The San Francisco call., 1909-01-14
Wright=StantOn Measure Id
dOrsed by Organizations
Throughout the State
Nomination of United States
Senators Only MOOted Ques-
ton in Proposition
By George Van Smith
fspecial Dapotoh 10 The Cali

OF COMMERCE BUILDING, SACRA-
AIENTO, Jan. 1S.-The subject of direct
primaries in practical and practicable
form was brought before the assembly
this morning when Speaker Phillip A.
stanton introduced in the lower house
the bin for which its joint author,
Senator Leroy Wright, stands sponsor
in the upper house.
The Wright-Stanton bin is the direct
primary measure which has been in
6orsed ley the direct primary league OF
California, the board OF supervisors OF
san Francisco, labor leaders. labor or
CanizatiOns and both the republican and
democratic press generally. 1t is a
complete measure. involving nothing
but genuine direct primary legislation
and containing no single provision that
has not been tried successfully in two
or more Of the direct primary states.
its general provisions are almost eN-
actly paralleled with the Wisconsin di-
rect primary law. which was the model
for the Illinois, Iowa, Kansas and Ne
braska laws.
PROMPT ACTION EXPECTED
The introduction Of the bill i'm the
assembly by Speaker stanton and his
announced attitude on the subject OF
direct primaries should insure prompt
action on the part Of the committees.
il is proposed By Speaker Stanton that
the elections committees OF both houses
hold a series Of joint sessions which
shall take on the form of a public hear
ing and that all men who know or
think they know anything about direct
primaries be given an opportunity TO
air their views.
The only mOoted question of policy
which has come prominently TO the
fore Is that providing for the nomina-
tion Of candidates for the United States
senate. On the republican sides OF
both houses there is virtually no divi-
sion Of sentiment touching the ques-
lion Of keeping the nominations OF
United States senators a partisan mat
ter if the pledge TO nominate United
States senators by primary votes is to
be kept, but there is an element hostile
10 the idea OF permitting the people
10 have any voice in the selection of
candidates for the American house of
lords. The fact that both parties
are pledged to give the people an
advisory vote means nothing TO the
men who are willing TO make the sena-
torial question pit for the burial OF
reform demanded by the people
RECOMMENDs BONDS ACTS
The report Of the joint harbor com
mission which viii 20 10 the senate
and assembly tomorrow. recommends
the submission Of - year bond acts
carrying a total Of SI0.950. 600 for i'm
proVements in san Francisco harbor.
inclusive Of Si.000.000 for the acauisi-
tion OF property in the Islais basin.
The report is a model and brings out
the Importance Of Californfa's harbors
and the necessity for their improve
ment i'm a novel manner by showing
the possibilities for manufacturers in
California through a table Of the water
powers that may be developed in the
drainage areas tributary TO the sew
eral harbors.
According to the tables submitted by
the 3oint committee the rivers running
into san Francisco harbor are sus-
cepuble OF minimum DEVELOPMENT of
2,655.600 horsepower: a maximum from
the same development Of 5.4s3. 200
horsepower, and an added 1900 OOO
that could be developed by storage
systems.
The committee recommends the is
sue Of bonds for $1,000 600 for the ac-
Quisition Of the 44 blocks in the Islais
basin recommended in the report OF
the old federated harbor commission
Behind this recommendation is the
belief on the part Of some of the com
mitteemen that the state never los;
its title in trust TO the remainder of
the 50 blocks covered by the Welsh
bill which the lumber interests de-
feated through misrepresentation al
the last general election
OTHER BONDS PROPOSED
The other bonds proposed are 3.o0O.-
coo for a seawall S65O0. 600 for the
construction Of wharves and docks
100000 for dredging and $4,000 for
extension and improvement OF the belt
A
ated from the receipts Of the harbor
and not by tax levy, as many eIect-
ors were misled TO believe when the
India basin act was submitted last fall
Little bills carrying appropriations
~ $500 each for the compensation OF
The members special tax committee
which worked on the ill fated amend
ment No 7 are finding their way into
the senate hopper They are expected
10 be the advance guard of similar
measures for the compensation OF
members Of the harbors committee. the
banking committee and the printing
office investigation committee There
IS no division Of sentiment as to the
propriety of reimbursing the members
of these committees for their expenses
nor would there be strenuous objection
10 compensation for the time actually
spent by the committeeman in the
There is. however, a decided senti-
ment against Topping off lump sums
and as a result OF that sentiment
which is shared by some Of the com
mitteemen, there may be an insistent
demand for the submission OF accounts
MOTHER IN LAW LOSES JOB
McCartneys mother in law is no
longer a porter The senator from Los
Angeles displaced Mrs A McCaldin to-
Cay with r. IL. Young, colored. who
VIII draw the SO a day which mother
in law could not earn. Mccartney
substitution of the colored constituent,
for his mother in law was followed by
his attempt 10 substitute for a resolu-
tion providing for the purchase Of pony
codes one calling for the purchase Of a
set OF KcTrs Annotated Codes for each
senator The pony codes cost $3.50
each. The bargain counter price of the
Kerr code is $3.50. as offered To and
refused by the assembly.
The reelection of United States Sen
ator George c. Perkins TO a fourth
term in the upper house Of congress is
now formally in the past tense The
senate and assembly met in joint ses-
sion at noon and went through the
rather impressive ceremony Of deciar-
ing. the majority votes OF each and the
election Of Perkins A telegram from