The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-20
A Disappointed Lobby Fails to Thrill With
a Sensation
Scandals and Investigations So Change Conditions
That Prophesying Turns Out to Be
Bad Business
BY HENRY JAMES.

ing so still remains. and hope 1T will
to the end. That an embarrassing task
has fallen to 1t there can be no question,
and to emphasize the ignominy. of the
presiding officer of the Assembly must
strike all the members as something they
would rather avoid. The session this af-
ternoon was interesting, and while fully
set forth In the news columns some of
the salient features may not be out OF
place here.
Two Call reporters, Messrs. Burke and
Levings, We're the principal witnesses;
When LevfngS told about having heard
the rumor that Cosper had offered to vote
for Grant for $4,000, this having been the
figure expected from Burns, there was
a bit of a sensation. It must not be I'M
derstood that any weight Is to be at
tached to any rumors, and no man can
be so grounded in the confidence of his
fellows as to escape, them. Neither can
any afford to ignore them, and Cosper will
not. Nevertheless, as chairman of the
committee, the surprise must have been
little less than a shock. He will be given
full opportunity to refute it-an oppor-
tunity which he would doubtless demand
were this necessary. The man said to
have acted as messenger between Cos
per and the Grant camp has been sub
penaed and Cosper has made oath that
the charge is unfounded.
Mr.. Burke corroborated the allegations
that Wright had admitted having receiv-
exacted, and that Wright had threatened
to have the representatives of this paper
expelled from the floor unless they dis
continued the habit of exposing his meth
DDS.
The testimony Of these gentlemen SEEM
ed to have great weight, and the hints
they offered materially widened the pos
sibilities. There stretches before the com
mittee field, the limit of which cannot
be surmised. The work in sight promises
to consume as much time as the election
of Senator, and, perhaps, adjournment
will find it incomplete. The only tangi-
BILE result thus far is the discrediting of
Wright and the elimination of Grant as
a factor in the situation, and as to the
The other is a certainty, as nothing the
committee could do would restoreWright.
The charter has been saved. Charles
L. Patton and others have been here and
devoted noble efforts to it's salvation. It
was never in the least possible danger,
sentiment for it being unanimous except
as to Assemblyman Johnson of Sacra-
mento, whose objections were just strong
enough to control his own vote. Howev
er, Patton and the others showed their
good will and loyalty, and had a good
time. They have gone home now proud
and happy at having snatched the charter
from defeat.
Senator Boyce's remarkable resolution
is on its way to where twineth the wood
bine Already it had been shorn of its most
eccentric features, its stuffing knocked
out, and by the time 1t comes UP for final
action the author will not be able to re-
cognize his own handiwork and thus will
IuOuIH Dul IIOuSIdlSiy ONSI llS uelcdl. L ne
idea of Boyce seems to be that newspaper
men in their quest for information must
not disturb the repose of the diplomats
composing the Legislature. There are
plenty in the Senate who take a broader
view among them Dickinson, Shortridge,
Braunhart and Morehouse; yet 1 have
seen all the gentlemen roasted, indeed,
have myself taken a friendly fall out Of
them. They are too big to resent the
criticism which must come to those In
public life, or to think themselves MEM
har of a SfInnrinr Parh0nG ROV0a
has not gained much by putting himself
on exhibition.
While the Assembly was waiting this
morning for the sensation which never
came, | listened to proceedings so inter-
estedly as to fall asleep. When Major
Kyle gets to reading a bill his voice lulls
a tired world to rest.
Tonight the Grant men are holding
caucus, For particulars see some other
page. The rumor is that they intend to
stand pat, and as every other faction has
similar intentions whole lot of immova-
BILE bodies are mixed up with forces sup
posed to be irresistible.