The record-union., 1899-02-09

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tesday. They all seem to have come
for the purpose of endeavoring to break
the present deadlock. They argue that
it is unjust to the people of the State
and to the Republican party that any
man should stand in the way of TIE
election of a United States Senator at
this session, when the Senate and the
party so much need another representa-
tive in the upper house of Congress.
They also urge that the people of the
State elected a Republican Legislature
by an overwhelming majority because
they desired to have the administra-
tion of President Mckinley sustained,
and say that it is shame that men
who were elected as Republicans should
coolly announce that if their man is
not elected then the State shall have
no Senator. They claim that this policy
will ruin the party, and that all the
candidates should agree that the Re
publican members of the Legislature
should meet and settle the Senatorial
question promptly.
The effort made at yesterdays joint
session to elect a United States Senator
resulted in the usual failure. Only one
ballot was taken, with no change from
that of Tuesday, except that the Demo-
Gratis got back into line for White. and
that ex-Lieutenant Governor William
T. Jeter Oemocra) received two votes.
PRIMARY ELECTION BILL.
Much eloquence was wasted over
Stratton's primary election bill when it
came up in the Senate yesterday. The
debate took a wide range and consumed
nearly the entire morning session, but
when the votes were counted the OPP
position had dwindled to the insignifi-
cant number of two. Later in the day
-thc question of a lunch hour at saw
mills, ETC., held the boards, but it, too,
passed the Senate with a working ma
jcrity.
WELL DONE
Just before adjournment Senator Da-
Wis offered a resolution instructing the
Secretary, in the name of the Senate,
to send the following telegram to our
boys at Manila:
well DONE Californians"
The resolution was adopted with a
wkoop.
FUNDED DEBT COMMISSION.
Mayor Land of Sacramento with
Trustees Mckay, Tebbets. Douglas and
Dolan, appeared before the Assembly
Judiciary Committee last evening on
behalf of Johnsons A. B. 81, a bill
which repeals the Act of 1872, an Act
which established Board of Commits
siorers for the management of the
funded indebtedness of Sacramento.
On Tuesday evening the same COM
mittee heard delegation from the
Chamber of Commerce of Sacramento,
gentlemen who believe that the COM
mission should be retained in the pub
lie service. On that occasion T. B.. Hall
spoke for the Chamber of Commerce.
and gave history of the labors and
efforts of the commission in the past.
insisting that it had not outlived its
usefulness, and that it was necessary
for it to exist at least until June next,
in order to properly wind up it's affairs.
The gentlemen representing this side
of the question held the full attention
of the committee on Tuesday night,
and were uninterrupted by any of the
City Trustees
Not SO, however, last night when it
was the turn of the Mayor and Trus-
tees. Mayor Land was given fifteen
minutes to explain to the committee
why they asked for the abolition Of the
commission. He gave it due credit for
the work done in the past, but claimed
that the debt for the management of
which the commission was originally
formed was now practically wiped out,
and would be SO in fact by the time
another years taxes had been paid in.
The existence of the commission now,
the Mayor claimed, is hindrance to
the city government, which desires to
lower the tax rate. The city rate which
has been $2.04, and which, with the
county rate. has amounted to $3.49, has
been an absolute bar to the growth of
the city. Now that the debt is so far
absorbed. the Mayor believed that the
city rate might be reduced at the next
levy to $1.45 or at most $1.50, and
stil provide for all contemplated i'm
provements = water, sewers, High
School, etc. He wished to do away with
what is known as the - per cent. tax,
which. he explained, has been taken
from the general fund and the water
fund each year to maintain a sinking
fund for the payment of the debt. but
if the commission was continued he be-
questions were asked and answered.
and but little time was left.
Trustee Tebbets spoke briefly, but
emphatically, in favor of the bill.
Chairman Johnson then asked of each
of the Trustees pressnt-MeKay, Teb-
bets, Dolan and Douglas-if they be-
lieyed the board unanimous in its in
dorsement of the bill. Each replied
with emphasis, Yes
AT this point William E. Gerber Of the
Sacramento Chamber of Commerce,
who was present. stepped forward and
informed the committee that the argu-
ment they had just listened to was