Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-03
SLATE MAKERS
AT SACRAMENTO
SEEM TO AGREE
STANTON OF LOS ANGELES TO
GET SPEAKERSHIP
LEGISLATURE WILL CONVENE
TOMORROW AT NOON
Transue and BeardsEee Expected to
Have Lively Contest for Chair
manship of important
Committee

N ACRAMENTO, Jan. 2.--In antici-
patton of the Republican caucus
~ to be held Monday morning, and
the opening of the thirty-eighth session
of the legislature Monday noon, the
slate makers are busy tonight putting
the final touches upon such preliminary
work as may be safely touched at this
time.
A large percentage of the member
ship of both houses is already on the
ground, and the affairs of the majority
are being harmoniously arranged for
the most part.
There appears to be little opposition
TO the candidacy of P. A. Stanton of
Los Angeles for the speakership, and
it is said that his most formidable op-
ponent, r. L. Bearslee of Stockton, who
was speaker of the last house, will
withdraw from the race if he can
thereby gain support for the chairman
ship of the ways and means commit
tee.
f. M. Rutherford of Truckee also is
a candidate for the speakership and
will remain a factor until the last mo-
ment, but as Stanton's friends claim
for him forty votes on the first ballot,
and thirty-One are enough to nominate,
there is little doubt of his election,
according to the present program.
Fight Over Chairmanship
The only lively fight seems to be over
the craftsmanship of the ways and
means committee. j. F. Transue of
Los Angeles, speaker pro tenn and floor
leader at the last session, announced
some time ago his ambition to head the
most important committee in the house,
and it later developed that Beardslee
had his eye on the same plum.
Both are working hard for the place,
and there will be some doubt in the
matter of the selection until after the
Monday caucus.
1t has been customary for the slate
makers to consult the governor regard
ing this position, as the ways and
means committee is the one with which
he transacts most of the legislative
business of the executive department.
According to Transues friends Gov
ernor Gillett would prefer the appoint
ment of the Los Angelan.
Indications are that there will be
few changes in the personnel of the
chieftaincy of the clerical departments
in house and senate.
In the appOrtionment of committee
Craftsmanship in the house and senate
there seems to be no distinguishing fea-
ture at this time except that Frank
LeaVitt of Oakland will be given the
post of hel1nsman for the committee Oh
finance if he wants it.
Bank legislation will be one of the
important problems of the Thirty
eighth session, as the commission ap-
pointed two years ago to frame a bill
changing the statutes will report in
the early days of this session and a
strenuous effort will be made to pass
the measure.
The commission will meet tomorrow
at the Office of the lieutenant governor
TO put the finishing touches on the re-
port.
OF a gOssippy nature, the principal
topics of conversation today has been
the question of patronage. The Repub
hcans will thresh it out in caucus.
Among the arrivals late tonight was
Thomas A. Williams, president of the
San Francisco Jockey club, who will
remain several days to prepare for the
defense against anti-race track legiS-
latiOn Mr.. Williams said:
Il do not believe the people of Cali
fornia will countenance the effort being
made in certain quarters to cut off this
important industry"