The record-union., 1891-03-05
LEGISLATURE 10Th SESSION.
The Senate Family Declares in Favor
of Woman Suffrage.
Lively Debates in the AssembIy-The
Newspaper Bills Killed-Action
on the Ballot Reform Bill.
SENATE.
SACRAMENTO, March 4, 1891.

The Senate met at 10 o'clock A. NJ,
Lieutenant Governor Reddick i'll the
chair. Roll called and quorum present.
Prayer by the Chaplain. Reading of the
journal dispensed with.
Mr.. Carpenter called up the motion to
reconsider the vote whereby the Senate
on the preceding day refused to pass the
bill creating the county of Pomona, Of
which Mr.. McComas had given notice.
By vote of IL ayes to 20 noes, the Sen
ate refused to reconsider il saction.
Mr.. Goucher then called up Mr..
VOORHEES, motion to reconsider the vote
by which the bill providing for a free
wagon road from Mariposa to Yosemite
Valley was passed.
Mr.. Dray spoke against the bill, hold
ng that the State should not burden it
self with public roads that it would have
to keep in repair. He cited the fact that
Ell Dorado fell heir to the splendid toll
road from Placerville to Carson City-a
road used by people from all sections OF
The State-but the county was unable to
keep it in repair, as it run through a
sparsely-inhabited mountainous section.
1t is, however, very important thor
oughfare to the people at large, being the
main highway between this State and
NeNdtld-
Mr.. Voorhies asked Mr.. Goucher who
would keep the road in repair if the State
should build it, and the latter replied that
necessarily the State would have TO do so.
MIR. Goucher further explained, in re
sponse to remark by Mr.. Dray, that the
building of such a road could not pos
Sibly be an infringement on the property
rights or franchises of the owners of toll
roads, as these franchises had long since
expired, and the owners now could have
no claims against the State growing out
its building free road.
By a vote of IA ayes to IS noes the Sen
ate refused to reconsider.
Mr.. Langford presented petition from
the unemployed people Of Stockton ask
ing the passage Of the bill for the relief of
the unemployed of the State.
OTHER SPECIAL ORDERS.
On motion of MIR. Bailey, the considera-
ton of A. B. 1853, to create the county of
San Jacinto. was continued for one day at
the same hour.
latlng TO public schools (lnown as the
omnibus school bilD, was read the second
time and ordered engrossed.
S. 3. 502, to create the Office of attorney
for the State Board of Health and San
Francisco Board of Health.
Alter the roll-call, and before the result
was announced, Il call of the Senate was
demanded, to which there were several
objectioIs on points Of order.
The Chair held that call of the Senate
was in order at any time, and Mr.. Hea-
cock appealed from the decision of the
Chair. The latter was sustained by a
vote of q ayes to 4 noes.
The motion for call of the Senate was
then withdrawn, and the Chair directed
the Secretary to call the names of the alb
sentees. When that of Mr.. Carpenter
was called he voted, and Mr.. Heacock
raised the point that Mr.. Carpenter was
not entitled to vote, as he was outside the
bar OF the Senate when the roll was first
called.
The Chair ruled that the point was not
well taken, and Mr.. Heacock appealed
therefrom.
MIR. Goucher claimed that the Chair had
properly ruled in accordance with the es-
tabnshed custom of the Senate.
The decision of the Chair was sustained
ayes %, noes 4Eand the bill was passed
by vote of % ayes to II noes.
S. B. 234, to establish q standard of
weights and measures, coming up again
as Il special order was vigorously opposed
by Messrs. Simpson, Campbell of Solano,
Berry and Mead, who denounced it as a
vicious and dangerous measure.
1t was supported by its author, Mr..
Mahoney, who said the opposition to it
came chiefly from those engaged in sell
ing hay, milk and butter.
Mr.. Maher moved that the bill be so
amended as to give to Boards of Super
yisors the power to regulate the matter.
Mr.. Campbell of Solano moved to
amend by striking out the enacting
clause.
Mr.. DeLong moved that the further
consideration of the subject be made the
special order for $3.50 z. NJ. So ordered.
WOMAN SUFFRAGE.
The next special order was the bill to
IL.
State, and prescribing their qualifications
as electors.
Mr.. Fraser wished to know how, in the
face Of the Constitution, which gives the
right of suffrage to males, the bill under
consideration could be regarded as consti-
tutional.
Mr.. MCGOWAN explained that, as the
Constitution does not expressly declare
that woman shall not have the right of
suffrage, it remains only for the Legisla-
ture TO declare that they shall have that
right He cited authorities in support of
his argument that it would be entirely
constitutional for the Legislature to en-
franchise women, which he said was an
established rule of construction by the
courts The gentleman proceeded at con-
siderable length TO advocate the passage
of the bill, and spoke eloGuently in its
favor. Extend the franchise to woman.
p said Mr.. MCGOWAN, and You will carry
morality, purity and intelligence into the
politics OF the State. The Senator was
listened to with close attention through
out his remarks, not only by the mem
bers of the Senate, but by many visitors.
Before vote was taken on the bill the
hour of recess arrived.
Afternoon Session.
When the Senate reasseInbled Mr.. Hea-
cock offered a concurrent resolution re-
questing the Governor to return Consti-
tutional Amendment No. IL for correc-
ton. [The bill allows the Lieutenant-
Governor a regular salary and imposes
certain duties on that official.
The resolution was adopted.
Mir. Fraser III the chair.
The Senate then resumed consideration
OF the woman suffrage bill, and w. H.
Williams spoke against it, quoting from
petition signed by prominent women of
Indiana against the extension OF the right
of suffrage to their sex.
This elected another speech from Mr.,
McGowan in support of the bill, who
pleaded eloquently fer political equality
for women, and at the conclusion of his
remarks he was roundly applauded.
Mr.. Campbell, OF Solano, said he would
rather intrust the interests and destinies
OF the State TO women than to one-half the
! men who have the right to vote.
The roll was called, and when that of
Mr.. McComas was reached, he calculated
AYE, thank God!' Applause.
In explaining his Vote" Mr.. Mead
enade speech against the bill, the basis
presence at the polls would not purify
politics, but rather that she would be
sInirched.
The roll-call Developed % ayes to Il
noes, and before the resultwas announced
the names OF the ahsentees were called.