The record-union., 1897-02-06
GENERAL FILE.

4
Committee substitute for S. B. 362,
making an appropriation of S1,2O0 to
allow the Secretary of State an addi-
tional clerk for the balance of the pres
! ent fiscal year, was read the second
time, adopted and ordered engrossed.
president pro tenn. Flint in the
chair
| S. B. 259, appropriating $1,000 for the
uses Of the State Board of Horticulture,
was read the second time and ordered
to engroSSment.
| TORRENS LAND ACT.
S. B. 80, by Bulla, being an Act for
the certfication of land titles and the
simplification of the transfer of real
| estate, commonly known as the Tor
rens Land Act, having been read the
| third time, was placed upon its final
| passage. Bulla urged the passage of
the bill, contending that it would great
ly simplify the present complicated ma
ture of transfers. He stated that the
| large insurance corporations opposed
| the bill, and had paid attorney in the
city working against its passage. Paid
attorney Bulla said, was formerly call
| ed lobbyist" but as the latter word
did not sound well, he thanked the
| paid attorney for the substitute He
however contended that the Senators
ought to listen to reason and precedent,
rather than to the words of a paid at
| torney," who was working for GER
tain great corporations. Bulla took
several long shots at Gillette of Hum
| boldt, who had opposed the measure
when up before
GILLETTE LEADS THE OPPOSI-
TION.
Gillette in reply said he was not pre-
pared to vote for a bill which had been
untried, and which was of extreme
| length. He thought it was dangerous,
and that great wrong might, under its
provision, be done to innocent parties,
including minor children. He contended
| that the rights of children We're con-
sidered in equity; and equity matters
| did not admit of being recorded. He
stated that in Australia guarantee
fund was set aside for the relief of those
who may have been dispOssessed by the
workings of the Act, but that Bulla had
absolutely eliminated that section from
| his bill, leaving the only course open to
be an action against the State for re-
| jSoNNly- 1lC tOnttiItltN Llieil lliC L VI ICIAso
Land Act would certainly work hard
| ship if it We're not declared uncOnstitu-
tional by the Supreme Court, as had al
ready been done by the Supreme Court
of Illinois. The bill made it possible for
innocent parties to lose their property
| by means of forged deeds, and left
children at the mercy of every evil
minded person. He hoped the bill would
not pass.
BOYCE FOR THE BILL.
| BOyce said that while Gillette con-
tended the measure was a dangerous in
InOVation. forward movements in civili-
zations had always been called SO. Cali
fOrnia, the speaker contended, had al
ready learned one lesson from Australia,
relating to the voting system, and the
passage of the bill meant progress. 1t
was intended to shake off the shackles
of the feudal system, and simplify
transfers and titles. He hoped the bill
would pass
| DICKINSON DON'T WANT IT.
| Dickinson questioned whether the
people of the State desired so radical a
change as that proposed in the bill. He
| had studied the matter for four years
and failed to see where the measure
would simplify transfers. The Legisla-
ture, he said. had no right to put upon
the people of the State the duty Of gu
the people of the State the duty of guar
anteeing land titles. There was no
question of titles in California, he as
| serted, the people holding under pur-
| chase; and he knew of no reason why
such measure should pass. 1t was
needless and he believed the people did
not desire it.
Wilmington favored the bill, contend
ing that if it worked hardship, which
he did not anticipate, it could be rene
died by subsequent legislation.
Stratton contended that the matter
of titles in California had already been
simpHied, but that the bill would elirni-
nate certain fees to title insurance com
panies and such being the case, and the
system heving stood the test of years in
Australia, he should favor it's passage.
THE BILL PASSED
| Bulla closed in a short speech and the
bill was passed by a vote of % to 13-
title approved. Thus, 50 far as the SEN
ate was concerned, ended the fight on
the Torrens Land Act, and what at first
appeared an ignominious defeat was
changed to victory.
FINAL PASSAGE.
| S. B. 40 by Hall, being an Act to pro-
vide for the employment of citizens of
the United States upon public works
within the State, having been previously
read the third time, was passed by a
vote Of 30 to 2-title approved
S. y. 62, by Dwyer amending Section
| 324o of the Political Code, relating to
labor, having been previously read the
third time, was passed by vote of n to
6-title approved.
| S. B. 2S by Boyce. to add new section
to the Political Code to be known as
Section 1882. relating to the authori-
zation and employment of a specialist
! in sociological education in counties and
cities and counties, and providing for
| the duties and execution of the work of
such specialists, was passed by a vote
| of 80 to little approved
| S. b. 800, by Morehouse, authorizing
and empowering the Board of School
Trustees of the city of San Jose to con-
struct and maintain high school build
| ing, was amended by the author, and
ordered printed.
! S. 3. 26S, by Bert. to amend Section
| I of the Civil Code relating to legal holi-
days, and making September 9th
| holiday to be known as Labor Day"
was read the third time and passed by
a vote of 30 to 0-title approved
! S. 3. 269, by Bert, also relating to
| holidays, was read the third time and
passed by vote of 80 to 0-title ap-
(