The record-union., 1893-01-21
Senator McGowan Waylays the
Funeral Directors Bill.
IN THE INTEREST OF A TRUST.
Some Proofs Produced The Author With
draws the BilI---Lavyer Chamber
lain in Disgrace.

lain IN Disgrace.
The investigation of the Bretz scandal
seemed to absorb all interest about the
Capitol yesterday and as a result there
were rather quiet sessions in each House.
The only thing of moment that occurred
in the Senate was another attack upon
Senator Burke's bill to create State
Board of Funeral Directors. This meas
ure belongs among the legislative an
tiques, having been heard of at previous
sessions, and, like the balance of its kind,
has been roughly handled. The original
bill is a cleverly drawn one, but not
nearly so as the substitute which took its
place day or two ago after Senator Nc
Gowan had ripped the original to pieces,
so to speak. On its face it is attractive to
the advocate of meritorious legislation
and would slip through most any body
unless eviscerated. It purports to
more enectually protect the people
against contagious diseases" but those
who oppose it say it is simply dark plot
on the part of a close corporation of
funeral directors, principally those of San
Francisco and Oakland, to legalize a
gigantic and powerful trust.
M'GowAN WAITED.
Yesterdays debate came up accident
ally. The substitute was up for second
reading, and Senator MCGOWAN, who
fought the original so vigorously as to
cause its withdrawal, and was expected
to take care of the substitute, too, re-
II -, -
for third reading. Senator Everett, OBJ
serving his colleagues apparent oversight,
promptly moved to strike out the enact
ing clause of the measure, and this pre-
cipltated the row.
Mr.. Burke was on his feet in twink
ling, and proceeded to defend the meas
ure in a vigorous speech. He said he
had heard it whispered about that the bill
was intended as 'cinch' on the people
in the shape of a grave-diggers' combine
or trust. More than this he had heard it
said that it was in the interest of a big as
sociation of casNet manufacturers in the
East, to which was tributary another
local comlne known as the California
Casket Company. He had been looking
into the matter, however, and was salts
fed that these stories were without
foundation. The bill was in a good cause,
and should become law. There was no
question about the existence of an
enormous Eastern trust, but it was the
latter's oppression that had brought
about the formation of the California
Funeral Directors Association. 1t was
the latter which had drawn up the bill.
I, 10
between the two concerns should be evil
dence enough that the bill was not in the
interest OF any trust. He may have been
deceived, he said, but if he was, he was in
good company, for nearly all the Boards
of Health of the State, even including the
board of Mr.. McGowan's town, had in
dorsed the measure.
SIS this bill in the interest of the Cali
fornia Casket Company or the California
Funeral Directors ?" asked Senator Nc
Gowan.
''The Funeral Directors" replied Mr..
Burke.
MCGOWAN WAS LOADED.
Senator Simpson said he could not see
anything the matter with the bill. II
there was bug in it Mr.. MCGOWAN
should treat the Senate to a microscopical
demonstration. Mr.. MCGOWAN had been
Jumping on the bill, but had only been
making general charges. The gentleman
should, if he had anything to back up his
charges, divulge them.
This must have been Just what the
bright young Humboldt statesman
wanted, for he smiled sweetly. and. ris-
ing, inimated that he would expose a
"bug" so large IN its proportions that a
microscope would be unnecessary. He
accused the author of the bill, as well as
Mr.. Simpson, of prodding him into show
ing his hand; but he promised to con-
vince them in short order that he had not
been talking without knowing whereof
he spoke.
Then he opened up his batteries.
In the first place, Mr.. Burke did not
know that the Humboldt Board OF Health
had withdrawn its Endorsement ot.tbe
measure. 1t did this as soon as it discov-
cred what laid beneath the surface. Other
Endorsements had no doubt been OBJ
tanned as was that at Humboldt, by rep-
resenting to the members that it was sim
ply a health measure. There was one
good provision in the bill-that which pro-
vided against the spread of contagious
disease in the handling of dead bodies
and if the author of the bill would elimi-
nate all the other features, he would vote
for the bill with pleasure. But with only
that feature the funeral directors would
drop the bill in disgust.
WHERE THE SHOE PINcHED.
"Of course" continued Mr.. MCGOWAN,
nobody would expect to have bill say
on its face that it was trust. That's not
the way they do business. But suppose
1t IS shown that close corporation of in
dividuals who, finding that they are not
powerful or potent enough, wants to at
tain that power under cover OF the law,
what would you think? The author OF
the bill says it is not in the interest of the
California Casket Company. but simply
the funeral directors. BE that as it may,
take either end of the dilemma. and 1 will
guarantee that the people will suffer-
Mr.. MCGOWAN then opened a letter and
said he proposed to show that the casket
company and the funeral directors were
both eating with the same spoon. The
letter was from the company to a Hum