Imperial Valley press., 1939-01-03
Flood of Bills
Ready to Sweep
Into Assembly
Continued from Page u

tacheS.
Senator Jerrold Seawen of Rose
vile was chosen senate president
pro tempore. succeeding w. P. Rich
Of Marysville. who is seriously hurt
in a Chico hospital. Seawell was
unopposed after Bradford Critten-
den. of Stockton. was ruled out il
4 Republican caucus.
ASsemblyman Paul Peek, of Long
Beach. emerged as the assembly
speaker when the Democratic ma
jority gave him a 43 to "a vote
over Republican Ray Williamson
of san Francisco.
Other officers named for the as
sembly included Hugh Donnelly
Democrat member from Turlock
Speaker pro tempore.
The selection of Peek in the as
sembly was of great aid TO Olson
in launching his liberal Democratic
LEGISLATION but a continued battle
was in prospect in the Republican
senate. With Seawel in power ano
Patterson apparently stripped OF
his usual powers as presiding Off
GER. the Republicans hold the up
per hand. Il is expected the SEN
ate will vote to retain resolution
of last March giving the power OF
committee appointment to a COM
mittee Of committees.
OF almost equal Importance to
the legislature was Olsons an
nouncement last night that he will
hold a pardon hearing Saturday
for Thomas Mooney. famous labor
prisoner.
Olson. Patterson and retiring
Gov. Frank F. Merriam gave
speeches before a crowded assembly
chamber audience as the highlighi
of the Inauguration
Just before Olson was escorted tc
the rostrum. a mia demonstration
in the gallery resulted IN the ejec-
ton of Robert Noble. leader of sew
eral hundred pension seekers. prin-
cipally from southern California,
who picketed the capitol in protest
against Olson's inauguration. No
Bile. a candidate 1or governor or
the Commonwealth ticket in No
vember and leader OF S25-every-
week pension. was taken away By
capitol police when he insisted Oh
trying to address the meeting.
Work for Jobless
Olson urged in his speech that
the national government assume
full responsibility for old age pen
sions but said state aid will be IA
vored ito the limit that state IL
nances permit He cited the fact
that California pays S35 monthly t.
those over 65.
The new governor recommended
that I'VE should substitute for tho
present policy of paying niggardly
cash doles fer unemployment reliet
a new policy of placing the unem-
ployed at productive work to sup
port themselves
only a definite policy Of tax
relief through self-help employ
ment can relieve the taxpayers OF
the state from this staggering and
increasing burden Olson said. He
urged his proposed state work pro-
gram to replace cash doleS for re-
lief in contrast to the continued
necessity of meeting nearly $780,
100000 per biennium to pay small
cash doles to those now on state
relief without furnishing any relief
to some 275,0O0 eligible applicant
who. with their families. can moi
now find a place on our rellei
rolls"
Olson pledged his administration
to practice all possible economy
but warned against an impending
heavy tax burden. He said his ad-
ministra ton would seek state mea-
sures having the same objectives as
New Deal measures of the national
government and would back public
ownership and operation of public
utilities.
Merriam spoke of his desire to
retain an active interest in public
affairs and later declared in a
written message TO the legislature
that no change or increase in Cal,
ifornia taxes is necessary for an
other two years.