Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-07
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE.
TwnNTY-FoURTH sEssIoN-FoURTH DAY.
sen ATE.


had notified him of their intention to submit
minority report relative to the committees amend
ment to Rule i, fixing the hour OF meeting at P.
NJ instead OF 10 A. NJ.
Mr.. SEARs-rhe question is on the adoption of
Rule l. There difference OF opinion among
the committee in regard to this Rule /. To make
minority report is not necessary that it should be
in writing. They make it orally to the Senate
aud let the Senate decide. The only change made
in this rule is that the Senate shall meet at o'clock
in the afternoon instead sf 10 o'clock in the morn
ing. The minority Of the committee thought that
the old rule far preferable; that in the morning
was the proper time to do the work of the Senate.
II the Senate does not meet until 1 o'clock in the
afternoon all OF the forenoon would be wasted The
majority of the committee claim that the forenoon
can better be devoted to committee work, but we
thought that if the Senate were to meet at o'clock
it might give members of the Senate opportunity
of remaining longer in bed in the morning that
they would attend the committees that
committee work would be delayed waiting for
some members. Furthermore, as the Senate would
convene at a certain hour, the committee would
naturally have to rush work and would not give it
the careful consideration which it requires aud
further we do not believe that the people OF this
State would tolerate, will justify this Senate in
yening at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, when it has
been the custom since the State has been organized
to meet at 10 o'clock in the forenoon and perform
the work which is before the Senate. For these
reasons We deem the old rule preferable to the
amendment which the majority of the committee
have made to the rule and we submit the matter to
the good judgment OF the Senate whether they
will adopt this amendment or continue under the
old rule and meet at 10 o'clock in the morning.
| Mr. DIcKINsoN-I would state on behalf OF the
majority of that committee, that the real question
| involved by this amendment is whether the COM
| mittee-work of this Senate shall be done in the
| evening, or whether it shall be done in the day
time. submit that during the last session OF this
| Senate there was very little committee-wOrk done
by of the pressure upon our time preventing
| the meetings of committees don't think there Is
| anything in the suggestion made by the gentleman
| from the Fifteenth that Senators will lie abed
| in tba
cause the Senate does not convene until o'clock in
| the afternoon. | believe that We are here for the
purpose OF facilitating work, and that work will be
facilitated il committees meet IN the morning at say
! 10 o'clock or even earlier. We can pass resolu-
ton or make rule Of the Senate that committees
shall meet that time and sit for two hours or two
| and half hours until it considers and Perfects
bills before the meeting OF the Senate. OF course
this hour OF o'clock, without any eye ng sessions,
viii not do for the entire session but submit
that ought to try it and see whether We
m4re methodically, and by working a
| few hours less. than did during
the last session. | for one cannot go on committee
| work for many hours as we worked here during
the last session. II we at 10 o'clock in the
morning and the committee work IS done up, We
| can go into session at l o'clock and work until g.
| There will always be extra committee work for the
evenings, and think we will get along much faster
with the work. We will go 10 the committee work
fresh in the morning. and we had better devote the
hours when are fresh in committees to the con-
down in chair and listening to the regular order
! of business, which takes up the forenoon and
which is merely sitting still and listening to the
reading at the desk. | submit 10 the Senate that
those who desire to have the committee work done
in the daytime instead of in the evening will sup
| port the
Mr. ESos-I offer an amendment to that rule by
striking out the word "ten in the first line and
inserting "eleyen." That hour OF II has been the
customary hour until last session.
Mr. JOHNSON amended by striking out in line one
I r+,,,rr+ +lo,r o-l
Mr. ENos accepted the amendment to his amend
ment.
MIR SsTTERwHrTE was in favor Of doing committee
work in the forenoon.
Mr. WEST argued at length in favor OF the report
of the committee.
Mr. CHASE preferred the old rule.
Mr. HITTKLL expressed the opinion that it would
be impracticable TO do the committee work in the
morning
Mr. JOHNSTON favored the amendment to the old
rule. There was always considerable committee
work to do before Senators come to the Senate and
they could not do that work and meet at 10
o'clock.
Mr.. KANE offered as substitute to the whole
that the Senate meet at $50 A. NJ, but the CHAIR
ruled it out of order.
Mr. CoyeER advocated the amendment proposed
by the committee.
Mr. HILL was in favor Of adhering to the old rule.
Mr.. DAVIS supported the new rule.
Mr.. LASGFoRD opposed it.
