The record-union., 1893-03-10

troduced by the member from Shasta.
That measure was fully discussed here
and went from this house to the Senate.
1t was there considered in every detail
and there the Seawell substitute was of
Tered, and it was also fully considered
and was there rejected. The so-called
Carpenter substitute was there offered
discussed pro and con by the able gentle
men who compose that body, and was
hnaIIy passed. Coming into this house.
an effort was made to bring it up for inn
mediate action, the member from Tehama
who made the motion, asserting that
every member then knew just how he was
going to vote. 1t was then thought best to
refer the bill 10 the Judiciary Committee
and that was done. That committee met
and was in session until u o'clock al
night. There appeared before that COM
mittee friends of the bill under consider
alton and those who were not in favor OF
the same. Statements and arguments were
made and the subject viewed from every
possible standpoint. After this
FULL CONSIDERATION
And mature deliberation, certain amend
ments were offered, one OF them by the
gentleman who now introduces the sub
stitute amendment for which we are now
asked to vote. The amendments were
adopted by vote of eight to three, every
one of the gentlemen now advocating
this substitute amendment casting his
vote for the amendments there offered.
after these amendments were adopted
it was the universal opinion of the COM
mlttee that the bill as amended was prac-
tically the Shanahan bill for which we
had all voted few weeks ago, and the
glow of triumph that overspread the
countenance of the member from Shasta
at such announcement was abeautiful
thing to behold.
And now, one day after the action Of
that committee, we have offered for oul
consideration, as an amendment to the
reassessment bill portion of the So
called Seawel substitute - measure
which has been defeated in the Senate
and which the gentlemen who advocate
it here well know will again be rejected
if returned to that body. If that amend
ment is offered in good faith, why was ii
not offered in the committee? Why is il
sprung upon the Assembly at the last
moment, and after every advocate of its
passage had voted. within forty-eight
hours, to report back the reassessment
bill, with the recommendation that it do
pass?"
THE TALL SYCAMORE ADMITS.
Mr.. Shanahan acknowledged it was ap-
parently inconsistent for the members Of
the Judiciary Committee to go back on
the Senate assessment bill, which they
had taken the pains to amend. Every
bill up to the Introduction of the one pre-
pared by Senator Seawell, he said. pro-
vlded for the collection of railroad taxes
from the year 1882, and not prior to that
date. The bill he introduced in the AS
sembly was at the request of the Citi-
Zens' Defense Association of San Fran
cisco, through eX-Controiler Dunn. That
gentleman is also the one who immedi-
ately turned round for some reason OF
other and had a new bill drawn ur
affecting the collection of taxes from 1879
and known as the Seawell bill which was
before the Assembly. Mr.. Shanahan be-
lieved that every principle involved in
the contention was fully covered by his
original bill, but it was faulty in some
few respects. He questioned the advisa-
bility of dating the collection of taxes
from lS79 and although it might appear
Inconsistent, he would nevertheless vote
for the substitute offered by Mr. Finlay-
son. If that could not be carried, then
he would vote for the Carpenter substi-
tute as amended by the Judiciary Com
mittee. He considered the Seaweu bill
was a better one than the Senate substi-
tute, as it provides for the old rate of tax
levy for the respective years on which
the taxes remain unpaid, based on the
valuation of the railroad property for
those years, and also because it requires
notice to be given to the railroad COM
pany of reassessment.
HAsTY ACTION.
Mr.. Afford said that when a wrong
was committed he was not afraid to ad-
nit it and to correct the error. He said the
Judiciary Committee took hasty action
on the Carpenter substitute reassessment
bill. 1t had since developed that the rail.
road company owed 100000 prior tc
1882. He would not vote, he said, fol
what he considered a compromise meas
ure, and he believed the people of the
State would not approve of the action oi
the Assembly should they agree to such
a thing.
MIR. Schlesinger, who at the meeting OF
the Judiciary Committee expressed him
self as willing to vote for the Carpenter
bill without amendments, said he would
vote for any bill which would compel the
railroad company TO pay every dollar
into the State Treasury. He said every
wise man should be willing to recede
from his position when convinced that he
is wrong.
THE KEYNOTE.
Mr.. O'Keefe followed He said it was
not his purpose to discuss the merits and
dement's of the substitute, but to explain
his position. 1--WE know that wher
this House was organized" he said
''the Speaker, in whom have the great.
est confidence. in his wisdom had seer
fit to select nineteen lawyers of this body
to constitute the Judiciary Committee
The measure when it came from the Sen
| ate was submitted to that committee and
it after mature deliberation reported sale
Carpenter substitute, as amended, with
| the recommendation that it do pass
Now some of the members of the COM
mittee have seen fit to recede from theil
own action and framed a substitute fol
that bill. My conclusion is that such {
proceeding is done for political capita
to bolster up the forlorn Democratic
party. do not propose by my action tC
place myself in such position so as tc
lose the confidence of the members O
this Assembly, as well as stultifying my
self. We should advocate measure O