Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-21
DIRECT PRIMARY
TO BE THRESHED
OUT THIS WEEK
FINAL BATTLE WILL COME IN
STATE SENATE
IMPORTANT MEASURES DUE FOR
DECISIVE ACTION
Interesting Review Compiled of Bus-
ness for Week Just Ended-SaI-
ary Increases Necessarily
Denied
[By Associated Press.l

q ACRAMENTO, Feb. 20.-Five of the
most important measures intro
duced into the legislature at this
session were the subjects of interesting
debates during the week just closed
the direct primary and the railroad rate
bills in the senate and the Sunday rest
bill presented by Grove L. Johnson of
Sacramento; the Leavitt- Stanton bank
ing bill, and the joint resolution by
Senator ]. B. Sanford of Ukiah calling
upon congress for the establishment of
a government-owned line Of steamships
between California points and Panama,
in the assembly.
The direct primary bill, drawn by
Senator Leroy A. Wright Of San Diego,
and which the opponents of the direct
vote for United States senator attempt
ed to amend by striking out the effect
i've senatorial clause, was indorsed by
a vote of q to 13.
The debate on the primary measure
was on a resolution offered by Senator
H. S. c. Mccartney of Los Angeles.
referring the bill back to the commit
tee on election laws, with instructions
to amend so as to give an advisory
vote by districts on United States SEN
ators, and provide that if the highest
candidate for a state office received
less than 40 per cent of the vote of his
ferred to a convention Of delegates
elected at the same time that candi-
dates were voted on by the direct
method.
Favor Minority Report
The resolution was defeated and a
motion by Senator Wright to substitute
the minority report favoring the cleo
tion of senators by direct vote, for the
majority report, was adopted.
The final senate battle on this ques-
ton will be fought out this week.
Another measure drafted by Senator
Wright was in the limelight yesterday.
1t came up for second reading, and in
effect gives the state railroad commits
sion power to fix maximum freight
rates. This is in line with the stand
taken by the railroads, whose repre-
sentatives contend that it would be un-
constitutional to attempt to establish
absolute rates, as provided in the bill
presented by John w. Stetson of Oak
land.
The latter measure was turned down
by the committee on corporations, as
also was a more stringent one by A. Z.
Campbell of San Luis Obispo.
When the Wright bill was taken up
by the senate it's author offered several
amendments, the most important of
which prevented state officials from rid
ing on free passes.
Federal Steamship Line
Another senate railroad measure was
negatively disposed of by the assembly.
Senator Sanford's joint resolution call
ing upon congress to establish a fed
eral line of steamships between Panama
and the various commercial centers Of
>the Pacific coast was SO amended that
its authors purpose was completely de-
feated.
The original resolution referred to the
report made by United States Senator
Joseph L. Bristow Of Kansas recon-
mending that the railroad rate question
be solved by establishing a line of ves-
sells to compete with the Hartman in
terests.
An amendment offered by Johnson of
Sacramento, striking out all reference
to the Bristow report and eliminating
the request for federal steamships was
carried, leaving the resolution merely a
suggestion to congress that it investi-
gate the recent increase in freight
rates.
Assemblyman Johnson's constitution
al amendment submitting to a vote Of
the people the question of setting aside
Sunday as legal day of rest was de-
feated after a stormy debate.
The measure failed of passage upon
the charge being made by its oppon-
ents and admitted by its author) that
it was purely religious matter.
Anti-Japanese agitation was revived
by Assemblyman Harry Polsley of Red
Bluff, who introduced an amendment
to a school bill drawn by George l..
Sackett of Ventura. The amendment
would have excluded "Malays'' from the
public schools devoted to white chill
dren, as the Japanese contend that they
belong to that race.
The amendment was beaten only
after an exciting debate and earnest
work upon the part of Speaker Stan
ton, who at the request of President
Roosevelt and Governor Gillett has un-
dertaken to prevent further anti-Jap-
anese outbreaks in the lower house.
Raise in Pay Refused
Governor Gillett has called halt Of
the great army of state officials and
employees who are besieging the legis-
lature for increases in salary and addi-
tional help. 1t is stated upon good
authority that he has warned the ways
and means and finance committees of
the assembly and senate respectively
that he will not sign bills providing for
unnecessary increases.
In accordance with the governors S
wishes the committees will begin weed
ing out bills and many employees of the
state will be disappointed in their ex-
pectations for more money from the
public treasury at this session.
An aggregate increase of $1O7, $40 a
year has been asked for, according to
calculations made by C1ude Seavey of
the state board of examiners The pro-
posed raises range from $10O to $1,000 a
year.
Almost every person on the states
pay roll wants more money. State
Printer Shannon, State Librarian Jas.
L. Gillis and F. L. Claughey, clerk of
the supreme court, petition for a raise
of $1,000 a year each. They receive at
present $4,000 per annum.
All Want Some Pie
In the governor office Private Secre-
tary L. c.. Cooper wants $4,000 instead
of $4,000; Executive Secretary E. F.
Mitchell asks $4,000, an increase of $40O;
the governors stenographer, Miss Nora
Andrews, asks for a raise of $400 and
Jake Soares, the negro messenger of
the Office, requests a $500 increase. An
additional stenographer is wanted by
the governor at a salary of 1920.
T. D. Johnston of Contra Costa,
chairman of the assembly committee on
the adoption of a new house regulation
limiting all debates to half an hour for
each side.
r. L. Beardslee, chairman of the
ways and means committee, entered an
objection and the matter went over
until next Tuesday.
A bill by Harry Barndollar of Long
Beach amending the vaccination act
WAS defeated The amendment prOvid-