The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-02
SEVEN MEN SENT OUT ON A JUNKET.
There Was a Protest From the Re.
trenchers, but That Went for
Very Little, Indeed.

part of the State. Reid of Weaverville led
the attack by introducing several resolu-
tions, one after another, trying to reduce
the possible expense. The first was to
have only five men on the Public Build
ings Committee. Then he wanted to have
the Committee on Military Affairs stay at
home. These propositions were voted
down. A final resolution that only three
members of the Committee on Public
Buildings make the trip met the same fate.
Phelps of San Mateo reminded the
House that there was already committee
examining public institutions at Los An
geles He thought that these gentlemen
should be able to report all that was neces-
sary.
Berry, the chairman of the committee on
Public Buildings, stated that he was not
spreading himself for newspaper notoriety.
He had introduced this resolution as a
business proposition. His committee was
asked to advise upon the necessity of GER
tain appropriations and they could not re-
port unless they knew what they were
talking about.
Dwyer of San Francisco, also member
of the committee, said that it would be
poor economy to scrimp when so many
hundreds of thousands of dollars were at
stake.
Reid here urged that the committee
should be able to find a subcommittee of
three men whom they could trust as honest
enough to bring in a report in which they
would have full confidence.
Berry explained that his committee was
at present so pressed with work that they
could not afford to waste any time, and he
proposed committee of seven in order
that the work be investigated and thus ex-
pedited.
Wade could see no reason why the Mill
tary Committee should go south, and on a
division that portion of the resolution was
dropped. The seven members of the Com
mittee on Public Buildings were then
given the desired leave of absence.
The entire Assembly concurred in the
appointment of two more employees for the
Judiciary Committee. A resolution was
passed that the entire revenue laws of the
State be revised by subcommittee of
three of the Judiciary Committee. This
committee was empowered to employ an
attorney at $40 a day and stenographer
at S. day. They have three weeks within
which to complete this work and must re-
port by February "a.
Powers of the Fourth Assembly District
submitted a written explanation of his
vote on the Belshaw resolution in regard
to the Reilly funding bill, stating that he
was moved by desire to ensure that the
crudities of the previous resolutions were
not repeated, and not by any wish to i'm
pede legislation.
A resolution by Hatfield, that Congress
be urged to send a subcommittee to in
vestigate the inland navigable waters of
the State, particularly the Sacramento,
San Joaquin and Feather rivers, and that
an appropriation be made to cover all the
expenses of that committee, was made the
special order of business for Monday
morning.
Then communication was read stating
that at mass-meeting held in Metropoli-
tan Temple on January 26, 1895, resolu-
ton was adopted requesting that the State
supply work for the numerous unem-
ployed Ewing of San Francisco presented
a resolution asking the Assembly to refer
the matter to the Committee on Labor and
Capital to report back what would be the
best and most profitable way to employ
these idle ones.
Bachman of Fresno came to the front at
once with an amendment that the citizens
of San Francisco who were so anxious to see
these men employed should put them to
work building competing railroad down
the San Joaquin Valley. Bachman's reso-
luton was adopted and Ewing's was re-
- tha CAy,1 ~
Capital.
Upon motion of Reid, the constitutional
amendment relieving members of the Ma
tional Guard from paying poll-tax was re-
considered. An omitted sentence giving
the amount collected to the school fund
was then added as an inducement. The
bill was then read for the third time and
passed.
Constitutional amendment II, providing
for the voting of women, was made the
special order for Wednesday morning, at
the request of Mrs. Barker
A long discussion took place over Cut
ter's amendment requiring three-fo urths
vote of a jury to convict in criminal cases.
Cutter urged that as rule an innocent
man did not want jury, and that the
present law made the jury system only an
instrument to assist in the escape of the
guilty. The change he proposed would
reduce the expense of trials enormously.
He also argued in favor of the sections al
lowing only four peremptory challenges in
civil cases and five in criminal cases, on
the ground of economy.
Wade urged that it was better that
ninety-nine guilty men escape than that
one innocent man should be punished. He
thought it would be criminal to hang
man for crime when three of twelve
honest men thought theprisoner innocent.
Bachman protested fervidly that human
life could not be measured by money
value. He would never consent to a sys-
tenn that would ieopardize mans neck to
save expense.
The hour for adjournment closed the
debate, which will be resumed tomorrow.
The following members were granted
leave of absence till Monday: Hatfield,
Dwyer, Devine, Belshaw, Lewis and But
Ter. Powers of San Francisco was given
leave of absence till Tuesday.
HIGHWAY IMP ROVEMENT.
The SEP, nfe Dey0fes It's Time IN m Eo,,s T,.,