The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-09
CARPENTERS BILL.
Amended by the Assembly
Committee.
DOUGHERTY'S CLAIM KILLED.
The senate Puts Quietus on Vicious
Measure-Opposition to san
Antonio County.
DoUGHERTY's CLAIM KILLED.


allowed to remain in the bill the counties
could not have levied. At least there
would have been some doubt about their
having that power. With the word out it
goes by implication that both State and
county taxes can be levied under the law.
Buila thought that even with the change it
was not quite as strong as it ought to be.
The vote on this amendment was as fol-
lows;
Ayes-Alford, BuIla, FnlaysOn. Hen
erickson, O'Keefe, Schlesinger, Shanahan
and Simpson.
NOes-Anderson, Hamilton, Miller. PEN
dleton and Thomas of Nevada.
Fiulayson then offered an amendment
changing the word ''in" to for" which
makes the railroad reassessable at the rates
prevailing during those years for which a
delinquency exists.
With these changes the bill was reported
back to the House. 1t had been expected
that 1t would have teen acted upon i'm
mediately. but after it had been read the
first time it went to second reading and was
made a special order for tomorrow at 2
o'clock. Bedsoe will then offer an amend
ment taking in the years 1879, 1880 and 1851,
which are embodied in the Seawell bill.
BledsOe has declared himself as against the
lie believes it would be undlguitied for the
State to take one dollar less than Is due it.
John ?. Dunn stated to your correspon-
dent to-day that he was far from satisfied
with the bin, even as now amended, and
did not believe that the amendments as
made by the committee would increase the
revenue more than 100000. What he de-
sired was the passage Of the SeaweN bill
which would permit the Board of Equaliza-
ton to assess the railroad during those
years at somewhere near their proper value.
As il is there will not be more than $1,000 of
back taxes for 1882 and 1888. and so, after
all, the change made by Carpenter, which
was looked upon as a great concession on
the part OF The Southern Pacific, amounted
to nothing. Mr.. Dunn thinks that the bill
as amended will pass the Assembly and
will be cOncurred in by the Senate and that
under its provisions the railroad company
viii not come within more than 81, 900, 900 Of
paying what they owe.
There is a great deal Of talk about money
being used to put the bill through the As
sembly, but if anything of the kind is be-
ing done it Will be o skillfully covered up
that It will be difficult to trace 1t. Conse-
queutly there Will probably not be another
investigation during the remainder of the
session.
From the talk on the floor Of the Senate
this morning it was clearly demonstrated
that tie San Antonio County division
scheme would never 60 through. Mathews
spoke against the bill. He said Los An
geles County has eight Representatives in
the Legislature, Of whom seven were op-
losed to the bill. This ought to convince
the Senators that division was not wanted
Ia rf-s7 o q IL
injustice such as the passage of the bill
would cause.
Bailey, the author Of the identical Senate
bill, read statistics showing the population
and wealth Of Los Angeles County, and
sought to show that a division was neces-
Bary. BE claimed that the time had passed
tor large holdings Of lands and for large
counties. They should be divided. 1t is,
he said, in the interest of the people to have
small counties. It brought the government
nearer the people and made it more eco
nomical and just.
Wilson declared that the people should be
permitted to divide the counties. 1t was
just and right to permit two-lhirds Of the
people to decide whether they shall con-
tinue in an old county OF to separate and set
up one Of their own.
Carpenter, representing the anti-dvis-
ionists, spoke against the measure with
considerable feeling. The discussion was
stopped, however, by the time arriving for
the taking up Of the regular urgency file.
The Leeds freights and fares amendment
was called up for consideration. There was
but slim membership present. and call
OF the Senate was ordered. Senator Ford
was found and brought in, and then Ges-
ford pro ceeded to explain the nature of the
amendment and closed by making a strong
plea Tor its passage.
Bailey who is not expected to favor any,
thing that the railroad does not want, spoke
against it. His argument was that it
would bring the railroads and the Leg sla-
ture too near together. thus afIording too
much opportunity for bribery.
CAMPBELL, who also points with pride to
his railroad collar. said he could see no ne
cessity for a change in the present system of
freights and fares.
GOucher opposed the amendment because
tho Legislature was not the proper body to
regulate freights and fares. The members
generally were not experts, and did not
have time in the sessions to consider such
business.
Ford thought to bring in the matter of
the regulation Of freights and fares would
demoralze the Legislature. He thought
that competing lines of railroads are the
solution Of the fares and freight problem.
What San Francisco and the State need is
competing road.
Before vote was reached the hour of
recess came aud the matter went over. In
the afternoon the San Antonio fight was
resumed.
MCGOWAN spoke favoring the bill. He
fhruuhf q 80
OF the electors to vote for division gave
fair appearance TO the bill that made it
commend itself The delegates from Los
Angeles two years ago opposed the forma-
ton Of Orange County, but now no one dis
puled the wisdom of the division. The
people ought to be able TO make their own
laws. Uere it brought the people nearer to
those who governed them.
Senator Carpenter thought it was not
correct for the Senators from Northern
California to decide on the division of
southern counties. The same reasons given
for the division of the county would apply TO
the division OF the State. There was no
reason for the division.
The bill was finally beaten by vote of "a
to y
The reference in this correspondence yes
terday to the Williams bill, which has for
its object the reimbursement of the holders
Of the old Mon tgomery-ayenus bonds as a
meritorious measure was bIunder, typo
graphically or otherwise. If 'meretri-
cious" be understood in place of "meritori-
GUS the truth will be more nearly stated.
An effort will be made tomorrow to re-
consider tie vote by which the Williams
bul passed. Those members who are in ia
VoI oil decency and honesty feel that they
will yet be able TO accomplish its defeat.
The schoolteaehers have succeeded in
lobbying their pension bill through the
Senate. 1t passed that body to-day. 1t is
not likely to get through the House, how
ever, this session.
The DOugherty claim for s167, 600 was
promptly killed in the Senate to-day. 1t
only received three affirmative votes. They
were Everett, Campbell and Hart.
The testimony in the Hart investigation