The morning call., 1890-12-26
LEGISLATIVE PLANS.
Preparations Being Made for the
Coming Session.
Reddick's Coming Anxiously Awaited Coombs
Selecting Committees Legislation That
Is Being Talked Of


the opening of the State Legislature, which
will convene at Sacramento on the 9th day
Of January, and the various Senators and
Assem- blymen, especially among the Repub-
licans, who are largely in the majority, are
planning out the work to be undertaken.
As TO The Senate no one knows just what
course will be pursued by Mr. Reddick, as
that gentleman has not announced his lnten-
tOns as TO the appointment OF committees
and the ether details Of organization, which
will naturally fall to him as the presiding
officer, and he persists in lingering at his
home in spite of the efforts which have been
made to procure his presence in San Fran
cisco. II was in fact. announced some two
weeks ago that he would come here at that
time for the purpose of meeting number of
the members of the Upper House and dis
cussing With them the formation Of com nit
tees. 1t was announced at the same time
that plan of action would be agreed uron,
but Mr.. Reddick, for some reason, best
known 10 himself, failed to materialiZe, and
the work was consequently delayed. With
each succeeding day lis immediate arrival is
announced. but with each succeeding day,
likewise. his arrival fails TO become an Rc-
complished fact. The consequence of his
tardiness has been that little las been &C
and these most interested are largely at sea
concerning the outlook for the future. 1t is
believed, however, now that Christmas is
over that he will come 10 San Francisco and
arrange matters so that no time will be lost
In getting down 10 business without the loss
of valuable time.
WATCHING THE ASSEMBLY.
But, as is the case in nearly every
instance, but little attention is paid to
the possible actions of the Semitic. which,
like its national prototype, is dull, unin-
.teresting sort of body after all, AMI the
chief interest seems TO center in the Assem-
bly,, as being nearer TO the people, and, by
reason of its size and the diverse elements
composing it, more liable 10 furnish food for
the gossips.
With the latter body, composed, as it is,
of sixty Republicans and twenty Democrats,
the power is so overwhelmingly with the
former that the latter are scarcely heard of,
and i'll the plans under way they are scarcely
taken into consideration. The Democrats,
in fact, seem to have been lost sight Of but
it is possible that they may make some sg hit
effort to delay legislation by obstructio n
but with these tactics they are not suffi-
cientlJ strong to make any considerable
Roadway. 1t is likely, therefore, from pres
ent Indications. that they Will ttke but lit
tie part in general legislation. and will be
content to devote their energies to securing
the passage OF such private bills as they
may be personally interested in.
In the organization naturally they have
but little interest, and will be compelled to
content themselves with going through the
empty form of nominating a candidate for
Speaker as matter of compliment to some
leader, and as a means of letting the public
know that they are on hand and ready for
business.
CooMBs THE MAN.
In the meantime they will have the pleas
ure of seeing their Republican friends die
tate the OF ganization, and it is already set
tied beyond the possibility of doubt that
Frank l. Coombs will WELD the gayel So
far assured is this latter fact that III. c. Dib-
bic, Elwood Bruner and j. X. Lowe, who
for time a>pired 10 the honor, have quietly
withdrawn, and are by their own confess
sions content to take their chances in the
way of good committee chairmanships, with
which Mr.. CUombs says he feels disposed to
reward them. He denies most vigorously,
however, that their withdrawal was any
part Of a bargain, and states that the battle
was won without the necessity of resorting
Ito any combinations or embarrassing prom-
discs. On the contrary, he AYERS, he is a bso-
lutely free to do as he pleases, but will, of
course, feel it his duty 10 listen to the ad-
vice of the party leaders in all things that
will have bearing upon the political future
of the State.
IT is understood that Mr. DIbble aspires to
be Chairman of the Ways and Means Com
mittee. and that Mr.. Bruner would like to
be placed at the head of the Judiciary Com
n'ittee. Mr.. Lowe so far as known, has ex-
pressed no desires in the matter, but from
settlement made by the prospective Speaker
few days age, IL is probable that the Santa
Clara man will find himself at the head of
one of the most desirable committees, prob
ably, If report be true, that on Appropria-
tlons, which IS OF unusual Importance at this
time, IN view OF the demand for a reduction
of the expenditures in order TO come within
The fifty-cent limit of taxation.
In all there are forty committees, but as
there are sixty Republicans in the Assem-
bly, 1t naturally follows that there will be
some disappolntments, and this fact is caus-
Ing MIR. CoombS more uneasiness at present
than anything else. For this reason he is
keeping his own council so far Al possible,
and 1t is probable he will not come to any
final decision as to complete list of COM
mlttees for several days.
MINOR POSITIONS.
AS to the minor positions. such as Door
keeper, Sargeant-at-Arms. Secretary, En-
rolling and Engrossing Clerks and others of
similar nature 1t is too early yet to ven
ture any predictions, but their is already an
army of asplrants in the field and there
promises to lie some lively log-rolng done
before these positions are finally filed.
The same may be said of the Senate posi-
tons for which applicants are even more
numerous than for those connected with the
Assembly, and the only place that seems to
have been definitely settled upon is that of
President pro TEN, for which Thomas Z.
Frazier of Placervile has no opposition. 1t
is universally agreed among the members of
the Senate that lie will be chosen, and lie is
therefore. making no particular fight for the
place.
Beyond the mere question Of organization
there are problems of legislation which are
already beginning to attract attention, and
chief among these is the reapportionment
OF the State. OF course, there is some in
terest attached 10 the election of a United
States Senator, but this has come to be re-
garded as sort of "jug-handle affair" and
Is discussed but little. There seems to be
such q universal belief that Senator STAN
ford will be elected to succeed himself that
It does not seem probable that any serious
opposition will be made to him.
PLANS FOR REAPPoRTIoNMENT.
FOR This reason the question of reappor-
uonment under the new census is regarded
Oh prime Importance. and with the question
OF appropriations engrosses the greater
share OF public attention. Already numer-
Gus consultations have been held to decide
upon some. plan for reapportioning the
State, but If any decision has been reached
II mas oeen Kept as a secret and no informa-
ton Of it has reached the outside world. 1t
Is known, however, that there is a general
impression that the voters are not In the
mood to accept any high-handed feats of
Gerrymandering, and that the redistricting,
when it is done, should be accomplished
without the formation IF what are known
Is shoe-string or grapevine" districts.
At least, such is the expressed belief of the
more conservative element of the party,
Another question will be that of limiting
the expenditures of the Government SO as
70 come within the ffty-cent limit, and this
1t Is said will be made matter of the most
careful study, and that the money available
will be distributed SO as to meet the actual
expenses on an economic basis, leaving the
various public buildings now under way to
be cared for as well as the circumstances
will admit. The leaders state that il the
worst Genes to The worst work will be tenn
porarily abandoned, If necessary, to keep
within the limit laid down in the platform.
AFTER THE COMMISSIONS.
It Is probable that among other things