The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-31
Grove L. Johnson Takes Occasion to Display
Himself Again.
WRIGHT AN EXAMPLE OF IMMORTALITY.
Burnett Holds Up the EzSpeaker to the Gaze Of the Young
Men Of the State as One Whose Methods Are
to Be Avoided

CALL HEADQUARTERS, SACRA-
MENTO, Jan. 30.-Much oratory was
INDUCED in on the floor of the AS
sembly this afternoon in connection
with the adoption of the report Of the
investigating committee and the propo-
stion to discharge the committee and
thus shut off further investigation into
alleged illegal acts of members. A
verba tim report of some of these
speeches are given herewith:
A FEW REMARKS BY JOHNSON.
Mr. Johnson of Sacramento-Mr.
Speaker, l agree, for one, entirely with
the remarks of the gentleman from San
Francisco, Mr.. White, the gentleman from
Los Angeles, Mr.. Valentine, and the gem
tleman from San Luis Obispo. Mr.. Bur-
nett; but / agree upon a higher and
broader plane than either of them. If
this investigation, sir, consumes all the
time of this session, if it blocks the
wheels Of legislation so that no law will
be passed at this session, and 1t results
In finding who is guilty, the people of the
State of California will say, well done,
good and faithful servants" to us. (Ap-
plause.)
l, for one. sir, am in favor of having this
investigation continued until we trace
down every charge that has been made in
any manner in reference TO the election or
a United States Senator by this LeglSla-
ture. Mr.. Green is not the only witness
who is recalctrant. Why are you gentle
men delicate in mentioning other names?
am not. A witness, resident of San
Francisco, a man of power and influence,
a man of wealth, a man who owns and
publishes a daily paper of large circula-
ton. who has been subpenaed as wit
ness and has defied and condemned the
authority Of this Assembly, do you pro-
pose to let NJ. H. de Young pass? Do you
propose to cOndone his offense? He has
published in the columns of his paper
daily that twenty-five members of this
Legislature have been bought to vote for
one certain man for Senator. Let him
present his proof. Speaking as one of
that band that he has mentioned, l say
that l hope he will be called upon to tes-
tify; and, speaking for myself, let him
detail any rumor that he may have heard.
Let him give any hearsay evidence that
he can. For, If the skirts OF any man VINO
has voted with me and whose name is in
scribed in that list have been tainted in
this investigation, let ii be made manifest.
There is another man in San Francisco
OF greater wealth., man claiming 10
have great power in this State, man
also owning a great paper, one John d.
Spreckels, who has published in the col
umns of his paper that these same TWEEN
tyfive men who have voted as l have
voted for a United States Senator have
been bought TO do so. Why did not this
committee subpoena that man and let him
give his testimony. For one, sir, | want
this investigation TO continue. l am OPP
posed to dtscharging 1t. Let the CALLED
Jade vince, my withers are unwrung.
am not afraid of an investigation, and l
want it continued, and want these men
who say that these evil practices have
been going on to come forward with their
proof and not take refuge in the cow
ards plea of being sick-with no refer
ence to Mr.. Green at all.
Now, l say, sir, that it will be doing
wrong to discharge this committee. We
will be doing wrong TO ourselves and TO
the people. The Governor of this State
in the inaugural address that he deliv-
cred in this hall said that he believed, or
al least that he was almost willing TO be-
lieve that the Legislature should meet
only once in four years. If that be so,
then we are not injuring anybody II we DO
not pass any laws. wise man has said
that that country is governed the best
that is governed the least. If, then, this
blocks legislation II Will do us no harm
provided the investigation is conducted
courageously and fearlessly, and that
members do not fall down when they run
up against the proprietors of great news
papers published in San Francisco. For
one l say that we ought, in the Ian
guage of Mr.. White of San Francisco
we ought not to make fish OF one and
do say that we ought to attempt
TO punish Milton j. Green for contumacy
here, unless we also punish M. n. de
Young for his failure to obey. There IS
another gentleman who has not obeyed
the subpoena. What do you propose to do
with him? Dismiss him in silence? l VIII
not mention his name. You know who
mean. No. gentlemen, no: you will be
doing, in my judgment, wrong. You Will
be doing a wrong to yourselves II you dis
charge this committee. And | appeal to
my friend from San Diego in the interests
of his candidate, in the interest of his
party, in the interest of something higher
and greater than that-in the interest of
his State--to withdraw his motion and let
this committee stand as ii Is, and let the
investigation so on, no matter who may
he injured; and | know. sir, that you do
not fear the inquiry, and. therefore, l ask
investigation go on. Let the committee
probe everything. Let this Mr.. Green an
swer the questions; let Mr.. de Young an
swer his questions; let John d. Spreckels
answer questions put to him. and let us
find out whether there is anything in this
widespread denunciation Of members of
the Legislature that they have been
bought are being bought and are willing
to be bought in the election of a United
States Senator. If we can establish In
this investigation that anything wrong
q great good. The only way to accomplish
II is to continue the committee. l hope
the motion will be withdrawn, and If not
withdrawn. / hope 1t will be voted down
by the Assembly. (Applause)
BROWN GIVES HIS VIEWS.
Johnson was followed by Brown of
San Mateo. He said:
l do not think Mr.. Speaker, that this
committee should be entirely discharged
from the consideration of this question.
I agree with the gentleman from Los
Angeles that we do not wan, to. lose juris-
diction of Mr. Green and of this subject
matter, and, therefore, for that purpose
II for no other we should continue the
COMMITTEES in existence until time is fixed
for reporting him at the bar of this
To,,se BUT | am not willing that the
Tine of this House and the time of this
ccnrnuittee shall be consumed in assisting
any vi' member, OF. any number of members,
~ LIE, LIE nor whom they do not like. We
hewsp al FAR warm carried on this Investigation
~ already TO have followed every iegiti-
mate channel that has been Saye opSe a9 up IN
the+ inomitfee ali of the candidates who
that COMM ilidii here as aspirants for the
Senate Of the United States eyery 9p pew nage
had before that committee, ehey apyt bipng
per reporter who mas aSii puSS STATE within the