The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-02-03
The Assembly Votes to Seat EakIe,
the CoIusa Democrat.
More Insurance Company Bflls-The
Senate Passes the Eight-Hour Bill
The Contempt Bill.
SENATE.
SACRAMENTO, Feb. 2, 1891

Acdo anu dppTOAeQ
PETITIONS.
Mr.. Ostrom introduced number of pc
titions from various Oranges and Farm
ers' Alliances, praying the passage of a
bill to permit the formation of mutual
fire insurance companies. Referred.
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
The Senate took up the special order for
the day, the Governors message appoint
ing Charles F. Bassett member of the
State Board of Harbor Commissioners.
vice w. d. English. Adopted-ayes 80,
noes 0.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
Y By Mr.. Langford-To pay the claim of
John Mullan for services rendered the
State in collecting moneys due ON account
of Indian war claims.
4 By Mr.. Heacock-To amend Section
1855 of the Political Code.
/ Also, to amend Section of Article l.
of the Constitution, relating to iuries in
justices and Police Courts.
- BY Mr.. Banks-Providing pay for
property taken for public use.
By Mr.. arpenter-Amending Section
, 75l, relating to the Supreme Court.
= Also 10y request), for the protection of
policy-holders in fire insurance conf
panies.
- Also, amending Section 81 ofthe County
Government Act, relating to county Of
Gcers.
Also, adding new section (593l to the
Y Penal Code, relating to roads and high
ways.
Also, amending Section 24l of the Code
of Civil Procedure, relating to Grand
Juries.
Also, amending the Code of Civil Pro-
cedure, relating to the appellate jurisdic-
ton of the Supreme Court.
= Also, amending Section 1913 of the
Penal Code, relating to appeals.
\ By w. II. Misunderstanding for
eign insurance companies doing business
in this State to pay into the public treas
ury two per cent. on their gross incomes
Also, amending the Political Code, re-
'lating to foreign insurance companies
and their operations.
Also, amending the Civil Code, relating
to insurance policies.
EMBRYO STATESMEN.
Mr.. Dray offered a resolution allowing
the pages of the Senate the use of one of
the committee-rooms once week, they
having formed an association for mutual
improvement. Adopted.
WORK ON THE FILE.
Owing to the absence of the authors
thereof, consideration of all the bills on
the special file Is. B. 128, S. c. a. ), S. C.
a. Z, s. b. 81 and S. c. A. 81 We're post
poned.
S. BIS. las and 81 ON third reading, were
also passed on file.
5. b. Y, regulating the form of requisi-
IONS Tor stationery made by members of
the Legislature upon the Secretary of
State, was read the third time and passed
>. h. SO, relating to eight hours being
legal days work, was read the third time
and passed without a dissenting vote.
The bill providing for repairs on the
quarantine launch Governor Perkins was
also passed.
REAssEssING INVALID TAXES.
The next bill on the file was that intro
duced by Mr.. Berry, relating to reassess-
ments of property and the equalization of
the same in cases where former assess
ment is invalid or void, and in relation to
thecollection of taxes on said reassess-
ment.
Mr.. Sprague said the bill involved seri-
Gus legal questions, and he moved that it
be made the special order for Friday next
at o'clock p. NJ tt
Mr.. Ostrom moved to amend by making
it the special order for Tuesday at p. NJ.
Mr.. bray moved as substitute that
the bill be referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee, as it involved some far-reachino
and important considerations.
MIR. Mead spoke against the proposed
reference, saying thai the bill could not
get through the committees hands.
Mr.. Sprague replied warmly and chal-
lenged an insinuation that the judiciary
Committee was engaged in burying bills.
MIR. Mead disclained any intention of
1mpugning the integrity Of the commit
tee, but held that it could not consider all
the bills before it.
Mr.. Carpenter wanted the bill to go to
the Judiciary. Before giving all the AS
SCISSORS in the State the right to go back
Tor years and reasSess all property on
which there may have been invalid as
sessments, he wanted To inquire into the
matter, as it might unsettle the titles to
large amount OF property.
The matter was further discussed by
Messrs. Ostrom, Mead and Berry and
finally Mr.. Dray withdrew his motion to
refer the bill.
Mr.. Ostrom amended his motion SO as
to make the bill the special order for
Wednesday. Hostages q, noes 5.
Mr.. Sprague'S original motion making
the bill the special order for Friday at
p. NJ, was then carried.
on SECOND READING.
The following bills were read the sec
s. Is. ~, to pay the claim ofIWm n.
Murphy. for money illegally paid the
State of California.
S. B. 200, to pay the claim OF George
Fetherstone for services rendered in the
office of Treasurer of State.
S. B. 81. to pay the claim of George J.
Mothersole for labor performed and ex-
penses incurred in roofing the Napa State
Asylum for the Insane under a written
contract.
5. b. IS, to pay the claim of James w.
Rankin for services in the Office OF the
State Treasurer Of California.
5. b. 81, providing for a general passen-
ger depot on the San Francisco water
front.
CONTEMPT OF COURT.
Some debate ensued over the comniit-
tee amendment to A. B. D. relatin 9 to the
powers of courts in the matter of punish
ing for contempt.
Mr.. Crandall spoke in favor IF the
amendment substituting mo- for .sand',
in that clause of the bill which provided
that no speech or publication refiecting
upon a court shall be published asi con-
tempt unless made in the Immediate
presence of such court while in session
landl in such manner as to actually
interfere with its proceedings" He held
that under the original wording OF the
bill newspaper might influence a case
on trial IN court and yet escape respon-
Slblllty for contempt of court.
MIR. McGowan spoke at considerable
length in favor of the bill against the
committee amendment. He argued that
the liberty of the press and speech was
one of the fundamental principles of the
Constitution, and should not be abridged.
The courts now have too much power in
such cases. a newspaper may tell the
truth about Judge, and yet be brought
before him and punished for contempt
without having any redress.
Mr.. Drayi said that no just Judge of a
court should fear the criticisms of the
press or of individuals, and a corrupt or
unworthy Judgeofa court should nothave
the power of throwing into prison the pub
Usher of public journal for telling the
truth. The restricting of public speech
or press expression was a dangerous