The San Francisco call., 1906-06-08
Street Widening Bill Is
the Source Of Much
Argument.
Many Solons Willing to
Pass Matter Up to
Voters.

III, June t."JON6TnOT
Pardee is not for or against any bill
or constitutional amendment pending
in the Legislature. His proclamation
conYening the extraordinary session
was based largely on the recommended
tiOns of the committee of forty, and
he assumes that the report of this
committee comes as nearly to an eX-
preston of the Judgment of the people
of San Francisco as can be obtained
at this time.
The Mayor, who was elected by a
large popular vote, appointed the COM
mittee of forty, and the body then ap-
pointed created the subcommittee on
extra session.
and hostile TO constitutional amend
ment No. is progressing, but the re-
suit of the impending fight is in doubt
Supporters of the committee of forty
must win the assistance of two-thirds
of the members in each house of the
Legislature. Argument, however, to
the effect that the amendment cannot
prevail unless the people at the pohs
indorse it carries weight. Legislators
who are in doubt say that they are
willing to trust to the intelligence of
the people.
Arrival of representatives of the
Downtown Property Owners Associa-
ton, whose declarations were heralded
in The Call. was expected last night
and there was some disappointment
when it was found they had remained
in San Francisco and simply for
warded a protest.
EAGER TO STUDY SUBJECT.
The members of the Legislature ap-
pear to be eager to learn all about the
subject and to ascertain the true in
side facts pertaining to the proposed
legislation. Suggestion is made that the
committee of forty and the leading
property owners in the business dis
trict should get together in San Fran
cisco and agree on something. Divi
sion Of sentiment in the metropolis at
this time is regarded as extremely en-
barrassing to the interior members,
who desire to give to San Francisco
everything that the emergency justi-
ies. Harmony is desirable because
the Senate is already figuring the
proposition to close the extra session
at. 10 o'clock Saturday night of this
week
Special comment is made on the
work of Senator'S Ralston. Belshaw,
Leavitt and others. who are classed as
recalcitrants who would vex Governor
Pardee by impeding legislation. IN
stead they are leaders in the move
ment to rush business and hasten ad-
said that John F. Davis, Charles E.
Shook and Senator Lukens. who are
next to the Governor cannot agree
among themselves, and by reason of
their failure to agree are prolonging
the extra session.
LITTLE MYSTERY IN BILL.
There is a little mystery concerning
the source from which the Goat Island
terminal resolution emanates. Speaker
Atkinson, who presented the concurrent
resolution in the Assembly, told The
Call correspondent tnat neither ". f.
Herrin nor A. Ruef had anything to do
with il. The Speaker remarks that the
topic was discussed before the fire, and
consequently before an extra session
was thought of The purpose of the
discussion then was to agitate the
measure in advance of the regular ses-
sion.
In the Senate, Charles NJ. Shortridge
stands as the sponsor of the resolution.
The Speaker processes familiarity with
the history OF the great contest in the
nineteenth century when the Central
Pacific Railroad Corporation sought to
obtain possession OF the island The
outcome of that historic struggle was
accounted an achievement of the people.
Or in other terms, a victory over the
corporation. He holds that conditions
have changed since that fight, and the
now is to give the terminal
privileges on the island to all railways
converging in San francisco and not
to endow any one railway with eX-
elusive privileges. 1t is yet an open
whether the resolution is with
in the range of subjects entitled to con-
under the call for an extra
session.
TO PRESENT NOMINATIONS.