The herald., 1897-03-10
IN THE SENATE
tcIudaed In Contempt and Ordered Oft to


SACRAMENTO, March 9.-CBy Asso-
lated Press. 1.-THE senate today took
I'D the contempt proceedings against
andrew Lawrence. Alphonzo Murphy
md Louis Levings, the Examiner re-
Dorters Each of the trio was asked IN
uccession if he knew of any telgraphic
communications sent to or from any sem
tor beside the bribery story sent to the
examiner. Each witness refused tc
inswer and all three were then brought
~ the sergeant-at-arm before the bal
II the house ard Lieutenant-Goyernor
Ieter asked each reporter If he had any
hing to say why he should not be pun
shed tor contempt.
Attorney Knight for the defendants,
aid he wanted TO speak in seriousness
20 the senators to lay aside all partisan
,hip and asked the senate to lay asiue
III feeling that the article might have
lwa.iened and try the case in manner
becoming senators.
"If we admit that this was libel, what
ire you going to do with us? VIII you
,ut us in jail? VIII you transport us
How will you punish us il we admit
What you are trying to prove?,
The hour of recess arrived and on
motion of Senator Wolf time was eX-
ended until Knight finished his argu-
nent. Knight took the questions up one
oy one to show irrelevancy. He said that
answers would be the rankest kind of
iearsay evidence and not be tolerated
n any court.
Senator Morehouse favored the reso-
ution.
"If there be a member in this senate
who has taken a bribe," said he. Will
here be a senator who will refuse to
Investigator"
The senator from Santa Clara inter-
spersed his remarks with illusions to tie
Examiner which, he said. was incapab pie
If telling the truth and which would De
)ut of it's sphere If associated with honor.
This. he said was not persecution or
the Examiner, not a persecution of HIM
self / have been prosecuted some De
.ause I have had the nerve to beard the
lion in his den, the Douglas in his hail;
but / care not how much they heap on
me- The time will come when my voice
will be heard from Siskiyou to San Di-
ego and will be bigger than any news
paper in California, and don't you for
get it.
Morehouse referred to the telegram he
received from Herrn. who. he said, was
a prsonal friend. He said if any one
wanted to know If he received fee for
bill 273 he would say no; If asked II ne
got a regular fee from the railroad lie
would say no. He was employed by the
railroad now and then, and was glad
of it, and there was no attorney in the
state with the brains of a sucking dove
who would not gladly take his place.
Senator Bert said that he would vote
against the resolution. He said that
the questions propounded to the Wit
nesses were not pertinent and he did
rot want the supreme court to reverse
the senate He said he had voted the
l. 80 tloa, not far n q
grand jury He thought the character
OF every senator had been sufficiently
yindicated, that the Examiner had been
given an opportunity to prove its
charges and as it had not done so it was
evident that there was no foundation
for them.
Senator Prisl1 said that he was news
raper man and he could feel for the
gentlemen at the bar. He felt that If
they revealed their authority they would
be deserving of the contempt of all the
Ieople H thought his people had as
much confidence in him now as before
the Examiners article was publlsheu,
and the Examiner had tacitly admitted
that there was no truth in the charges.
Senator Stratton spoke against the
resolution He said that the answers
desired would be hearsay evidence only.
1t seemed strange to him that after
these gentlemen had been asked to show
cause why they should not be adjudged
in contempt, before they attempted to
show that cause a resolution had al
ready been drawn up proclaiming that
they had failed to do so. He thought
that more courage was needed to speak
against the resolution than in its favor.
Despite the fact that the Examiner was
not on trial the time had been taken
to heap invective upon it.
Senator Pedlar spoke in favor of the
T. hot ha vote
to abandon the proceedings when the
Examiner admitted the falsity of its
statements.
Senator Boyce was in favor of the res
olution. He said If man can assail the
character of men on the floor and say
that bribery stalks in their midst, it was
time to steal away. He was away when
the Caminetti bill was passed. and no
matter what his views might have been,
if it would do the Examiner any good
he would vote for the measure, If the
opportunity were again presented. He
was willing to descend to the level of the
Examiner and to fight with mud or filth
ii it was necessary j establish his man
hood.
The vote was then taken on More
houses motion and resulted in Manag
ing Editor Lawrence being committed
for contempt and ordered to Jail until
he answered the questions of the COM
mittee. The vote was as follows:
Ayes-Androus Aram, Beard, Boyce,
Bulla, Chapman, Denison, Flint, Franck,
Gillette, Gleaves, Jones, Linder, Luch-
singer, Mahoney, Morehouse, Pedlar,
Shine, Shippee, Simpson. Smith. Trout,
Noorheis, wilmington, Wolfe-25.
Noes-Bert, Doty, Dwyer Fee
rey, Hall, Henderson, Langford, La
rue, Prisk, Seawell, Stratton-11.
Toner was absent and Dickinson did
not vote. Stratton voted aye and Smith
no. Seawell changed his vote to aye on
both occasions and gave notice to re-
consider. Wilmington objected saying
that it could not be reconsidered. Dick
inson made the point of order that it
could be, according to the rules. The
chair ruled that the point was not well
taken. Senator VOORHEES, made the point
that reconsideration could only be had
on a resolution upon the day it was
passed Ruled not well taken.
Morehouse moved that the sergeant
at arms be instructed to carry out the
decree of the sente, and it was so or
dered.
RELEASED ON BAIL
Sergeant alarms Blackburne took
charge of Lawrence and Levings after
adjournment and arrangements were
entered into by the Examiner people to
get the men out on writs Of habeas cor
pus. Tonight the prisoners were turned
over to Sheriff Johnson. Later both
were released on write of habeas cor
pus issued by Judge Hughes.
Senator Morehouse in the senate to-
night arose to a question of order. He
said that he had been absent in tho