The record-union., 1891-01-31

to it, but inasmuch as it has been done by
member in the form of a resolution, /
think it would be proper for the Assem-
bly, to act upon it.
Mr.. Shanahan-If the gentleman romf
Santa Cruz means that by doing some
thing we wonld exonerate ourselves, and
carries with it the Implication that we
| ought to do precisely what Glasscock and
Cannon want, beg TO say that I will
take my own time with regard to bills
| that have been presented here which, as
II believe and have stated heretofore, were
not drawn at the request of the people of
Oakland or directly in their interest, but
solely in the interest of the companies
who want the concessions. If what the
gentleman says means that am to fall
in and favor these measures, drawn by
the attorneys of the companies, I say
shall not agree to do anything of the kind
to exonerate myself from the imputations
| of Glasscock, Cannon or any one else
The proper thing is to haul these gentle
men before a House committee, and let
them there state what they know of their
own knowledge that's wrongful or derog-
atory to the character of any member.
That is what they should be made to do
| But do not cOncede for a moment that
our exoneration consists in our doing
what Glasscock or Cannon desire shall be
done. For one, l will exercise my pleas
l
right.
Mr.. Galbraith-I did not mean by what
| said, that we should proceed to act upon
| the bill in question particularly. 1 Just
said word or two because did not want
the time of the House taken up by this
matter. My idea is, however, that our
strongest refutation of alls.such attacks
will be to go to work and enact good leg
lslation, not spending our time in trying
to build up our reputation. There is an
old saying, sometimes true one, that it
is the wounded bird that hutters; and L
think to simply ignore the whole thing
will be our best course.
Mr.. Young i hope the resolution will
prevail. To my certain knowledge, during
a residence of quarter of a century in
this State, there has never yet been ses-
sion of the Legislature that has not been
annoyed, and its work retarded, by the
continued presence of lobbyists in great
numbers, particularly from the large and
| thlckiy populated sections. 1t has always
been the custom of these gentry, when
they failed to procure the passage of
measures which would make them mill
i ionaires, to 60 forth and fee the press and
its reporters to stigmatize the members as
q band of thieves. Every honest man in
this chamber should feel, as a legislator,
that it is his duty to resent this insult to
the lawmakers of the State. And if there
are any upon the floor who have made
propositions showing that they are COR
rupt, let an investigation bring it out
and let them be impeached before the peo-
pie. For the reputation of this Legislature
say that the investigation should be full.
Ii there are any thieves here, let them be
shown up. If these statements are lies
and SANDERS, let that be known, and let
this House be vindicated. But [ have
never heard or read of the Legislature be-
ing bought on any bill, but it invariably
turned out that the report came from
| those interested in the measure, which
was always one of private and not of
public interest. | say let this investiga-
ton go forward, and let it be prompt and
thorough. [Applause.l
Mr.. Sturtevant-Whent the electric fran
chises were brought before the City
Council of Oakland, Mayor Glassaock
We're not legal. Then he comes here
asking us to sanction these illegal meas
ures; and when we refuse he goes home
saying we are thieves. In the first place
Mayor Glasscock seems not to have been
in 1t; but now he seems to be in it. Mer-
riment.
MIR. Clark hope the resolution viii
prevail. My experience concerning leg
islation has been this: that when some
electric light or railway company, desir-
GUS of legislation that will make them
millionaires the moment the bill becomes
a law, comes before legislative body and
demands its passage at its hands, if there
is single dissenting voice they publish it
broadcast to the world that that man was
actuated by impure and improper mo-
tiveS. They do this, neither in the inter-
est of the people nor of good legislation,
nor because they believe any one is cor
rupt or could be corrupted, but
what we tell you, or we will brand you to
the world as men who are corrupt"
think the resolution should be adopted
and if these gentlemen know anything
derogatory to the honor and integrity of
any one upon this floor, let them come
before committee and state it; and let
the committee report who the corrupt
ones are, that they may be heralded to
the world as unfit to occupy the position
of legislators.
Mr.. Martini am opposed to the pass
age of the resolution. As 1 understand
our position here, we are servants of the
people, hired to do their bidding at a GER
worth of our service, if had not been
Impoverished by the shutting down of
our mines, | would, for one, refund a
good deal of the IS which they pay me
daily. fMerriment.] 1 hold it is the
peoples right to examine into the acts of
their servants; II you hire man and
place him in charge of your business, you
have right to examine his course and
see whether he is faithful to the trust
which you have placed in his hands. If,
in your view, he is influenced by some
unworthy motive, you have a right to
censure and even to discharge him. /
believe it is a constitutional right the
people have to watch over the acts of
their servants. And if there is any
Doodle in this matter, good God, l don't
want to have it offered to me; for fear
would forget that part of the Lords
Prayer which reads, LEAD me not into
temptation" [Applausel
Mr.. Cram-Early in this session we
shut off any junketing trips of commit
tees because OF the expense, Later on
we would not allow even sub-commit-
tees to go because of the expense. Now
comes a statement Of hearsay remarks in
q newspaper; and because some one is
reported to have said this, that or the
other, we are asked to appoint a commit
tee to go and investigate; which, if it pre-
vail, Will result in consumption of days
and days of the time of this Assembly
when the report is made. And for what?
Suppose you disprove what has been
stated; will it shut off people from here
after making the same charges? will it
accomplish anything? Not the least
thing in the world. 1t has been said here
that those who came here advocating the
/ passage of the electric railway bills were
financially interested in those measures.
In reply to that I wish to say that the
gentleman here the other day in the in
terest of the electric railway measures
were not interested one dime in those
roads, but solely interested for the City
of Oakland and County of Alameda
which want them. Now to appoint this
special committee to investigate these
moment, as men often say things they do
not really mean is q waste of time and of