The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-07
Senator Goebel's Measure Will
Be Reported for Passage in
the Legislature.
LOBBYISTS ARE HARD AT WORK
Two Senator's Join Them, but the
Southern Pacific People Have
Desperate Fight.

FRANKFORT, KY, Feb. 6.-Friends of
the bill to repeal the Southern Pacific
| charter gained first blood before the Judi
ciary Committee, which considered the
bill this evening. On vote the bill was
reported with an expression of opinion
that 1T should pass by vote of to 2.
Chairman Goebel and Senators Fulton,
Landes, Sayers and Sims voted for it, and
Weissinger and Bennett against it.
When the committee met Chairman
Goebel called for arguments. Senator
Weissinger stated that General B. w.
Duke, the weil-knewn railroad lobbyist,
| would appear against the bill He did not,
| and Senator Weissinger took the floor
against the bill. He argued earnestly
against the bill, and asked that the COM
mittee do nothing against ''this defense
less and benefcent corporation" He said
little of the inscriptions methods by
which the bill was passed, but took the
| bold ground that the charter had vested
rights allowed under the old constitution,
and that it would be breach of faith on
the part of the State now to interfere.
| Weissinger made his usual able speech
from legal point of view.
Senator Goebel followed him, and took
the ground that the conduct of the rail-
road in the passage of the bill took away
all moral or other rights, in logical and
forcible argument.
| Senators Landes and Bennett made
| speeches in explanation of their position
in the matter. Senator Goebel is cham
pioning the bill. He is well known as the
most effective fighter in legislative mat
ters in the Legislature, and is in high spir-
its over the vote on the bill. Senator
Goebel said to THE CALL:
II have not been deceived by the action
| of the committee. The bill will pass not
only the Senate, but the House, when 1t
comes to vote"
| Senator Hays and Weissinger will lead
the fight in the Senate against the bill,
and will be assisted by a strong lobby,
backed by Huntington. st. John Boyle of
Louisville is one of the champions of the
lobby now at work against the bill.
Senator Powell Taylor is strong friend
OF the bill, having previously resided in
| California, and is we'll informed as to all
matters concerning it. He is outspoken
in his opposition to the corporation, and
will be strong aid to Senator Goebel.
A majority of the Legislators were
elected pledged to reform, and represent
constituencies which have been the vic
Tins of abuses at the hands of Hunting
ton and others for years, and whose SYM
pathies are with the people of California
in this fight: but this does not deter the
LOBBYISTS from their work. If they can
delay final action till they have the ropes
all in hand and the wheels well geared
they feel certain of winning. They have
| all the means at hand that can be needed.
The difficulty is to use them with safety.
| The Senatorial fight is very complicated,
outside of the question of whether Dem
ocrat or Republican shall be elected.
The nine sound-money won't let Joe
Blackburn be elected, and Joe won't get
out of the way for any one else, nor will
DIR. Hunter. If they were both to step
down and let new men be nominated at
once the election would soon be settled,
and the Legislature would get down to
1 work.
| There seems to have been little queer
| dealing between Joe Blackburn and the
| Republicans IN the Senate, and DIR.
Hunter, who organized the Republican
State campaign, sent to Senator Quay for
money. Quay said that he could only send
! his personal check, which he did for $1,000,
on condition that it was not to be used
against Mr.. Blackburn, on the ground of
Senatorlal courtesy. NOW, Dr hunter Is
himself a candidate against Mr.. Blackburn,
and the knowing ones say that there is an
understanding that If one can't get the
seat the other shall have it.
Though both declare they are taking no
sides i'll the repeal bill fight, it is fore
gone conclusion that wherever trade can
| be made it will be made, and the Hunting
ton lobbyists understand this probably
better than anybody else in Frankfort.
and they are not letting a single thread
drop as they go on weaving their web. If
they can delay matters long enough they
will win, and they know it. Prompt
action will defeat him.
Could not an appeal be sent by the
many re sidents in California who have
friends in Kentucky to urge their repre-
sentatives to assist Goebel in getting
prompt action on the bill? 1t would have
much weight. The average Kentucky
legislator is quite responsive TO appeals or
requests from his constituents and will be
very careful how he votes when he knows
they are watching him. The people of
Kentucky are with the people of Caliior-
MIA in this matter if they can be induced
to act.