The San Francisco call., 1907-01-26
Junketing Committees Are
Not to Fill Purses With
the Money of the State
ECONOMY SURPRISE
SPRUNG BY STANTON
Reconsideration to Be Taken
Up Today, but Worthy Ac-
ton VIII Probably Stand
By John Taylor Waldorf
CALL HEADQUARTERS.
1907 EIGHTH STREET.

AVbt EIUh Il u 81 hEEJs
SACRAMENTO, Jan. 25.-If
the movement started by Assem-
blyman Phil Stanton of Los An
geles today proves success the
lower house of the present Legis-
lature will include in its record
one surprising bit of economy.
Stanton began battle to knock
out the mileage grabs of junket-
ing committees and pressed his
plan of reform to a vote of ap-
proval. One of Ruef's boys from
San Francisco crossed over into
strange company in order to OBJ
tain a reconsideration, however,
and now all depends on second
test of strength, which will come
tomorrow.
The fight was precipitated by
a resolution from the committee
on rules and regulations recon-
mending that FIVE members of
the committee on State prisons
and refornatories make the usual
trips of inspection TO the various in
stitutions provided for felons and in
corrigibles. The immediate pleasure
in prospect was a junket to the refor-
matory at Whittier. in one of the
sunniest portions of sunny Southern
California
Transue Of Los Angeles objected.
the right to visit these institutions at
the States expense" he said all the
members have the same right" Not.
being on the committee himself. Tran
sue protested purely out Of kindness
Of heart. What he demanded was an
even break for each and every mem
Der Of the committee.
TRANsUE FOR ECONOMY
Speaker Beardslee decided that the
resolution was not worded in compli-
ance with the rules of the House.
Then Stanton. who is feIlow-towns-
man of Transue. took the floor.
Here is where Los Angeles splits
he said. "I move that the expendi-
lures of all junketing committees be
limited to actual travelling expenses" :"
The resolution was defeated, and
Stanton served notice on the House
that whenever any committee was au-
thorized to make journey he would
renew his attempt to limit the ex-
pense.
After some backing and filing an
other resolution was offered. This
one, framed by Grove Johnson. pro-
vided that members of committees that
have to go visiting be given the latter
part Of next week. beginning Thurs
day. to make their biennial calls. The
resolution was adopted.
Immediately the battle to limit ex-
penses was on again. Thompson Of
Los Angeles came to Stanton's rescue
He offered a resolution that only ac-
tual travelling expenses be allowed.
The opposition wanted the old mile
! age ALLOWANCE ~ Genus d 1Illle edcn
way. This meant sS94O for a trip to
whittier, although the actual cost. in
cluding railway fare. perths. meals
and two days at a hotel, would not
exceed $50. A man with a pass could
take the trip at cost that would
make his mileage allowance rs per
cent profit
Under the generous mileage system
every committeeman who visited San
Quentin prison wou,d receive about
$2l for a trip that occupied only a
day.
RECORDS OF PAST CITED
Ludington of San Diego informed
the House that he paid board by the
month and objected to paying double.
It was plain that he favored the mile
age system. Thompson of Los Angeles
declared that no member had a right
TO expect more than actual travelling
expenses.
Fisher of San Francisco suggested
that members who objected to mileage
might prove their sincerity by rebating
part of the amounts that they had al
ready drawn. The State will take it
back" he said.
Stanton told how the State at the