Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-01-08
ANTI-0RGANIZATION MEN
CLAIM IMPORTANT VICTORY

SACRAMENTO, Jan. THE report
of the temporary committee on rules in
the assembly was rejected this after
noon by a vote of Al to 80, and the
anti-OrganizatiOn members are claim
ing an important victory tonight. 1t
was the first lineup.
The organizations floor leaders did
their utmost for the adoption of the
new rules proposed by the committee
composed of Speaker Stanton, Grove
Johnson of Sacramento, Behan of San
Francisco, Baxter of Yosemite and
Transue of Los Angeles, but despite
their vigorous speeches and elaborate
explanations of rules objected to the
final vote defeated them.
The question was on the substitution
of the rules prevailing at the last ses-
sion for those proposed by the COM
mittee, the result being that the as
sembly will be governed by the same
rules that were in force in 1907
The main contention of the Oppo
nents of the new rules was that if they
were adopted bills could be smOth-
cred in committee. The old rule pro-
Vided that bills must be reported to the
assembly at the expiration of ten days.
while the new one was framed as fol-
lows:
bills as soon as practicable, and when
acted upon shall be reported back to
the assembly forthwith"
In order to call bill out of commit
tee it would be necessary under this
arrangement to suspend the rules and
in following up their argument the op-
ponents of the bill pointed to two new
bills, one prohibiting debate on a mo-
tion to refer or recall bill from COM
mittee and the other declaring that the
adoption of a temporary rule should
be by tWo-thirds vote of the members
elected instead of tWo-thirds of the
members present, as provided in the
rules of 1907.
According to Drew. the new rules
would have the effect Of placing all the
power over bills in the hands of a few
members or one man.
Johnson of Sacramento. floor leader
of the Republicans, made a strong fight
for the adoption Of the report, declar-
ing that the new rules had been pre-
pared as presented for the sole purpose
of eXpediting legislation instead of SUD-
pressing it, as his opponents declared.
He was supported by Transue of Los
Angeles and eX-Speaker Beardslee. who
declared they had every confidence in
the honesty of the committee having
the matter in hand. Transue made an
elaborate explanation of the sections
objected to, answering many questions
from all over the house.
LllC IOAlON AIleo INCpuOlICdliS NOIGQ dN I
on the Drew resolutions: Hayes, Tel
fer and Bennett of the Santa Clara del
egation; Callan, San Francisco; Cat
tell, CogsWell, Rech, Hanlon and Ham
mon of Los Angeles; Coster, Cronin,
Drew, Flint. Hewitt, Hinkle, Melrose,
Otis, Rutherford, Sackett, Silver, Wag-
ner, Whitney and Young. With them
voted the eighteen Democrats present,
Baxter and Gillis being the two DEM
ocratic abSenteeS.
On motion of Transue of Los Angeles
the members voted to take up the reg
ular order of business beginning with
tomorrow morning, including the intro
duction of bills. 1t is customary for
the members to withhold bills until the
speaker makes his committee an
nOuncements but Transue argued that
much time could be saved in the print
ing office by beginning at once.
Speaker Stanton stated that he might
have the committees arranged by Sat