The record-union., 1891-03-03
Afternoon Session.


The House assembled at 2 o'clock, the
! Speaker in the chair.
Some corrections to the journal of the
| day were made.
! Mr.. Lacey in the CHAIR
| s. B. 154, authorizing school districts,
| cities, to furnish the pupils of their re-
| spective public schools with free use of
| the Senate special file. 1t was lost by a
vote of ayes 81, noes 30. Mr.. Jackson
| gave notice that he would move on Tues
day for reconsideration.
| Mr.. Bert moved to make a matter OF
special urgency Of S. B. 2S2 to provide
for the appointment of Board of Suffers
Fort Trustees, and for the ACQUISITION ofthe
Suffers Fort property, order it to second
and third readings and to final passage.
Carried. On the second reading the
House went into Committee of the Whole
| to consider the bill which contains an an
preparation. Mr.. Bledsoe offered an
amendment reducing the appropriation
| for the restoration and preservation of
the fort from $40, 900 to 5000.
| Mr.. BledSoe based his reasons for the
amendment upon the plea of economy.
| Mr.. Bert said that the Native Sons of
the Golden West had, with good deal of
effort, raised $4,000 and purchased the
| remains of Suffers Fort apd the ground
on which it stands. They have presented
and now ask for this sum to restore the
property and make it a suitable monu-
ment to the past
Mr.. Gould asked the gentleman why so
much money was needed.
Mr.. Bert called upon Speaker Coombs,
who was on the floor and who had pre-
sented the bill, as the proper one to ex-
plain.
Mr.. Coombs said that. the Order of Ma
tive Sons, actuated by motives of loyalty
and patriotism, had looked about the
State for some old relic OF pioneer days
which might be preserved as monument
to those days, and which might speak to
the centuries to come of the patriotism.
the bravery, the wisdom and the glory of
the early founders of this State. They
fixed upon Suffers Fort as the most alb
solutely representative relic existing.
They worked for the necessary SUM to
purchase it. They accomplished it, and
gave the whole to the State, and now they
asked this Legislature for the pittance of
$50 600 for the purpose of resurrecting and
putting in enduring form the old features
of the venerable fort. Mr.. Coombs said
he was astonished to hear any dissent to
this opposition, when gentlemen on this
floor had been voluntarily raising appro-
priations which were already equal to the
sums asked for. This was matter which
would inure to the future glory of the
grandest State of the Union and to the
patriotism of her future citizens.
Mr.. Marion said that he had only
spoken against taking up the bill out of
order; that he would yield to no one in
his love and reverence for California and
that the measure should have his vote.
Mir. Beecher favored the amendment.
Mr.. Bruner spoke in favor of the full
appropriation. Though not native son,
the fort was his earliest recollection and
stood between the founders of the State
and the enemies OF the Government
Better nothing than S5.G00
Mr.. Hail believed that every sentiment
of loyalty, patriotism and love for Cali
fornia would urge members to vote for
the appropriation.
Mr.. Cunningham was against the ap-
preparation on the grounds of economy.
and because he believed the widows and
orphans of the State would suffer if S2O.-
0e0 was given for this purpose.
Mr.. Robertson remarked: ''All right:
let the Republicans defeat this now and
the Democrats will take care of it two
years from now.n
Mr.. Matlock said there seemed to be
two principles involved, economy and
loyalty. lie had got all through thinking
about the economy part OF it and was
ready to vote so, 100 for pure loyalty.
Mr. Clark was surprised TO see any OPP
position developing in this matter. Snt-
ter's Fort had been the first glimpse of
civilization and of protection which had
greeted the pioneers after their long and
dangerous journey across the continent;
to many native son it was his earliest
recollection, and it should be sacred
duty to restore and preserve the relic as Il