The record-union., 1897-01-23
IN THE ASSEMBLY.
The Interest of the Day Was All in
the Closing Hour.

After the opening of yesterday morn
ing's session leave of absence was
granted Goodhue for the day.
SPECIAL ORDERS.
Cutters bill 1874, amending Section
of the Act creating Commissioner Of
Public Works, came up under special
| order, was read the third time and
placed on final passage.
Valentine asked for some information
| as to the bill; he was wholly in favor
of the clearing of the Sacramento, san
Joaquin, Feather and Yuba Rivers from
instructions. and although from the
south, had himself some interest in
mining property, but he did not fully
understand this bill.
Cutter explained that the measure
was simply an amendment to the Act
! of 1893, which created the office in
question, but which provides In very
vague terms for future appointments
! to the position. 1t is desired, in view OF
| the probable adoption of the important
| bill introduced by Sims, providing for
| an auditing board for the Commissioner
| of Public Works and for the appropria-
! ton Of money for the dredging of rivers,
that the authority for the appointment
of the Public Commissioner should be
definite; hence the bill introduced by
| Cutter, which, as amended and ap-
proved, reads as follows:
Section l. There is hereby created
| a Commissioner of Public Works, to be
| appointed by the Governor. The com
missioner first appointed under this Act
shall hold his office for the term of two
years from the list day Of March, 1888,
| and until his successor shall be APP
pointed and qualified, and all subse-
quent appointments shall be for the
term Of four years. In case of vacancy
occasioned by death, resignation, or
| otherwise, the Governor shall appoint
| his successor; Crowded, that any APP
| pointment made to fill a vacancy shall
| be only for the uneXpired portion or
| the term for which the original APP
| pointment was made) Said offlcer, De-
| fore entering upon the discharge OF his
duty, shall take and subscribe the OFF,
| cial oath, and execute an oflclal Dord
| in the sum of $4,000, to be approved
| by the Governor, and filed and record
| ed in the office of the Secretary of State
| as in the case of bonds of other state
| officials Such Commissioner shall re-
ceive a salary of $4,000 per annum,
payable in monthly inStallmentS, and
shall be allowed his actual travelling
and other necessary incidentally ex-
penses incurred while in the perform
ance of official duties"
The original section states that the
appointment shall be for four years
only and afterward provides for fu-
ture appointments of two and Tour
years, making the meaning obscure and
| misleading.
Cutter explained that it is absolutely
necessary that the office shall be con-
tinued, if the hope now INDUCED IN by
all parties that the united efforts Oh
the miners and the valley men are to
bring a new era of prosperity is to be
realized.
Dibble objected to the construction Of
the Act and wished the matter laid
over for further consideration ard
amendment.
Cutter objected strongly to further
delay and intimated that Dibble's tao
tics indicated less frendliness to the
project of clearing the rivers that he
claimed to feel. Both gentlemen be-
| came heated and retorts We're numer-
GUS Seward tried to explain and the
matter took the form of debate on the
Sims bill rather than on the one pend
ing.
| North of Yolo, Sims of Sacramento,
Rridg of Collsa all spoke in hearty
favor of the whole movement Dibble
offered an amendment which proved to
| he an amendment of Section Of the
existing law, a section Cutters bill does
not touch upon; it was as follows:
That the bill be referred to a select
| committee Of one for the purpose of
words to Section 1: And provided that
said Commissioner shall not have pow er
to employ any engineers assistants, at
| torneys agents or other persons with
out the approval of the State Board of
Examiners"
After much wrangling Dibble's amend
ment was lost, Cutters bill was passed,
and Dibble gave notice of motion to
reconsider.
| Later, after a recess had been taken,
and the two warning AssenIblymen had
conferred together Dibble asked per-
| mission to withdraw his notice of mo-
| ton to reconsider, and the lowering
dove of peace was just ready to alight
| when Chynoweth objected, and the no
F! tice still stands.
THE HARBOR COMMISSION.
The Committee on Commerce and
Navigation reported that Caminettfs
resolution asking certain detailed in
formation of the Harbor Commission be
adopted. Jones of San Francisco hoped
| it would be adopted. He believed the
House needed the information. As a
member of the majority he desired the
adoption of the resolution. Adopted.
Guy of the Ways and Means CON-
mittee reported favorably on Bett-
mans bill, 261, received from the Com
nittee ON Agriculture, which appro-
PIRATES $1,000 for a Californian exhibit
at the Central American Exposition.
THE SINE DIE RESOLUTION.
The Senate joint resolution, provid-
ing that the Legislature shall adjourn
on March 4th sine die, was received by
the Assembly and referred to the Com
mittee on Ways and Means
THIRD READING.
On motion of Cutter, the special file
was passed for the day.
Soward's bill, 80, providing that out
going shifts in mines shall notify in
going shifts as to the condition of the
| mine, and that foremen of the shift shall
be held responsible for such notifica-
ton, was explained by it's author, who
| stated that the outgoing shifts some
| times left just as blast was nearly
ready to explode and the ingoing men
received injury. The bill passed with
out opposition.
| Brfdgford's bill, 10. providing that