The record-union., 1891-02-10
LEGISLATURE 10Th SESSION.
Freights and Fares Not to Be Again
Dragged Into That Body.
0raneers Petitioning for Mutual Fire
Insurance Law-Work in the AS
semhly Side.
SENATE.
sAcRAMENro, Monday, Feb. 9, 1891.

SACRAMENTO, Monday, Feb. 9, 1891.
The Senate met at o'clock p. NJ, Lieu
tenant Governor Reddick in the chair.
Roll called and quorum present Prayer
by Rev. A. II. Needham. Journal read
and approved.
The special order for 2 o'clock was Mr..
Wilson'S S. B. 267. to regulate the interest
on money.
On motion of Mr.. Wilson. the consider
alton of the bill was made the special
order for 11:30 A. NJ. on Tuesday.
PETITIONS.
Mr.. Ostrom presented two petitions
from Lodi Grange. One favored the bill
relating to dealing in futures, and the
other favored the passage of the mutual
insurance bill.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Mahoney, from the Committee on
Commerce and Navigation, reported
back S. B. 332, relating to the Harbor
Commissioners of San Diego, with the re-
quest that the author of the bill be al
lowed to withdraw it.
Mr.. Streeter, the author of the bill, ex-
planned that he had been requested by
the City Council of Riverside to withdraw
the bill. 1t was so ordered.
Mr.. Fraser from the Committee on
Agriculture, reported back S. b. $50, re-
1ating to the formation and government
of agricultural districts, recommending
its passage as amended.
r Mr.. Preston, from the Committee on
Prisons, reported back the bill relating to
the appointment of State agent for the
employment of discharged convicts, rec
omlnending its passage.
Mr.. G.. II. Williams, from the Commit
tee on Federal Relations, reported back
S. B. $50, relating to the registration of
Chinese residents. Passage recommended.
Mr.. DeLong, from the Committee on
Finance, reported back favorably the bill
appropriating money to pay the salary OF
the Executive Secretary for the forty-irst
and forty-second fiscal years.
KLAMATH RIVER AGAIN.
Mr.. Campbell, of Siskiyou, called up
the first special order-the bill repeating
the Act declaring Klamath River navi-
gable.
Messrs. McGowan and Ostrom wanted
the matter postponed, and after some dis
cussion it was made the special order for
2 o'clock P. NJ. on Wednesday.
THE POLICE BILL.
On motion of Mr.. Dray, the Senate took
up for consideration messages from the
Assembly. Amoug these was one inform
ing the Senate that the Assembly had re-
fused to concur in the Senate amendment
to A. B. 211 (the police bilD, excepting
cities of the third class from its operation.
Mr. Dray moved that the Senate recede
from its amendment, which it did. He
then moved to amend the bill by provid
ing that in cities of the third class there
shall not be to exceed one policeman for
each one thousand inhabitants. This, he
said, would entitle Sacramento to u, San
Jose to 19, and San Diego to l6.
The amendment was adopted.
BACK PAY.
Mr. Denison offered resolution pro-
viding that S. B. ATS be amended so as to
reduce the sum to be appropriated there
by from 1926 to $500. C1'he bill appropri-
ates money to pay for the services of GER
tain attaches performed by direction of
the Assembly in 1885, but for which Con-
troller Dunn refused to issue warrants.
The bill had been recommended for
passage. but it was deemed advi.able to
reduce the sum to be appropriated.
The resolution WAS amended.
BILL APPROVED.
A message was received from the Cow
ernor, announcing his approval of S. C.
A. 10, amending Section 2, of Article w.,
of the Constitution.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
V BY Mr.. Heacock-Amending Section
l24S of the Penal Code, relating to stay of
the Supreme Court.
v By Mr.. Mead-Creating police relief
funds in cities and counties.
/. By. Mr.. DeLong- Authorizing the en-
ployment of otherwise unemployed con-
victs on roads at San Quentin.
By Mr.. Broderick-Pr Providing for the
appointment of health and market in
spectors in cities of 5000 inhabitants or
over.
By Mr.. Dray-To protect owners OF
bottles, kegs, etc., used in the business OF
the manufacture of beverages.
Also, providing for the establishment
loftitles to real estate by the judgments OF
courts.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION.
The next special order was Mr.. Mead's
constitutional amendment repeating
Sections % and % of Article XII, of the
Constitution, creating the State Board OF
Railroad Commissioners.
Mr.. Dray said he was not prepared to
vote intelligently on the measure. 1t had
been said in some quarters that the Rail-
road Commission had not been vigilant
in the discharge of its duties, but he did
not know such to be the fact. fthe com
mission were abolished the old scenes
about the Legislature would, he feared
be re-enacted. He had hoped that Sena-
tors would discuss the question, in order
that he might be enlightened on the sub
ject.
Mr.. Wilson said he had recently ex,
perienced change of heart on the propo-
sition, and was now in favor of abolish
ing the commission. In his opinion il
had not worked as well here as in Other
States.
Mr.. Goucher said he was opposed to the
proposed amendment, abolishing the
commission, on two grounds. One was
the fact that its effect would be to legislate
three officers out of one-half the terms fol
which they were elected. If the amend
ment had been so framed as to permit the
members of the commission to serve out
their full ternas, he might see his way to
overcome his ScrupIeS in other respects
and vote for it. Possibly the commission
had failed in the past to meet public ex.
pectations, but it should not be con
demned for that reason, as all depart
mentS of the State Government had beer
failures at some time or other. Governor:
had been failures, and so had Legisla
tures-even the Supreme Court. Tht
remedy lay with the people. If they fai
to choose wisely in selecting their public
officials, the fault is their own. Tht
Railroad Commission takes the vexeC
of the halls of the Legislature ant
thus relieves that body of fruit
full source of annoyance and inter
ference. If good and efficient commits
sioners be elected in the future, the work
of the board may be satisfactory. Tht
luITlcdle SuDJeCt OF regulating IdreS dill
freights should not again be dragged intS
Z the Legislature. Besides, when a man i.
elected to a public office it is under al
implied contract that he shall be allowed
to serve out the term for which he wa:
chosen, and that contract should be above
reputation.
Mr. Mead said he had no objection te
{ amending the bill so that it should no
take effect until 1S95-after the expiration
of the terms of the present commission
ers. He felt himself as if it would bt