Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-03-09
Credit to Whom Credit is Due.


in Los Angeles has been one of the
surprises of the session. It's chances
were never considered good, and
when the block in legislation in
the Assembly occurred they were
generally thought to be bad indeed.
Persistence, good management and
the personal popularity of the
Democratic member from Los An.
geles, however. accomplished the
heroulean task, and now, If the
Governor is willing, the Southern
section of the State will at length
receive from the State a slight rec
ognition Of its existence.
The local pride which must exis,
in Los Angeles at the prospect Of
at length gaining the long hoped
for Normal School suggests that II
would be of interest to the readers
of the HERALD to learn from one
who was OH the spot how the fighl
was fought and the victory won.
In the opening days of the ses.
sion identical bills for the building
Of a branch Normal School in Los
Angeles were introduced in the
Senate by West and ih the Assem-
bly, by Dsl Valle. The upper
House had, from its experience OF
last winter, become reconciIed or
habituated to the idea which it
was sought to put in practical
shape. 1t will be remembered that
the Senate passed q Normal School
bill for Los Angeles, but that it
Was defeated in the last Assembly
through the jealous intrigues Of
the Santa Clara representatives.
Yet though the way was smoother
this year for the measure in the
Senate than in the Assembly, to
which it was new proposition.
the bill had O narrow escape. In
one af its stages it met with fail
ure, and it was only on reconsider.
alton that 1t gained the requisite
number of votes. It is but Just to
say that West did his part we'll.
The bill had got through the Sem
ate. TO pass it or ito c0unterpart-
Del Valle's bill-through the
lower House was q more difficult
matter. The Redding bill, which
was In similar shape. did not even
secure first reading in the popu-
lar branch of the Legislature. It
must be remembered that there
was O complete block. It was
nearly impossible to obt ain a two.
thirds vote 10 suspend the rules
and take up q bill out of its regular
order. The debris repeal measure
stood in the way. AT this point
the luck of Los Angeles and the
good management of Del Valie
stood your city in good stead.
Vests bill came in to the Assem-.
bly, in Senate messages. Del Valle
secured their reading and the
placing of the Senate bill on the
file for first reading ahead of his
own. The bill was read the first
time, aud then Del Vale with.
drew his own. 1t then went down
to the foot of the file Of 400 bills
for its second reading. 1t seemed
we'll nigh impossible to have it
taken out of its place. The word
had gone forth that the order
should not be disturbed. Besides,
nearly every member had pet
measures of his own, which he was
unwilling to see put back by the
advancement of others to the head
of the file. Meanwhile Del Valle
steered his course with reference to
the local interests of the city which
he represents. While steadily
voting against such powerful in.
terests as those which backed the
Drainage act and the Revenue bill,
he was careful not stir up antago.
nisms by participation in the war
OF words that could serve no good
purpose. Like a good General, he
closely watched the situation, ever
on the alert, aud when the. propi-
tious moment arrived took advan.
tage ofit In fact, 1t may be said
that he shaped the result. One af-
ternoon, sure of the two thirds vote
given him as personal compli-
Ment, he obtained the suspension
of the rules and had the bill taken
up. 1t was read the second time
aud passed to third reading with
out amendment. This was q graft.
flying surprise to the friends Of Los
Angeles. But still q dark cloud
lowered over the Normal School
bill. IT had passed to u third read.
ing, it is true, but with only 35
votes In its favor. 1t remained to
obtain six more, or the bill would
be defeated on its passage. Then
the Angelo flos set to work earnest.
ly and unitedly. Del Vale, Crank,
Briefly aud Smith left no stone un.
turned to secure the six votes ne-
cessary, while holding those al
ready obtained. They met with a
gratifying success. The bill was
read = third time and it was passed j,
having 46 votes In its favor.
This is rightly considered the
greatest triumph of the session.
There were to contend against the
northern jealousy of Los Angeles,
the feeling in opposition to appro.
priations and the clogging In the
wheels of legislation. All the rep.
resentatives Of Los Angeles did
we'll, and aptly presented the
just claims of your city to the con.
sideration OF the Leg but
all would have been impotent for
good had it not been for the wise
course pursued by Del Valle, and
still more the wild espread and deep.
seated kindly feeling of members
of all parties and from all sections
towards him. The Legislature has
done its share for L,s Angeles. Let
it be hoped that the Governor will
perform his share, and render the
Joy and triumph complete. FL.
Sacrame ento, March 5th.
stpNONI r;NCEpcv cApTIIQEn