The San Francisco call., 1897-01-06

any formality this morning. Directly
after the opening prayer by the chaplain
North of Alameda offered resolution
excluding all save members and attaches
of the Assembly from the floor, and the
rule of the House was enforced.
Breiling, Fontana Goodhue Treacy and
Burnett were appointed Committee on
Mileage.
BY resolution the contingent expenses
were fixed at $25 per member.
The Assem- bly, considered such topics as
the free coinage OF silver. the construc-
tion of the Nicaragua canal the annexa-
ton OF the repu bic OF Hawaii, the refund
ing of the Pacific railroad debts. the tariff
on fruits ana many other subjects of
minor Importance.
Assemblyman ]. B. Sanford of Point
Arena was the author of the free coinage
of silver resolutions. They are identical
with the resolutions adopted by both
houses of the Legislature two years ago.
They were referred to the Committee on
Federal Relations. The same reference
was made of Caminetti's resolution to
annex Hawaii. The canal resolution intro
duced by Assembyman Hudson of Monte
rev was also sent to Federal Relations
Commmittee.
The Governors message, accompanied
by the report Of the Capitol Commission
ers, was presented In due time.
Such haste or commendable progress
in the dispatch of business was made that
the Assembly was able to take up Senate
messages.
The resolution adopted by the Senate
yesterday asking Congress TO protect the
products of California orchards in the
tariff measure now being framed in Wash
ington received the concurrence of the
Assembly without a dissenting vote. 1t
was q remarkable and to the Republi-
cans most gratifying event to observe
the Democrats and Popuhsts, every one of
them, voting for straight out resolution
for the protection of American industry.
Assemblyman Bridgford, Populist and
Democrat from CoIusa, incidentally OBJ
served that if protection was going round
he wanted some OF it for California.
The AssembI took recess at II 80 and
convened again al 2:90 P. N. No time was
lost in proceeding to a consideration of
the anti-fundlng resolutions. During the
recess the Republican caucus examined
into the merit of the measure agreed
upon by the committee last night and
found that it accorded with their views.
Belshaw, therefore, presented the fol-
lowing as a substitute for his own original
resolution and the substitute by Cami-
netti introduced yesterday:
WHEREAS, There is 6 bill now pending in
Congress, measure known as the Powers
Gear bill, which has for its object the refund
ing of the debts of certain Goyernment-aided
railroads; and whereas, any scheme for re-
funding the Pacific railroads Indebtedness to
the United States Government, or any exten-
sion of the time for payment of the same,
must result in maintaining an excessive capi-
talization of these roads, thus requiring nigh
rates of fares and f-eights to meet the interest
payments thereon, to the great burden and
disadvantage of the people OF the State of Cali
fornia; therefore be it
ResoIued, By the Assembly of the State OF
California the Senate concurri1g, that we are
unaltersbly opposed to any and all extensions
of the time of payment OF said debts and also
TO the Powers-Gear bill, or any other bill of
like import, and we hereby instruct our Sena-
tors and request our Representatives in Con-
gress to oppose, by all honorable means, the
enactment OF any such measure. And be it fur
ther
ResogUed, That we favor the immediate col
lection, on maturity. of said debts, or in the
event the same cannot be collected, then we
urge the enforcement OF existing laws of the
United States concerning this question. And
be it further
Resolued, That the Governor be requested to
Immediately transmit by telegraph a copy of
these resolutions to our Cong ressional delega-
ton at Washington.
Caminetti said he agreed entirely with
the foraoOinn cf1h hcfi fI1ta Int bo 0ff
the following as a supplemental report:
Mr.. Speaker: The undersigned are in full ac-
cord and agree to the substitute reported by
the committee, but favor the addition thereto
OF the following:
And be 1t further resolved, That the petition
in behalf of the State of California for
hearing before the respective committees of
Congress having jurisdiction of the subject
be presented, and the Senate and House of
Representatives Of the United States are each
hereby further petitioned to recommit the
measure now under consideration and delay
action thereon until such hearing can be had
Respectfully submitted, A. CAMNETTI,
WILLIAM MEAD.
Caminetti made an extended speech
dwelling chiefly on the statement that
California had been deprived of the op-
portunity 10 present the case of the peo-
pie to the Congressional committees. He
quoted from railroad statistics to show
the immense and fraudulent capitaliza-
ton of the Pacific roads in general and the
Central Pacific in particular. In the case
of the Central Pacific be figured the false
capitalization at $172 100000, observing
thai the refunding measure pending in
Congress meant that the people of Cali
fornia would have to sustain the burden
Of paying interest on this stupendous
sum.
Caminetti referred to divided Cali
fornia delegation in Congress, and spoke
OF the unfaithful conduct of one Repre-
sentative. He insisted that California
should invoke the sacred right of petition
ing as sovereign State, and asking to be