The San Francisco call., 1897-03-16

removed Henry French as Trustee of the
Normal School at San Jose and stating that
French had been attempting o induce the
State Printer and certain officials of the
Legislature to blockade Bulla's Senate bill
494, providing for a change of trustees on
July l, 1897. The Governor com planned
that the bill had been sent to him twice
with 1897 changed to 1899. The following
is the message:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
STATE OF CALIFORNIAN
To the Honorable the Legislature of the State Of
CALIFORNIA; GENTLEMEN: On February % by a
vote of % TO 1 Senate bill 494 was passed by
the Senate. On March 4, upon its considera-
tion by the AS emily, II was amended, and On
March 8, by vo;e of 45 10 5, it passed that
body IS amended. On March by vote of 80
TO the Senate refused TO concur in the Assem-
bly, amendments, and on March IL by vote
of AZ to- the Assembly receded iherefrom.
The bill was returned from the House to the
Senate and ordered to enrolment. On March
u what purported to be Senate bill 494 was
handed to the presiding officers and chief
clerks of your two bodies as duly enrolled and,
therefore, was by them certified 10 me. The
document certified TO me, however, was not
Senate bill 494 as il passed, but contained pro-
visions not contained in the true bill and had
it been approved as certified TO me The result
would have been that the bill as passed would
have been "killed.'
This fact being brought to the attention OF
The proper officers, a second document pur-
porting TO be The said Senate bill was trans
mitted 10 this Office, but not accepted as it was
iound not TO be the true bill, or the bill
passed. Later Senate bill 494 as it passed was
properly delivered to this office.
IN view Aof these facts and OF certain COM
municatious which l transmit to you, desire
to recommend that your honorable bodies.
under a suspension of the rules, pass bill
making il a felony, with the severest penalty,
for any person TO directly or Indirectly write,
telegraph, telephone o. in any manner ap-
proach one OF the officials through whose
hands bill must pass requesting that OFFICIAL
10 blockade that bill or 10 use his position TO
kill the same, or to take any part for or against
any measure before the Legislature. The Leg
islature itself, which passes all bills, is the
proper body to which appeals should be made,
and if appeals permitted to be made TO
the clerks OF snid bodies. or persons who may
control or be employed in the printing of bills,
that a bill be blockaded or killed by them,
methods may he introduced unknown TO the
laws for the defeating of measures after their
passage.
1t is now felony to alter a bill; it should be
felony for any clerk, or empoye of your
honorable bodies 10 lobby for bill, or for any
person to suggest that they in any manner
take part in legislative proceedings other
than in the proper discharge OF their duties.
Had the bill in question been delivered later
in the session, or the b.under remained undis-
covered, even the signature of the Governor
would not have made law of tie measure
which your honorable bodies so almost unani-
mously passed. The change OF word or
phrase In the printing OF bill may under o ur
constitution blockade and kill it.
y Of Co .a1o
graphed to the State Printer follows
SAN JOSE, Cal, March g. 1897.
A. Johnston (peYSonall, State Printer, Sdcrd-
nento: Blockade Assemb y bill 6SS and Senate
bii 494 until my letter reaches you.
HENRY FRENCH
On the same day he sent an identical tele-
gram 10 Mr. Brandon, chief clerk of the Senate.
Neither OF these gentlemen, however, CON-
piled with his request or blockaded the bill.
Thereafter Mr.. Johnston, Superintendent of
State Printing, received from Mr.. French the
10 lowing letter:
SAN JOSE. CAL. March 5, 1897.
A. J. Johnston state Printer, Sacramento, Cat -
NY DEAR SIR: / 10 write you line in
ktric. confidence, and ask your assistance in kill
Aag Budos pet bill before the Legisla, ure, AS
Mmbly bill 6SS and Senate bill 494 Just in
Receipt of letter from Varco, the enrolling clerk
ii the a s;enibly, who assures me can count
your cheerful corporation You will probably
remember me ne Of the warhorses that eft my
business and spen, a week IN Sacramento at my
own expense ia he last Legislature to kill o.
3 ~ and did not return home III til the flowers
withered from the funeral ceremonies
You will perceive tha Assembly bill eS8 and
Sc nate III 494 Identical, and the hope Is If the
one is killed the other will go through. L know
you have sufficient confidence in my Integrity and
Loyalty the taxpay ers of this State to know
that ii WAS not thoroughly confident OF their
fn.4rT Evof trf,
tn .fr assaxe iaste cad of their defeat. I know ycu
are in position TO XII these bills and am backed
by infuent al freIds of yours asking on do
40. and if you ever want anything from Santa
Clara County kindly communicate with, yours
respectfuly, HENRY FRENCH
see Franz Prandon. think he will do anything
he can .sconfdentialy"
Frank Brandou, chief c'erk of the Sem
ate. received from Mr.. French the following
letter:
Frank Brandon CHIEF Clerk Of the Senate, State
(y,,,ytok sacrdmento-MY DEAR FRIEND: Iwnnt 10
vrueyou in strict con Ddence and invoke your assIs
ta5ce IN killing Assembly bill 6SS and senate bi
4e4 Ihave just discovered rotten scheme that es
behind these bills, and am thoroughly confident
,bat r. Black and the three principals OF The three
norn,al Sch ols are working ia hand wth<the
C.at,ernor, Aprrova The detaisI will give you in
fnl tbe frs time we meet. but know you have
sufficient con nfdence in my integrity to know that
those pills while innocent on the surface, are
.lcious legislation, and the highess and bess In
ierssts of the state Normal Schools demand tbeir
determination. Now, don't expect you to jeqp
Ard re anything by making an open fight, but /
know Won are in position to kill them IL you want
10.
Count on me as your sincere friend always.
Very fespectfully, HENRY FRENCH
Confer with Sta.e Printer Johnston. Can't trust
Black.
The letter to Mr.. Johnston contained the
language II know you are in a position to kill
these bills" and "See Frank Brandon; think