The Sacramento Union

Sacramento, California, Friday morning, June 27, 1941

Interim Committees to spend $160,000

Solons Name 28 Groups in Probes

Senate Appropriation Tops Assembly’s; Budget on List

            California assemblymen and senators, who will comprise 28 committees financed by approximately $160,000 appropriated from contingent funds, are expected to begin interim studies within the next two or three weeks on matters ranging all the way from the 1943-45 biennial budget to “economic security.”

            The groups were created during the recent 160-day session and call for a membership of 153 legislators.

Membership Cut

            Since the normal membership of 120 in both houses was cut by the death of Assemblyman James Cassidy of Oakland, and the absence on military duty of Senator Ray W. Hays of Fresno, many assemblymen and senators will server on several committees.

            Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief of the assembly, said yesterday a total of $74,050 had been appropriated for interim committees from the lower house, leaving the approximate $86,000 remaining to be spent by senate groups.

Appointment Soon

            Ohnimus indicated he expected to hear from Speaker Gordon Garland within the next few days relative to appointments on most of the 19 assembly interim committees. Garland will serve on each of the groups as an ex-officio member. The senate rules committee before adjournment made appointments to nine committees.

            The largest appropriation voted by the legislature for interim work was $40,000 to the joint budget committee of 10 members, five from each house. It was empowered to appoint a legislative auditor, technical and clerical help to assists the legislature in consideration of the 1943-45 biennial budget.

Water Survey

            The $25,000 voted to Senator Bradford S. Crittenden’s joint committee of 11 will provide for a state water resources survey in connection with the Central Valley project. Emphasis, legislative leaders said, will be placed on development of a long range water and power program.

            Aimed at preventing a postwar depression by developing a great variety of industrial and economic programs, including public works project and civilian organizations, a survey will be made throughout the state by an assembly committee of 15 for which $15,000 was appropriated. Garland introduced the resolution creating the group.

Un-American Probe

            Assemblyman Jack Tenney’s “little Dies” committee, will have $15,000 to detect un-American activities, and a 12-member joint committee will study the unemployment insurance problem at a cost $10,000.

            Appointments and appropriations for senate committees:

            Fact-finding committee on relief Senators Mayo, Mixter, Wagy, Brown and Shelly $7,000.

PAGE SIX                 LASSEN ADVOCATE-SUSANVILLE, CALIFORNIA

Politically Speaking…

By John W. Dunlap

United Press Correspondent

            Sacramento (U.P.)-One of the major scandals of the Olson administration was the exposure of the use of dictograph in the hotel room in then-Assembly Speaker Gordon Garland, and the resulting legislative investigations and excitement.

            Governor Olson at that time disclaimed knowledge of the entire affair but said he had often used dictographs to record conversations with prospective appointees.

            The first week of the Warren administration shed further light on the dictograph situation. Warren himself revealed that after three days of expert sleuthing, wiring technicians and uncovered a maze of wires leading to hidden microphones and induction coils in the eight principal offices of the governor’s suite, with outlets leading to a room directly above the governor’s desk, where the information was recorded.

            By the flip of a switch, any telephone or spoken conversation could be transcribed in any of the offices or waiting rooms. Wires led under rugs and were built into walls, apparently at the time Olson remodeled the offices in 1939/

            “I am not interested in starting any dictograph scandal,” Warren explained. “The people who preceded me can do what they want. But I don’t want that kind of equipment in any office of mine. I don’t propose to use that kind of equipment, nor do I want the wiring discovered later and have it appear that I put it in.”

            Warren added there was nothing illegal in the devices because the occupant of an office can install anything he wishes. Neither will there be an investigation, he emphasized. But he did say that the leaders of the legislature had been called to his office to be told of the discovery and the fact that all the equipment had been disconnected.

            “I told them that they or any other citizens could come into my office without being spied upon, or their conversations being subject to eavesdropping,” Warren said. “I’m not seeking to make a scandal. I want to give this office a clean bill of health and don’t want any evidence around the office. I don’t believe it.”

