Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-14

WILLIS HAS EYES
ON LOS ANGELES
SAN BERNARDIN0 SENATOR TO
MOVE TO THIS CITY
DECLARES HE ABoMINATEs RE-
FORMS OF ALL KINDS
Is Alleged to Have Scored Locality
Where He Will Begin Anew.
Has Voted Wrong on
Everything
tsnocIal correspondence.)

Especial Correspondence)
SACRAMENTO, March 1S.-It is un-
derstood here that on the expiration
OF the present session of the legisla-
ture Henry M. Willis of San Bernar-
dino, representing the thirtieth district
in the state senate, will close his law
Office in his home town and move to
Los Angeles
The fact Senator Willis intends to
make Los Angeles the scene of his
future legal and political career has
been known for some time, but 1t was
not until this week that 1t became
known he probably would become an
attache of the Office of the district at
torney of Los Angeles county.
Senator Willis has not paved his way
to Los Angeles with gems nor strewn
1t with flowers. Even so recently as
Monday evening of this week he flung
bunch of thorns in front OF him by
declaring. In the course of the debate
on Senator Bells bill providing for the
appointment of divorce examiners:
Los Angeles is the Castle Garden OF
the offscourings of humanity"
His attitude toward reform and re-
formers is indicated in the following
sentiment, which he proclaimed on the
same OCCASION:
II abominate reforms. am too busy
attending to my own affairs to devote
any time to other peoples business"
Early in the session, when the sem
ate was on the point of an almost fatal
attack of Mysteries over the question of
whether many sets of the code should
be purchased for the use of its men,
bers, Senator Boynton expressed the
opinion that twenty copies of the code
4 L.. Tla;1 HA faf fho
senate, although the committee on con-
tingent expenses wanted to purchase
forty-three copies, at $3.50 a set.
Some One Else Got Them
Two years ago." declared Boynton.
"I turned in my pony codes to the Sec
retary and took q receipt for them. A
minute after a senator on this floor
went up and walked away with them"
did you get a copy of the pony
codes two years ago?" Campbell asked
Willis.
Willis admitted he did.
Where are they now?" pursued
Campbell.
eat home in my Office" Willis ad-
mitted.
In a debate on Senator Roseberry's
postal primary bill, February IL, Willis
charged that the Wright direct primary
bill had been drafted by an ex-convict.
Senator Wright insisted that Willis
should explain what he meant, but
the reply was equivocal.
When Senator Strobridges bill to
make town marshals In cities of the
sixth class appointive instead of elect
i've, the, senator from San Bernardino
was the target for many satirical
shafts because of his declaration that
the people of his district were "incom-
petent" TO choose their own officers.
Willis supported his contention by
declaring that "a Y. M. c. A., chief
of police elected In his district had
been absolutely useless as a peace off,
Ger.
: A few days ago Senator Boynton's
bill (the Denman bilD, providing for
separate non-partisan column on the
ballot for the names of all candidates
for judicial offices, came up for con-
sideration. This is an emanation of
the prevailing hysteria," declared Will
lis. We've elected judges for the last
1873 years and have put their names on
the same ballot with other candidates. I
Now, all of a sudden, 1t has developed
there is something wrong. This is an
insult to every judge in California who
has been elected as a partisan. 1t up |
sets the time-honored institution be- (
queathed to US by our fathers and
grandfathers."
Ndil W dSh Tic 6ChlaCAhoiA AAOAA
San Bernardino." said Boynton.
whether the letter he wrote on Decem-
ber II last or what he has said to-
night, represents his .views?"
Boynton Then Reads Letter
Boynton then read letter from Will
liam Denman, in the name OF the Los
Angeles and San Francisco Bar asso-
Citations, asking him If he would sup
port a bill that would separate the
names of the judges from those of the
other candidates. Willis wrote in re-
ply II have not yet been able to
form a definite judgment, although
wish to say i approve of your idea."
Two or three weeks ago Willis, as
chairman of the senate judiciary COM
lnittee, took the unprecedented step of
having the constitutional amendment
giving power of initiating legislation
back to the committee, which
once had reported it favorably. His
purpose obviously was to smother the
in committee.
On nearly all important issues before
the senate Willis has voted wrong. He
has gone on record as opposed to legis-
lation calculated to give to the people
a broader measure of the privileges
which free people should enjoy.
He voted against Sanford's bill, in
tended to impose necessary restrictions
)n lobbyists representing corporations
notorious for their employment of COR
'upting influences. He voted wrong on
motion to amend the
Wright direct primary bill by provid-
ng for an advisory vote by districts
Ind the unconstitutional percentage
,asis for nominations. He voted wrong
IN the assembly amendments to San
'ord's resolution asking California; s
in congress to take steps to-
ward the establishment of a federal
inc of steamers on the Pacific. He
yoted with the railroad crowd Tuesday
IN the railroad rate bill. And he voted
against the initiative. He has been
in wrong" on nearly all vital meas
lres.