The herald., 1897-02-18
THE STATE LEGISLATURE
Wrestles With the Printing o.
flee Question
DEFICIENCY WILL BE PAID
Provided The Governor Doesn't Use His
Veto Pen
An Investigation Ordered and 1t Is Likely 10
be Thorough-BlIls Passed in
Either House
9pecial to The Herald.

6Decldl 10 ne Ilei dAN'
SACRAMENTO, Feb. 17.-Today ha
seen a battle royal over the stat
printer. The assembly, through the Re
publican majority, carried the bills IN
troduced by Dibble at the behest of tn
caucus, yet displayed commendablew WIS
dom in giving the minority fair pla!
throughout, putting Caminetti instead
of McLaurin on the investigating com
mittee and adopting an amendment tha
two printing experts and two expert ac
oountants,, one selected by the Repub'
licans, the other by the Democrats
should be employed by the committee tc
make investigation.
1t was nearly noon when the fight be-
gan, although it had been announced
that time would be called at IL o'clock
but other business delayed it.
Dibble moved to take up his two bills
one appropriating $4,000 to cover de
ficit, and the other for $4,000 to pay the
expenses of the printing office for the
balance of the fiscal year. Shanahan
offered a substitute for the two bills ap-
propriating $4,000 to pay whatever de-
f1cit might be found to exist by the state
board of examiners. On motion of cut
ter, who said he desired to be fair to
all, the assembly resolved itself into
q committee of the whole to consider
all three bills.
Caminetti made fiery speech in favor
of the substitute. He is by far the best
speaker in the assembly and his congress
sional experience makes him good par
liamertarian. He raised his voice TO
a very high pitch and frequently pound
ed the desk to emphasize his remarks.
He argued that the law provided no de-
partment of the state government which
could create a deficiency without the
permission of the board of examiners, yet
here was large deficiency in the state
printing office, and the only legal way to
overcome the difficulty was to make
the appropriation depend on the board
of examiners Endorsement of the claims.
Dryden (San Diego, Pop) said that the
Democrats and Republicans were dig
ging a partisan gulf in which the inter-
ests of the people would be sunk out
of sight. He favored the appropriation
needed, but only through the legal sys-
The debate continued until afternoon,
when Shanahan's substitute was de-
feated and Dibble's bills passed.
The assembly then took up the con-
current resolution appointing commit
tee to investigate the state printing Of
fice and appointing Senators Dickinson,
Gillette and Seawel and Assemblyman
Price, Dennery and McLaurin such COM
mittee McLaurin being objected to by
the minority, as his seat is contested,
Caminetti was substituted, and an
amendment added providing for two ex-
pert printers and two expert account
ants to investigate the office of printer
under the committees order, Repub-
licans and Democrats each to appoint
two experts.
Caminetti then gave notice that he
would move tomorrow to reconsider
the vote by which Dibble's bills had
passed. and the printing matter was
dropped by the assembly.
When the concurrent resolution was
reached in the senate, on motion of Sem
ator Dickinson the assembly amend
ment in favor of employing experts was
stricken out, without debate, by party
vote, but as has since been demonstrated
against the better judgment of many
senators. The governor says he cannot
sign Dibble's bill because it is uncon-
stitutional. carrying appropriations for
two separate purposes, the relief of the
state printer and the maintenance of his
office. H was to have left town this
evening, but remained, and has had con-
ferences all the evening with senators,
including Bulla, Pedlar, Wolf, Withing-
ton and others. He expresses a willing
ness to sign bill for 900 if constitu-
tionally drawn. Many senators favor
replacing the assembly amendment al
lowing two expert printers and two ac-
countants appointed by both sides to the
controversy, and proba bly, the assembly
will insist tomorrow on retaining that
amendment to the concurrent resolu-
ton. A committee on conference will
then be asked for and the whole matter
will come up for debate in the senate.
A number of senators say they favor
double set of experts, SO that the in
Vestigation will be complete, and the
whole state will be forced to concede
its fairness. That is the view of Senator
Lucksinger, who says the investiga tion
should be complete; the party cannot
afford to take the responsibility 70:
charges against Johnston
Senator Bulla believes that the inves-
tigation should be complete and above
suspicion. Other senators express the
same views, and no doubt the matter
will develop division in the party ranks
in the senate. Some senators say open
ly that Johnston is forcing the party into
hole, and they do not propose to be
party to it.
An animated debate occurred in the
assembly this morning before the print
ing bills came up over the report of the
committee on elections, of which Ken
yon is chairman, and which has cut
down claims for expenses from $5231 to
1271. The committee was sustained
The appropriations for district agri-
cultural fairs was then taken up. Ami
mated debate occurred not a few assem-
blymen opposing any appropria tions
even for state fair. Melick said he was
opposed to wasting money on these
fairs. If counties wanted to hold them
they could pay their own expenses. and
he moved to strike Los Angeles county
out of the list. Valentine made a speech
in favor of the appropriation for Los An
seles. He spoke Of the wonderful ex-
hibitions which could be seen at fairs
there. This led an assemblyman 10
tell story of a fair he said had heer
held years ago in Los Angeles. The ex.
hibits were goose, a calf and a pump.
kin. IT rained and the goose swan
away, the calf ate the pumpkin and a
Mexican stole the calf: since which Los
Angeles had not wanted fairs.
Everyone laughed al the rural story
and ancient joke, and before vote was
taken on Melicks motion, the bill as
amended was sent back to the commit.
tee on agriculture with orders TO report
next Tuesday.
Bulla's Terrence land law was favor.
ho