The San Francisco call., 1905-02-22
BILL APPORT|ON|NG SCHOOL FUND
PROV0KES HOT DEBATE IN ASSEMBLY Y
San Francisco Dele
CATION Loses a
Hard Fight.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


SACRAMENTO, Feb. 21-The fight
over Slaven's school apportionment bill
produced a scene Of great disorder in
the Assembly this afternoon. The
measure, which changes the law so as
10 make an apportionment on basis
of $3.50 per teacher employed, cuts San
Francisco out of a large sum annually,
Alameda also suffers, but through a
combination with the interior members
who are for the bill, changing the
original plan for an apportionment Of
$500 per teacher, Los Angeles loses
nothing.
The fight against the measure was
led by the San Francisco delegation.
with MCGOWAN holding the reins. The
fight just missed being seriously
a vote would result in the
carrying of the measure, the San
Franciscans, backed by some Of the
Alamedans. resorted to the strongest
filibustering tactics. At one stage of
the proceedings. when matters were at
white heat, Coghlan practically de-
ned the Speaker Of the House. 1t was
a beautiful scrap and will go down in
serving TO be ranked as exciting.
With the bulldog tenacity that has
characterized him from the time the
bill was first placed in his hands by
the Governor and the Superintendent
Of instruction, Slaven of San Benito,
who introduced the measure, refused
TO give one concession to its opponents,
and il is due TO his unyielding attitude
that the bin was finally passed by the
Assembly, but long after the original
hour fixed for adjournment this even
ing.
The comedy Of the battle was fur
nished by Anthony Of San Francisco,
who tried TO get the Speakers ear at
inopportune times and was forcibly
pushed down into his chair two or
three times by members of his own
delegation who wanted others to have
the floor
SlaVen. when the bill was called up,
said that under the proposed appor-
Oonment the country schools would be
more justly dealt with and would get
the much needed money for their sup
port
AMENDMENT MOVED.
MCGOWAN moved an amendment that
the portion of the bill providing for the
appOrtionment on basis of $3.50 per
teacher be stricken out. This would
AIoNt Nltt INV d. II nOM SldnQS.
4 dozen Assemblymen were trying to
get the floor at once and there was
cunlnotion that almost drowned the
gaNel. McGOWan was still on his feet
when II subsided and received recog-
milton. He asked COR fairness, ceur-
tesy and justice He called attention
to the fact that San Francisco sup
piled all the amount she drew fruln
the State school fund and S448.O more
With the loss Of SD15 rko
SlaVen bill she would be behind a total
OF nearly three-quarters of a million
he said He spoke of the 'unholy al
lance of the bills proponents with
Los Angeles, by which the basis of ap-
portionment was reduced to $3.50 per
teacher, so as to secure the vote of
the delegation of that city. There was
rot one behind the bill who was not
actuated by a selfish motive, he said
McGOWans s accusation of selfish mo-
tiVes brought another bunch cf As
semblyment to their feet. all protest.
ing at once Drew of Fresno made a
speech that brought down upon him
the united wrath Of the San Francisco
delegation. He said that If ne had his
way he would not give San Francisco
a dollar Of school money, but would
take her children from the bad inf1u-
ence Of the streets and educate them
in the interior. MCGOWAN took a whirl
at Drew and was followed by Atkin-
son, who said the fresno man was
slUrring the youth Of San Francisco
without any right or any knowledge of
he subject. The Speakers gaveI was
broken during this rally.
COGHLAN DEFIANT.
The irrepressible Anthony said some
thing during this mixup that caused
the Speaker TO admonish him that il
might be necessary to call the sergeant
alarms and exercise those measures
that were both painful and regretta BILE
Coghlan having something more to
say, hred 1t off angrily and added: aI
Invite, Mr. Speaker, those measures
that are both painful and regrettabIe. q"
Be seated, Mr. Coghlan." shouted
the Speaker. IN not make a martyr
Of you
NO, and I'd not advise yod to-" said
Coghlan, hotly.
The Speaker overlooked the remark
and, amid storm of efforts to continue
the nlibustering, put the previous cues
ton, the passage Of the bill to vote
The measure was carried. 81 to 25
Coghlan gave notice that he would
move for a reconsideration.
Considerable time was devoted at the
morning session TO the discussion of
Held's bill providing that the premiums
on bonds supplied by surety companies
Tor State, county and city officials be
paid out of the public treasures. Held
said that the payment Of these premi-
ums unJustly took considera BILE
amount from the salary of every Off
ciaL A similar bill had been passed
by the last Legislature he said. but If
t1rarH IL. -1s7--.- Il