The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19

foot of space on the main floor and in
the gallery of the Assembly chamber
was occupied this morning long before
the hour set for the joint session of the
Legislature. 1t was for the wind-up in
the Senatorial fight, and the struggle
for a place of vantage from which to
view the proceedings gave evidence OF
the interest the ong-draWn-ouC con-
test has excited in the public mind.
The routine proceedings of the AS
sembly were so badly hampered by the
rush for seats within the chamber that
it became necessary to adopt a resolu-
ton to exclude all persons except mem
bers from the floor for the time being.
This order became dead letter almost
as soon as it was made, and those who
wished to expedite the business of leg
islation were forced to accept the situa-
ton and do the best they could.
When, at last, the noon hour arrived,
the chamber and gallery were packed
to suffocation, and over all there was
an air of expectancy that spoke vol
umes for what the events of the next
few hours might be expected to bring
forth. The reading of the min
utes of yesterday was pro-
ceeded with in the ordinary way,
and when it was concluded the Secre-
taries at the desk were ordered to call
the roll on the vote for Senator. At
this there was a general stir and cram
ing of necks, fact which went far to
prove that the confident assertions of
the Burns followers that they had the
fight won and all that was necessary
for them to do was to call in their
votes had had its effect on those not
familiar with the situation.
If a wholesale landslide from one
candidate to another was expected, the
onlookers were badly disappointed, for
the first ballot showed not the change
of single vote, and the second and
third were no different. Then the
Burns men showed their hands. As
semblyman Dibble, who is the recog-
nized leader of the Burns forces on the
floor of the joint Assembly, offered a
resolution providing for a recess until
4 o'clock in the afternoon and moved
that it be adopted.
Before the motion was fairly
launched Senator Boyce was on his
feet demanding recognition from the
chair. When he got it he proceeded to
present the views of the Grant forces
in way that was forcible and at the
same time extremely uncomplimentary
to the Burns following.
THE time has come" said he, for
every member of this Legislature to
step forward and show his manhood In
the broad light of the day that God
has given us. The manhood that mas
resisted every attempt at corruption
that has been made during the past
months cannot falter at this, the
eleventh hour Therefore l believe that
those who have the power to utter their
belief as to the questions that now con-
front US can and should do so now
believe that these men will not agree -
a recess that will give to those who
have before sought to corrupt the hon
est men of this body the opportunity
for which they seek-the opportunity TO
take legislators into dark corners and
there seek to so influence them that
they will do something that VIII deteat
the will of the people.
Dibble got up to defend his resolution
and in reply to Boyce said:
II have no reply to make TO sucn a
speech. I have reasons to urge In my
| sunnort of my resolution, and one or
| them is that a United States Senator
should be elected and we should DO
everything within our power to bring
about such an election. There seems TO
have been a disqualification of the oppo-
sition in this Senatorial contest nope
and believe that the followers of each
of the candidates are casting their
votes as they do because they oelleVe
II is their loyal duty to do so. None
of us are going to leave our candidates
without their consent Let us then take
a recess and thus give to our candl-
dates an opportunity to get together
and decide among themselves as to who
should be the successful one. Give
them a chance"
Considering the poor material upon
which he had to base an argument,
Dibble's effort was good one. Sena-
tor Leavitt thought so at least, for he
moved the previous question in order
to shut off debate and bring the cues
ton to a vote, while Dibbles sophistry
was still undigested. The roll was
called and the resolution failed OF
adoption by a vote of Sc ayes to 81 noes.
This was defeat No. for the Burns
following The Grant people voted al
most solidly against the resolution and
they were aided materially by a lew
scattering votes from the Barnes
| forces. The Democratic members voted
solidly against the resolution.
Another ballot was taken without re-
| suit. but on the fifth ballot Burns pulled
| in two members of his much-boasted
reserve strength. They were Assembly
! men Marvin and Cosper. 1t has been
| known these many weeks that Cosper
was a Burns man in disguise 1t was
| known when he was accused before the
| investigating committee with having
| through an agent, solicited bride oil
| $4,000 from u. S. Grant, the statement
! being made that he had received an of
! fer of a like amount if he would vote
| for Burns. Marvin has been promised
the position of superintendent of Ag-
news Asylum if he would vote fol
Burns for Senator.
The Burns claquers in all parts OF
the chamber set up great cheer when
| Marvin changed from Barnes to Burns
and when Cosper changed from Scott
to Burns The cheers had little effect
on the forces of the other candidates
Before the end of the rollcall was
reached Meserve of San Diego, a Dem
ocrat, voted for Grant and brought
| that candidates total number of votes
up to thirty again.
Having made the show of gaining
two votes, Dibble took advantage OF
] the situation to again bring forth his
resolution for recess. Before any ac-
ton could be taken on it Senator Cut
| 1Isfj fr1fa