The herald., 1897-03-27
THEIR RECORD
What Was Done and Left
Undone
SOME VERY GOOD LAWS
PASSED BY THE LEGIsLATURE
AT SACRAMENTO
Senator Bulla Discusses Their Merits
and Also the Many Investi-
ations and Scandals

Senator Robert N. Bulla, who has late
ly returned from the legislative halls
of Sacramento, was found in his office
yesterday by a Herald representative
and his opinion was asked concerning
the doings and general complexion of
the late assembly.
THAT honestly depends" said Mr..
Bulla, upon the way you judge it's do
ings; If by the legislation enacted, that
is one thing If by the Investigations,
scandals, etc, which took place, that is
another. 1 think. however, when the
smoke clears away and the field is
viewed in an unimpassioned light, 1t will
be found that this legislature has passed
as many good laws as any one for many
years past. don't think the newspapers
have given the assemblage fair show;
they should have reported the evil with
the good, and laid both in an impartial
manner before the people. They did not
do this however, but rather emphasized
the evil and overlooked the good.
Referring to the bills passed there Is
| the primary election law introduced by
| Stratton. 1t was a move needed more
| than any other, and while l don't pre-
| tend to say that the law is a very de-
sirable one, it goes to show the intent of
| the legislature to pass needed laws.
| THE Torrens land bill l introduced
| myself two years ago, but at that time
| it failed to pass the senate. At this as
semblage it went through both houses
| and Is now law. 1t Is naturally in the
| nature of an experiment and its wisdom
| can only be proven by practice. yet
everything must be made by experiment
! and no one can tell the outcome until the
experiment is tried.
| "The highway bills for the purpose of
| improving the country roads are also
| excellent ones. They have passed both
houses, but / do not think have yet
been signed by the governor, but I am
| confident they will be.
| "Dagues tramp law is also something
| OF an experiment. / voted for 1t because
| it was the best thing offered, and re-
allied something must be done to re-
| lieve the multitude of idle men at pres
| ent in the state and furnish them en-
| ployment. / see no reason why it will
| not be a success. and it certainly, il
strictly carried out, would solve the
tramp problem.
1.-The law to place the asylums ani
hospitals. under the supervision of one
body, with one general state superin-
| tendent is a very wise one, and will teni
| to harmonize their action and unity their
management. 1t is modelled on New
York law. which was very successful In
| that state.
law. which was practically agreed upon
by the state board Of education and the
principals of the three normal schools.
| will have the same effect.
"One of the most important measures
| passed was a short bill changing the
law with reference to appeal from our
| superior to supreme court Under the
| la W a6 int xxoc l.
| ways presumed when any error was
shown in the rulings of the lower court
| which led to many reversals without
| injuries. Now the appellant must show
! affirmations that he was injured by err
| ror of the lower court or the judgment
| will not be disturbed. 1t will have
| tendency TO relieve the supreme court
| wonderfully. and although radical
change in the law is, ! think, one made in
| the right direction.
Then the amendment to the Wright
| law, known as the Bridgeford bill, was
an effort made in the right direction and
will correct many errors made In the
original bill.
"A little bill which although apparently
Insignificant will have far reaching eff
fects, was the one passed to prevent
| divorced people from re-marrying with
In one year after the decree is granted.
| This Is an attempt to prohibit the fire.
Quency of divorce, which has grown
| alarmingly In the state and also to
prevent bigamy being committed.
There were numerous other bills
passed, the animus of which goes to
show that the motives prompting the ac-
! tion of the recent assemblage in Sacra-
mento were directed toward benefiting
the people of the state in every possible
! way.
"The Duckworth scandal was simply
ny, ft1c OF a
occurred. In my opinion everyone con-
nected with it should have been pun
! ished.
During the session there were a num-
ber of Investigations and In nearly ev-
cry instance these were rendered reces-
| sary by newspaper charges. Several of
them were of such nature that 1t was
impossible to get the facts, because
those making the charges refused to
| answer questions.
THE Examiner investigation in the
senate tied our hands. because the wit
nesses we desired to use would not talk.
They claimed If we got possession of
certain kilograms they would be a. rev.
elation to us. To get possession of tele-
grams, however, 1t is necessary to iden-
tify them, and how could we do so, when
we did not have the names of the parties
sending them
I'm the coyote scalp affair the investi-
eating committee seized the kilograms.
but 1t is a very grave matter in my mind
whether their action in taking them
from the custody of Wells-Fargo comes
within the pale of the law. Even when
the committee were In possession of the
kilograms they were no better off. They
found certainly that a certain sum of
money had been sent to Packard, but
they could not discover whether 1t went
to legislators or down the pockets of his
jeans.
1.-THE investigation of the state print
ing Office was made by committee
composed equally of Republicans and
Democrats, assisted by two experts, one
from each party. Caminetti, the Demo-
cratic leader In the assembly. was a
member of the committee. They found