The record-union., 1899-02-03

THE ASSEMBLY DIGS.
If to-day should bring anything SEN
sationaI into the doings Of the lower
House it will be more than yesterday
did.
A number of bills were introduced,
others read second time and reason
ably good batch were passed, but among
them all there were none which gave
rise to anything like a debate, save,
perhaps, the horseshoers, bill, provid-
ing for a Board of Examiners who shall
give certificates of skill and making
other provisions to raise the trade tow
ard the dignity of profession with
reasonable hope of chair of horse
shoeing in the State University in the
far future The bill, on final passage,
was lost, but Cobb of San Francisco,
the author, was undaunted and gave
notice of motion to reconsider to-day.
ROADS AND HIGHWAYS.
A good number of bills were reported
back, favorably and otherwise from this
committee. Johnson's bill to provide
for the classification of roads was adj
versely reported. Ia consequence of
this, should the Assembly follow the
lead of the committee, much Of the
good effect of the committee substitute
for Johnson's bill, providing for the
expenditure Of highway taxes in dis
tracts, would be lost-so claims Melick,
Chairman of the committee. The COM
mittee's measure provides that the
Board of Supervisors must annually
set apart from the property road tax
collected from all sources fifty per cent.
to be set aside as a fund for permanent
roads; thirty-five per cent. Of the re-
| mainder of said road tax may be set
aside for general county road purposes,
from which so set apart they may d.
rect such amounts to be paid as may
be found necessary for general county
road purposes in which the inhabitants
of all the districts within the county
are more or less interested, or to as
sist weak and impoverished districts in
keeping their roads in repair.
The fifty per cent set aside for per-
manent roads in each county would,
the committee agreed, build some 200
miles of permanent road in the State
each year. But if the classification bill
be defeated, it is claimed that there will
be no general plan and, the counties
acting separately, will not be likely 10
build along the main veins Of travel
nor with view to great State high
ways.
BEFORE THE JUDICIARY.
The members Of the Judiciary Com
mittee were nearly all present last
night and had several delegations be-
fore them.
G. W. Arper, President of the Mer-
chants Exchange of Oakland and VIII
bur Walker, Secretary of the same or
ganization, appeared in the interest of
Kelley's A. B. PA, providing for the
garnishment of the salaries of public
officials for debt. The gentlemen were
emphatic and vigorous in their sup
port Of the proposition.
| Judge Dibble believed it was against
public policy and would interfere with
the public service He stated that no
such law existed in any State SO far
as he knew and that when it was be-
fore the Assembly Judge Waymire had
investigated it carefully and decided
that it was not a proper measure TO
enact.
RAISIN GROWERS HERE.
Chynoweth's A. B. 200 to prevent
monopolies in commodities or articles
of common use and prohibit restraints
OF trade and commerce had brought
some Fresno men up to oppose its pro-
visions. Their first spokesman was
| N. Theodore Kearney, President Of the
Raisin Growers Association of Fresno
who explained at length the methods
OF the association and told how the
raisln industry had languished before
the growers formed themselves into an
organized body. He believed the hi,
would break up their association If it
became law and throw the business
back where it was at the mercy of
commission men.
Mr.. Hotchkiss, Manager of the Wine
makers Association, spoke on behalf
OF that body, and explained the meth
DDS and the value of organization in
their business.
Assemblyman Fairweather. a practi-
cal raisin grower of Fresno County.
gave plain, common-sense talk from
the depths of his experience. and H.
WeiIstock, President Of the California
Fruit Growers Association, spoke in
sympathy with the others.
Members of the committee asked
many questions, all of which were
frankly and intelligently answered by
the gentlemen.
FOR THE SANTA FE.
A. P. McGinnis, Claims Agent for the
Santa Fe Railroad, was present in the
interest of j. NJ. Millers A. B. 44O. au-
thorizing the granting by county and
city authorities to railroad corporations
OF franchises for the construction of
wharves and piers for terminal pur-
poses, when found necessary, without
offering them for sale Mr. McGinnis'
explanation of the bill was very brief
and in the nature of a conversation
rather than speech.
STANFORD EXEMPTION.
George E. Carothers appeared con-
corning the Constitutional amendment
asked for by Stanford University. Since