The record-union., 1897-02-12

people, and involving in its intricacfes
the Chief Executive of the State as we'll
as another very important official, the
State Printer
THE RIVER BILL.
1t should not be forgotten that part
of the history made yesterday was the
passage by the Assembly of measure
very important to the great valley of
the Sacramento as we'll as to the whole
State-the bill appropriating $3O0,OoO
to the clearing of the river.
1t was, however, only by a gallant
fight and a close shave that the bill was
won. 1t had several opponents where
opposition would scarcely have been
expected, while several of the men from
the south viewed the question broadly
and in the light of the good of the COM
monwealth and stood for the appropria-
ton.
CUTTERS WAY.
A significant little scene occurred dur
ing the noon hour when the fate of the
bill hung TREMENDOUSLY on the possibility
of single vote, Cutter. the leader of
the river fight had demanded a call of
the house hoping for an absentee who
should give the desired "aye'-then the
fortunes of war turned against him and
a member changed his vote but Cutter
would not surrender and demanded an
other call. Dibble, who had argued
against the bill ostensibly from the
financial standpoint, and who had OBJ
structed it throughout its history so
far, interposed a point of order that
Cutters call was a second dilatory mo-
ton without business intervening, and
could not prevail. Cutter left his seat
with a white face and his mobile mouth
drawn down at the corners, and going
across the House to Dibble shook his
long finger in his face and said:
IF any more of this business goes on,
7 shall tell on the floor what you said
to me this morning"
Cutter had his way and got his
extra vote. 1t is supposed that his
threat to Dibble had reference to a
promise made by the latter not to fight
the bill on its final passage, a promise
which had not been literally kept.
NOT TWO-THIRDS.
The detail of the long and losing
fight on the passage of the printing ap-
preparation bill over the veto of the
Governor is given in brief in the regu-
lar account of the Assembly in another
column.
State Printer Johnston gives a little
inside history of the defeat of the bill.
1t was given out to the minority that
they might as we'll stand up to the
Governors veto as a party measure, as
Mr.. Johnston, and a bill would be in
troduced Friday (to-day) calling for a
smaller appropriation, which would be
passed by the Assembly, accepted by
Johnston. and approved by the Gov
ernor As mater of fact, the minority
cid stand up" the bill was beaten,
and Caminetti made an effort before
adjournment last night to introduce a
bill calling for an appropriation of S4O,-
coo but no routine business was per
mitted, so he will introduce it this
morning. So far the minority pro-
gramme has worked all right. but when
1t comes to the promised compromise
there is a likelihood of a blockade. The
State Printer distinctly says that he
knows of nothing to compromise; it is
a case of enough or nothing, and $40
900 is not enough for the needs of the
office for the fiscal year. So the dead
lock bids fair to remain on.
A JUDICIARY CONFERENCE.
Chief Justice William H Beatty, ex-
Chief Justice Niles Searls, ex-Chief
Justice A. L. Rhodes, ex-Justice f. w.
McKinstry, ex-Justice Van r. Pater-
son and Judge r. Y Hayne have been
invited to be present at a joint session
Of the Senate and House Committees on
Judiciary, to be held at the Capitol on
Saturday, at which time will be con-
sidered all the proposed amendments
to the Contitutison relative to the ju-
dIciarq.