The San Francisco call., 1897-01-23
blige all the Assem- blymen, irrespective

oblige all the Assem- blymen, irrespective
of party.
There were some Democrats as well as
Republicans, however, who had no hesl-
tation in meeting the issue fairly and cam
dldly. Among these were Leon Z. Jones
(R) of San Francisco and T. E. Treacy
Cd San Francisco. Jones declared that
he had asked Duckworth to place two
friends OF. his on the roll, and that the
clerk had obliged him by doing so. He
said that the Assembly Itself had thought
lessly voted to pay the temporary en-
ployes for a weeks work, and that the
members ought to be m en- enough to bear
the brunt OF whatever blame might be
attached and not plead the baby act by
throwing 1t upon an employe.
Treacy, who really ought to be Repub-
lican, for he seems to be a good man, said
DuckWorth on behalf of some friends and
that he thought that the Assembly was to
blame. He was wiling TO take one
eightieth of the blame. and if it should be-
come necessary to reimburse the State he
would not object to subscribing one
eightieth of the sum. He, therefore,
thought that the best thing the Assembly
could do would be to drop the matter
altogether and make provisions against a
repetition of the biunder.
When the committee presented its re-
port this afternoon nobody expected that
there would be any sensational scene. 1t
was known that the clerk would be GEN.
sured in the report and that his friends
would rise in his defense, but no one
looked for physical collapse on the part
of the baited employe. The incident
showed the terrible strain under which he
had been suffering for many days past.
1t was known, of course, that he had con-
siderable to ruffie his nerves, but it was
not expected that an apparently strong
and vigorous man in the prime OF life
should flop to the floor like wet rag.
Some suspicious and uncharitable per-
sons said that the clerk was simply &C ing
in order to gain sympathy, but those who
were near him and the doctor who wentup
to the desk to attend him knew that he was
a very sick man, the victim of a case of
nervous collapse. Tonight he is in BED
under care of doctor, and his friends are
advised not to go near him, that absolute
rest is necessary to enable him to pull
through.
The report of the committee was as
severe as its authors could wish, and was
evidently too severe to suit fair-minded
members.
Lesvitt's amendment that the Assembly
should select committee of seven to in
vest1gate the whole matter was a fair
proposition, but North wanted the Speaker
tn nd
Speaker announced that Duckworth de-
sired to address the House in his own de-
tense North objected, and Dennery urged
that the clerk be allowed to speak, but on
An objection by the Populist from Shasta
this courtesy was denied the accused.
1t was observed that Duckworth's s voice
had a clear, strong ring as he read the
substitute to the amendment, but the re-
porters and his fellow clerks observed the
nervous tWitehing of the jaws and the
HANDS that proclaimed the violence of the
struggle within. When he came to the
passage (Which charges S. ]. Duckworth
entirely denies" the words were uttered
sharply and stridently. and at the same
time he raised his right hand and shook
his pencil at the House.
After the Speaker had been authorized
to appoint the investigating committee
Duckworth started to walk down from his
desk, but staggered and would have
dropped to the floor had not an assistant
clerk seized him around the waist and
placed him in a chair. Duckworth was
breathing violently, and his wife and his
brother, who were on the floor, ran to his
assistance. Major c. W. Kyle took his
place at the desk for the remainder of the
days session, and the first chapter in the
legislative scandal was ended.