The record-union., 1897-02-09

several bills of Importance and inter
est.
Perhaps the one which lied all the
rest" in general interest was the uni
versity bill, introduced by Wright, for
the levy of an additional tax of one
cent to provide fund for additional
buildings, and for more adequate sup
port of the University of California.
University of California's Alumni are
numerous in the House and U. C.'s ad-
lnirers still more so. All had worked
with will and skill, and when the
measure came up at p. m on third
reading and final passage the fight was
already won, and nothing was left but
for members to vie with each other in
adding laurels to the brow of Alma
Mater. The roll of speakers, as will be
seen in another column, was very
nearly the roll of the House, and on
the vote there was no dissenting voice.
One of the interesting things de-
veloped during the speaking was the
announcement by A. w. North that
he had secured the willing promise OF
the regents that at least S3, 600 per
annum of the new fund shall be set
aside for scholarships to be awarded
proportionately in the Congressional
Districts and to be secured by compe-
tition. 1t is understood. of course, that
tuition at the university is wholly free,
but the scholarships would be for the
expenses of living, books, etc, of those
unable or partly able to meet those ex-
penses.
OTHER MEASURES.
Many people will be deeply inter
ested to know that the bill raising the
years, as it at present stands, was
years, as it is at present stands, was
passed in the Assembly without dis
sent, and that, on its second reading
many members spoke earnestly in ia
vor of throwing this protection around
young womanhOod
The success of the civil rights bill, q
measure of Dibble's, makes the col
ored people happy, since it breaks
down some barriers at which they have
chafed considerab bly,.
Elnotts bill, relating to community
property and defining more clearly the
existing law with regard to the hus-
bands right to transfer such prop
erty for a valuable consideration with
out written consent of the wife, was
passed by a close vote. This bill does
not affect homestead rights, which are
protected under another Act
Lindenberger's Act calling for wide
wagon tires was passed and will be-
come operative in A D. 1900.
STATE PRINTING MATTERS.
The Assembly expects to receive to
day, or possibly not until tomorrow
that red hot veto message" which, i
is said. the Governor has in preparation
for the unfortunate $4,000 appropria
ton for the State Printers office.
The Retrenchment Committee, t
which was entrusted the duty of ''in
vestigating' the charges against the of
fee. seems destined to work withou
much Of the promised evidence as t.
the alleged irregularities in tn
office. The Governor has been supposed
to have such charges ready to make anC
to substantiate but after dallying SOM
time with invitations to appear befor
the committee, he was yesteray serve'
with a subpoena in due form and def
niteIy refused to comply. His excel
lencv sent for Melick, Chairman of tn
committee. three times during the da.
10 try and effect a compromise, bu
neither would give in. Melick, it i
said. was informed that if the commit
tee would not release the GovernO
from legal responsibility in the matte
Of the subpoena, that official would sem
this morning a special message to tn
LEGISLATURE desiring to be exempt from
appearing before any committee Mean
time he intimated that his information
concerning the state Printing Office vii
be included in his veto message, thoug
if is known that no specific charges o
illeeality will be made, only genera
charges of extravaganza.
Clerk John Wray of the committee ha
been digging into facts and figure
which reveal that the printing for tn
commissions is enormous and excessive
that where 1000 copies Of reports woul
be amply sufficient, many thousand
are printed. only to be fed as fuel to tn
Capitol furnace or to be piled in dust
and mildewed heaps in the several com
mission Offices Many other things ar
/ revealed by Mr.. Wray's figures, tn
variations in appropriations for on
commission running in different year
from S13. 900 down to $1,000. 1t is prob
able that the committees labor wi
| lcrvstallize into one or two important re
strictive measures, to be introduced i
the House.
A STORMY CAUCUS.
The Retrenchment Committee whic
WAS TO have held a meeting yesterda
afternoon. at which the State Printe