The San Francisco call., 1897-03-04
ADJOURNMENT NOT I'M SIGHT.
Assembly Rsfuses to Concur in the Reporl
Fixing March f3 as the
ciosmq Day.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, March 3.-Ad-
journment is the question that leads al
others in interest just now in the Capitol,
and no one appears to have any definite
idea when it is to come. For the past few
days the Senate and Assembly have vainly
endeavored to come to an understanding
relative to the matter, but the two bodies
are still at loggerheads.
The differences bstween the two houses
arose over the proposition to abrogate
joint rules 40, 4S and 49. Rule 40 provides
that joint resolutions, constitutional
amendments, deficiency bills, claims, the
general appropriation bill and the tax levy
bill shall be considered only during the
last twelve days before adjournment.
r ule 4S provides that no bill shall be pre-
sented to the Governor for approval sub
sequent to the twelfth day preceding the
day of adjournment sine die, excepting
revenue bills, deficiency bills and bills for
claims against the State. Rule 49 pro-
vides that adjournment sine die shall
only be made by concurrent resolution,
and that at least twelve days notice shall
be given Of adjournment sine die.
The main objects aimed at in all these
rules is the prevention of vicious leglsia-
ton during the nurly- -burly of the last
days of the session, and also the preven-
ton of pocket vetoes by the Governor
During the session OF she Legislature
the Governor has ten DAYS with which to
signify his approval or disapproval OF
measure, and should he fail to act at all
on any bill, it becomes a law at The ex-
piration of the ten-day limit. But any
bill presented to the Governor subsequent
to the ten days preceding adjournment
sine dine, must receive his signature to
Iou ali RI ciCp
biz within ten days after its receipt by
him, it fails 10 become a law, without
placing upon the Governor the RESPONSE
bility of vetoing IT..
AS the m after now stands both houses
have agreed to abrogate these rules. but
the members of the free conference COM
mittee included in the report recommend
ing the suspension of these rules resolu-
ton providing for adjournment sine die
on Saturday, March 13. The Senate
adopted the report as whole but the
Assem- bly, refuses 10 concur in the resolu-
ton TO adjourn.
The motive of the Assembly is said to
be to force the Senate to adopt the gen.
eral appropriation bill without amend
ment, as passed by the Assembly. The
Assembly had this bill in charge for
three weeks, and the Senate proposes to
act On it with equal deli iber alton and to
consider it with all the care that such an
important measure deserves and demands.
The leaders in the Assembly have given
out the information that the question of
adjournment will not be taken up in the
lower house until March II, unless the
general appropriation is rushed back from
the Senate.
While ali the members are anxious to
adjourn on March 13, many fear that the
session will have to be extended TO the
goth, as there are still large number of
bills to be considered, many of great i'm
portance, which are likely to bring on
long debates.
Among the latter are the general appro-
priation BILL the county government bill,
which has been extensively amended in
the Assembly the Bridgford bill, whicn
makes radical and sweeping amendments
to the Wright irrigation law; the bill pro-
viding Tor a system of State roads, which
appropriates about $267 900 and is sure to
lead to hot fight, aud the coyote scalp
bill.
Both houses have still plenty of busi-
ness on their hands and even if the
session runs along until the goth, many
bills will Gle on the files. The Senate has
about forty bills on its third reading file,
225 on the second reading file and nearly
140 measures to be considered within the
last twelve days, besides the consideration
OF Assembly bills. The Assembly has
about 100 measures ready for third read
ing, $40 for second reading and forty as
special orders.
In order to give the members an oppor-
tunity to rescue their pet measures from
the danger OF being smothered to death
under the heap of bills still on the flies, q
special urgency file was made up to- ht.
Each Senator will be allowed to select one
of his bills and place it on this file, which
will be considered at the night sessions
The measures will be taken up in reverse
Alphabetical order of the names of the
Senators who troduced them.