The San Francisco call., 1905-02-11

proceedings the accused
bribery present and continued interest of the keen
The stands alone in legislative history:
IheTe were no pTeeeoents TO serve as gioe Inc s ,s,
for the purpose OF exposing and Furnishing the crime OF which the
the position of Jordan who the agents OF
bbeakng legislators to aso who under threat OF bac
mail cnch, pay brbes for immunity.
reading of law it gives immunity
also to the bbeaker provided he before committee OF the
body which he belongs and make oath to his innocence We
think this the proper legal construction OF the statute tnougn
hardly have been the of its trainers that it should
be This put upon the Senate the most serious
can engage its attention Beshaw chairman of the
of investigation conducted himself with conspicuous
by the responsibility of letting the by quail
flying witnesses their behalf he took the proper view
that judgment function OF the whole Senate to which the
committee go for instruction
that becomes permanently
of
me hear the accused Senators witnesses the subs-
Shortdge put every possible phase
the before The arguments that followed
fortunately cannot appear at length in The journal of the Senate
bills and resolutions clothed with the flesh of that
shown by their votes, the they propose.
But this debate will doubtless be preserved complete
abbreviated press reports full
preston immunity,
and third most interesting view in the constitutional argument OF
Senator Irish The debate dry legal combat 1t
characterized by all of the emotions that crisis affecting
the personal fate of fellow the purity of public life and the
honor of the Senate That had it also plain signs of emotions
quite different their may appear the keen observer
But there confusion where the line lay
either side OF which Senators could align themselves with honor
itself the power punish
that such penalty the heaviest that
could be imposed acted from and lofty of the
dignity Of the Senatorial Office Expulsion for bribery is in the
view Of honorable nefaceable SO Senator's
apprehension because they their conception
that does them honor.
On the other hand the majority that refused immunity
the accused sharing the those who regarded expulsion
capital punishment charged further fixed
their eyes the rights of the people who Senator'S
whom the would enlarged
disability and able claim that nothing legally proved
hem and they the victims of persecution and the zeal of
the This stragher view than and its justification
ample.
people may choice without
mpugnng motives further than justified by the
themselves The Sevage
alone and he for alone District Attorney Seymour
had done his duty and kept his official OATH If the District
OF Sacramento County be restrained his official duty
the
capital building may people will
have Mr. Seymour had been wafu of the public
interest and had guarded the rights of the commonwealth The law
provides other wacman with those functions When Senator
Sewage denounced him he denounced the law and
discred
Senator Wards reply strengthened by manner
fine example of the noble rhetoric of understatement
From the dramatic picture must not be omitted the speech
his behalf made by Senator Emmons of the
it disclosed remarkable spose and intellectual subtey
less remarkable and will wonder that the qualities that
revealed could be associated with lower of
In OF the charge against him and the
excaim, pity and surprise How thou fallen Lucfer
OF the morning.
The of dramatic incident in Senate the
and the which the of
and
of California had question that always
the delicate and the difficult under scheme of
enmene mixture OF legislative prerogative and judicial right
acquitted themselves we'll the great debate
this disgrace and degradation higher
the honor and capacity of the Senate of California