Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-01-14
CAPITAL GOSSIP.
What the Legislators are
Doing at Sacramento
THE WORK BEFORE THEN.
Interesting Letters From the Seat
of War-Bills to be In
trOduced.

interesting Lcbt6TS rTOM IHo OCot
of War-Bills to be In
trOduced.
Special Correspondence Of the HERALD.
SACRAMENTO, January 9, 1889.
Three blessed days of the twenty
eighth session of the California Legisla-
ture have already gone, and the only
thing thus far accomplished has been q
widespread distribution of the plums OF
patronage. 1t is not expected that all
the Introductory formalities will have
been gone through with before the end
of the week; and "my honorable and
patriotic constituents" will have to wait
until the opening of the second week Of
the session before they can reasonably
expect the sapient lawmakers to take up
and consider their important business in
terests.
Hon. s. M. White, during his occu-
pancy of the chair two years ago, showed
himself such an efficient officer that he
easily became the all but unanimous
choice of the present Senate. He was so
great q favorite, indeed, that his nom
election would have been an utter i'm
possibility.
The newspaper men have not been
overlooked in the distribution of Offices.
The secretaryship of the Senate has been
given to Mr.. Geo. w. Peckham, pub
Usher of the Watsonville Transcript, as
q reward for the valuable services rem
1sred by that gentleman to isparty. Mr..
Peckham was not "slate" candidate
for the position, but managed to defeat
the Buckley candidate by slight major
ity in the caucus. Peckham is Demo
crat Of high standing in the party and is
certainly entitled to the honor which the
Senate has conferred upon him. The
Assembly has also looked to the journal
istic fraternity for a Secretary, or Chief
Clerk, as the House Secretary is called,
and has selected Ed. E. Leak, of the
Dixon Tribune, fo- the Office.
Governor Waterman this afternoon
transmitted his first biennial message to
the Senate and Assembly, and it was
made by both Houses special order for
tomorrow morning at IL 80 o'clock.
After the disposition of this document
there will remain only the adoption of
the amended rules Of both Houses and
the appointment of the various commit
tees, when the introduction of bills and
the actual business of the session will
begin.
It must be said that the Los Angeles
delegation in the present Legislature is
equal, If not superior, in point of political
intelligence and parliamentary knowl-
edge, to that sent by any section of the
State. No member of either House can
ct all compare with Senator White In all
that goes to make up legislator of polish
and power.
The bill for the division of Los Angeles
county will be introduced in the House
by Assemblyman Edwards of Orange.
Toe sense Of lshe delegation seems to be
against the division, and the opinion
generally prevails that the bill cannot
pass at this session.
The new charter for Los Angeles city,
it is thought, will meet with but little
opposition and can hardly fail Of passage.
SACRAMENTO, January 10, 1889.
Both houses of the Legislature having
at last completed the work of organiza-
ton, it is now less difficult task to in
duce members to enter into the details of
measures which they intend to intro
duce. There is scarcely a representative
in either house who is not already in
active preparation of one or more bills.
Some of these smack 80 strongly OF
Especial legislation" that, without the
strongest possible combinations, their
trainers can never hope to push them
hnwy 4v,1 Eruk
are more reasonable in their provisions,
and brief outline of few of the most
popular among them may not prove
altogether uninteresting to the readers Of
the HERALD.
At least two new city charters are to be
submitted to the present Legislature for
ratification, with possibility of third.
The Los Angeles and Oakland delega-
tions will unite their strength for the
passage of both charters, and the San
Diego contingent will fall in line, making
q triple combination, if their charter is
brought up at this session. Senator
Bowers, of San Diego, informs me, how
ever, that this ia somewhat doubtful, ow-
ing to the tardy eferts of the San Diego
Committee of Citizens appointed for the
framing of the document. 1t is not at
all unlikely, in any event, that the San
Diego delegation will come to the assist
ance Of Los Angeles and Oakland, so
that the ratification of these two charters
is almost foregone conclusion.
The Southern Pacific Railroad Com
pany will figure more or les conspicu-
ously at this session, notwithstanding
numerous protestations to the contrary.
The railroad people will likely not take
the initiative in legislative matters
as at some previous sessions,
but will be drawn into it as
defendants of their interests against
certain measures directed against them.
Senator Jones, of Butte county, is already
engaged upon q measure which will
doubtless awaken the liveliest antagonism
Of the railroad companies. 1t changes
the manner Of the assessment of railroad
property in the State, so that said prop
erty will be assessed in each county sep
arately. The State Board of Equalization
will also have similar bill presented.
This, it is said, will be much harsher in
its terms than the Jones bill.
Another prospective measure which is
being generally commented upon, pro-
poses making the Office Of State Printer
an elective one. Friends of this bill state