The record-union., 1899-03-16
Still. pay POLL TAX.

S1ILL IA4 E|l<L 1<A<A.
| The second proposed amendment,
also by Mead. proposed to amend Sec
tion II of Article XIII. of the Consti-
tuition, SO far as to read as follows:
THE Legislature shall provide for the
levy and collection of an annual poll
tax of not less than So on every male
| inhabitant of this State, over n and
under TO years of age, except paupers,
idiots, insane persons and Indians. not
taxed Said tax shall be paid into the
State school fund; provided, that every
male who votes at a general election
shall be exempt from the payment OF
such poll tax for the next ensuing two
years."
Stratton offered an amendment to the
proviso, inserting after the word gen
eral' the words .or primary" making
1t read: Provided, that every male
who votes at general or primary cleo
tion shall be exempt from the payment
of such poll tax for the ensuing two
years"
Stratton's amendment precipitated a
long debate in which a number Of Sena-
tors took part The result was the de-
feat of the amendment, and the ques-
ton being on the passage of the meas
ure, it was lost by a vote of IA to IL.
GENERAL APPROPRIATION BILL.
At this time the general appropriation
bill was returned from the printer, and
Dickinson moved that it be taken up
and read the third time.
Boyce took occasion to denounce the
action of the Finance Committee in re-
porting the bill back after TO o'clock
Tuesday night, and rushing it through
second reading while the attendance
was light He intimated that ulterior
motives existed for such a proceeding,
and said that no honest bill ever feared
the light of day
THE STATE FAIR.
After the formal reading of the bill
the third time, Doty, who had been abb
sent Tuesday night when the amend
ment reducing the appropriation for the
State Agricultural Society from $780,
UtO to 10000 offered an amendment
again raising the appropriation to the
figure fixed by the Assenbly-$3O, 600.
Boyce in a strong speech favored re-
storing the appropriation to $4,000.
DOTY FOR THE FAIR.
Doty said he had no personal feeling
in the proposition but looked on it as a
matter of business He felt mortified
that he had not been in his seat when
the bill was read the second time. He
thought it probable that some Of the
Senators did not understand that the
State Fair was demanded by the agri-
cultural classes, it being their only
means of bringing together their prod
ucts and comparing notes. He said
that while the farmers assisted very
materially in paying the S10,O00,C0O or
$12,00O,000 of taxes to be raised, it was
only right that they should be allowed
$50 900 for the State Fair. 1t was the
only thing, he said, they had asked for,
and he hoped their request would be
granted. Doty's speech was received
by continued applause.
GILLETTE OPPOSES TT.
Gillette opposed the amendment, cit
ing the fact that it was proposed in
the bill to appropriate nearly $1,000
GOO for fairs He thought the bill ought
to pass without amendment. He called
the attention of the Senate to the fact
that S25, 900 had been given to Sacra-
mento for a road from Sacramento to
nowhere, and he thought it time to call
a halt. s3s
Leavitt favored the amendment. con-
tending that the appropriation was not
for the benefit of Sacramento, but for
the State of California. He urged the
adoption Of the amendment.
RoweH thought $4,000 would be
ample for conducting the State Fair
Doty, in closing the debate, said the
appropriation for the State Fair was
not a sentimental proposition. The
State Fair he said, was no great ben
eft for Sacramento. He was tired of
hearing it said, every time an appro-
priation for State property in this city
was made that Sacramento was getting
the cream of everything, when as a
matter of fact such appropriations We're
for the State and not for Sacramento,
and would be made just the same if
the Capitol was at Milpitas
The amendment proposed by Doty
was carried by a viva voce vote, only
one voice being raised against it, and
the bill carries S30,00O for the State
Fair
DISTRICT FAIRS.
Laird moved the appointment of a
committee to amend, increasing the ap-
preparations of District Agricultural
Societies Forty three from ST 200 to
5000: Thirty-four, from 81 200 to 81
900; Twenty-seven, from 81, 800 to 81
GOO. and Ten. from 81 200 to $4,000.
Boyce said he began to understand
why the gag law had been enforced
to prohibit debate. He favored ap-
pointing the committee to amend, and
wanted the whole bill threshed over,
and little daylight let in upon it,
Dickinson explained that much con-
sideration had been given to district
fair appropriations in the committees of
both houses. He felt that all the money
which could be spared had been given
them and he hoped the committee would
not be appointed.
Davis opposed the appointment of the
committee. He said if. any Senator was
unfamiliar with the provisions of the
bill 1T was his own fault, inasmuch as,
when it was reported back to the AS
sernbly, it had been published in full
in the 'Record-Union.'' He called at
tention that the Governor in his in
ausural address had made a plea for
low tax rate. The appropriation bill,