The record-union., 1899-01-18

pilation of new books was necessary,
and as the general fund was low the
Legislature provided for the emergency
by transferring the necessary amount
from the State school book fund, Wnlcn
was somewhat of a departure from
the original idea. He said that only
little over $4,000 was in the revolving
fund at present.
Mr.. Johnston said that with the ST.
600 now on hand the books necessary
to supply the fall demand would have
to be printed, and that returns in any
quantity would not come in before July
next. In answer to- a question, he SAID
that with the books now on hand ne
might be able to meet the demand,
but that the department would be
greatly inconvenienced thereby. He
was unable to state, off-hand, the num-
Der and the kind Of books now on hand,
and he knew nothing about the $25,OOO
which had been turned over to the State
Board Of Education for compilation
purposes.
Major Douglas, however, assured the
committee that that fund was practi-
cally exhausted, and offered to pro-
duce his books and tell the story in
figures, but nobody wanted to see them.
Senator Smith said he could see no
reason for transferring the money to
the school book fund when the State
Printer himself intimated that he might
be able to get along without it. He
was not in favor of allowing SAC, 900 to
remain. He said that according to
Secretary of State Browns report to
the Governor, $55,9Oo had been paid for
compiling books since the opening Of the
State Printing Office and there appeared
to be nothing to show where, when or
how it had been expended.
In the end a subcommittee consist
ing of Sims, Smith and Rowell, was
appointed to obtain from the Superin-
tendent of Public instruction a state
ment showing expenditures made for
compilation, and also to get from the
State Printers office statement of the
number and description Of the books
now on hand, ready for sale. The sub
committee will report at the next meet
ing of the committee.
It was agreed that five members of
the Finance Committee should consti-
tute a quorum, and that until further
notice regular meetings should be held
on Monday and Thursday evenings at
8 O'clock
ASSEMBLY LEGISLATION.
The House pegs away at lawmaking
during the brief morning hour that it
wrests from the Senatorial ballot, but
after that is over adjournment seems
the only thing to wearied members.
At least it was so yesterday but COM
mittee meetings kept most Of the AS
sembly busy until the dinner hour.
Among bills introduced yesterday
was one by Johnson for the licensing
and governing Of inebriate asylums and
the establishing Of inebriety as a dis
ease under similar laws to those gov
erning the treatment Of insanity. The
first section defines inebriety as fol-
lows;
When any person shall have become
a habitual drunkard, OF so addicted to
the Incorporate use of narcotics or
stimulants as to have lost the power of
self control, he shall be known and
designated as an inebriate.
Section 2 provides for the licensing
of inebriate hospitals according to the
law which governs the licensing of in
sane hospitals, and the directors must
acy for such license.
Section says that when any person
shall have become an inebriate accord
ing to Section /, or shall be incapable
of managing his business, or squanders
or mismanages his property, or places
his family in danger of distress, or Is
dangerous to himself or others, he may
be committed to licensed inebriate
hospital for a period not less than one
month or more than one year, to COM
mitment to be made in accordance with
the California Insane Law.
Other provisions follow closely the
law for insane persons.
ONE YEAR Law REPEALED.
Feliz, who comes from Monterey,
where Parson Snodgrass contests with
Neptune the supremacy of the sea out
side the three leagues from shore, y
seeks to get rid of the enactment of
1897, which forbids divorced persons to
marry until the expiration of a year
from the time Of divorce. Feliz has
introduced an amendment to that Act
which simply drops from the section the
words that provide that the decree of
divorce must have been rendered and
made at least one year prior to such
subsequent marriage. These are the
words which have sent more than 200
ardent couples over to the Reno par
sons with their fees, and have made
Oregon and all other adjacent States
John O'Groat's houses for our own
California.
MUST GIVE GOOD SERVICE.
Another bill of Johnson's requires
skilled and faithful service of all per-
sons in the employ of the State. The
principal clause is as follows:
Every person appointed to any posi-
ton in the public service of the State
of California must be skilled in the
line of duties required by the position
to which he may be appointed, and any
such person who persistently fails to
devote his time and energies solely to
the interests of the position to which