The herald., 1897-01-21
ON THE FLOOR.
A Good Deal of Time Is Spent Doing
Nothing.

l.
ISOLATED Press.) The senate today
adopted the resolution of Denison that
three members from the committees on
inance. hospitals and public buildings
other than prisons with the chairmen of
such committees, constitute commit
tee to inspect public buildings, and that
| members be allowed only actual ex-
penses instead of mileage. Adjourned.
IN ASSEMBLY.
The assembly held brief session this
morning. The committee on agriculture
reported favorably on the appointment
of q commissioner to represent Califor-
mia at the Central American exposition.
The majority report of the federal re-
lations committee recommended no sug-
gastion to congress regarding Cuba.
The minority reported that it favored
recognition of the insurgents as bellig-
erents.
CAUCUS ACTION.
Another sensation was added to this
session of sensations today when S. j.
Duckworth, clerk of the assembly, was
asked to resign. This was the result of
two caucuses held by the Republican
members OF the house. Recess was TAX
EN- in the morning to hold a caucus to
consider the report of the investigation
committee on temporary organization.
was to effect Duckworth's removal.
At the second caucus a committee con-
sisting of Melick. Anderson and Belshaw
was appointed to wait on DuckWorth
and request his resignation. The clerk
was completely taken aback at this sud
den turn of affairs and asked that further
time be given for consideration. He was
given till tomorrow morning to comply
with the demand.
A surprise is in store for those who
passed the resolution in caucus for con-
trary to expectation the clerk Will not
resign, but will stand his ground and
demand that he be accorded an investi-
CATION. After he had been served with
the notice he declared that he would re-
sign If the assembly wished him to do so.
He said that there was not full caucus
present and that he was willing to abide
by the decision of the majority.
AS was expected there are number
of gentlemen anxious or at least will
ing to take Duckworths position. Andy
Branch Of San Francisco and VIM. Haw-
kett are already laying wires for the
place and Thomas Atkinson. who was
Duckworth's opponent in the fight for
the clerkship, is said to be on his way
from San Francisco to again enter the
lists.
These aspirants may be disappointed
for while for the minority has taken up
the cudgels for Duckworth and will de-
mand tomorrow morning that an inves-
tigation be made of the temporary or
ganizaton. The Democrats and Popu-
lists held a caucus tonight and invited
Duckworth to be present. The clerk
made a statement and said all he desired
was a fair investigation and it was unan-
imously decided that one should be
asked for What the outcome of this
will be is hard to predict, but the music
will begin after prayer in the morning.
when it is expected Duckworth will
have something to say. Tonight num-
Der of Republican members expressed
the opinion that Duckworth would not
be removed.
The joint caucus of the assembly and
senate majorities will not meet tomor
row night as was intended to decide on
the five men to be named as trustees of
the state library. The election of the
trustees has been fixed for February g.
Both the assembly and senate majorities
will not meet tomorrow night as was
intended to decide on the five men to be
named as trustees of the Gate library.
The election of the trustees has been
fixed for February 3. Bottle the assem-
bly, and senate Republicans met sepa-
rately today and decided on holding the
Joint caucus Monday night.
THE LATEST FAD
Inc san francisco QeleRatlOn met To-
day to consider the bill providing for the
closing of the cemeteries in 1900. Mr..
Hubbs. representing one of the Rich
mond Improvement clubs, spoke in fa-
vOr of the measure and said that the
health and progress of the city de-
manded its passage. George Fletcher
superintendent of the Odd Fellows GEM
etery, and j. w. Burllng of the Laurel
Hill Cemetery association, spoke against
the bill, saying that the cemeteries were
not menace to the health of the city,
and that when people in Richmond
bought their property they knew of the
presence of the cemeteries and that the
latter were to stay there. Both men
claimed that the bill was in the interest
of an association that has cemetery lots
for sale in San Mateo.
Assemblyman Valentine of Los Ange-
les spoke against the passage of the bill
saying that 1t would work a hardship
on Los Angeles, which was a growing
city.
Dibble, author of the measure Gre
ated a scene and declared that If the
committee reported against the measure
he would have it passed anyhow. For
a time it looked as If personal encoun-
ter would ensue between Dibble and
Dennery, but the meeting adjourned un-
til Monday without anything being done
or any one hurt.
RIVER NAVIGATION
The bill to appropriate $500, 900 for the
purchase or construction of a dredger to
dredge and make navigable the Sacra-
mento and San Joaquin rivers received
consideration today at the hands of the