The San Francisco call., 1898-12-19
State Printing Office to Be Used to Prolong the Senatorial
 Fight.
Plot of Politicians to Checkmate the Board of Examiners and Clog Organization of the Incoming State Gov
 ernment.

The Legislature is threatened at its ap- preaching session with a serious complica- ton that is without precedent in the his tory of the State. There are grave fears that the organization of the Assembly and the Senate will be delayed for at least ten days after the day set by law. It is known that certain prominent members of the upper House are encouraging this threatenend delay in order that they may succeed in certain schemes in reference to the United States Senatorial election. The business of the Legislature Is to be delayed, the wishes of State officers, who desire to expedite official business are to be opposed and the people of California are to be burdened with thousands of dol lars of useless expense in order that few petty politicians, whom chance has made legislators, shall exercise the unwarranted power to do little petty politics.
 This official and unexpected dilemma has arisen over the closing of the State Printing Office. It should not be under stood, however, that either State Printer A. J. Johnston, or Governor Budd is even countenancing the plot that Is on foot to paralyze the energies of the Legislature and make the State government ridicu- lous in the eyes of its people. When the true condition of affairs was discovered, Governor Budd and State Printer John ston buried whatever personal quarrel they may have had, forgot their political differences and as public oficers-one d Democrat and the other a Republican sought to save the State government from the predicament into which 1t has been placed.
 Because the State Printing Office is closed the Legislature of this State can not be formally organized. The law pro- vides that certain preliminary printed matter must be supplied to both houses before they can attempt the orderly trans action of official business. There must, In the first place. be printed roll calls. Bills must be printed, or they ports must be furnished in print ed form. Messages and official docu- ments must be sent to the Governor in the same shape prescribed by law. The print ing office is at the opening of the Legs lature a most essential adjunct, uut the State Printing Office is closed.
 This is the dilemma that faces the Leg islature and it is the condition Of affairs oS which a few politicians are taking ad- vantage in order that the organization of the Legislature may be delayed, and with IL the election of United States Senator. why certain members of the Legislature seek to postpone the election Of a Federal Senator. The longer such contest IS on at Sacramento the better certain !eglSld- tors are pleased. The affair in this as pect has created a great deal of comment.
 A few days ago it was seen that some thing must be done at once or State busl- ness would be paralyZed. It was argued that an appropriation could be ordered is doubt that even this can be done, as an appropriation bill must be printed. Friends of both administrations inter vened to see what possibly could be done. The merits of Governor Budd's action in closing the State printing office by cutting off the entire appropriation were not us cussed. as they were not pertinent.
 Those who sought to secure confer ence between Governor Budd and State Printer Johnston were interested only Tn exDediting public business and saving the S4ate from ridicule and expense. After some discussion Governor Budd and state Printer Johnston agreed to meet and consider the situation. They notH hects- sarily were of the opinion that the state Printing Office must be opened at least ten days before the opening or the Legs lature or organization coul9 not LorIlany liy Ta made If this were not done, the busl- ness of the Legislature would De delayed unnecessarily for ten days. C,o,.,--,r
 Under these circumstances GoVernor % Pudd agreed to audit. as Governor ana as a member of the State Board of EXamln- CTS. all bills necessary for the printing ot papers and documents needed Tn the or Printer Johnston promised to open the State Printing Office and to order the nrinting of certain material that was to 6e indicated in bill or items. " lth Ihdl ,,1darstanding the conference closed. It 1-as understood as a matter of course tbat the indorsement of the entire Board of Examiners should be obtained to this PT4nSer the State laws, it is claimed, the S+a+e Roard of Examiners has no right to audit a deficiency bill where no 9riglna!! e11ronriation has been made and demand +ba State Legislature to sanction IL and order the money paid. The LegIslature has full discretion, however, ana even without the indOrsement or the Board or EXanniners could order the money paid Tn this instance, where the expense was 4o he incurred solely for the beneft or the agfsF rZ a diSnity to its organization and effect to fts actions, every one interested agreed that the demand of the State Printer would be adopted promptly by the Legls- ISfui IT is absolutely necessary that the work must be done and it is matter Of the worst public policy to nave vel IL done at a time when public business will be delayed. Since it must be done it is argued that 1t 2 should be done now. These arguments fell on deaf ears when they were Hade to certain members of the Legislature who see personal advantage in a long contest for the United States Senate. ~
 After the conference between the Gov ernor the State Printer and friends or both was over the indorsement or the re- maining members of the Board or EXam- iners was sought. Secretary or state Touis H. Brown, recognizing the neceS- sitv of immediate action. at once promised to audit the demand of the State Printer. Ii was seen that it is imperative to have 1riuted the reports Of the State ContrOler, inc Board of Examiners, the State Treas urer and the State Board of Prison Direc- tors. These documents, with the mes sages of Governor Budd and of Governor elect Gage. must in printed form be sub- Toitted to the consideration of the Legfsla- ture. For these reasons, so imperative from the point of view of public policy. Secretary of State Brown signed an order authorizing the State Printer to proceed at once to the printing of the necessary papers. reports documents and messages.
 The third member of the Board of Ex- amfners. Attorney General W. F. FitZger- aid, was also seen. He at once signed the order giving the State Printer the au- thoritv of the Board of Examiners to pro- ceed. Governor Budd, as Governor and as a member of the Board of Examiners, also affixed his signature. and it seemed as if State Printer Johnston needed nothing further in the way of official indorsement for the necessary work.
 In order that there might be no mis- take in the matter the State. Printer. the Governor and his associates in the Board of Examiners agreed upon the documents that were to be printed The list included about 150 items, each one or which was ordered by the examiners to be printed. Tn the list as originally arranged, the re- port of the Prison Directors was omitted and the report of the Senatorial Commit fr-