The record-union., 1897-01-09

ventionality in the attitudes of those
who lounged about awaiting the hour of
high noon, and the whole place had the
aspect of a clubroom.
IN MEMORY OF A MEMBER.
Mr.. Keable's resolutions of respect to
the memory of the late Cyrus Coleman.
Assemblynlan during several past Ses-
sdons for the Sixtieth District, were
offered directly after the opening yes
terday, and will be made special order
of business on Monday.
The Speaker has promised the COM
mittees for Monday, after which every
thing will be ship-shape.
NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS.
Mr.. Guys bill to amend section of
the Political Code relating to the Ma
tional Guard has, so he states, nothing
so ambitious as the reorganization of
the militia for its object. The bill
which was adopted at the last session,
ant changes, Mr.. Guy explains, did an
injustice though wholly unintentional
one, to many very faithful officers of the
guard in that it relieved them from duty
as officers without providing for their
honorary retirement. 1t left an unde-
served stain upon the military honor of
men who had served in the guard many
years, and left the State open to the
charge of ingratitude to those officers.
Mr.. Guys amended bill is intended to
provide system of honorary retire
ment which shall, so far as possible,
atone for the mistake.
FOR IRRIGATION DISTRICTS.
Mr.. Guy introduced another bill in
which he is deeply interested. Its title
states that its purpose is to amend an
Act to control the sale, rental and dis
trtbution of appropriated water in this
State, and its Importance, SO says it's
originator, is very great, not only to the
southern districts, but to all commune
ties where prosperity depends largely
on irrigation.
claratory Act, the necessity for which
arises out of the decision of Judge Ross
in the United States Circuit Court of the
Southern District of California in the
case of Lanning VS.. Osborn. That
case, in substance, holds that water
company engaged in the sale, rental,
or distribution of water has no capacity
to make any contract with consumers
relating TO water supply or to the rates
Of compensa ton for consumption.
LAS a matter of fact, under Judge
Ross ruling Boards of Supervisors fix
a hard and fast rate which must be
used in all cases, and no contracts be-
tween ownerships of land and of water
can be valid. The invalidation of
work great hardship, and, in many
cases, absolute ruin to small growers
who have contracted for small quanti
ties of water at low rates. 1t is also
inimical to the formation of new COM
panies and capital will not invest"
UNIVERSITY BUILDING FUND.
Mr.. Wright of Alameda, whose home
place is Berkeley, has introduced a bill
to create fund which shall provide for
a building in the series of buildings now
under contemplation for the State Uni
versity. 1T is we'll known" said Mr.
Wright, that private donations of
great value promise a magnificent fund
for the rehabilitation of the colleges of
the university on a harmonious plan
worthy of great institution This bill
provides for a tax levy to create fund
SO that the State may be represented
by one building in the new plan"
WAREHOUSE REFORM.
Mr.. Wright said he could not better
describe his bill, No. III, for the regu-
lation of warehouses, than to illustrate
it by possibility under existing con-
ditions. Any person, no matter how ir-
responsible, may apply for a license,
and, by the payment of S1O-in San
Francisco-secure a license to establish
may hire a place for such business, Sc
cure the storage of valuable furniture
from parties about to close their homes
and travel, and by the time they have
returned their warehouse man has dis
appeared, and with him all their fine
furniture has vanished. Mr.. Wright s
bill provides that no party or firm shall
be permitted to establiseh such a stor-
age concern without giving bonds in a
large sum, and in case of a corporation
or firm without registering the names of
their principal officers.
DOWN TO THE BAY.
Yesterdays trains hayward took
away Senators and Assem- blyrnen in
squads and columns of four. Doubtless
a good deal of solid Senatorial work will
be done in the interim-also a good deal
of guessing.
LIVELY IN THE SENATE.