The record-union., 1898-12-31

may be interesting to bear in mind
some of the chief points pertaining to
the work
Certain well known rules and GUS
toms govern the action of the Leg
islature. 1t is the usual custom to fol-
low a prescribed course, and that will
be done this time. On Monday there
will be a thorough organization, SO that
the balloting for a United States Sen
ator can commence on the second Tues
day following the day of the organi-
zation. Then the Governors message
is in order.
1t is quite probable that Senator
Frank w. Leavitt of Oakland, who
succeeds the late Senator Eli Denison,
will be one Of the most active members
from the bay. He was seen by a ''Rec-
ord-Union'' reporter yesterday. In re-
ply to a question as to the probable
legislation that would be asked by
Oakland, Senator Leavitt said:
Il am interested particularly in two
bills, though of course there are other
matters that will elicit my attention.
l shall ask that bill be passed by
which all firemen in Incorporated cities
shall be given two holidays each month.
That is, of course, but half of the holi-
days that other workingmen are al
lowed, but it will be a good thing for
the poor fellows who are SO overworked,
and believe there will be little trouble
in getting the bill through"
The chief bill in which Senator Leav-
lit is interested, however, is one that
relates to the Oakland water front.
Speaking of that measure, he said ::
II shall Introduce a bill whose purpose
Will be to create board of Harbor
Commissioners for Oakland Under this
bill, which will provide three Commits
sioners. it is the purpose to enable that
board to go ahead and improve the
Oakland water front, for which pur-
pose we shall ask for an appropriation
of $250,000. 1t is our desire that the
water front shall be improved through
out and put in first class condition, so
that it will return to the State many
times the sum that we ask for the
preliminry improvements. This water
front practically embraces all the ter
ritory extending from what is known
as the Sessions basin to North Berke-
ley
My bill provides that the Commits
sioners must all be residents of Ala
media County, also that all who shall
do work along the water front shall be
electors of the State of California"
The territory embraced in Senator
Leavitt's bill includes that which the
Supreme Court decided belonged to the
Oakland Water Front Company, as
We'll as that which was held to belong
to the State. In the litigation, which
was carried to the Supreme Court, it
was finally decided that the State
owned all of the territory, except such
as was earned by the Water Front
Company by prescription and usage Of
many years. The Senator said:
Il think that the provisions of my
bill POSSIBLY with few minor amend
ments) will suit all the interests in
volved Immediately in the questions.
OF course do not yet know how this
proposition will affect the rural in
terests or the other parts of the State,
but this is the one measure that I am
most vitality interested in and proud
of. 1 have other interests, and I shall
also do a great deal to help other meas
ures that affect other parts of the State
or the State as whole
The new Senator's bill provides that
the water front shall be surveyed with
out delay and that the map shall be
filed with the County Recorder and
shah thereafter be called the official
map of the County. It gives the Board
of Harbor Commissioners of Oakland
jurisdiction of all ships and cars along
and on the water front The bill en-
braces some Of the salient points of
the Eureka, San Francisco, and San
Diego harbor bills. and it is said to
have several safeguards against
jobbery
Senator s. c. Smith of Bakersfield
has several matters that he desires to
introduce to his fellow legislators for
their favorable consideration. Speaking
of one of his bills last night, the Sena-
tor said: 'I desire to have such an
Office as Mail Clerk established. It
will be his business to furnish such news
matters as country editors may desire.
If this becomes a prevailing law the
Mail Clerk will be able to fill such news
orders as shall be filed for permanent
filing. This information will cover the
subjects that are enumerated, and the
papers will be supplied with correct in
formation on the subjects that are
named in the lists that are filed in ad-
vance. 1t is the purpose of this pro-
vision to furnish accurate information
to the papers, and thereby to the peo-
pie concerning such matters as are be-
fore the Legislature from time to time.
In this way the dissemination of infor-
nation that is strictly correct will en-
able more general understanding of
the measures that are offered, and will
aid to thorough comprehension Of
what is going on
There were not so many arrivals last
night as the hotel men expected. but it
is thought that a great many will come
to-day.