The record-union., 1891-10-15
THAT LIBRARY BASKET.
The Attorney-General Asks the Grand
Jury to Look Into 1t.
A Legislative Scandal Which He Says
Should Be Investigated by the
resent Inquisition.
SACRAMENTO, October l3, 1891.

Ry0n, Esq, District attorney, and to the
Grand Jury Of Sacramento County--GEN
TLEMEN: At the last session of the Legis-
lature, among other proceedings, the fol-
lowing were had:
Concurrent Resolution No S, passed by
the Senate of the State of California,
March Is, 1891, as follows journal Of the
Senate, twenty-ninth session, page 1888:
WHEREAS, Certain documentary evidence,
consisting of scraps and pieces OF written
memoranda were delivered by certain menu
bers of the Senate and Assembly TO the Attor-
ney-General on the 18th instant, in sealed
envelopes for safe-keepfng and investigation;
and whereas, it is claimed and alleged that
such documentary evidence is important and
material as having a bearing upon matters
pending before the Legislature; therefore, be it
ReS0tUed 6g the Senate, The assembly concur
Tthg, That committee OF three from each
mouse be appointed, who, with the Attorney
General, shall open said envelopes, arrange
such documentary evidence so as to make it
readable, and report the same to both houses
without delay.
On said day the following amendment
to ConcurreAt Resolution No. 5 was
adopted, viz Senate Journal. page 794):
'And that said Joint Committee shall
have power to subpoena and examine
witnesses in connection with said papers,
and upon the subject-matters therein
mentioned"
Thereafter the Joint Committee of the
Senate and Assembly made an investi-
cation of said matter, so far as it could
within the limited time remaining be-
fore the close of the session, and made
their report. The report was published
at the time.-EDs.
On March %, 1891, q resolution in refer
ence to said proceeding was offered by
Senator Preston, and was referred to the
standing Committee on Judiciary, which
committee, on said day, reported the fol-
lowing Senate Journal, page 903):
SENATE CHAMBER,
SACRAMENTO, March 25, 1891
Mr.. President: Your Committee on Ju-
dietary, to whom was referred the following
resolution:
WHEREAS, The Senate and Assembly did
on the 18th day of March, 1891. adopt a reso-
luton known as Concurrent Resolution No
5, with the amendments thereto; and where
tAS, the joint committee which was appointed
IN accordance with the aforesaid resolution
mas reported to the Senate ana Assembly the
results OF Its investigations. and filed with the
Lieutenant-Governor the documentary evil
dence in the case; and whereas, the nature of
the evidence is of such character as to war
rant further inquiry; therefore,
RESOLVED, That the Attorney General be and
that he is hereby requested 10 cause the evil
dence and a copy of the joint committees re-
port TO be presented to the Grand Jury of Sac
famento County, with the request that the
said Grand jury make thorough exami-
nation into all the circumstances connected
with the case.
Have had the same under consideration AM
respectfully report the same back, and recon-
mend that the said resolution be amended so
as to read as follows:
ReSolred That the whole subiect-matter of
the resolution and the committee report be
referred to the Attorney General, to take such
action in relation thereto as he may deem
proper; and that the Governor be requested to
q turn over to the Attorney-General upon re-
quest, all his papers pertaining to SAID mat
General TO take such action as he may deem
advisable.
And we further recommend that said reso-
luton as amended be adopted as a concurrent
resolution. SPRAGUE, Chairman.
In accordance with the foregoing reso-
lutions and proceedings, refer the mat
ter to you for such action as may be
deemed advisable.
Considerable time has elapsed since the
adjournment of the Legislature, bat no
Grand jury having been impaneled in
this county until now. l have not been
able to present the matter before.
During the session of the Legislature
and since, there have been rumors that
money had been used in bribing legis-
lators and controlling legislation, IN re-
gard to certain measures, among which l
may mention:
l. The telegraph bill.
2. Colusa-Glenn County division.
3. San Bernardino-R Riverside County
division.
4. Jacinto County division
5. The passage of the Dennis Jordan
claim.
6. Senatorial contests.
These rumors involve Democratic
members of each house, as well as Re-
publicans.
AS to the truth of these rumors. I am
not able to state. They are of a serious
nature, and the charges are made so GER
tain and definite that it is the duty of the
Grand Jury of Sacramento County, now
assembled, to investigate these charges
thoroughly aid impartially. On account
OF the many accuSatory newspaper arti-
cles, and the desire of the political party
not now in power 10 besmirch the Re-
publican members of the Legislature of
California, and the gentlemen who were
elected United States Senators at the last
session. deem it the duty of this Grand
Jury, for the honor of the State, to in
yestigate these matters fully.
From an examination of the laws
passed at the session, with few excep-
tons, they are found to be as useful legfs-
lation as has been had since the adoption
of the codes and the new Constitution.
But few bills, subject to objection, were
passed.
1t is claimed that money was expended
in and about the Legislature in order to
pass bills, and that if bills were passed by
one house the opposing side would spend
larger sums in order to defeat them in
the other. This may or may not be true
The matter should be thoroughly investi-
gated, and if the Grand Jury believes any
one is guilty, il is its duty TO find indict-
ments, in order that the guilty may be
punished. If, on the other hand, these
reports are groundless, and no bribery
has been committed, you should SO find.
If any are guilty they should be pun
ished; but if the rumors be false, let it be
known, SO that the fair fame of California
shall in the future be untarnished.
A republican form of government is
founded upon the principle that all
power is vested in the people, and that the
humblest and poorest elector has the
right to aspire to any office within their
gift.
Or late years it has been said by people
of other States and by many of our citi-
zens, that money and corporations run
the politics of this State, and that no
honest or poor man could obtain a public
Office within the gift of the people. Such
reports having gone out to the people of
other States, and believed by many of
our own citizens TO be true, the guilty
should be punished, that it may be
known that there are still some honest
men leftiamong the people and politicians
of this fair State of the Pacific Coast.
The youngs men of California demand
at your hands fair and full investiga-
ton. We cannot expect the young men
TO take part in its politics. TO assist in its
government unless it is carried on hon
estly and properly.
The old people of this State who aided
in putting down the Rebellion and re-
deeming the National Government, de-
sire the matter investigated, so that they
will be satisfied that the politics of Cali
fornia have been renoyoted, cleansed and
purified.
am aware that this language may be