The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-16
RETRENCHMENT
NOW DEMANDED
Purchase of the Expensive
Furniture Will Be In
vestigated.
Meanwhile Warrants for Pay.
ment Will Be Withheld by
the Controller.
Speaker COMBS Says Plainly That the
CIR. nd Jury Will Consider the
Expenditures.


cording to caucus programme the Assem-
bly, Democrats and Populists roared to-
day on the extravagances of temporary
organization. 1t was acknowledged that
there was no law against the chief clerk
putting Ill attaches on the temporary
roll, but Mr.. Shanahan denounced the act
as extravagant beyond all precedent. He
said that the present term was his NTH IN
| the Assembly. During the session IN
which he last served the cost Of tempo
rary organization was only $500, which
sum was $500 more than ought to have
| been allowed. The obvious deduction was
that the present Legislature in allowing
| $4,000 had exceeded a Just allowance by
$1,000.
| While the mem bers were storming
| about expenses already incurred and paid,
/ The CALL arrived, containing an excIu-
siye account OF the reckless squancerlng
| OF the contingent fund for the purchase OF
costly furniture. Two years ago commit
tee-room furniture sufficient TO last the
Legislature Tor twenty years was pur-
chased. Already this session ten expen-
sive desks, costing about $50 each, have
been bought for the Assembly, and as
many more for the Senate.
The expose in The CALL prompted AS
semblyman Emmons of Kern to imme-
diately pare and introduce the follow
ing resolution to investigate the trans
actions:
| ResoIved, That this House instruct the Con-
troller 10 withhold all warrants for furniture
purchased during this thirty-seeond session
OF The Legislature, ostensibly for the use OF the
various committees of the Assembly, until the
said purchase can be Investigated by COM
/ mittee appointed for that purpose.
The resolution was not referred to
committee but was Immediately adopted
| by the Assembly, and in accordance with
its provisions sEs wGr7a1tz II Ssle pay
ment OF furniture Will not be authorized
until all the facts are presented to the
House. Action of similar character will
probably be taken by the Senate.
| During the discussion on the subject OF
the roll OF te porary organization Speaker
Coombs announced that he had taken
steps 10 present the matter to the Grand
Jury should the Assem- bly, fail to investi-
gate subsequently the Speaker, who had
called Judge Dibble to the chair, said on
the floor that the announcement he had
made with reference to Grand Jury inves-
tigation was not intended to prevent in
quiry by the House.
Assem- blyman North of Alameda sug-
gested that the best thing to do was TO
wait until the committee Of five TO whom
the subject was referred should present a
report.
Mr.. Shanahan raised the point of order
that the committee of five represented
caucus unknown officially to the Assem-
bly.
Mr.. North did not acknowledge that the
committee referred to was appointed by
the Republican caucus; neither did he
deny it.
The discussion ended by sending the
| DRYDEN resolution, calling for an Inyesti-
eaiion to the Committee on Attaches.
The Speaker indicated that the committee
would report next Monday.
There was another breeze over the San
ford resolution to thank Congress for de-
featiag the funding bill and to ask the
Governor to proclaim legal holiday in
honor of the defeat. This resolution
emanating from the union caucus of
Democrats and Popuiists was concocted
for political buncombe. The Republicans
| perceived this point yesterday and re-
| ferred the subject TO the Committee on
| Federal Relations, Mr.. Goodhue, chair
man. To-day the committee reported the
following substitute:
Resolued. That the Assembly of California
congratulates the people upon the defeat OF
| the refunding bill in Congress, and earnestly
| protests against the passage OF any other bill
| OF like import whatever now pending or TO be
| introduced hereafter; that 1t IS opposed to Pc
| titioning the executive to declare Saturday a
legal holiday III honor OF the passage or defeat
of any bill pending in Congress; that the ex-
ecutfve is vested with power, under section 10
of the Political Code OF California, to declare
legal holidays and suspend general business,
including all industrial pursuits, and should
the executive OF this State deem that
| upon
feat OF the funding bill, or shoulI he
deem such occasion arises upon the passage
OF u protective tariff upon the lines OF the
former Mckinley tariff law, the executive of
this State i'll the exercise Of his discretion,
will doubtless proclaim holiday; that this
Assembly will adjourn at such time as 1t may
deem proper in view OF the public duties
| W hich may be imposed upon IL from time to
time and will remain in session when It can
| best subserve the interests of the people OF
| California. S. E. GooDHUE, Chairman.
The reference on the substitute for a
legal holiday in honor of a protective
| tariff bill riled Shanahan and other Popu-
lists.
Mr.. Caminetti asserted that the minority
on the floor had had no opportunity to
study the substitute. Besides, he pro-
tested against the action of the committee.
In his judgment the language OF the reso-
luton was not respectful He thought
the Assembly should show more respect
to the Governor. He moved that the reso-
luton be recommlIted 10 the com Inlttee.
| Assem- b!vmeE B-idgford, Caminetti,
Shanahan. Sanford and EmmOns partici-
pated in the discussion. On the motion to
recommit it North of Alameda called tho
previous question. Tie question was
ordered and the recommlttal denied. The
report OF the committee was adopted. Mr..
Sanford changed his vote and gave notice
of reconsideration. This indicates that
the minority will renew the fight next
Monday.
Assemblyman Emmons was allowed to
file protest IN the journal to the effect
that the original reso ution introduced oy
Sanford was not sent to the committee.
Chief Clerk Duckworth was allowed to
insert in the journal that he sent the
original resolution to the State Printer in
obedience to the rules OF the House and
the law of the State.
In the field of real leadership Judge
Henry c. Di5ble has been accorded the