The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-04


pany the right to erect poles and disfgure
the streets. There is an average of one man
killed per day in the United States by the
maintenance of overhead wires. There
would be infinite danger to the people of San
Francisco if the overhead wire system were
introduced. In the great city of Berlin there
Is not an overhead wire. and these people
want the overhead system because 1t is
cheaper.
Dennis opposed the bill and the amend
ment because he saw in it nothing but a
scheme to boom real estate ard rope, in
poor men as they have been roped in be-
fore. If the overhead system is adopted it
will be impossible for the fremen OF San
Francisco to work. He favored a bill COM
Polling all corporations to put their wires
underground.
Shanahan attacked the bill because it gives
a franchise for fifty years. What folly, he
declared, in this age that has just seen the
launching of an airship, to compel city for
fifty years to be disfgured by system OF
overhead propulsion that will be antiquated
hvetyears hence.
Galbraith of Santa Clara tried to have the
Assembly believe that the people we're
almost frantic for the overhead system,
which was the best of all possible systems.
OVERHEAD SYSTEM CONDEMNED.
Robertson read letter from Mayor San
derson condemning the overhead system,
aud Galbraith asked excitedly whether Il
D6LllOu
signed by several hundred prominent cltl-
Zens of San Francisco. The Speaker re-
piled in the affirmative, and GaIOraltn, con-
tinuing his speech, declared that he was
Democrat enough to let the municipal gov
eminent have charge of Its own AFFAIRS.
which remark Mr. Brusie characterized as
the keynote of common sense.
\ member from Sacramento, in speaking
in favor of the bill, INDUCED in fling at
Shapahan as the representative OF sheep
9 mi, E,+l, I'D
that he would rather represent shepherds,
OF whom hesthought King David had been
one, than represent the bummerS and loaf
ers of Sacramento, a city that would not be
in existence were it not for the States Hber-
ality in lifting it out of the mud.
Sturtevaut, with eyes uplfted to the chan
delier: 81 thank God that l am from a
place so far back in the redwoOds that sun
light never enters, for the gloom is purer
than the atmosphere of San Francisco. L
will never vote to give the power to it to en-
franchise this company for fifty years"
Dlbble spoke again and briefly. The San
Francisco delegation had, he said, sixteen
members, and there would be sixteen votes
against the bill.
Speaker Coombs took the floor in favor of
the bill and talked till he was h0arSe. He
was asked II he would accept an amend
ment restricting the use OF electricity to
cities Of less than 100000 inhabitants, but
he refused
Phillips of San Francisco spoke against
the bill. He did not believe in giving the
supervisors such powers as Coombs' amend
ment would confer upon them. The solid
nine" had taught the people of San Fran
cisco how dangerous to public Welfare power
IN the hands OF Supervisors might be made.
ReleTlug to the petitions from San Fran
cisco, of which Gdlbraith made so much, he
said signatures might be obtained to any
petition in San Francisco.
MAYOR sANDERsoN's LETTER,
Following is Mayor Sanderson's letter:
Hon. G. B. robertson, Sacramento, Cal
DEAR SIR: In reply TO yours of the oath, | am
decidedly opposed TO The granting Of franchises
10 electIlc roads 10 be built and operated In the
thlckly settled portion Of San Franci,co. AS ex-
tensions TO- The existing cable roads they would
De very hdVaEt igeous. From the Information
when nave Deem able TO gather, am inclined
TO lie belief that tue overhead wire is the only
satisfactory working OF the system Under
ground and storage battery lines in many in
stances, have been changed to the overhead
wire. For small towns the electric road seems
well adapted, but for large cities, whose Iele-
dlshgure The streets, believe that they would
be most Objectionable. Very truly yours,
u. ID. SANDEKsoN, Mayor.
The members were still debating at the
hour OF adjournment, aud the bill went over
as the special order for Tomorrow after
noon. Mccall of Alameda says he
thinks 1t VIII pass, and the San Francisco
delegation will not vote as a unit against it.
CONTEMPT OF COURT.
Barry's Contempt Bill has passed both
Houses and Is en- route to the Governors
desk. After reciting many things that
shall constitute contempt of court it pro-
vldeS that no speech, statement or pubiica-
ton rejecting upon or concerning any court
or officer thereof shall be treated or pun
lSned as Il contempt of such court unless
made in the immediate presence of such
court while IN session. and in such man
ner as to actually interfere with its pro-
ceedings.
FILLING VACANCIES.
Sprague has introduced in the Senate an
act providing that where any office be-
comes vacant ana DO mtde of filing the
vacancy is provided, tile Governor must fill
such vacancy by granting a commission to
expire ut the end of the next session of the
Legislature, or at the next election by the
people All offices heretofore hlied by APP
lutmeDt, where such appointing power
has ceased to eXiSt,are declared vacant, and
such Offices shall be filed by the Governor
every four years.
The Senate to-day passed resolution re-
pealin2 Sections p and % Of Article IL of
the Constitution, which provides for the
creation of a Board of Railroad Commission
ers and defines their duties.
BALLOT REFORM.
The Senate Committee on Elections win
report favurabiy on LangfOrd'S Ballot Re-
fern Bill as amended. The bill has been
codiiied by Judge Mcguire ami its sections
Incorporated III appropriate places in the
Political Code. The provision for marking
the ballots with black pencil is changed SO
that the marking Is done with stamp, as in
Indiana. The provision for the Withdra wal
OF candidate is amended so that the with
drawal must be acknowledged before the
County Clerk instead of a notary. This is to
prevent the issue of FRAUDULENT certica ties
OF withdrawal. Instead of leaving the style
of ballot to the judgment OF the County Clerk
the Sc ton is amended so that all the bal
lots must be eighteen inches long four and
hall Inches VIDE, or as many times
such width.as shall be necessary to contain
the names OF all the candidates nominated.
Special messengers are to be employed to
distribute the ballots. A provision is taken
fIGm Dibble's bill requiring the ballot clerks
to act as additional clerks of election after
the polls are closed The provision leaving
the matter OF providing the sample of
ballots to the discretion of the local Board of
Supervisors is stricken out, and the amend
ment provides that the samples SHALL be
made mandatory. Special penalties are
strlken out and the present provisions of
the Penal Code made applicable. An effort
will be made to have the bill pass the SEN
ate by Friday, and then be taken up in the
House as substitute for the bills now in
The hands OF the Election Comm ittee, which
has been ordered 10 report a ballot bill on
Friday. morning.
COUNTY GOVERNMENTS.
The Senate Committee on Counties and
County Governments to-day reported against
the creation of any new county except the
county 10 be created by dividing Colusa.
The House Committee on Election and
Aprortionment decided last night to report
the hve ballot reform bills before them. in
Guiding Dibbe's, without recommendation.
Friday morning. 1t will meet Thursday
night and settle on the apportionment Of
the State.
The Senate Committee on Claims will re-
pnrtfavorably on Jordan's claim, amounting
to $4,000, for work on Folsom Prison.
COURT OF CLAIMS.
Senator Heacock, Chairman of the commit
tee, is drafting bill providing for the crea-
tinn of Court of Claims, of which the
Observation-Disclosures and two of the SUI
preme Court Judges will be members. The
court shall have power to hear and pass
upon all claims against the State, and shall
examine all charitable institutions and re-
port to the Legislature, and shall be sworn
10 secrecy regarding their movements.
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY
The State Horticultural Society has
memorialzed the Assembly in favor of con-
In -