Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-21
tBy Associated Press. J

(N ACRAMENTO, Jan. 20.-After a
long, bitter fight in the assembly
~ this afternoon all proposed amend
ments to the Walker-Otis anti-race
track bill (the Hughes New York bilD
were defeated, and despite the desper-
ate efforts of the opponents of the
measure to cause delay, it will come up
for action by the house at IL o'clock
tomorrow morning.
The temper of the speaker and of
a majority of the members of the house
was so evident during the debate that
Assemblyman Otis said tonight that
he had no doubt the bill would pass.
The opponents of the bill fought for
many amendments, but were beaten
by a, large majority on each vote
taken.
Assemblyman Edward T. Butler of
Marin county tried to amend the meas
ure so as to incorporate the more dras-
tic restrictions of the bill introduced
at those who play the races as well as
at the bookmakers, the bill being de-
signed to stop pool room gambling.
Butler said his objections to the
Walker-Otis bill were that under it's
provisions it would be necessary to
secure the testimony of witnesses
showing that races in foreign countries
or in other states upon which bets
were made actually took place before
any action could be brought against
the bettors.
In presenting the Hughes bill Assem-
blyman Otis said if it had served it's
purpose in New York it would prove
just as efficacious in California.
Grove L. Johnson Of Sacramento said
the Hughes bill would not "hold water
in this state, and favored the Butler
amendment.
After the amendment had been voted
down Johnson offered another amend
ment prohibiting the laying of wagers
on automobile contests. This also was
voted down.
Anti-Japanese Bills Held Up
Consideration of the bills denying japanese
to own land, or to be directors of corporations.
delayed for one week by the assembly
this morning at the request of President Roose-
Welt and Governor Gillett
The assembly disposed of the controversy
over the anti-race track bills, referring them
to committee by voting down motion to
consider the vote of yesterday
There was furry in the senate when Wal
ker. of the authors of the Waker-Otis
anti-race track bill, arose to a question of
personal privilege, and made the following
statement
II have been trying for several days to
have senate bill No. 8 Ghe race track biID
considered by the committee on public morals.
but without avail
This morning 1 was informed by Senator
Weed, chairman of the committee that he had
never received the bill and did not know of
its existence. so far as his committee
concerned.
Neither did he have any committee clerk,
TO his knowledge. He admitted having signed
receipts for other bills but not for this one"
Senator Leavitt at once got the floor and
explained that Frank T. Thompson, clerk of
the committee on finance, of which Leavitt is
chairman, also accredited as clerk of the
committee public morals.
He said he learned last night that Thompson
Rad the bill and had not turned it over to
Senator Weeds committee.
Thompson brought the bill into the senate
soon afterward and Senator Weed gave him a
receipt for it.
May Exclude Anderson
George B. Anderson, representative of the
so-called peoples lobby" whose announced
Intention is to keep tab on all important mat
ters pending before the legislature" was de-
MED the privileges of the assembly floor and
gallery this morning
Albert P. Wheelan of San Francisco on
question of personal privilege asked the clerk
to read a letter he had received from Anderson
asking him to explain why he absent
when the roll called yesterday on the
motion to re-refer the Walker-Otis anti-race
track bill to the committee public morals.
Wheelan moved that Anderson be brought
al once before the bar of the house to eX-
plain why he should not be excluded.
Beardslee Of Stockton offered a substitute
denying Anderson's admittance until COM
mittee could investigate.
There were many heated seconds to the lat
ter motion.
Anderson is the accredited representative of
the Fresno Republican, and for that reason
Speaker Stanton suggested that thorough in
vestigation be made to determine his standing
Assemblyman Drew declared the action pro-
posed by Wheelan and Beardslee was the most
drastic he had ever known, and opposed the
motion Johnson of Sacramento also advised
against hasty action. although he demanded
an investigation.
When the Drew and johnson bills prevent
ing aliens holding lands and being corpora
ton directors came up at IL a. on a spe-
cial order, Preston of Ukiah offered a resolu-
tion requesting the president to furnish the
legislature with all documents and data in
possession of the federal authorities bearing
upon the Japanese situation This was de-
clared out of order.
johnson Opposes Delay
Mr.. Drew then moved that his bill denying
japanese the right TO own land be made a
special order for week from today.
Grove L. johnson, author of the directors
bill, opposed postponenent IN an inpassioned
speech, declaring that the request of the
president for delay meant nothing to the leg
islature, as the governor had not even seen
fit to transmit to the assembly through a
special message, and no such request was be-
fore the house.
He. said the Japanese were increasing in
number, instead of decreasing, as stated by
President Roosevelt, and there was urgent de-
mand all over the state for action at once
He for would not give UP the fight aginst
Washington's Intervention.
Drew said he. anxious as any one
TO have action the bill, but he favored
delay for a week.
On roll call the motion to postpone was
carried, 43 to "a. Johnson's bill then was nut
over without a roll call to the same date
Drew introduced resolution calling for the
appointment Of a committee Of three to investi-
gate the Japanese problem in the state.
The senate committee constitutional
amendments decided today to report favorabIv
on the woman's suffrage bill.
--e->~~-
Steamer National City Aleak
FORT BRAGG, Jan. 20.-The steam
er National City, while making ready
to sail from this port for San Fran
cisco during the'heavy weather, struck