            There is every indication that the Warren family will enter the community life of Sacramento, after several false starts many years ago. The governor revealed he made several attempts to establish his law practice here in the early days and served five months as a legislative attaché in 1919, but he was offered positions in the bay area which he could not decline.

            The Warren family will actually move into the executive mansion after the close of the school term. One of the kids already wants to sleep in the cupola high atop the three-story house.

            Many students of good governments have preached the advantages of a state manager form of government for California. Governor Warren took one step toward it when he named City Manager John F. Hassler of Oakland as director of finance. The next step came when he approved the appointment of City Manager James Dean of Sacramento as Hassler’s deputy. Both men are nationally prominent in their fields

            Significantly, Hassler took a salary cut of $2,000 per year to take the $10,000 finance post and Dean dropped $2100 to accept $7,500 for the deputyship. Apparently Warren sol them on the job to be done, even at great personal sacrifice.

            Lastly, the second deputy job under the Olson administration will be held abolished to save the salary, on the premise that Hassler and Dean can easily do three men’s work. As a matter of act, the deputies under Olson’s regime left most of the actual finance work to the civil service staff.

            Each return of the legislature is another evidence of the efficient experience of Senate Secretary Joe Beek and Assembly Chief Clerk Arthur Ohnimus. These two men are the quiet, competent type who say little but get the job done. They have the complete confidence of everyone and have kept new officials, members and attaches guided in legislative procedure for going on 30 years.

            Teamed up with Paul Mason, nationally recognized parliamentarian who leaves his motor vehicle post to advise the legislature, Beek and Ohnimus are without doubt among the top-ranking legislative officials of the nation.

This page displays 2 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Ring Charges Force Kenny into Action

            Arthur Ohnimus, deputy attorney general, has been assigned to investigate charges of gambling and crookedness in boxing, Attorney General Robert W. Kenny announced yesterday.

            Ohnimus said he intends to attend a meeting of the assembly public morals committee March 9 in Los Angeles, when a hearing will be made by Willie Ritchie, chief boxing inspector of the state athletic commission.

            “I will sit as an interested observer at the committee hearing,” Ohnimus said. “If anything is brought out warranting action by the attorney general’s office, I will report it to Attorney General Kenny.

            “In the meantime, this office will receive, as always, any bona fide charges or affidavits on fixed fights or crookedness in the boxing game.”

            In a letter by Ritchie, made public yesterday by Joseph Genshlea, boxing commission secretary, it was charged that there has been widespread gambling on California boxing contests and that gamblers in some instances have fixed bouts.

            Ritchie previously had made similar accusations verbally to the commission, which requested him to put his statements in writing.

            Besides gambling charges, Ritchie also asserted:

            Referees, managers and match-makers have been permitted to ignore rules and regulations, “have frequently belittled the commission and its officials, and have insulted them, without being disciplined or called to account.”

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Ritchie without Counsel for State Fight Probe

            Possibility of a hitch over the status of Attorney General Robert Kenny’s deputy, Arthur Ohnimus, developed yesterday, with the morals committee boxing investigation scheduled to begin here Thursday morning.

            It had been generally expected that Ohnimus, who has arrived from Sacramento, would serve, more or less, as Chief Inspector Willie Ritchie’s counsel, as well as being the Attorney General’s observer.

            However, Ohnimus, revealed in a powwow with Ritchie whose charges along with those of Assemblyman John Evans will be probed, that he will be strictly an observer. This was not entirely to the satisfaction of Ritchie who has requested counsel.

            The new controversy will be thrown into the lap of Harold Sawallish, morals committee chairman, when he arrives this morning.

            Sawallish, already advised of Ritchie’s wishes, so far as shown no disposition to make any move to satisfy them.

