The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-06
Measures Under Consideration
by the Legislature.
Argument on The amendment to Abolish
the Railroad Commission.
The Fire Department Bill Referred to a Com
mittee-An Act Providing for the
Parole Of Prisoners.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

ers came up for action in the Assembly this
afternoon as the special order of business.
Dibble promptly moved to postpone consid-
Grafton of the measure until Monday.
Doty warned the Assembly that the meas
ure would not down; every farmer in the
State and every Farmers Alliance in the
State have declared against the worthless
commission.
Qibble said he was strongly opposed to
the abolition Of the commission. BE did
not think it would be wise to precipitate
struggle over railroad rates and fares in ev-
cry Legislature that meets. The commits
sion had teen created to take such discus
sion out of the State Legislature, The effect
of repeating the commission would be to
make the railroad take an interest in every
election in the State, and the Legislature
would be composed simply Of railroad and
anti-railrOad men.
Mattlock said the commission had been
under the control of the railroads ever since
it was organized. The railroads want it be-
cause it is easier to handle a commission
than Legislature. The Commissioners
stand between the rights of the people and
the corporations.
Bledsoe said Dibble's attitude was one of
fear. The railroad was between him and
his duty. The Legislature should do right
though every corporation in the State should
threaten to annihilate them at the polls.
Fresno, Stockton and San Jose have been
Disseminated against time and time again,
yet could get no relief from the Commits
sioners. In the report Of the Commissioners
there Is not solitary mention of a COM
plant, yet there were piles of complaints
before them. and whenever a complaint is
considered 1t is considered with tender re-
gard for the interests of the companies.
Clark asked the Assembly to think what
had called tie commission into existence.
Did they remember how every Legislature
was debauched prior to the creation of the
commission? Democratic members were
-clamoring for the abolition Of the commits
sion. Why did they not abolish the COM
mission years ago when they we're in
majority and had the power. 1t would be
far better to let things remain as they are.
The new Commissioners are above the i'm
putations that have been cast upon the COM
mission that has gone out of existence.
ter to go TO the people because the people,
who always take up popular cry, may act
dangerously. In srite of all his opposition
the new Constitution was adopted. The
people clamored for il, and what is the re-
suit? Hundreds Of constitutional cases are
. In the Supreme Court awaiting decision.
Brusie stalled that every State in the Union
now has a Railroad Commission, and we
WOu]d Dot be wise 70 abolish ours.
Dsty retoTted that most of these States
ere sick aud tired Of their Railroad Commits
sloneTs and are struggling 10 throw them of.
The party that says To tie farmers of this
State that they must con tinue to bear this
burden signs Its own death warrant and
renders Itself q subject for popular con-
Tempt Give tie people chance 10 vote on
this commission and you Will see whether
they want II uT not. His opinion Of the
people Of California differed from that OF
Galbrath, and he would say that every
farmer aud granger in the State was better
posted than any politician il the House.
Lux wanted more time TO consider the
question. lie understood that every COM
paint made ue1Ore the present commission
had been Investigated, and the result of
Their Investigations would appear In their
report
The Assembly then decided to make further
consideration Of the resolution the specia!
eFder for M.nday afternoon.
PAID FIRE DEPARTMENTS.
- The Assembly next took up Days bill
providing that every paid fire department
IN The State shall be under the control Of a
board Of five Fire Commissioners, to be ap-
pointed, Three by the City Council, one BY
the Mayor and one by the Treasurer, and re-
peallng Buck.ey's act, which is entitled, An
act to irUviue for the reorganization and
DETER regulating the paid Fire Department
OF the CITY and county of San Francisco.
The nil a II IL to ha 70
voIed 10y the kelly-Crimmins faction, while
Colonel Dan Burns Is believed to favor an
amendment, placing the appointment OF the
commissioners In the hands of the Gov
ernor. II this is the case the Colonel has
Won victory that is but one step removed
from defeat When the bill had been read
Bert Of San Francisco moved to refer 1t 10
the Committee on Municipal Corporations,
the intention being to alter the bill while in
committee so that il would conform to the
nitteo by vote of 50 to "a, the San Fran
cisco delegates voting as follows: Ayes
Arms, Bert, Dunn, Lewis. Noes-Bar-
nett, CoiIey, DAILY, Dennis, Dibble, Glynn,
Hayes, noey, Jones, Lux, Phillips, Steltz,
tennis, Iully, Wentworth. Windruw-16.
PAROLE OF PRISONERS.
Senator MCGOWAN has introduced a bill
for the creation of a Board of Commission
ers for the parole of prisoners at San Quen-
TN. The salaries of the Commissioners shall
not be more than $500 per annum eacn.
The Commissioners shall meet at stated
tHnes AT San quentin, and any prisoner who
mas served the minimum term prescribed by
law for the crime of which he was convicted
or has served one year for crime for which
there is no minimum prescribed, or who has
served six months of a term so prescribed
or five years of sentence for life, when
there Is no minimum term prescribed, shall
be given an opportunity to appear before the
commission and apply for his release on
parole, and in II Ike manner prisoners al Fol-
som may apply for release on parole. If the
commissioners believe the applicant for re-
lease on parole has reformed and will be
able TO support himself and will obey the
law, then bis release on parole shall be au-
thoriZed; but he shall be under control of
the board and subject at any time to be re-
turned to prison. If the prisoner paroled
shall leave the State he shall be deemed an
such. 80
CHINESE EXCLUSION.
Senator Maher has introduced a Chinese
exclusion act similar to that which was in
troduced by Mr.. Young in the Assembly
yesterday, and OF which an extended report
was given in yesterdays CALL. The most
prominent feature of the bill is provision
that all Chinese in the State shall be regis
tered and given certificates of residence, and
any Chinese found after stated time with
out such certificate shall be deported.
captain or owner of any vessel from landing
Chinese at any port In the State; and also
prohibits any railroad or stage company
from bringing Chinese into the State Sena-
tor Maher believes the bill is constitutional,
and If passed will accomplish the object for
which it is intended. Senator Maher
says he introduced the bill at the request of
q Government official. This may account
Tor the extended visit Collector Phelps paid
the capital at the opening of the session.
Senator Simpson has introduced bill to
extend the jurisdiction of the Board of State
Harbor Commissioners over East street,
San Francisco, between Pacific and Folsom
streets, and withdraw the same from the
Jurisdiction Of the Board of Supervisors.
HYDRAULIC MINING.
The hydraulic miners displayed their
strength in tile Assembly this afternoon.
Early in the session Clark introduced con-
current resolution calling upon the Govern
ment to appropriate 100000 to improve
the navigation of the Sacramento River aud
protect jewellers on its banks from over
doWa The rpsnlutfnn ae introduced stated