The San Francisco call., 1899-12-30
Special Dispatch to The Call.

SACRAMENTO. Dec. 29.-The scheme OF
the Governor TO induce members OF the
Legislature to meet him ostensibly to con-
slider expenditures in reference TO the
mother lode of the State, but really 10
discuss an extra session, has failed. The
expose Of the scheme in The Call to-day
created a sensation, and the contemplated
discussion Of the conference was aban-
doned. Gage had sent out a great many
invitations, but only nine members or the
Legislature responded. The expose had
had the effect OF keeping many of the in
vited ones away and 1t would have been
idle TO discuss the question before nine
men.
Those who attended the conference which
was held in the Governors office were as
follows: Lieutenant Governor Nen, Sen
ator Maggard and Assemblymen Rauo,
Beecher, Lardner. Dunlap. Robinson, jill
son and Blood. The conference was brief
and to 'the point, only the mother lode
proposition being discussed. AT the re
quest of the nine legislators assembled the
Governor appointed Expert W. II. storms
to examine the lodges of the lode. AT the
close of the session Gage issued the re-
quired commission.
A great deal Of controversy has already
taken place over this matter. II will be
remembered that the Legislature adopted
a measure providing for the appointment
of two experts and the necessary funds
10 make the examinations. There was a
defect in the bill which made ii uncon-
stitutional but Gage appointed the two
experts and failed to secure their ratihca-
ton from State Mineralogist Cooper.
This officer positively declined TO give his
Endorsement and IL remains TO be seen
whether or not he will now give his in
dorsement TO Storms.
1t is a significant fact that the members
of the Legislature who attended the con-
ference in the Governors private office
expected that extra session would be
sprung One legislator remarked:
''The Governor must have had some
thing more in view than the appointment
of an expert simple letter to each
member would have brought out all the
information wanted in that respect. We
all expected that something would be
brought up relating to the proposed extra
session. and I think something would
have been said II The Call had not sprung
the letter inviting the mother lode mem
bers 70 come to Sacramento"
II transpires that Jilson-the Jilson Of
fragrant memory-had a candidate for eX-
pert. Mr.. Anderson of the State Univer-
sity was Jilsons choice at the beginning,
but the name was withdrawn after As
semblymen Blood, Lardner and Dunlap
eulogized Mr.. Storms. Before the meet
ing broke up Storms was elected by ac-
clamation. The impression was given to
the members present that Storms was ac-
ceptable to the Mining Bureau.
Trustee w. L. Watts, who was recently
appointed expert, attended the session.
The assertion made officially by Mayor
Phelan that Governor Gage would call an
extra session 10 meet January provoked
a storm Of Indignation in the executive Of
flee. The Governor said TO the agent Of
the Associated Press that he did not be-
lieve that Mayor Phelan made the state
ment. The Governor added: II do not be-
lieve that Mayor Phelan would state that
which is wilfully false" The Governor
talked freely.
In the course Of an extended interview
'I have received petitions representing
$3.50. 600 900 worth of property urging me 10
call an extra session of the Legislature to
legislate regarding San Francisco's water
front. Within day or two / have re-
ceived additional petitions, one Of which
is represented to be from the wholesale
butchers of San Francisco and among the
signatures are such as that of Miller *
Lux.
81 have been importuned to call an
extra session by the greatest political
leaders of both the State and the ma
ton. The pressure brought to bear
upon me has been tremendous.
Notwithstanding this, have not made
all reports TO the contrary are absolutely
false
I'm this regard my mind is Just the
same as IL was after the adjournment of
the Legislature. / do not want you to
think that l Ignore these petitions, and l
do not want the men who signed them to
think that l will ignore them. / want you
to say that have neither decided to call
or not TO call an extra session, and do
not want IL TO appear that have ignored
these petitions. I have reached no deter
mination in the matter whatever. regard
less of any reports, no matter from where
they may emanate.
The statement was volunteered that the
call for the extra session would be written
by the Governor in person at his office
here in the Capitol, and no person what
ever would know anything whatsoever
about Il until II is issued and made pub
lie. The broad assertion was qualified
with this supplementary proviso: This Is,
of course. II l should call an extra seS-
sion. which, / repeat, 1 have not yet de-
termined TO do
The Governor can dismiss from HIS mind
the fancy that Mayor Phelan was mis-
quoted. The Mayor announced without
hesitation or qualification that the Gov
Legislature. The intelligence from Sacra-
mento that Gage has determined to write
the proclamation himself will be received
by Herrin and Dibble with feelings OF
keen regret. IL was supposed that Dibble
had already drawn the call, leaving blank
spaces for the subjects of legislation and
the day OF meeting. Perhaps the install
| lation Of NJ. r. Higgins as D. NJ. Burns
new manager has sidetracked Judge Dib-
| BILE.
COOPER IS OBDURATE.