The San Francisco call., 1899-01-02
Judge Dibble Was HOnOred With the Chair
manShip Of the Meeting.
Major Kyle Came Near Losing His Chances
Through Lack of Sponsor to Advance
His Claims.

CALL HEADQUARTERS SACRA-
MENTO, Jan. 1.-The temptation to go
after the big sum of S3 100000 now
stored in the State treasury is hard
for the lawmaker to resist. The first
dash for the coin was made in the As
sembly caucus tonight in behalf Of the
State printing ofice. The caucus was
quickly organized by the election of
Henry c. Dibble permanent chairman.
The fact that he had no opposition
lends color to the statement that the
Republicans are Wilt at the outset
TO endow him with the laurels of lead
ership in the Assembly.
Immediately after the caucus organ
fzed a motion was made hat the As
sembly pass under suspension of the
rules and the previous question meas
'ure appropriating a sum in excess of
a quarter of a million dollars to open
the State printing office. The magni-
tude of the proposed appropriation
startled the conservative legislators.
who are not familiar with the coin alb
sorbing peculiarities of this particular
State institution. The proposition met
with resistance at once and the dis
cussiCn which ensued was animated
s~sd p1suted. Grcxe Johnson proposed
Re large allowance and supported his
motion with tact and eloquence.
The caucus was not carried away.
however, by his arguments, and so
compromise measure was suggested,
which provided an immediate allow
ance of 500, 900 for = printing office.
A bill. therefore, sanctioned by the Re
publican Assembly and appropriating
this sum of money, will probably be
the first measure TO pass the Leglsla-
ture and go to Governor Gage for his
approval The supporters of the larger
sum contented them-elves with the re-
fiection that 100000 would last the
State Printer a little while. When this
amount vanishes another reach will be
made. Fearing that the taXpayers
might become alarmed at succession
of reaches, the friends Of State Printer
Johnston advocated tho policy of Civ
ing all the money that he figured as
necessary in one big chunk.
The caucus wrestled awhile with the
patronage question. The list was too
big for one nights work. so after nam
ing Howard Z. Wright for Speaker
and Alden Anderson of SOlanO for
Speaker pro tenn. committee of five
was elected to recommend a proper dis
tribution of the remaining loaves and
fishes. Every ybody, of course, wanted
10 serve on this committee, and at least
fifteen members were voted for. The
FIVE candidates receiving the highest
number of votes were Howard Wright
Of Alameda NJ. r. Arrench, Santa
Clara; A. S. Crowder, San Diego; W. H.
Cobb. San Francisco; and W. B. Lard
ner, Placer.
A steering committee was appointed
to round up the Republican Assembly
men on momentous occasions. The
caucus elected II. G. Dibble San Fran
cisco (chairman). owen Wade of Napa
and L. II. Valentine of Los Angeles.
The resolution directs that any two
members Of the committee may call a
caucus whenever in their judgment a
caucus is necessary
Forty-five Assemblymen attended the
caucus tonight. The man at the door
counted less than this number, but a
tally Of the vote on the election of a
patronage committee recorded the pres
ence Of forty-five. There might have
been some repeaters, but if so they were
not discovered. The sense of the caucus
was in favor Of meeting and proceeding
to organizati tion tomorrow The caucus
adjourned until $50 a. m tomorrow.