The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-08
The Author Confident That the
Measure Will Soon Be.
come Law.
STATESMEN JOIN LOBBYISTS
Hunter Yet Leads in the Senatorial
Struggle, But the Deadlock Is
Not Broken.

FRANKFORT, KY, Feb. THE bill to
repeal the Southern Pacific charter was re-
ported to the Senate from the judiciary
Committee this morning, given its second
reading and placed on the calendar, where
it may be called up at any time, unless OBJ
lection is made.
Chairman Goebel reported the bill and
Senator Weissinger threw down the gaunt-
let in announcing that he wished d
record made in the journal that two mem
bers of the committee voted against re-
porting the bill, and laid down in plain
terms that the road would resist every
inch of ground against the passage OF the
bill.
Without further debate the simple en-
trance of the bill was made on the journal.
1t was evident, however, that giant fight
was on from the start. Senators Wiessinger
and Hays are leading the fight against
the bill and are already actively at work,
assisted by strong lobby of lawyers.
Senator Goebel is determined IN bis
efforts to pass the bill and has made a
thorough canvass of the members. He de-
clares that the bill will be passed by large
majority in the upper branch, and has as
surances that it win pass the House and
become law before the session ends.
Pamphlets and newspapers containing q
history of the bill were laid on every Sen
ator's desk this morning. Friends of the
road will attempt to prevent the bill COM
ing to vote.
There was not a great deal of surprise
manifested yesterday morning when it was
understood that the Judiciary Committee
hah recommended the passage of the Goe-
bel repeal bill by q vote of 5 to 2-the
same as indicated in these dispatches some
days ago. At the opening of the commit
tee meeting Senator Weissinger announced
that General Basil ". Duke would appear
before the committee to argue against the
repeal.
General Duke, as is we'll known, ha:
been on good salary with the Louisville
and Nashville for a dozen years or more
for the sole purpose OF looking after theil
interests before the Legislature and the
Louisville City Council. His war record
gives him peculiar advantages in working
with the first named, though somewhat
diminished this year when the Repub
hcans are on top.
The general was a brother-in-law of the
famous John Morgan and was his chief
lieutenant. With the large and familiar
acquaintance that he had all over the State
with the old Confederate soldiers, with
whom he is very popular, he could get al
most anything he wanted done by the
former Legislatures, which were always
Democratic.
"Old Smoothing-iron" recognized this
fact and established an understanding
with the general even, before he came to
reside permanently in Kentucky, which
has since been maintained, except where
the L. 81 N. and General Echols' interests
were antagonized. His appearance for
Huntington now indicates in some degree
that the L. e. n. is using its in
fuence to prevent the passage of the
repeal, though it may be that
be is ION furlough'' from him and work
ing for love of fee of General Echols.
His non appearance before the committee
did not, however, leave Huntington with
out a champion, as Senator Weissineer
played that role with as much earnestness
as he was capable of, though not with
quite as much fire or emphasis as the Gen.
eral would have done.
Weissinger spoke with much show oj
learning as to the "vested rights" that
had accrued under the charter accord1ne
TO the old constitution. He said little OF
the ''yested wrongs" that had accrued to
the people of sister States. His remark,
were on the line expected, and as far as
could be judged from the vote were thrown
away.
1t was intended that General Duk.
should appear before the committee. bu
it was seen that the vote would be for III.
bill, and thought best to keep him ct work
on the outside. He and st. John Bowl,
and the others were kept quite busy untl
late hour with the members of botf
houses, and afterward held a privat,
meeting in their headquarters at th,
Capitol Hotel.
In the Senate Weissinger will have tn,
assistance OF Senator Hayes from Jefferson
County, near Louisville. Hayes is not SC
forcible speaker as Weissinger and no
much of a lawyer or parliamentarian, bu
he is, from long experience, good button
holer and tactician, aid will do a grea
deal against the bill. He has many friend.
from different parts of the State, and will
WELD no small influence with them.
They will have vigorous fighters against
them. however, on both, sides of the
House. Goebel and Fulton on the one
side and Judge Landes on the other are
pretty sure to have the majority of the
Senate with them.
Senator Stige, from Louisville, will op.
pose the bill vigorously. He IS not elo-
quent, but very forcible. and his earnest
ness carries conviction with it. He don,t
belong 10 the "tony'' set, with General
Echols, Duke, BoIge. Helm and others,
who rendezvous at the Pendennis Club in
Louisville, and is rich enough to be indie
pendent, and they can't pick him up and
use him when they need him. He will