Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-03-25
LEGISLATORS DECIDE
IMPORTANT MATTERS
DIFFICULT PROBLEMS SOLVED
AT SACRAMENTO
Strenuous Session Just Closed Has
Disposed of Several Vital ls-
sues in Manner Variously
Considered

SACRAMENTO, March 24.-Matters
of great Importance to California were
decided by the legislature which ended
its sessions at noon today.
The most far-reaching struggle was
over four bills aimed at Japanese re-
siding within the state, three offered
by Grove L. Johnson of Sacramento
and one by A. M. Drew of Fresno. The
latter denied all aliens the right to
hold land in the state, and was de-
feated at the earnest request of Presi-
dent Roosevelt
The Johnson bills were defeated af-
ter intercession by the governor at the
request of the president, although much
time was spent in discussion of the
measures before the assembly agreed
that they should not become law.
The Johnson bills provided for school
and residential segregation of Asiatics
and prohibited aliens being members
of corporations.
Both branches of the legislature
were flooded with kilograms and letters
during the controversy and for sew
eral days the outcome was doubtful
Another measure of statewide inter-
est, prohibiting gambling at race
tracks, was passed with little opposi-
ton.
A railroad rate and a direct primary
bill have been passed by both houses.
Each measure received much attention
from the senate, they being the prin-
cipal bills before that body.
Railroad Legislation
In the line of railroad legislation
Senator e. O. Miller of Visalia secured
the passage of his car demurrage bill
Ohe Texas car law, compelling rail-
fgft TFQ Iax
each car that they fail to furnish ship
pers upon demand
A bill introduced by Leroy A. Wright
of San Diego, giving the state railroad
commission power to fix maximum
rates, was passed. A fight was made
for the absolute rate bill by Senator
John w. Stetson of Oakland, but after
a long struggle the proponents of the
latter measure were defeated and the
maximum rate bill passed both houses
The direct primary bill introduced by
Senator Wright had a stormy career in
the senate. AS originally in reduced
and passed by the senate, it provided
for the election of United States SEN
ators by advisory vote of the state at
large.
The assembly amended the bill so the
vote should be advisory by legislative
districts. This amendment it was de-
clared, was in the interest Of United
States Senator Frank Flint, and al
most to a man the southern mem bers
got behind it.
The idea was adopted by the assem-
bly,, but the senate was deadocked for
a week on the question of concurrence
The matter finally went to a free
conference committee and at the sug-
gestion of the governor a compromise
was agreed upon, making the law much
more elastic than had been intended
hxy ffG authors As p9cSpd oil
unanimously last night the measure
provides that a legislator shall cast his
vote either for the choice of his own
district, or for that Of the majority
of districts in which his party is dom
inant
Local Option Lost
Local option and anti-party circle
bills were rejected
Senator Miguel Estudillo made fight
for the local option bill, but was beat
en- by a large majority. Though the