The San Francisco call., 1899-10-19
.FORESTERS FAVOR
RETRENCHMENT
Ses sion of High Court
at Fresno.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

FRESNO, Oct. 1S-The annual session
of the High Court of Independent Forest
ers, which opened in this city yesterday
/ reConvened at 10 o'clock this morning.
The chief topic considered during the day
was the report Of the finance committee.
When the report of the high secretary
was taken up for discussion this morning
it was evident that there would be a dis
agreement. In it were embraced ques-
tions which had divided the court into two
evenly matched factions. The one was
composed of the rural delegates, who
stood for economy and retrenchment, and
the other of the city delegates, for the
most part professional men. who were in
favor of liberal salaries Both sides were
generated by able leaders, ex-Clerk Duck
worth of the Assembly and Representa-
tive Peery of San Francisco championing
the cause of the city delegates and AS
semblymen Fairweather and Michael
Deckman being among the speakers for
the rural opposition.
1t was understood from the commence
ment of the session that the fight would
be precipitated by the report of the fin
ance committee appointed by the chief
ranger and controlled by the urban fac
ton. When the report of the high secre-
tary was taken up the report of the COM
mittee was called for, but the reading of
it was postponed until the afternoon ses-
sion and the rival forces had two hours
more in which TO prepare for the fight.
When the court reconvened at o clock
the report was read by Chairman G. b.
Dickson. The committee recommended
that the salaries remain the same as fixed
by the High Court last year, when the
compensation of the high chief ranger
was raised from $500 TO $1,000, exclusive of
travelling and other expenses, and that of
the nigh secretary, from $l0O to Sl25
month This brought on the fight. A mo-
ton TO adopt the recommendations was
made and seconded. Michael Deckman
was on his feet in an instant and was
greeted with applause from the country
delegates when he moved to amend by
making the salary of the chief ranger
$500 instead of $4,000. Deckman'S amend
ment was the signal for the outbreak of
hosI4lities. Chief Ranger McMfresh.
whose sympathies were with the city dele
gates, favored free discussion and did not
limit the speakers. The rest of the after
noon was spent in oratory and at times
the discussions became intensely interest
ing
It was o'clock before a test vote was
taken on the amendment and when the
ballots were counted it was found that the
amendment had carried by a majority of
four votes. The rural delegates had won
and the court adjourned for the day be-
fore the original motion was put
The compensation of delegates to the
High Court was fixed at cents a mile
and 81 a day, instead OF cents mile as
heretofore.
sumed, when the fixing of the high secre-
tarv's salary comes up. The factions will
also, in all probability, divide when 1t
comes to the election OF offlcers TINS morn
fresns prestige will overcome the de-
feat of his faction on the salary question,
and that he will be reelected High
Chief Secretary Perry will also be given
another term, but the offices of high audi
tor and high treasurer will In all nKel-
hood be filled by new men.