Mr. GoRMAN offered the following The time of
meeting shall be at 10 o'clock A. NJ when the roll
until l P. NJ.
Mr. SEARS offered the old rule as substitute for
ALL
The substitute was adopted by vote of % to 16
Mr.. BAKER proposed to amend by changing the
hour to IL.
Mr.. SEARS rose to point of order
The CHAIR decided 1t well taken, and said that the
amendment not in order
Mr.. BAKER appealed from the decision OF the
Chair.
Mr.. sATrEawHIrE seconded the appeal.
A message was here received from the Governor
giving the list OF appointments made during the
recess OF the Senate, and accompanied by report
of the State Examiners Department for 1880.
Mr.. SEARS withdrew his point of order.
The PRESIDENT said hewould entertain Mr.. Bakers
amendment.
The amendment was lost.
Mr. DICKINSON moved an amendment to Rule
of the last session. to the effect that each bill
shall be read for the first time on coming from the
committee
Mr. JoHNsoN-Under the provisions of the Con-
stituton OF this State every bill introduced Into this
body must be read at length three times on three
several DAYS before it become law. Under the
provisions of this Constitution, also this Sc sion is
limited to aoout sixty days. OF that sixty days
four days have .arly passed. The effect of the
proposed amendment, in my judgment, will be to
retard legislation to impede business, and it re-
fuses to the members of this body an opportunity
to have their bills, their measures, properly con-
sdered by the Senate. Every bill must be read
three times. 1t therefore seems to me to be duty
of this Senate to do everything in its power to
facilitate the reading OF bills. When bill is first
introduced it ought to be read. If BILL after being
introduced must be referred 20 committee before
it is read submit to every Senator upon this floor
il it is not in the power of the committee to strangle
bill and never report it back. / submit TO every
Senator upon this floor if it is not giving COM
mittee a little too much power in that man
ner. l not one OF those like the
Senator from Los Angeles who believes that
legislation should be done in committee
believe in following up the dictates OF the Const
tuition that you helped to make and helped to vote
for and carry. Let forty Senators vote upon every
BILL after the debate and deliberaon necessary to
perfect measure, and not permit committee of
five-although they might all be like the Senator
from Los Angeies-to decide upon measures of leg
islaton. l would abolish all committees, save the
Judiciary Committee, had the power, believing
them to be unnecessary believing committees to
be simply an outgrowth OF that feeling VIII ch de-
sres not to foster, not to benefit legislation but
which desires to kill bills and not to pass them, and
believing that legislation could be better accom-
plished if we simply had bills referred to
the Judiciary Committee to report as to the
legal and proper form, and then permit
the whole Senate to participate in the deberation
You may say that would not pass many laws
Judging from the action of the Supreme Court OF
this State, it does not make much difference how
many committees we have, as to the constitution
ality of the laws that we pass, and lay down as
maxim that that country is governed the best which
is governed the least. And If the result which
am in favor of would produce less laws, perhaps the
State would be better off, desire to call the atten-
| ton of the Senators to a certain incident which
transped last session. illustrating the necessity in
my Judgment of having bills read at length when
first introduced. You all remember the bill known
as the Street Contractors BILL which came before
this Senate and elaborately discussed and voted
upon and majority of this Senate voted to send it
to q second reading. Afterwards the matter was
sprung that the bill had not been read at length
and then the matter all reconsdered or forced
back and the bill lost its proper place upon the
calendar Suppose bill, now, be introduced to-
day and it be referred to committee, and the
committee reports 1t with amendments 1t may be
long bill of twenty sections, and eighteen of them
have amendments proposetsby the committee, and
we get into discussion up those amendments
and the first thing know we get to vote upon
it and the bill has not been read through
Now | submit to the Senator's there
| is danger of falling into that
submit to the Senators that there Is nothing in nv
Judgment, to be gained by leaving the beaten path
In which travelled successfully and pleas ,ntly last
| session. giving every member an opportunity to be
heard giving every bill opportunity to be read
at least the first tune, and adopting new and spec.
uatve course, leading into traekless waste where
our power is lodged in the hands of three or five
| men, composing majority of committee of this
| Senate. / hope the amendment will be voted down
| and that we will give every bill the same opportu-
| nifty that give every other BILL and not say at
the outset that bills shall be defeated because thev
/ may not meet the views of a majority of com
rnittee.
| Mr. SBARs-Every reason which the Senator from
| Sacramento has gwen against this amendment may
well be applied in its favor. have failed to see
or discover single point in his argument against
this amendment. The constitutional objection