The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-14
THE PLANT OF REID.
Complains of Statement and
Then Admits Its Truth
fulneSS.
AN ATTACK ON A COLLEAGUE
Powers Resents the Personal Re-
marks of the Member
From Trinity.

SACRAMENTO March 13.-Questions of
privilege were as numerous in the Assem-
bly, to-day as Southern Pacific lobbyists
were yesterday. The first came from Reid
of Trinity.
He denounced an article in the CALL as
false, and then admitted its truth The
article in question stated that he had dis
cussed an amendment to the bill helping
the valley road with C. w Gross, the
Southern Pacifcs attorney, and then
denied that he had talked with the gentle
man.
"I was asked if had consulted with an
attorney of the Southern Pacific in regard
! to the amendment l had prepared, and
said no. - began Reid. ''I reiterate that
statement. | went to the library and
asked DR.. Matthews to get me copy of the
constitution in order to look the matter up.
Mr.. Cross was there, and l told him
thought the matter was unconstitutional,
and We were talking about the matter
when the man who informed Powers Of the
matter rushed out of the room to spread
the news
Reid then grew personal, attacking the
! lllOllNeS vi bllc ISpOIIcl anu DN cI, WllO
questioned him, saying the latter had been
advised to do so by Powers of San Fran
cisco, who got his information from man
who admitted that he owned stock in the
valley road, and was lobbying for ft.
Dwyer said he asked the question be-
cause he thought the fact he spoke OF was
true, and that he had learned since that it
| was true.
Powers admitted that he had advised
! Dwyer in the matter. The opposition to
| the bill, he said, had come from Southern
| Pacific lobbyists, their paid tools and Mr.
Reid.
Il was informed that Mr. Reid had dis
cussed the constitutionality of the measure
with Mr.. Cross, the attorney for the South
ern Pacific. Five reputable citizens can
testify that the statement is true. Mr.
Reid himself has admitted that this con-
versation took place.
Il never did," shouted Reid. sMr.
Speaker, that statement is not so. /"
But the Speakers gavel made Reid sit
down. This he did muttering wrathfulIy
while Powers poured forth flood of scath-
ing invective on the Trinity Assembly
mans head, saying:
4NOJIlllS ICcNS W D6 Sdlu against CDe
accusations of a man who stands against
the progress of the State and attem pts by
unimportant changes to obstruct the pas
sage of bill that will free the State from
the clutches of the corporation that has SO
long held this State in its power This
man has made himself the mouthpiece of
the great corruptionist that has so long
defled California politics. Now, when he
turns against me and mine / intend to pro-
| tect myself"
Reid did not take his angry eyes off the
! face of the young San Francisco Assembly
man, as the latter in rapid sequence
enumerated the peculiar actions OF which
the Trinity Assemblyman had been guilty.
AS Powers took his seat Reid asked, with
sneer, if the virtuous San Franciscan
had not been elected by and been a part of
| the political machine of San Francisco.
| Powers sprang to his feet, but subsidized as
Bachman of Fresno was recognized by the
| Speaker and said, with his peculiar drawl:
'Mr Speaker, | move that this whole
matter be referred to the general laundry" !"
A laugh ensued. Then Ewing, the Popu-
list, of San Francisco, arose to protest
against sweeping statement in the Ex-
aminer that Bettman and Dwyer were the
only San Franciscans who had not been
Influenced by corruptionists. He deted
any one to show where he had voted
against the dictates of his conscience.
| Dinkelspiel announced that he was sat
| istied that the statement was mistake on
the part of the reporter.
The House was largely interested in the
discussion. They were anxious to hear the
excuses that the recalcitrant members had
to make. Still they were all in sympathy
with Judge Waymire of Alameda when he
asked:
"Mr. Speaker, I want to know whether
| we are here to discuss the newspapers or
to make laws?"
"As a newspaper man." Bachman ex-
claimed, 81 wish to say that it is our duty
to throw mud. If it don't stick it don't
hurt, and l can't see where the kick comes. -
Speaker Lynch tried to stop the applause
that followed with his gavel. He then
said that the present Assembly had been
SO clean from scandals that the newspaper
men had to be very lively skirmishers to
make their papers interesting. He thought
it wiser not to take up the time of the
House with useless explanations.