The herald., 1897-02-06
ON THE FLOOR
Bills Passed-a Resolution Vetoed MeIick's
Libel Scheme


SACRAMENTO, Feb. 5.-(By Asso-
ciated Press. 1.-The senate this morning
passed the following bills:
Dryers labor bill, Torrers' land act.
Boyce's measure to employ a specialist
in sociology, Bert's bill referring to legal
holidays, Bert's bill making the state
and national labor days the same date.
A message from the governor was re-
ceived, vetoing the resolution in memoir
ial to congress for a tariff on asphalt.
The governors reason for not signing
the resolution is that no official commu-
rication could be held between the sec
retary OF the senate and the congression-
al delegation. The message was re-
ferred to the committee on executive
communications.
IN THE ASSEMBLY
In the assembly this morning Seward S
bill providing for the appointment of a
debris commissioner and making an
appropriation to be expended under his
direction was recommended to the COM
mittee on mines and mining, with the re-
quest that substitute be made.
Shanahan's bill amending the civil
code relating to the redemption of prop
erty sold on execution was passed.
Sims bill providing for the appoint
meDt of an auditing board to the COM
missioner of public works, and the pur-
chase of dredger and tools to improve
and rectify channels and appropriating
$S0O,OoO, was special order. The house
resolved itself into a committee of the
whole and the bill was amended by
striking out the clause making the gov
ernor eX-officio member
Melick introduced the following con-
stitutional amendment, No. 80, relating
to libel:
Section 9. Every citizen may freely
speak. write and publish his sentiments
on all subjects, being responsible for the
abuse of that right. and no law shall be
passed to restrain or abridge the liberty
of speech or of the press. (No speech or
publication rejecting upon, or concern
ing any court, or any officer thereof
shall be treated or punished as con-
tempt of court unless made in the i'm
mediate presence of such court while in
session, and in such manner as to ac-
tually interfere with its proceedings)
In all criminal prosecutions for libels,
the truth may be given in evidence to
the jury, ard if it shall appear to the
jury that the matter charged as libel
Gus is true and was published with good
motives, and for justifiable ends, the
party shall be acquitted, and the Jury
shall have the right to determine the
law and the fact. The indictments found
or information laid, for publications in
newspapers, shall be tried in the county
where such newspapers have their pub
lication office, or in the county where
the party alleged to be libeled resided
at the time of the alleged publication
unless the place of trial shall be changed
for a good cause"
After recess the university bill was
read second time, and on motion of
Nv crhf xx-n r,,o1 do
for Monday afternoon at o'clock.
The following bills We're read second
time and ordered to third reading.
Authorizing cities and towns owning
public parks to lay out, construct and
maintain roads extending the jurisdic-
tion and authority of cities and towns
over parks owned by them authoriz-
ing cities and towns to grant franchises
for the construction and maintenance
of railroads beyond the limits of such
cities and towns to prevent blindness
in infants.
Treacy introduced a joint resolution
regarding the rights of American sea-
men, declaring the law as construed by
the supreme court in the Arago case a
menace to the personal rights of all
classes of workers, and urging the
United States senate to recall house bus
1868 and 6399 from the committee on
commerce and to pass them as sent from
the house. 1t was further resolved to
request California's representatives in
congress to do all in their power to bsr-
ter the seaman's condition. The resolu-
tion was referred to the committee on
federal relations.
The special committee of inquiry ap-
pointed to ascertain the number nf
necessary attaches in the assembly SUBJ
mitted partial report recommending
the discharge of six porters, two watch
men. one gatekeeper and two ushers
The following bills were passed: BY
Kenyon, providing for system of street