before your honorable body which we think
should not become law; and we hereby earnestly
ask you not to pass them. That you may give due
consideration to the subject before you come to a
vote on any OF the proposed bills, we respectfully
ask your attention to the following truths and facts
Nations and States being moral persons and ac-
Calforni. may not, through its Legisa-
ture, violate any principle of justice moral law.
1t is never wise safe to do wrong. And there is
power higher than State Legislatures. Moreover,
one OF the principal ends Of Government is to
secure justice between man and man and see that
all persons within its jurisdiction, wherever born,
shall enjoy their natural rights. Every man, ire
spective OF color, nationality race, has natural
or God-given right to go to any country he may
choose and to live in any country he may prefer.
manent, in any part of the world, is derived not
from the body polite, but from God. The right to
live in any State and make an honest living therein
belongs to every man whether OF American European
or Asatic BIRTH That right be forfeited only by
crime. And to disregard or violate this principle
both unwise and unsafe. BY the common consent
Of all Christian and civilized nations this right is
conceded to all men as men, California cannot af-
ford to be less just less civilized than other States
and nations. Every man, irrespective OF race, has
natural right to labor and procure his daily bread
wherever he can obtain lawful employment and
every nan has right to employ such labor as he
may prefer. interpretations, being civil individuals,
have the same right. All class legislation is unjust
as well unwise. Ii any people forfeit their rights
they may be deprived of them but otherwise no
right may be taken from any man, however poor or
or despised. Ii Chinese immigration is
the great evil that many think it is let it be met and
remedied by just and humane measures, not by
cruel and wicked legislation.
From the above principles of right it follows:
l. To pass a law to prevent others from employ
ing Chinese laborers would be unjust to the EN-.
ployer and unmercifu to the employees
2 To pass law to compel Cinnamon to leave any
place simply because some do not wish their pres
ence, would be both injustice and shame. Heathen
or barbarians might do such things, but let not
civilized and Christian people be guilty of such
base act.
3. To give power to any municipality to forciblv
remove any peaceabe dweller without its limits
would be the infction of wrong as cruel as un-
just.
L. A Legislature that would in any of these ways
do such acts of injustice against the poor who are
among us trying to procure their daily bread would
bring upon the State the righteous indignation of all
Christian and humane people, as well as the con-
iemnation of other nations Besides the State
that adopts the policy that might makes right, es-
pecally when the industrious poor are the victims
IS as mean as it is wicked. Nor does the fact that
in the rivalry Of labor one class may be more sue.
,essu than another Justify pioscriptive legislation
.ck 4 ne,,1 ~.
ightfully favor class of laborers by doing in
Justice to another. Therefore, to remove Chinese
aborers or to prevent them from coming among us
TO find labor, SO long as they have done no wrong to
others, as to make openings for laborers of other
.lasses would be an act which would incur the con-
1emnation of all right.hearted men.
8. Even the Hebrews in olden times were re-
luired by the divine Lawgiver to have the same law
Tor the stranger or foreigner for themselves.
This is the command Of Jehovah: eye shall have
one manner OF law, as well for the stranger for
one Of your own country"
g. California State, as well as every in
divdual, Is bound to obey the law of the golden
rule We should not do to the Chinese here what
we would not be willing for them to do to us If we
were in China and wished to live and labor there
1t does not follow from this that all OF them should
be permitted to exercise the elective franchise for
very few Of them fit to exercise that privilege,
as, indeed, very few foreigners of other tongues
than the English are, at first. But this fact does
not justify in declaring all of them forever in
eligible to citizenship.
T. Moreover, the friends Of religion and OF Chris
tan missions have right to complain that the
anti Chinese bills now before the Legislature. If
they should become law, would greatly prejudice
the minds of the pagan Chinese against our
Christian religion. Heather though they are they
and they would lay the acts of injustice to the
charge of Christians. We, your memoriasts
do earnestly entreat you, legislators to
not sin against him who said: Go, teach all
nations He is our lawgiver, and he is the Lord of
nations. Let us not incur his divine dspleasure.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and We perish from
the way, and his wrath is kindled but a little"
Finally-We, your memoralists, respectfully ask
that you do not shield yourselves in any un-
righteous legislation behind the fact that large
majority OF the voters have said they opposed
Chinese immigration though many thousands did
not vote at all on the question. We solve that
problem in some better way than by enacting in
justice and nquty. AT all events, cannot afford
TO act unrighteously and inhumaney. Righteous
ness eXalteth nation-sin Is reproach to any
people.
