Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-06
DISCUSS NEW SAN FRANCISCO
Assembly Committee on Constitutional
Amendments Hears Debate
BY Associated Press

Amendments Hears Debate
BY Associated Press.
SACRAMENTO, June 5.-The meet
ing of the assembly committee on con-
stitutional amendments held this even
ing in the assembly chamber was the
most interesting procedure of the
special session up to this time.
In response to invitations issued this
afternoon practically all members of
the lower house were in attendance
and the audience, which included some
of the senators, was the largest in evil
dence since the Legislature convened.
Unexpected opposition to the assem-
bly, constitutional amendment con-
ferring on the San Francisco superviS-
ors extraordinary powers in the con-
troll, acquisition and disposition of pub
lie property, including streets, parks
and school sites. has endowed this
measure with an overshadowing i'm
portance. The bill was Trained to per-
init the municipality to carry out any
plan of reconstruction deemed proper,
and provided that streets might be
widened or abolished in order to add
to the future beauty and safety of the
municipality.
Affects Other Measures
If this constitutional amendment
should continue to meet with oppoSi-
tion there is a likelihood, according to
the belief of the San Francisco dele
cation, that other relief measures of
equal importance must encounter OBJ
lection, in which case the session
might be prolonged.
Chairman MCGOWAN of the San
Francisco delegation addressed the
committee for upward of an hour. He
reviewed the development of San Fran
cisco from the time of its settlement
and affirmed that it was necessary, in
the rebuilding of the city, to eliminate
the faults of its early construction. He
explained the provisions of the amend
ment and affirmed that it did not con-
tain a clause that was not essential to
the welfare and future development of
the city,
Supports Committee of Forty
Assemblyman N. C. Coghlan of San
francisco followed with an address in
support of the amendment. He re-
ferred to the fact that he had been op-
posed to the present administration in
San Francisco and announced that in
spite of his past antagonism he be-
lieved the recommendation of the COM
n1ittee of forty was honest and good.
Before completing his address Mr..
Coghlan was almost overcome by his
emotions and wiped away tears with
his handkerchief. His speech was fol-
lowed by applause.
Calls 1t Ubiquitous
Albert NJ Johnson of San Francisco,
as legal representative of a municipal
league, spoke in opposition to the bill.
He declared that the measure had not
been framed by the master minds of
San Francisco and pronounced it ini-
quitous and vicious legislation, con-
ferring too much power on the San
Francisco supervisors and designed to
benefit certain property owners. He
took up the bill section by section OBJ
jecting to several as comforting powers
of too great scope upon the authorities
of San Francisco.
When Mr.. Johnson had finished his
address, which lasted over an hour,
the chairman of the committee offered
the floor to any other supporter Of the
opposition but it was refused and A.
Ruef of San Francisco began an ad-
dress in support of the amendment.