Los Angeles Examiner Sports

Fri., Mar 10, 1944 PCC - Part II, Page 5

Ritchie Airs ‘Fake’ Charges

Malacara Suspicions Overruled

By Morton Moss

            Chief Inspector Willie’s Ritchie’s recommendation that the purses be held up after the Carlos Malacara-Jerry Moore Legion purported fake last December 3 was overruled by Commissioner Tony Entenza and former Commissioner Everett Sanders, it was disclosed yesterday when the Public Morals Committee boxing investigation began in the State Building.

            Following an agreement to lift Assemblyman John Evans’ charges prior to Ritchie’s, Match-maker Charley MacDonald of the Legion, Ditchie and former commissioner Sanders were called in that order by Evans for questioning on the Hollywood bout which ended with suspicious of fakery in the air.

Sudden Odds Switch

            Ritchie revealed that Inspector Carl Gerard told him before the bout that there were rumors Malacara was going to “dive” and there had been a sudden switch in the odds to Moore. Willie, according to his story, sent Gerard to inform Sanders.

Sanders stated he warned Malacara it was a felony to fake a fight in California and elicited a denial from Carlos that he been “fixed” by a gambler. Sanders then asserted that he explained the situation to Referee Abe Roth and suggested that he caution the contestants.

Sanders disagreed with Ritchie, when the former commissioner gave “100 percent approval” to Roth’s action in letting the bout to go to the end and rendering a decision in favor of Malacara.

Approved Roth’s Action

            Ritchie approved Roth’s second-round action when he pulled Malacara off the canvas, berating him because he had gone down without being hit. But Ritchie said, in his interpretation, Roth acted contrary to the rules in allowing the bout to reach a conclusion and in rendering a decision. The verdict finally arrived at was a draw, with Roth voting for Malacara, one judge tabbing Moore and the other a deadlock.

            MacDonald admitted he had stated following the combat that “no matter what the Commission did, he would bar Malacara at the Legion for life.”           

            The Commission barred Malacara for life in California, but not before he had received his purse and left for Mexico.

There is an image of 3 men shown in the newspaper but the identity of the men isn’t clearly stated.

Inspector Speaks-Willie Ritchie, chief inspector for the State Athletic Commission, as he appeared yesterday before the Public Morals Committee to hurl charges of “fixed” fights. Here, Ritchie reveals that he heard rumors before the Carlos Malacara-Jerry Moore bout last December 3 at Hollywood Legion that Malacara was going to take a “dive.” Abe Roth called bout a draw. Also under investigation is the Watson Jones, Ernie Rios Olympic fight.

• Los Angeles Examiner photo.

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Sacramento, Calif

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This page displays a newspaper clipping from Sacramento Bee dated Saturday, January 28, 1950.  This newspaper clipping has various types of content.

First content:

Superintendent Keeps Capitol Job Rolling

By Richard Rodda

            The man who built the California-Western States Life Insurance building, the Elks Temple and the telephone office building at 1414 k Street is back in town.

            R. I. Gunn of San Francisco, general superintendent of the Swinnerton & Walbert Company, is in charge of constructing the $7,250,000 six story Capitol addition.

            Proud of his skyline monuments, Gunn is directing 300 carpenters, cement men, engineers and laborer in an around the clock operation on the handsomest building of them all. In another month there will be 500 workers.

            The annex, which will be dedicated for the 1951 session of the legislature, is scheduled to be in finished December 8^th.

Three Crews at Work

            In order to meet this deadline, the company has hired three crews. Men on the first shift report at 8 AM, followed by a night crew at 4 PM and the graveyard shift at midnight.

            This goes on five days a week and will be extended to Saturdays and Sundays if necessary. After dark, the steel frame structure is illuminated brighter than a baseball park.

            The principal work being done is the pouring of concrete for the basement, the walls and the floors. So far five valuable days have been lost because of rain. Obviously, Gunn longs for clear skies and warm temperatures. The contract forbids pouring cement in temperatures below 40 degrees.

Many Features

            There will be granite walls, terrazzo floors, tile walls, glass brick and beautiful showcases. There will be an all marble shower bath in the governor’s suite of offices.

