The morning call., 1895-02-12

of noise The chair, however, announced
the substitute adopted although a clamor
of division" was raised almost as the last
words were being spoken.
The salaries of the porters for the State
library and the porter for the Adjutant-
Generals Office was cut from 500 to $40
month by the bill. A strenuous effort was
made TO return it to its old basis, which
signally failed, and the suggestion of the
committee was carried out.
4 decidedly unpleasant atmosphere sur
rounded clause making an appropriation
of $4,000 "for travelling, legal and other
necessary expenses" Brusie explained
that this appropriation was in reference to
the Deputy Insurance Commissioner, who
was allowed $1,000 in the preceding clause,
and inserted an amendment that made the
$4,000 for the Commissioner and his attor-
ney.
1t became evident at once that sus-
picion of an Ethiopian in the legislative
woodpile was common. Members wanted
to know why $1,000 was appropriated for an
officer who did not exist. Brusie admitted
that the Attorney General could do the
work, but said the law allowed the Com
missioner to employ an attorney if he saw
fit. An active opposition was reused
though, and as the Deputy Insurance Com
missioner is NJ. r. Higgins, formerly pri-
vate secretary Of Governor Markham, and
the appropriation would give him the ap
pointment of an officer at 500 month, it
is probable that little private knitting will
be done when the section is again taken
up. This will not be till tomorrow, as the
Assembly decided to lay the consideration
of the appropriation bill over for day
when the discussion had begun on this
peculiar appropriation.
Several new measures of interest to San
Franciscans were presented this morning.
Mccarthy of San Francisco introduced a
bill to prevent the employment OF their
relatives by chiefs of departments. An
other bill to enable towns or cities or con-
solidated cities and counties to use patented
automatic voting machines at all elections
was introduced by Ewing of San Francisco.
Waymire of Alameda introduced two
bills to-day The first of these provides
for the election of party manager" from
each precinct of county or city and
county The party managers" of all
parties are elected at a general election,
only parties having 8 per cent of the vote
of the counting naming candidates. indie
pendent candidates may run upon getting
certificates of nomination signed by per
cent of the voters of a precinct The "party
managers" are to form the county central
committee for their respective parties and
nominate the delegates for the conven-
tions. Another bill abolishes contract mar
riages
Among the resolutions were two intro
duced by Thomas of Nevada County. One
was from the Board of Directors of Ontario,
and protested against the adjustment of
the Board of Building and Loan Commits
sioners. The. other protested against the
establishing OF an ice-plant at Folsom.
It is highly probable that the anti
cigarette bill will soon be a law. 1t passed
the Senate few days ago and to-day the
Judiciary Committee of the Assembly rec
commended its passage. The bill makes it
a misdemeanor to make, sell, give away, or
in any way dispose of cigarettes.
For the first time in weeks the Assembly
held an afternoon session. When the
House was called to order Speaker Lynch
proceeded to electrify the House.
II have learned, he announced, "that !
one w. H. Rice has not been present to
perform his duties as assistant enrolling
clerk for several days past. L therefore
order that his name be stricken from the
roll of attaches"
A burst of applause greeted this first
slight acknowledgment that move i'll the
line of retrenchment was supposed to be in
progress. Then Pendleton of Los Angeles !
moved that the action of the Speaker be
sustained by the House. This was carried |
without a dissenting voice.
Pendleton demanded reconsideration |
of the proposed constitutional amendment |
exempting mortgages from taxation. This |
amendment had been badly showed under |
last Friday. Guy of San Diego, who had |
been working for the passage of the bill
during the last few days, resumed his ar
gument. The amendment received the re-
-quired two-thirds vote and was passed on
the first ballot.
Hatfield S constitutional amendment had |
a harder time of it. 1t proposed to allow
Superior Judges of one county to try the |
cases of Judges of other counties whose |
calendars were so crowded as to render as
sistance necessary. Mr.. Hatfield briefly |
showed the necessity for the change and |
its value.
A rollcall resulted in 4S ayes. Fifty |
three votes were necessary, and the abb |
sentees were called. Two more votes were |
obtained. Then a call of the House was
demanded. The sergeant-at-arms was Or
dered to close the doors and the hustle and |
preparation made those who had voted no |
because they did not understand the ques-
ton ask explanations and four votes were |
changed, giving 81 votes in the affirmative,
which was just what was necessary.
A second amendment, exempting church |
property up to the value of $4,000 caused |
much opposition. 1t was withdrawn in |
order that the author might make it an
amendment of the first amendment that |
had been just adopted. Cutters constitu- |
tional amendment relating to juries was |
amended to provide that in civil cases and |
criminal cases three-fourths of a jury |
should give verdict, except where the |
penalty might be death, when they would |
have to be unanimous. This amendment |
is designed to allow the remaining men,
bers of jury to bring verdict if one or
two should have to withdraw for any rea-
son.
EVAOV mun CpU