Amador ledger., 1903-02-20
SACRAMENTO LETTER.

SACRAMENTO, Feb. - February
18th should be known as labor day,
when the history of this legislature
comes to be written. All day, very
nearly, the assembly debated and
discussed the so-called conspiracy
bill which Johnson introduced at the
request of the labor leaders, but
which he subsequently amended at
the request of himself, so that it
would forbid threats made by strik
ers or boycotters against those who
continued to work or who did not
agree with them. The discussion
was not only the most animated that
has yet occurred, but it was the
most bitter, the union-labor mem
bers denouncing their opponents
threatening them with political
death, and declaring that they were
the bitter opponents of labor,
because they sought to amend the
bill. Murphy and Copus were the
principal speakers among the labor
members for the bill unamended, and
Walsh of Alameda, who has done far
more for the labor element than their
avowed representatives, was the
speaker against the amendment.
Among the republicans Johnson and
Brown led the advocates of the
amendment, and Trabor of Fresno
and others, ably seconded them.
The courts were roasted" to turn,
and declared to be hot-beds of
iniquity and corruption, though, as
Brown pointed out, there is bill
introduced by Murphy extending
their powers in some direction, which
the unions desire. Murphy declared
that the laboring men fought for the
country while the rich man stayed
home and made money, and he talked
continually about my class and
"the common people, and denounced
"scabs" as traitors, and enemies of
all labor.
Johnson objected in his reply to
allowing the men who posed as labor
leaders to denounce every man who
differed from them as an enemy of
labor, and said he had been, as his
record would show, as consistent a
friend of labor as any of the ayowed
labor men. He said he was tired of
their continual attempt to intimidate
members, (Murphy had been around
to members having pending bills,
offering to support them if the
authors would oppose Johnson's
amendment) and he denounced as
wrong the boycotting methods lately
in vogue in this city, and declared
he thought every man had a right
to earn his living as he pleased, and
where he pleased, if the methods
were honest. His amendment pre-
vailed by 46 to 30 votes.
Lewis's measure to enforce prohibi-
tion or high license in towns of the
fifth and sixth classes where the peo-
pie had voted for no license or high
license, in other words taking away
the right of the trustees to grant
licenses if the people voted against
them, passed Monday, but was re-
considered Tuesday, the labor ele-
ment which had voted for it at
first changing their vote against it,
because Lewis refused to vote
against Johnson's S amendment to the
conspiracy bill, while the members
in favor of the salons supported the
labor men. Undoubtedly the bill
will die on the files now The SEN
ate too, by an overwhelming vote.
has shown on several occasions that
it will not touch the liquor interests
by any legislation this session.
The law allowing cities of the fifth
and sixth classes to bond themselves
for street improvements will shortly
pass the senate. II has been slight
ly amended so as to embody the
words of recent decision of the
supreme court on the subject.
The supreme court recently in a
habeas corpus case decided that only
children who had committed crimes.
and whose cases came before the su-
perior courts could be committed to
the Whittier or the Preston School.
McKenney, as soon as he saw the
decision, consulted the attorney
generals Office and had Mr.. Daily,
one of the deputies, draw up a bill
reenacting the old law on the sub
ject, so that justices can commit
with the sanction of the superior
Judges. Although it is very late in
the session to attempt new legisla-
ton, yet as this is very important
he hopes to get it through.
He is also preparing, and has in
troduced an amendment to the coup-
ty government act, giving justices
of the peace and constables salaries
in Amador county in criminal cases.
The county is to be divided by town
ships, and the salaries are in pro-
portion to the population of the
townships, to be ascertained by
multiplying the registered voters at
the last election by five. In civil
cases the fees remain the same. The
assessor isalso allowed field deputy
for 125 days in the year.