            But more important, so far as the public is concerned, will be the attractive door to the chief’s executive’s reception room. It will be made of pin oak, redwood and citrus wood-all native to California. The designers say the door will be something to admire.

Special Concrete Mix

            Superintendent Gunn is not worrying about the luxuries to be built in during the closing weeks of work. He has the job of pouring about 10,000 yards of concrete first. This will go on until the middle of April.

            A special light mix weighing from 85 to 95 pounds per cubic food, is being used. Normally concrete runs about 150 pounds. The aggregates for the special mix are imported from Ventura County.

            With the concrete work out of the way, the superintendent then will concentrate on the plastering, the lathing and the sheet metal work.

            The schedule calls for 376 working days. Gunn’s job started last November 28^th shortly after the steel workers completed the framework.

Close Watch on Job

            He virtually keeps a 24 hour watch, as he lives in the Hotel Senator across the street. He demands a full day’s work for a full day’s pay from his men. The other night he saw a foreman idling away the time talking to the gate keeper. The foreman is looking for another job.

            Gunn, likewise, is under supervision. Visitors to the job last…*The ending of this content is cut off.

Second content shows a picture of how the Capitol annex will look like when its completed. The description under the picture reads:

            NEW ANNEX- This how the Capitol annex will look when completed. In preparing this sketch, Alfred Eichler has eliminated a number of trees to give a better view of the structure. The six story building, 275 by 275 feet, would cover nearly all of an average size city block. It contains more than 2,250 tons of steel. Dedication of the completed annex is scheduled for the 1951 session of the legislature. Work on the project is expected to be finished December 8^th.

Third content shows a picture of a view of the annex from the dome, it shows steel frame work being done. The description underneath the photo reads:

            PRESENT APPEARANCE- This is a view of the annex project from the dome of the Capitol. Steel frame work has been completed and 300 carpenters, cement men, engineers and laborers are at work on the project on a 24 hour basis.

Bee Photo.

Third content in this newspaper clipping is cut off but the title and the first paragraph is readable, it says:

Value of Building Permits in City is over $790,000.

            City Building Inspector J. Ralph Shields today placed a valuation in excess of $790,000 on building construction authorized in Sacramento during the last week.

Fourth content in this newspaper clipping is cut off, the only content that is readable is the title and the first paragraph, it reads:

Bowman & Long Will Have New Building.

            Construction started this week on a new building for the furniture and interior decorating firm of Bowman and & Long, whose office presently is located at 2220 J Street.

Fifth content in this newspaper clipping reads:

California-Western May Build Annex

            The management of the California-Western States Life insurance Company in Sacramento is considering a proposal for the expansion of the building at the Tenth and J Streets.

            Architects are at work on the project, which would involve the construction of a 20 by 160 foot annex on property west of the present structure. The Walke Building is now on the property.

            A final decision on the project has not been made and plans have not been presented to the company’s directors. A spokesman for the firm asserted planning still is in the formative stage.

            The architecture of the annex probably would be in keeping with the original building of the company, which was completed in 1924. Additions and improvements were made to it in 1933.

            The company spokesman stated it is too early to say when the project would be started if approved by the board of directors. He pointed out expansion of the building is desirable in order to keep as many departments of the company as possible on the same floor level.

Sixth content of this newspaper clipping reads:

Bank of America Branch will Move to New Quarters

            The Bank of America Alhambra branch next Saturday will close the doors, of its old building and move across the street to a new structure at 1100 Alhambra Boulevard.

            An open house will be held, from 7:30 to 9 PM and the bank will open for business the following Monday, February 6^th. Finishing work is being completed in the interior.

            The building is 57 by 105 feet. The bank will occupy all of it except a 22 by 80 food store section.

Seventh content of this newspaper clipping reads:

New Home has Appearance of Being Larger than it is

A drawing of the front of a house is shown here.

Also drawing of a floor plan of the house is shown right underneath.

