The San Francisco call., 1897-03-10

ing editor of said paper; and whereas, upon
said examination the said A. NJ. Lawrence, as
a witness was allowed counsel at his re-
quest, and being asked certain questions,
as will be seen by the report OF the said
committee made to this Senate, and which
said questions being material to the
inquiry and investigation being carried on
and conducted by the said committee, he, the
sad A. NJ. Lawrence, then and there refused
and declined to answer the said questions;
and whereas the said committee reported the
said action of the said committee and the
questions propounded to the said witness the
said A. NJ Lawrence, and that he had contu-
maciously refused to answer the said ques-
tions TO this Senate; and whereas, upon the
coming in of the said report OF the said COM
mittee this Senate resolved that the SAID A. NJ
Lawrence be subpensed before the bar OF the
Senate to show cause why he should not
answer the said questions; and whereas, the
said witness, A. NJ. Lawrence, was duly sub
penaed before the Senate, and at IL A. NJ.
of the 9th day of March, A. D..
1897, appeared before the bar of the Senate +;
and whereas, the said questions reported by
the said committee were then and there pro-
pounded to him, the said A. NJ. Lawrence, by
the president of the Senate, and he, the said
A. M. Lawrence, then and there again refused
and declined to answer the said questions,
having no lawful or legal excuse therefor, and
having been duly represented by counsel OF
his own selection, and having the ability and
power to answer the said questions, but contu-
maciously refusing to answer the same; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved, That the said A. NJ. Lawrence be
and he is hereby declared to be guilty of con-
tempt of this Senate, and be it further
Resolued, That he, the said A. NJ Lawrence,
be taken into custody by the Sergent-at- Arms
of the Senate and that he be committed to the
county Jail of the county of Sacramento, State
of California, until he shall have purged him.
self of this contempt by answering the ques-
tions which were propounded to him, under
the direction of the Senate and that copy of
this resolution, duly attested by the Secretary
of the Senate be the autho orlty of the Sergeant
alarms of the Senate and the Sheriff of the
county of Sacramento.
After moving the adoption of the reso-
luton Morehouse began the most notable
speech of the session by reciting the
events that led up to the present denoue-
ment.
There is here CHARGE" he continued,
referring to the subject-matter of the fake
article, 'that every single Senator who
voted for Assembly bill 273-and l make
pose a single word of twas bribed
with from $3.50 to $500. The committee
found out who were connected with the
San Francisco Examiner. 1t found that
A. NJ. Lawrence was managing editor. 1t
called in this managing editor, and it
sought from him to find out the source OF
the information that was the basis that
would lead to the detection OF the man
who had used his influence in the way OF
coin to purchase votes on the floor of this
Senate, and. further, sought to ascertain
who the Senators were who had taken
$3.50 to $500 for their vote. Is there any
thing wrong in that?
"When called upon to disclose his in
formation he hides himself, like every
other criminal hides himself-he refuses
to answer the question"
Morehouse took up the question of the
power and jurisdiction of the Legislature
in the matter and said:
.tThe Supreme Court of the State of Cali
fornia is certainly more capable of telling
what the law is than hired Republican
who comes before US TO make Democratic
politics in behalf of the Examiner
Morehouse cited the case of d. 0. Nc
Carthy, which was decided by the Supreme
Court OF this State in 1866. sin charity, in
kindness to these gentlemen of the Exam
iner, who had no charity, 20 kindness, no
decency, no self-respect." He showed
nearly every particular.
According to the opinion of the court
the Legislature had all the power requi-
site for self-preservation. Tnen quot
ing from this decision ne showed that
the Legislature had the powers necessary
to preserve and protect the dignity of the
Senate as body.
eff there be member in this Senate -
he continued, who has taken a bribe-I
repeat it, if there be a member in this
Senate who has taken bribe let this SEN
ate stop the investigation and punish
him. If / be that Senator say 10 you
that you are lacking in manhood, you are
cowardly in the performance OF your pub
lie duty, unless you brand me as felor
and drive me ont as the Roman Senate
drove Catiline."
Quoting further from the Mccarthy de-
cision he showed that the Senate had the
right ''to protect itself and it's mem ber,
from libelous and slanderous attacks"
why" he scornfully said, 1.-THE learned
counsel this morning said we had nj
such power. Do you wish my friene
designating Senator Bulla). coming ner,
from Los Angeles by the vo'e of the peo
pie, to be lib led ana slandered without
trying to protect yourself. Here it il
charged that the members of this body
! that every member who voted for thi,
measure, received $3.50 to $500. Is tha
slanderous and liheous2 And yet we ar,
TO bow down ana submit to this charg,
concerning our conduct"
ITO protect itself and its members from
corruption" he quoted. For shame" hi
exclaimed, "that any man or any citlzer
should attempt to advocate any such doc
trine as that upon the floor of the Senate
oh no. says the Examiner, you have nt
right. You must appeal to the judiciary
! you must file libel suit against w. r
| Heart of New York. Shall we? l thint
not, possessing the power as we do. Yor
must not do that. You will be persecut
| ing these delightful gentlemen who brand
ed you as bribe-takers.
| Day after day you will read some lii
about US in that journal, because it is i'm
possible for the San Francisco Examine
TO tell the truth on any subject. Laugh
| ter 1t would injure the reputation o
the paper to establish it on an homes
basis. Laughter,]
"In this case of Mccarthy but sever
| men were involved, while here it will Dt
held that the charge is against every mar