The San Francisco call., 1897-02-06
.Arraignment of Colonel Thomas
F. Barry, the Attorney for the
Abstract Companies.
mo DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PAID
LAWYER AND LOBBYIST.
But the Ex. Militia Commander Makes
Clear Explanation of His
Actions.

SACRAMENTO, CAL, Feb. 5.-Senator
Bulla to-day carried out his interesting
programme as outlined in THE CALL this
morning. He paid his com pliments to the
paid attorney" of the title insurance
companies of San Francisco, and thereby
gained a decided victory for his bill for
the certifcation of land titles and the sim
plifcation of real estate transfers, popu-
larly known as the Torrens Act.
= The incidents connected with the pas
sage Of the bill, after it had once been de-
feaued, were the sensation of the day. 1t
was in the air that something unusual was
to transpire, and the attendance was the
largest thus far seen in the Senate cham
Der. Among the interested spectators WAS
Colonel Thomas F. Barry, who, it was gem
orally known, was 10 oe the object of Sena-
tor Bulla's attack.
Bulla opened the debate for the final
passage OF his bill, confning himself
strictly to the merits of the bill.
o Gillette, VINO led the fight against it on
the occasion OF Its defeat, again took the
floor against II.
Boyce took strong stand in favor of
the measure, Dickinson opposed it ard
Wilmington and Stratton supported it.
Bulla closed the debate. He began by
anse ering some of the arguments made
against his BILL but he was not long in
getting down TO the roast" These were
his words:
Nov, gentlemen, there is one thing to
which l want TO refer on this fl lor |
KNOW do not make the charge through
any malice or i'll will, but know that the
cisco have had a man on the floor of this
House, and that this man is here this
morning to oppose the passage of this
bill.
Il will not say anything more TO you,
gentlemen, than this man said TO me
that he was here as the paid attorney of
the title insurance companies of San
Francisco, and when l asked him what
was the reason for their opposition to this
bill he said in perfect frankness, candor
and truth that it was simply because they
deemed it against their private in terests.
| asked him if he knew that there was
statute against lobbying. He replied that
he was not lobbyist-that be was paid
attorney.
Il like that expression; it is a nicer
word than lobbyist, which carries to our
mind the detestabe figure of a man who
uses his influence, his mind and his might
for money 70 defeat legislation; to defeat
the will Of the people. l thank the gen.
tleman for the term, Paid Attorney
There is another term that the gentleman
might have made use of, which sounds
even less offensive than 'paio attorney
He might have said, I am the profess
sional representative of certain interests
That wound have sounded even better
than paid attorney
Now, Senators, l appeal to you to
weigh the testimony that has been Of
fered to you in the consideration of this
: bill. 1 appeal to you whether the repu-
table Senators on this floor are to be con-
sidered or the paid attorneys are to be
heard. [ know that Senators have been
worried and badgere by paid attorneys
and others, but 1 say that when a bill of
| this kind comes up you should not give
Acredence to this kind of appeal-to the as
psertions of the paid attorney of private
interests"
Al the conclusion of Senator BulIa's
speech the roll was called on the bill. and
it was passed by the decisive vote of 25
ayes to l3 noes.
When the time of the noon recess came,
there was an Indignation of the San Fran
cisco Senators over the course of Senator
Bulla. 1t was decided to defend Colonel
Barry on the floor of the Senate during
he afternoon session on a ques ton of
privilege, and Senator Wolfe was selected
as spokesman. But before the time for
reconvening came il was decided to let the
matter drop.
Subsequently Colonel Barry made the
following explanation of his positions:
Il came up here as an attorney to rep
resent some searchers of titles of San Fran
cisco. l went to Senator Bulla and told
him that l was interested in this Torrens
act. and was TO appear before the Judiciary
Committee when the bill was under con-
sideration. Senator Bulla re piled the
lawyers on the Judiciary Com mittee did
not need the assistance OF another lawyer
in this measure and did not inform me
when the measure was coming before the
Judiciary Committee. 1t was taken up
and disposed OF before the Judiciary Com
mittee before 1 had an opportunity to be
heard.
Il went 10 Senator Simpson and told
him that thought l had been treated un-
Vlairly, as through Senator Bulla Senator
Plmpson said that if he had known that
was here he would have invited me be-
fore the committee, as the judiciary Com
mlttee wanted to have the measure ex-
.pIained.
mot having an opportunity to go be-
fore the committee had to go to individ-
ual Senators and explain that l was here