The record-union., 1891-02-20
Afternoon Session.

The Senate reassembled at 2 O'Clock
p. H., the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT in the
chair.
S. B. 252, to pay the claim of Michael
Curran, was, on motion, referred back to
the Judiciary Committee.
Mr.. DeLong, from the Special Commit
tee on Joint Rules, reported rule to the
effect that each branch Of the Legislature
shall establish a special file on which
shall be placed only bills that have passed
either branch, to be considered from
O'Clock to $3.50 each day.
After some discussion over the report,
in regard to its effect upon the standing
rules, it was adopted.
Mr.. Goucher then gave notice of a mo-
ton to amend standing rule No. so as
to have it conform to the above rule.
Several Senators desired to have the
Senate resume consideration of the order
of business unfinished at the noon recess,
and finally Mr.. Goucher asked that it be
made the special order for the evening.
Mr.. Heacock said that would hardly be
practicable, as there was to be Repub-
hcan joint caucus in the evening.
Mr.. Goucher desired to know if a Re-
publican caucus was above the Legis-
lature,
Mr.. Heacock replied that, by Demo-
cratic precedent, it was.
Mr.. Goucher then moved that the reg
ular business of the aftereoon-consider-
alton of the special file-be continued un-
til O'Clock p. NJ. and in the meantime
the unfinished order of business of the
morning be resumed. Carried.
The Senate then took up 5. B. 324, pro-
viding for State Board of Funeral Di-
rectorS.
The bill provides that the board shall
consist of three persons. to be appointed
by the Governor, to hold office for four
years; they shall meet three times each
year-once in San Francisco, once in Los
Angeles and once in Sacramento-but
may meet oftener if necessary. The Sec
retary need not be member of the board.
1t further provides that no person shall
act as Funeral Director without first hav-
ing been examined and procured a Ii
cense from the said board, nor care for,
prepare for burial or dispose of dead
bodies of human beings. The bill con-
tainS various other novel features, in
Guiding the imposition of penalty OF
from SO to 500 for violation of its pro-
visions, and an allowance of s. for each
days services of members of the board.
Mr.. Campbell of Solano vigorously
assailed the bill, and on motion of Mr..
Goucher section II was stricken out and
the bill ordered reprinted.
COMMON CARRIERS.
S. 3. 43, declaring telegraph compan-
les to be common carriers, was opposed
by Mr.. Carpenter. He declared it TO be
an 10 claSS II IelegTdpDlC ulS-
patch with bag of wheat, and to say
that companies shall be liable for DANA
ges i'll case it should not be able to trans
NIT il within "A certain period. Telegraph
companies cannot follow dispatch across
the continent and see that no delay oc-
ours, because storms and cyclones are
liable at any moment to PROSTATE the
telegraph lines. The whole proposition
was an absurdity, utterly impracticable
and virtually opened the door for the con-
fiscation Of the property of telegraph
companies. These companies are agents
of the Government and should not be
subjected TO such oppression. Mr.. Car
penter said it was testified before the
committee that there are but tifty-three
telegraphic stations in the State that paid
expenses. All the others had to be MAIN
tanned at a loss, many lines stretching for
hundreds of miles through trackless for
ests and over rushing mountain
subject to frequent injury
by storms and falling trees. If tele-
gram deposited in San Francisco office
should fail TO reach Eureka, Humboldt
County, because Of an accident to the
line, the company would be liable, under
this bill, for heavy damages. This was
nanifestly wrong. There was not par
tcle Of testimony presented before the
committee to warrant any change in the
present law regarding telegraph COM
panies.
Mr.. Campbell of Solano spoke in favor
of the bill, confining his remarks chiefly
TO denunciation oftelegraph corporations.
The only legal proposition referred to in
connection with the subject was the fact
that Michigan had similar law in force.
All that was asked was to have telegraphic
companies placed on an equal footing
with express and railroad companies.
The bill to allow an additional Superior
Judge for Tulare County was passed.
Mr.. MCGOWAN followed in an extended
speech in support of the bill. He was op-
posed to oppressive legislation directed
against corporations, and would
have every proper protection thrown
about them. The question was
whether or not the bin in aues-
ton was in the interest of the peo-
pie, and whether it was unjust to the tel
egraph corporations. He held that it was
in the peoples interest, and that it de
manded of the telegraph corporations
nothing that was not right. Its purpose
was TO insure patrons of these companies
against loss, as patrons of railroad COM
panies are now treated. Mr.. McGowan
contended that the bill did not open the
way to any controversy between the
State and Federal authorities, as Govern
nent business would have precedence