Mr.. GLAscecK, by request, presented petition
suggesting improvements in the school law. Re-
ferred to the Committee on Education.
Mr.. LANGF0KD presented petition from Laura de
Force Gordon, of San Joaquin county, asking to have
her political disabilities removed. Referred to the
Committee on Elections.
REPORTS
Mr.. NYE, from the Committee on Judiciary, re
ported back bills with the following recommends
tons: Serate Bill No 161-passage as amended
Senate Bill No. 137-indeinite postponement Sen
ate Bills Nos. 15S, l59, l62 163 1884, 165, IT'S, Iii
and 17S-passage as amended and Senate Bill No
49-indefnte postponement.
Mr.. NYE from the Committee Judiciary, asked
until Monday next 20 report on the Chinese bills
Granted.
Mr.. BRowY from the Committee on Roads arc
Highways, reported back favorably Senate Bill No
10
Mr.. CHENEY, from the Committee on Engrossment
reported back various bills as correctly engrossed
Mr.. DICKINSON, from the Committee on Commerce
and Navigation, reported back Senate Bill No. So
An Act IN relation to the appointment OF a Board OF
Nautical Examiners for the port of San Francisco
with the recommendation that IL do not pass
Mr.. SEARS, from the Committee on Corporations
reported back Senate Bill No. 60-an Act to provide
for removing officers of mining corporations by the
shareholders holding majority of the shares OF
stock thereof and the election Of other officers
with the original amendments, and recommended
its passage; also reported back Senate Bill No
2l6-an Act to amend Sections 294 and 295 of the
Civil Code, concerning corporations-and recon
mended that it do not pass also reported bach
favorably, as amended, Senate Bill No. 213-an Ac
to amend Section 35S OF the Civil Code concerning
corporations.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Bills were introduced, read first time at length
and referred as follows:
By Mr.. HITTElL-An Act to amend Section 1879 O
ing of letters OF administration. Comm ttee on Ju
dietary.
BY Mr.. KASE-An Act to repeal Section 1904 O
the Political Code Committee on Judiciary.
By Mr.. ENos-An Act to prohibit the sale of an
imals afflicted with glanders or other contagious
diseases. Committee on Pubic Morals.
Also, an Act to prohibit the admission of minor!
to houses OF prostitution. Committee on Publi
Morals
Also. an Act to enable the San Francisco Society,"
for the Protection OF Animals TO take under wills
Commit e on Judiciary.
BY Mr. SEARs-An Act to amend Section Gil O
the Civil Code, relating to cemetery corporations
Committee ON Corporations.
By Mr.. ENoS-An Act to suppress pigeon shooting
and similar sports Committee on Public Morals.
RESOLUTIONS
Mr. SEARS offered a resolution to pay the clerk o.
the Committee on operations, which was adopted
Mr. Wendell offered resolution providing clerl
for the Committee County Governments. Re
ferred to the Committee on Con,ingetnt Expenses
Mr.. DICKINSON offered resolution to pay w. W
Traylor $500 for his expenses in the contested eec
tion case OF Pinder VS.. Traylor Referred to Com
mittee on Elections.
THE CASE OF pEsTY.
Mr. ENos asked leave to send to the desk ant
have read telegram from Robert Desty of tn,
Eigth Senatorial District.
Mr.. JOHNSON objected.
On motion OF Mr.. NYg, the rules were suspended
and the telegram was read by the Secretary. It wa
dAted a. Chicago, and was follows: "Will arriv,
as soon as the emigrant can make it-by Friday
week.
The President also directed the Secretary to read
communication he had received from Mrs. Robert
Desty, informing the Senate that her husband wa;
on his way here with the necessary papers to estab
that all action in his case be suspended until h,
arrived.