The San Francisco call., 1907-01-25
Railroads. Japanese Felt
johnson Strikes at Railroad
Introduces Primary
Reform Measure
Stetson Presents a Bill That
He Hopes to Have Passed

pered about that an ef1ort would De
made TO round up a few hundred at
taches and put them 70 work. II may
be considered a threat and not prom
ise, however.
SENATE FEELS SAFE
Assured by an expert that il was en-
tirely safe, domiciled in Red Mems Hall,
the Senate has decided not to move.
Its special committee appointed TO find
out If the foundations were strong
/ enough 10 bear UP under the weight Of
Senatorial dignity and the Jar of Sena-
1 torial oratory hired an expert. His re-
port, submitted this morning, was re-
assuring in the extreme. The building
viii, he said, stand the strain, and the
fire escapes are ample.
The much -heralded but somewhat
unexpected appearance OF Grove L.
Johnson In the role OF a corporation
regulator was made today. Johnson
and the Southern Pacific were friends
for many years. But last fall the Her
rim outfit decided 10 put the old man
on the shelf. Johnson did not tumble
TO the little game as a reality until
near the close OF his campaign, when
he bestirred himself TO the end that he
landed in the Assembly and at the
head OF the judiciary table. He said
during his campaign and since that he
would get square. Now he seems TO be
bent on keeping his threat by forcing
the Southern Pacific to come in and
beat no-seat-no-fare bill and COM
panion measure providing for a fine Of
$500, to $1,000 for killing either en-
ploye, passenger or other persons ex-
ercising ordinary diligence and care
Action is 10 be brought in the name
Of the State, conducted by the District
Attorney, and the fine turned over to
the widow, orphan or heir of the de-
ceased. The rule cute provision is that
the collection Of this fine shall not be
bar TO an action instituted by the
legal representative OF the victim Of
the accident.
WELLS HEAD IN DANGER
These benefcent measures will prob
ably die in their youth, but their in
PRODUCTION puts Johnson in a new light
and II he advocates them with half the
energy he showed today in ousting an
offensive newspaper and its staff. Par
ker and Burke are due to spit on their
hands for a bit of quick trace work
Governor Gillett has, since his in
auguration two weeks ago. repeatedly
demonstrated that he will not play
petty factiOnal politics. but that by no
means proves that he is not a stiff
necked Republican, or that he is not
only willing but determined to resent
what he deems party treachery. Gill
lett has an uncomfortably warm spot
under his collar every time he thinks
about the opposition he met from the
employees OF the Folsom Prison. Sen
ators and influential perty men have
tried to explain to him that Warden
Archibald Yell, not only did not par
tcipate in organizing this opposition,
but remained in blissful ignorance Of
the fine work done for Bell by his sub
ordinates Gillett doesn't hesitate TO
tell these advocates Of YelTs density
that he once JoUrneyed through St
Louis. And incidentally he intImates
very broadly that man who does not
know enough to know what everybody
else knows, does not know enough to
run Folsom Prison. All of which may
be taken to mean that when Gillett
gets around 10 il he will pick a man
whom be deems a real Republican to
help bad citizens see the error OF their
ways.