The San Francisco call., 1899-10-07
BURNS SAYS OTHERWISE.
Assures His Friends That a
Session Will Be Called.

d. M. Burns talks on the quiet to mem
bers of the Legislature as if the pro-
gramme for an extra session is certain to
be carried out. Last week the Mexican
had an extended interview with a promi-
nent member of the Legislature. The
lawmaker, after listening for some time
and perceiving that the Mexican was
taking soundings, decided to call up the
main question. Accordingly he asked,
will there be an extra session." The
colonel promptly replied, Yes" After
rejecting for a moment he added, 'I am
informed that Governor Gage is in favor
of calling the members together in special
session.
Burns was asked by the inquisitive leg
iSlator II the people favored the extra
session. The Mexican was not at a loss
for a reply. He said the people in some
sections of the State were very anxious
that river Improvement and reclamation
work should be carried on, but that legis-
lation was necessary to further progress.
Warming up to the subject, the colonel
gave his views on appropriations and the
tax levy, intimating, that the extra ses-
sion might reduce the tax levy. He re-
marked that the tax levy bill which was
passed at the regular session contem-
plated the payment of all the appropria-
tions allowed by the Legislature, but
claimed that the levy was excessive, as
the Governor had retired many of the
bills which passed both houses, and there
fore 1t would not be necessary to raise as
much money as the tax levy contemplated.
The member of the Legislature to whom
the argument was addressed knew that
the colonel was fioundering, but did not
go to his rescue. The legislator was IA
miliar with the fact that the revenue bill
which passed both houses directed the
State Board of Equalization to levy tax
sufficient to raise a certain amount of
money for the several funds for each
fiscal year and that the extra session
could not tamper with the levy after the
State Board had fixed the rate and the
valuation.
The member of the Legislature, who
had listened without saying much to
the gilt-lined palaver of the Mexican,
finally pumped the question, How much
so we can fix our affairs to go to Sacra-
mento?"
Speaking" of the time limit, the colonel
reminded his small but intelligent audi
vened an extra session in this State
three days notice to the members and
that Governor Roosevelt of New York in
a recent call for an extra gathering Of
the lawmakers of that State allowed only
three days for preparation. The Mexican,
however, fancied that Governor Gage
would be more conSiderate and allow
more extended notice of the proposed
event The colonel bluntly said, 1--WE will
give you fellows weeks time to get
ready"
Becoming enamored of his own voice,
the colonel proceeded to touch upon topics
pertaining to the Senatorship, and spoke
of President McKinley'S regret that Cali
fornia had not chosen a Senator to sue
ceed Mr.. White. The Mexican professed
to have information to the effect that
Senator Carter was authorized to speak
for the President and that the Montana
Senator was strongly in favor of an extra
session. According to Burns view of the
situation, Carter had succeeded in recon-
Cling many of the elements which had
been antagonistic to an extra session of
the Legislature.