The record-union., 1897-01-08
Assembly Now Working Under
Standing Rules.
Members Of the House Get Ready to
Go Home Sunday.
More Attaches Appointed by The Senate -SeV.
erd Proposed Measures Of
Reform.

The attempt of the Republican MEM
bers of the Senate to place their Demo-
cratic brethren on record on the ques-
tion of a protective tariff, came out yes
terday morning, as indicated i'm the
Record Union Smith of Kern, who
had been chosen in caucus to engineer
the matter, proved equal to the emer-
gency.
TARIFF TACTICS.
Tt was not a battle for principle. No
one who understood the matter even
suspicioned as much. 1t was play on
the part of the Republicans to discover
whether Seawell could or would deliver
the goods he claimed to have. Seawell
i'm open session, had said that if it was
ITO be the policy of THE incoming ad-
ministration to impose high protective
duties, then himself and his colleagues
would favor the adoption of a resolu-
tion recommending an adequate pro-
tective tariff on all California products.
cllloii. iAicps
was the dininutive loophole through
which the Mendocino man sought to es-
cape. He was willing to support reso-
luton recommending that the incoming
administration impose high protective
tariff, but the incoming administration
would not get to work until Seawen and
the California Legislature had practi-
caIly dissolved partnership.
Braunhart, it is true, tried two weak
lodges to evade the question asked by
the Republican Senators, but Braunhart
was superficial. He did not offer to
show way out of the wilderness into
which his party had been led by its
Moses. But Seawell better understood
his business.
AN UNPOPULAR MOVE.
''Tt is not popular, since the gigantic
gastronomic feat of the Democracy
in swallowing the Popuist party" said
a Republican Senator in referring to the
matter after adjournment, ''for Dem
ocrat to admit that he is a free trader
even in the present acceptation of the
term. While every schoolboy knows
that the term free trader applies to
persons who contend for tariff for
revenue only, Democrats have come to
fear the name. And there is reason
for their fear. If you will turn to your
file of the Record Union you viii find
that the Populist State Convention held
Il
tariff plank that was a sumner to Dem
ocrats who previous to that time had
glor,ied in being ultra free traders, bar
ring enough tariff for revenue purposes
alone. ISN'T it clear? If the Democrats
admit that they are free traders, the
Popllist party, which is undergoing di-
gestion, will begin to squirTn, and before
the matter ends there will be a muss
On the other hand, if the Populistic
idea of protection becomes effervescent
there is danger that the capacious NAV
now holding it will burst"
Still the Republicans contend that
they have gained their point. They
We're out to get the Democrats on rec
ord regarding their position on the tariff
and claim to have succeeded. They sum
1t up thus: They are not free traders
They are Democrats, What is a Dem
oor-at?''
ATTACHE QUERIES.
The whole number of necessary at
taches for the Senate and Assembly
of the California Legislature have no
yet been appointed. Committee-room:
must be supplied and while it has beer
understood that many of the places o.
lesser importance Will remain untitled
and that the humble seeker who looked
no higher than to be Sergeant Arm.
Public Morals Will have good chanc,
to bemoan his fate, no one seems L
know just how many clerks and assist
ant clerks VIII be allowed those sam'
committees.
1t is, however, earnestly contendet
by members of both houses that &
large cut win be made under tbs
amount of the contingent expense anC
Payroll of the thirty first session, ant
a glance at that payroll will SHOW
room for the proposed large cut"
The total amount of the contingent
expense and payroll of the Senate a
the last session was SCI, $50; that o
the Assembly 500. 500 10; total for boti
houses, S131, ,1S1 10, being a cost pei
diem in the Senate of S1S5; in tn.
Assembly of SS1S, or a total per diem
of 81 ,603.
REFORMS.
Several of the members of the Com
nittees on Rules from both houses helC
an informal meeting last night anC
talked over several proposed reform:
that are to be proposed in open ses
sion While nothing is known as t.
what final action will be taken, tn
committee feels that most of the re
forms recommended by the Senaf'
hold-over Committee ON LegislaIiv'
Business will be adopted.