Imperial Valley press., 1921-05-03
HIGH PRICED
SESSION IS
F | \ A |. | !
{ n De D
Resume of Acts of State Leg
islature Show But Little
Done for Benefit of People
Who Pay.
(By Associated Press


SACRAMENTO, May 3.-The 44th
session of the California legislature
ended officially at o'clock yesterday
afternoon with less than dozen men,
bers of both houses present at the final
adjournment.
Governor Stephens issued state
ment that he would call a special ses-
sion to reapportion the state legisla-
tive districts before the next general
election. The time of calling the extra
session will depend somewhat on the
action of congress in making the usual
congressional apportionment among
the several states. the governor said.
Passage of the King bill, increasing
tax rates imposed upon public service
corporations by approximately one
third and thus adding more than $14,-
0QO, 900 to the states revenue for the
next biennium, was the feature of the
session just ended.
The fight on the King bill extended
over a period of two months and was
one of the bitterest contests of the
states legislative history. 1t involves
charges of extravaganza in govern
mental administration and brought on
a public investigation of the $S1 ,0OO,-
900 budget by the senate and assem-
bly, sitting as committees of the whole
which was prolonged for several
weeks.
Also connected with the tax battle
was the movement to reorganize the
state government by consolidating
commissions and agencies into state
departments. Two plans were pro-
posed, one endorsed by Governor Ste
phens and another put forward by the
Taxpayers Association of California.
Bills embodying the latter scheme
were held in committee and when the
governors measure came up for pas
sage advocates of the Taxpayers plan
charged that Legislative leaders " ere
seeking to 'fool the people, and to
smother" the only thorough-g going re-
organization proposal. Administration
supporters, however. held that the re-
organization plan would save several
hundred dollars a biennium and great
ly increase efficiency of the govern
ment. Much dissatisfaction with the
bills, coming from state commission
ers and elsewhere, WAS met by commit
tee amendments. On the floor of the
senate the move to place the fish and
game commission in the state depart
ment of agriculture snd 10 consolidate
examining boards for various profess
slons was beaten.
eAttempts to reapportion the state
Legislative districts in accordance with
the 1920 census failed, hence the extra
session.
Prohibition enforcement brought or
several of the shapest clashes of the
session, and few if any fundamental
labor bills We're brought before the leg
lslature. movement to abolish the
state home for delinquent women,
which is costing more than $4,000 and
has no inmates failed in the assembly
| as dld measure to control the boxing
game in the state.
The measures intended to improve
the present motor vehicle law were de-
feated in the last hours. as were meas
ures to place a gasoline tax and many
other bills for taxation and revenue
purposes met like fate.
Among measures passing the legis-
iature dealing with the Japanese stu
alton were joint resolution by Sena-
tor lnman. memorializing the presi-
dent and congress and protesting
against any treaty between the Unit
ed States and Japan granting citizen.
ship to subjects of Japan or multiplying
the California alien land law and ask,
ing for rigid Japanese exclusion; ano
another resolution by Senator Sharke,
approving the principles of the Japan.
cse Exclusion League of California.
Another bill passed by the legisla.
ture and dealing with Japanese author.
lied establishment of separate public
| (Continuel on Pace 81