The record-union., 1891-02-10
COMMITTEES And CAUCUSES.
Contestant P. J. Murphy Likely to be
Out His Expenses.
The Sacramento Bond Bill VIII be
Reported Favorably-Action
ON Other Bills.

2 Ines. ways duu MEANS COIutllttee Vi
the Assembly at their meeting last night
had under consideration the general ap-
preparation bin. Before going into ex-
ecutive session the committee listened to
Senator DeLong i'm behalf of the
appropriation for San Quentin State
Prison; Captain 4 Aull for an appropri-
alton Of $4,000 for maintenance of
Folsom Prison, together with S65, 600 for
additions and repairs; to Mr.. Lowe,
brother of Assemblyinan Lowe of Santa
Clara, on the appropriation necessary for
the State Normal School at San Jose, and
TO Mr.. Barnard on behalf of the Normal
School at Chico.
Chairman Dibble hopes to have the bill
ready to report back to The Assembly by
next Monday at the farthest.s
THE APPoRTIoNMENT BILL.
The Assembly Republican caucus held
last evening was brief, the apportion-
ment bill was discussed and it is said that
a substitute was agreed upon, to be pre-
scented to the Assembly to-day.
= Another story is to the effect that the
caucus merely agreed upon plans to push
ahead the apportionment bill, and that
joint caucus of Senators and Assembly
men will be held in q day or two to agree
upon bill.
SACRAMENTO BOND BILL.
tfThe bill affecting the bonded debt of
ate Judiciary Committee last evening.
AT the previous. hearing arguments
against the bill We're made by bondholder
Bates and Bond Commissioner Beatty.
Last evening arguments in its favor We're
made by Judge McKune and w. A.
Anderson, who have both acted as attor-
neys for the city in its litigation with the
bondholders.
The points dwelt upon by the gentle
men-while new to the committeeman
familiar to all Sacramentans, who followed
the bond litigation in years past. Major
Anderson laid particular stress upon the
significance of Supreme Justice Pater-
sons dissenting opinion in the case of
Bates VS., City Treasurer Porter. in which
four of the seven Justices held that the
bondholders were ientitled to 55 per cent.
OF the gross income Of the water works.
One paragraph OF Justice Paterson's
opinion, although frequently quoted, is
worty Of reproduction. 1t reads:
In,view of the uncertainty as to the mean
ing the Legislature intended to attach to the
word revenue" in the Act of 1853, the
amendatory and supplemental acts may be
regarded as simply rendering it's true mean
ing certain, and as in no way changing. add
| declared void because of the insertion of the
word met" unless it is clearly repugnant to
the sense in which the words revenue from
water rents" had been used in the original
| Act.
. In support of Justice Paterson's opin-
| ion, that of Justice Mcfarland was also
quoted, in which he said:
| The water works is a, business, like the busi-
ness of other water companies, mining, rail
roading, merchandising, etc. In such case
revenue" is, of course, the excess of receipts
| over expenditures. If other financial mira
cles could be wrought as easily as the turning
| of the gross receipts ofa, business into revenue
1.-The chapels had been churches, and poor
mems cottages princes palaces"
| MeSSrs. Mckune and Anderson were
| submitted to rigid course of questioning
by members of the committee, and when
! the hearing was concluded the commit
tee, without dissenting vote, agreed to
recommend the bill tor passage.
I CONCERNING BoYcoTTING.
The Judiciary Committee of the Senate
| ing to unlawful conspiracy. 1t re-enacts
! the present provisions of the code ON that
| subject, with the addition of a new sec-
| ton, as follows:
To lnjure any person in his business, or to
| prevent any person from exercising lawful
employment, calling or business.
| They are punishable by imprisonment in
the county Jail not exceeding two years, or by
| q fine not exceeding 50 900, or both.
The committee at one time voted to re-
duce the term of imprisonment from two
! years to one year, and the fine from s., ,0Ot
to 81 600. Subsequently, arguments against
the bill were made by Eugene Hough
and c. M. Harrison, after which the com
mittee decided to postpone final action on
the bill until its author, Senator Camp
bell, could be present.
A BILL KNOCKED OUT.
| At session of the Senate Committee
on Irrigation and Water Rights, A. B.
1872, providing for the disorganization OF
irrigation districts, was considered, among
other bills relating to irrigation. The bill
in question was one far-reaching in its
scope, as it virtually repealed, or mega.
cation Act of -four years ago, under
which so many districts have been formed
and are now operating.
| The bill was, on motion of Mr.. Camp
bell of Sislliyou, indefinitely postponed
Ex-senator Wright was present, anC
seemed to be immensely pleased at the
action of the committee.
EcoNoMY's THE WORD.
There was caucus of the Republican
/ Senators last evening, called for the pur
! pose of considering what action SHOULD
be pursued in regard to the bills of cos
j returned for the Murphy -Mahoney con
test. Mr.. Murphy's claim is for s., ,333 80
and Mr.. Mahoney's for 1854 40.
The caucus last night decided, it is said
to vote against allowing any portion O
the Murphy bill except for the work O
the stenOgraphic reporter, and also re
duced the Mahoney bill some 81 200.
Evidently the Republican Senators ar,
t<NFf Al