The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-23
ANTI-CARTOON
BILL GETS ITS
DEATH BLOW

CALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRA-
MENTO. Feb. 22.-The pet anti-cartoon
measure of young Mr.. Works of San Di-
ego, the bill to prevent the PRONUNCIATION
of unlovely features, came up for final
passage before the Senate this afternoon
and it received its quietus.
1t is not thoroughly dead. Like newly
killed snake, 1t has still a squirm, a no.
tice of a motion to reconsider the vote
which failed. That will be considered
tomorrow, and unless some Senator'S ex-
perience a sudden and complete change
of heart the bill will receive a second
and final whack between the eyes.
There was not so much oratory over
the measure as appeared when 1t came
up for second reading. Every one had
had his say except Senator Shortridge,
who could not restrain his desire to give
the bill final kick. Senator Shortridge
repeated his arguments of last Monday
that the bill in restricting the expression
of opinion by pictures was doing precise
preston of opinion by printed words, and
this, he declared, was in direct violation
of that provision of the constitution
which says that must not be done. He
referred to the power of the press as
manifested in the wrongs it has righted,
the schemes 1T has exposed, the corrup-
posture of methods and in it's influence
toward education and progress. Because
it sometimes overstepped the bounds, he
denied the Senate had a right to tie its
hands The excess could be punished by
the laws of libel already on the statute
books, he said, but the liberty of the
press could not be abridged.
Senator Rowell believed the bill would
be benefited by striking out the prohibit
ton against portraits. but he did not think
it worth while TO offer his suggestion in
the form of an amendment. There was
no further discussion, and the bill went
Immediately to a vote on roll call. Sen
ator Chapman announced that he was in
favor of the bill and he had agreed to
pair his vote with that of Senator Sims,
who was absent and opposed to IT. The
roll call proceeded and then the absentees
were calIed-those who were really alb
sent and those who hoped to escape thu
manning silent. in the expectation that the
bill would be passed or refused passage.
the light the vote was as follows:
Ayes-Ashe, Bettman, Burnett, Curtin,
Cutter, Dickinson, Feeney,. Hall. Leayitt,
son Taylor, Trout and Wolfe-17.
Noes-Braunhart, Bula, Davis, DWyer,
Flint. Gillette, Jones, Laird, Larue, Luch-
singer, Prisk, Rowell, Shortridge, Smith
Absent~Boyce. Currier, Doty, Hoey,
Langford, Sims-6.
Paired with Sims-Chapman.
A call of the House was demanded, ana
on ayes and noes the chair decided against
the call. Cries for a roll call on the call
of the House were heard and on the roll
being called the motion for call OF the
House was found to- have been lost.
Before the vote was announced, cutter
changed his vote from no TO aye and not
hearing Cutter and fearing some one mad
forgotten to provide for a reconsideration.
Morehouse asked permission to do the
same. He withdrew his request when ne
heard Cutter had changed, and then when
the vote was announced Senator cutter
gave notice that tomorrow he would
move to reconsider.