The record-union., 1897-01-07

Democrats, or whether they will come
10 the front and vote squarely with the
opponents of the tariff.
A FORENOON SESSION
The Assembly's routine WORK yeStor.
oay was only of two hours duration
put the members We're by no means or
Junket during the rest of the dav
With caucus for the Repl,b1icans ond
dEothef Tor the Democrats; with the
SPEAKER holding an all-afternoon Sos.
sion devoted to the arduous d,rty OF
arranging the Assembly standing conn
ilfu1ees and every Assemblyman in
Flted to come in and state his views
and opinion on that subject: with the
Mileage Committeeman Sitting il
nahk to receive objections and correc-
uons on mileage and per diem items
with all these and many minor matters
10 engage time and attention, it could
not be called an ''off" day.
RULES AND COMMITTEES.
Inc standing rules will be UP for
reading and adoption this morning and
the standing committees will probably
be appointed, after which business will
go swimmingly
The report of the Mileage Committee
which was presented yesterday, embod-
led, besides the mileage of members
the per diem of temporary attaches
upon whom rests the work of the first
days OF the session. Upon reading there
was small shower of protests and cor
rectlons, and lit was finally agreed to
recommit so that the members of the
committee might receive such correc-
tions and embody them in the report
LEGISLATIVE AIDS.
Mr.. Cutters resolution authorizing
the appointment and remuneration OF
committee clerks, sergeants- at arms
porters and stenographers precipitated
a discussion as to the necessity of SC
many aids to legislative work Mr.
Belshaw believed that several might be
cut off without detriment to the work
of the session, and with economic ad-
vantage to the State
Mr.. North of Alameda claimed that
the three committees-Way and
Means, judiciary and Revision-did a
very large proportion of the work OF
tie Legislature, more perhaps than was
done in the body of the House, and
they were entitled to all possible aid
He believed not one Of the attaches
mentioned in the resolution could be
spared. When Mr. Sanford offered
Sergeant alarms should be provided
for the San Francisco delegation, and
also for the Democratic minority mem
bers looked around with an apprecia-
tive smile, scenting a spice of sarcasm.
But Mr.. Sanford was in earnest and he
got his way, or very nearly so, for the
Republicans in caucus agreed to give
him all, excepting one Sergeant at
Arms.
Cutters resolution was referred to
the Committee on Rules.
FOR HARBOR IMPROVEMENT
Mr.. Belshaw, alive to the interests of
Contra Costa, offered a resolution for
the dredging of the bar in the channel
between San Francisco Bay and
Antioch, asking that our Repre-
sentatives at Washington be instructed
to ask for survey and an appropria-
tion
PURIFYING PRIMARIES.
Among the bills introduced up to date
are several concerning primary cleo
tons reform. One by Mr.. Dbble is
substantially the Same as that passed
by the last Legislature but declared
unconstitutional because it was local to
San Francisco. Mr.. Dtbble's bill meets
this objection by providing that when
ever 10 per cent. of the voters of any
county or city and county shall peti-
ton the Board of Supervisors or the
Beard of Election Commissioners they
shall order a primary election, at which
all parties may choose delegates to
conventions alone shall be eligible to
places ON the official ballot as party
nominees. All others must be there by
petition, and be denominated "Inde-
pendents."
Mr. North of Alameda presents one
of different characterize petition be-
ing necessary. 1t provides that the pri-
maries Of all parties shall be held on the
same day and under the control of the
same officials as the general elections.
The Australian ballot system Is ap-
Of booths and other particulars-the
Australian method being modified to
suit the conditions of a primary cleo
ton. The same restrictions and the
same penalties for violation are pro-
vided as for the general election
MIR. Strain of Del Norte presents "a
third bill, prepared by II. c. Kline. a
San Francisco attorney, In character
very similar to Mr. North's, but with
the provision that each voter at a pri-
mary can register his choice for only
one delegate.
WAYMIRE'S POSITION.
At the joint Republican caucus held
Tuesday night Assenlblyman Waymire
is alleged to have openly stated that he
would support Senator Perkins for re-
election TO the United States Senate.
and that he had always intended to do
so at the proper time.
Judge Waymire is also alleged to
4. n 81,