The record-union., 1893-03-14

O"70" oNeIS Legislature OF CallfOrnE and
every Judge of California and every pub
lie officer of California of being corrupt,
dishonest and scoundrel. Are they?1
"Um, good many of them"
Senator Carpenter turned away from
wilson and resumed his speech. "Now.
Mr.. President" he said, II have not be-
gun to go through with my objections to
this bill. There is Just one thing | want
TO say. 1t is not, in my Judgment. rs
good bill as the other. 1t will not be as
productive rs the other. II will not sat
lsiy The predictions of the ardent gentle
men VINO were insisting upon it. But,
sir, with all its 1aults-not that love it
sui, for / do not-it has holes big enough
in it to drive coach through-it is like
one OF those trees up here in the Sierras.
on can drive anything through it, all
hollow.
THE BoMBSlIELL
But, in my judgment, sir, the worst
compromise is better than contention and
litigation. Now, do not know that it
Will end it; don't know that the railroad
company will accept these inequitable
and unjust terms; don't know what it
Will do about It, and it is nothing 10 me.
L tried to get a just and fair bill. have
not succeeded, and am going to take the
best we can get. This is the last day but
one OF the session, and we must do as
Vance said about whisky in South Caro-
lima: We curse it and drink it, Now,
Mr.. President, have warned the gentle
men who are the supporters of this bill.
II litigation comes, if we get nothing out
OF this, If the railroads resist, and the
courts do as they have heretofore. and we
have no law to collect them, it won't be
my fault. I told my constituents when
they sent mo here thai 1 would do my
best to have some settlement, some ad-
Justment of this question, and, sir as this
IS the only thing l can get, delormed,
weak, rickety and rocllety as it is, I shall
support it. / move, sir, the adoption of
the substitute. l move the concurrence
in the amendment made by the House,"
Tremendous applause greeted Mr.. Car
penter when he concluded. The an
nouncement that he would accept the
Assembly amendment created pro-
found sensation, and the excited talking
and buZzing that followed prevented the
Senate from resumiug business for some
time
Senator Wilson was on his feet as soon
us the Los Angeles statesman took his
seat, and waited tor recognition. He had
been so badly shaken up by Senator Car
penter that ne fairly trembled with ex-
element and anger. When he was finally
recognized he proceeded to give one of
his old-time Trades, in which he de-
nounced everybody and everything in
general. He referred to Carpenter as
carpet Dagger" said all courts were
corrupt, and nearly everybody dishonest
and criminal.
Then the roll was called.
Every Senator voted for Carpenters
motion to concur in the Assembly amend
ment.
And the great reassessment bugaboo
was disposed OF at last.
MATHEWS BILL.
Over in the Assembly last night the
enacting clause was stricken out of
Mathews bill allowing counties OF the
class i'll which Tehalna belongs to settle
the question of taxes with the railroads.
if the people by vote so desire. His bill
had been read for the first time, and he
managed to call it mp for second reading.
Mr.. Mathews read long statement, tend
ing to show that the position he had
taken on the reassessment matter was the
correct one.
Mr.. Mathews said:
''In all my legislative experience I have
never known a time when / was infu-
enced by greater desire than at this
moment to speak deliberately, dispas-
sionately, and from the convictions of nv
honest IulUlnpnt OnirionG and nounIpu-
ions that have been formed after mature
delberation and with a full sense and
realization of my responsibility Us a Rep
resentative and the duty that l owe the
great State of California.
"Ihere Is no act OF my whole legislative
career of which l am ashamed. no vote
that requires explanation, or that needs
to be regretted by the neighbors and
friends who have so repeatedly confided
in and trusted me, and to whom i ac-
knowledge my profound obligation OF
course | do not pretend to have alwavs
voted right. The Infallible man has not
yet been born, but when ! have been
wrong those who know me best have
always charged 1t to an error of Judgment
and not of the heart. At my time in life
l am not to be deferred from speaking
what l conceive to be the truth. and doiu@
what believe TO be my duty, by the
florid, fervid and 1renzied o7atorv of
young statesmen who are making their
iirst bow in the political arena, and who
are, no doubt, acIIated by laudable am
bition to consecrate their lives to the
service of the people.
HARD SHOTS AT THE DEMAGoGUEs.
81 have not been convinced that 1 am
in error by the interminable calculation,
volumes Of statistics and impressive col
umns Of figures furnished by the Cali
iornia Necller of finance, who has in
spired anti-railrOad legislation for nearly
eight years. and who has never vet won
a legal battle tor the people or converted
Il dollsr' of back taxes into the State
Treasury.
II am not 10 be awed from doing NV
duty by that young hero of romance and
many bloodless encampments. upon
whose shoulders seems 20 have fuller tho
mantle of the manager Of the Traffic As
Sociaticn when lie, rs the gentleman from
Shasta says, tiod from the state.
81 think | can promise MY constituents
that l Will foarIessiy discharge the obli-
CATION resting upon Ee and do MY duty
as / SEQ IL with utter disregard and con-
tempt for the threats said to have been
made by the imperioGs Chairman OF the
Democratic State Central Committee that
for my vote here ! shall he politically os-
traciZed, and that neither [ nor those
whom / indorse shall receive any recog-
milton in the distribution of Federal pat
ronage. lie came AtllS-like, feeling that
upon his shoulders rested the whole
Democratic party of California. That the
Democratic members of the Legislature
have failed to redeem the pledges made
10 the people is mainly due to his efforts,
and there are men upon this floor who
are voting against their honest conyic-
tions on account of fear OF the party
lash welded by his muscular arm. 1t
has no terrors for me.
I sCoRN THESE THREATS