The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-28
THE OAKLAND WATER FRONT.
Arguing the Bill to Provide for the
Pushing of the State Suits.

Pushing of the State Suits.
SACRAMENTO. Jan. 16.-The Assembly
Judiciary Committee Tonight discussed
number of measures, among them Dodge's
bill appropriating $4,000 TO defray the
costs and expenses and for the employment.
of associate counsel in the suits to be
brought by the Attorney General to quiet
title 10 the Oakland water front.
Dodge gave the history of the case and
referred to the decision of the United States
Supreme Court in the Chicago waterfront
case. The prime object of the bill, he said,
was to enable the State to recover its rights
and to afford thereby an opportunity for
competing lines 10 come into San Fran
cisco. In the proposed suits it WAS in
tended to make the city Of Oakland and all
parties interested in the ease defendants.
Anderson of Sacramento claimed that as
Oakland had given away rights In the case
which did not belong to her. she had laid
herself liable and should put up for any
suits.
Miller Of Alameda said the question did
not affect Oakland any more than it affected
the rest OF the State. The Legislature had
also granted rights in the case. and under
the decision of the United States Supreme
Court this was Illegal. He did not agree
with Dodge as to the amount required, bnt
said that the citizens of Oakland. In conven-
ton assembled. had agreed to supplement
with any amount necessary any appropria-
tlon made by the State to prosecute these
suits.
Chairman Shanahan thought the Attor-
ney Generals Office should prosecute these
suits.
schlesinger OF San Francisco opposed
taking the money of the State to pay for the
faults of the city OF Oakland.
On this point some argument followed
Miller said that the Attorney General
had stated in his report that he had not
sufficient power to prosecute these cases.
Anderson moved that the appropriation
be cut down to 5000.
Dodge and Miller contended that this
amount would not pay the cost OF the alb
stract Of the title and the witness fees. 1t
was a State case and the State should de-
fray the expenses.
Shanahan said that provision was made
in the contingency fund for the prosecu-
ton of outside suits.
On Miller stating that the Attorneys Gen.
eral had assisted in the preparation Of the
bill the objections were withdrawn. The
appropriation, however, was reduced to
$4,000, and the words ''associat counsel
and Expenses of the Attorney Gen eral'
were stricken out.
The bill will be referred to the Ways and
Means Committee.
Two bills by Shanahan anne ndatory Of the
codes relative to the Incorporation of rail-
road, wagon road aud telegraph corpora
tions were recommended for passage. but
were reconsidered and the matter went over
until Monday night.
Kahn's bill relative to the charges aud
fees allowable In actions for the partition of
real property, and O'Keefe's bill to declare
certain tide lands in San Mateo County
public property, were recommended for
passage. Action on other measures was
deferred.
The Joint Committee on Claims tonight
decided TO allow George Nelson, who was
arrested and sen fenced to Folsom for high
way robbery, where he served thirteen
months and was subsequently pardoned ON
the confession of another party, $1,000 as
recompensation.
The committee decided to allow Dennis
Jordan $4,000 on his claim for work done
at Folsom in 1879.
The bill allowing Major Plco $500 for
equipping troops during the war Will be
reported back without recommendation.
The Assembly Committee on Irrigation
met tonight and recommended for passage
Carson's bill providing for the leasing and
disposition OF water for mechanical purposes
by irrigation districts, also another bill by
Carlson providing for the reducing of the
bonded Indebtedness Of irrigation districts
by vote of the majority OF the people In
each irrigation district.