Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-12
TO LEARN HOW
MANY JAPANESE
IN CALIFORNIA
HOUSE PASSES APPR0PRIA-
TI0N TO TAKE CENSUS
ASSEMBLY PUTS MEADOW LARK
AMONG FARMERS FOES
Anthony's Anti-Asiatic Bill Is Opposed
by Hurd of Los Angeles and
Defeated by Senate
% to IL
Especial to The Herala.l

G GACRAMENTO, Feb. 11.-Slight rip
pies of excitement over anti-Jap-
~ anese legislation in both branches;
passage by the assembly Of the bill
putting the meadow lark among the
crows and jaybirds as unprotected
members of the feathered tribe, and a
senate resolution aimed at the state
railroad commission were the features
of today's session of the legislature.
The assembly passed the bill inspired
by Governor Gillett and introduced by
Speaker Stanton appropriating $4,000
for a census of the japanese in Cali
fornia.
The rules were suspended on motion
of Mr.. Transue of Los Angeles to per-
nit of quick action on the measure,
and there was practically no opposi-
tion.
Grove L. johnson, author of the
school segregation bill which was re-
considered and voted down yesterday,
declared himself in favor of the census
bill, saying he preferred half loaf to
no bread at all.
The senate, which heretofore had not
gone on record on any anti-Japanese
BILL decided % to u, to refuse passage
to a measure by Senator Marc An
thony of San Francisco giving the vot
ers at the next state election an oppOr-
tunity to vote for or against the con-
tinuance of Asiatic immigration to the
United States.
Senator Anthony made an impas-
stoned appeal to the house to pass his
measure, but received little support on
the floor.
Hurd Opposes Bill
H. M. Hurd of Los Angeles took the
position that only the federal govern
ment could properly deal with the
question, and Mr.. Cutten of Eureka
advanced the argument that if the SEN
ate passed the bill it would be a con-
fession to the whole country that Cali
fornia at this time was in doubt as to
what to do about immigration.
The fate of the meadow lark was
finally decided after one of the, longest
fights of the session. The debate today
was on motion by Mr.. Greer of Sac
ramento to reconsider the vote by
which Mr.. Struckebruck's anti-mead-
ow lark bill was passed several days
ago.
The friends of the measure held that
lark was detrimental to the interests
of the farmers because it destroyed
seeds and damaged fruit, especially ta-
BILE grapes. Its foes contended the bird
should be protected because it de-
stroyed certain insect pests and was a
cheerful singer.
After calling of the roll it was dis
closed the bill could not pass without
the absentees, and "call Of the house"
was issued. The doors of the assembly
chamber were locked and the sergeant
alarms went in search of truant mem
bers.
Brings Back DeIinquents
Three of them. Hanlon of Los An
geles. Coghlan of San Francisco and
Hawk of Sacramento, were haled before
the bar of the house and the doors
were opened again, but even then the
outlook for the passage of the measure
was gloomy. Walter MacAuley of San
Francisco changed his vote from aye
to no, and the bill would have been
beaten had not Milton Schmitt of the
metropolis then changed from no to
aye.
The railroad commission was invited,
in resolution introduced in the senate
by Senator Campbell of San Luis
Obispo to appear before the committee
on corporations to explain the reason
for its alleged apathy toward the re-
cent increase in freight rates The
same measure was presented by Sena-
tor Caminetti two years ago and was
beaten at that time It's sponsor this
year states he has hopes it will be
adopted because of the recent agitation
of the question in California and other
coast states.
There was another flood of bills in
both houses today. Tomorrow will be
the last day for introduction without
unanimous consent.