By F. C. Diedericks

            The first thing one notices about this home is the very neat, sharp modern look and yet there are few who will dismiss this house as being too extreme. In spite of the small floor area, only 816 square feet, the appearance is one of the much greater size. The layout is entirely rectangular. A main bearing wall runs through the middle allowing ample support wall for the gable roof. The depth of this unit is 24 feet and the width is 34 feet.

Living-Dining Room

            The recent trend of combining these two areas is featured in this scheme. It is an excellent method of increasing the apparent size of both rooms without additional framing.

            Although no fireplace is shown one easily can be added at the time of construction wherever the builder desires. A suggested location would be right wall of the room where it would be equally visible from both living room and dining room.

Bedrooms

            The bedrooms are across the rear of the unit with the bath between. This arrangement decreases the length of the hall. This is an economical item as most long halls are a waste of space and should be avoided. Both bedrooms are of a proper size fro a house of this area. There is an added feature in that the closets for both rooms are larger than ordinary.

            The linen closet is in the hall whereas an extra coat and storage closet is in the living room. The heater, if the wall or floor type is used, is centrally located so maximum heat can be obtained in both bedrooms and living room.

Kitchen and Service

            This type of kitchen is certainly one of the most convenient. All the food preparation fixtures and equipment are neatly grouped for easy access and use. This size kitchen is favored more than the large ones since there are fewer steps required and less to clean in the preparation of meals.

            The rear wall of the kitchen is a combined service area and storage space.

Appearance

            The eye catching feature of this home is the roof line. The angular extension of the gable ends provides added shade and protection for a larger than usual gable vent at each end. These vents in turn allow a much increased circulation of air.

            The front porch arrangement is most interesting and attractive. The siding running horizontally adds the apparent length and adds warmth and quality.

Plans Available

            Building blueprints of this home, No. 581 including floor plans and elevations, are available at $7.50 plus sales tax, 26 cents, total $7.76 for the first set, and $6.25 plus sales tax, 22 cents, total $6.47, for additional copies when ordered through The Sacramento Bee.

Seventh content in this newspaper clipping is cut off but the title reads:

State Department Leases Former Garage.

The last content of this newspaper clipping reads:

California Again Leads Nation in New Construction

            The United States Department of Commerce Field Service report states California continued to lead all other states in total value of new construction in 1949 as it has every year since 1940.

            The $2,240,000,000 expenditure was nearly 12 per cent of the nation’s total.

            The sharp upturn in private construction which started late in the third quarter carried through the last three months to bring the quarterly total fractionally above the corresponding period of 1948.

Below 1948

            Private building alone still was running slightly below 1948 as the year ended but, combined with higher public construction volume, the total rose to the heist quarterly level since the all-time high reached in the third quarter of 1948.         

            Furthermore, the value of building permits issued in September, October and November was 5 percent above those months a year earlier, indicating private building may continue unseasonably high for a time.

            Although additional figures are not available for all states there is little doubt California retained its position in the fourth quarter as the nation’s leading state for the twelfth consecutive three month period.

One Out of Six

            During 1949 one out of six of the nation’s new private homes was built in California, representing an expenditure of nearly $1,200,000,000, or over 50 percent of the value of all new construction in the state.

            This is 20 percent below last year when Californians spent $1,500,000,000 to build one out of five new homes in the United States.

            Practically all of this decline from 1948 was suffered in the second and third quarters of the year when the value of new home construction dipped 20 to 30 percent below the previous year.

Average is Lower

            During the first 10 months the average construction value of new urban dwelling units was $7,059 or 4.5 percent less than in the same period in 1948.

            The average value for the United States was $6,582 nearly 7 percent less than in California, and showed a decrease of only 1.5 percent from the 1948 value.

            The biggest increase in California during 1949 came in public construction which totaled over one third greater than in 1948. This was a larger increase than that for the United States as a whole, which completed public works totaling one fourth more than in 1948.

Borden Plans to Spend Million on Improvements

            The California division of the Borden Company announced approximately $1,000,000 will be spent this year for plant facilities, equipment and improvement.

            However, no important new building projects are contemplated. Most of the outlay will be for replacement of equipment, with construction limited to modernization or expansion of present structures.

This page displays 1 newspaper clipping and a House Resolution talking about Arthur Ohnimus death.

The newspaper clipping reads:

A. A. Ohnimus, Former Assembly Clerk, Dies

            Arthur A. Ohnimus, 71, retired chief clerk of the state assembly, died yesterday in his home at 1100 N Street.

            Funeral service will be held Wednesday in the East Lawn Chapel under the direction of Cochrane’s Chapel of the Roses in Roseville, Placer County. The Rev. Robert S. Romeis of St. Johns Lutheran Church will officiate. Entombment will take places at East Lawn.

            Friends may call at the N. G. Culjis Chapel of the Valley until noon Wednesday. The family requested any remembrance be made to charity.

Retired in 1963

            Ohnimus retired in November 1963, after a lengthy career which brought him into close contact with many of the famous names of California history during the first half of the century.

            He was born in San Francisco and attended Fresno State College and Claremont Graduate School.

            Ohnimus is survived by his wife, Bernice.

            He was past president of the Golden West Chapter of the Native Sons of the Golden West in San Francisco.

            He began service in the assembly in 1915 as an attaché. He became minute clerk in 1921 and chief clerk in 1923. He continued in the job until 1937 when he became deputy district attorney in San Francisco. In 1940 he returned to the assembly as chief clerk and served in the post during sessions of the legislature until his retirement in 1963.

            For a number of years he was an assistant attorney general between sessions. In 1957 he was given the between sessions job of chief administrative officer of the assembly.

*An arrow is shown pointing a picture of Arthur Ohnimus to the right.

            A Republican, he weathered many changes in administration in the assembly to hold a post which in most legislatures throughout the country is filled by the party in power with a party member.

            As chief clerk it was his duty to bang the gavel which called the assembly to order on the first day of each session. His strong, clear voice then recited the roll of members and another session was under way.

Neutral Politically

            He attributed his long service to “strict neutrality” so far as party politics was concerned. “Ever member is your boss,” he once said. However, with retirement approaching in 1963 he had a few things to say.

            “I registered as a Republican for no particular reason,” he said two years ago before he gave up the job. “I have voted for as many Democrats as Republicans. I believe in the Hiram Johnson type of nonpartisanship.

            “The legislators should be elected on a nonpartisan basis. What is partisan about allocating money to institutions, passing laws to standardized tomatoes, or building roads?”

Favored Cross-filing

            Ohnimus was opposed to abolition of California’s cross-filing system by the legislature in 1959, but kept his feelings about it to himself.

            “I thought cross-filing cured a great political evil,” he said. “It made candidates and parties free from being boss ridden.”

            He also opposed to senate reapportionment, a matter now facing the legislature through a federal court order.

            “We should leave the senate as it is,” he stated. “the state government needs its checks and balances just as the founding fathers guaranteed for the federal government when they framed the constitution.”

            During his long years as chief clerk, Ohnimus worked under many speakers. His favorite, on a basis of personal friendship, were the late Charles W. Lyon (1943-45) and the late Walter J. Little (1933).

The House Resolution reads:

            By Assemblyman Mills:

House Resolution No. 250

Relative to the death of Arthur A. Ohnimus

            WHEREAS, On March 13, 1965, death claimed Arthur A. Ohnimus, the former Chief Clerk of the Assembly and personal friend of many legislators; and

            WHEREAS, With his death California has lost one of its most illustrious native sons, and the final chapter has been written in a long and colorful career; and

            WHEREAS, A quiet, dignified individual, Arthur never sought personal glory or fame, although he possessed the capacities to achieve both; and

            WHEREAS, Arthur, who was a member of the California State Bar, began his legislative service as an attaché of the Assembly in 1915 and in 1921 was elected Minute Clerk; and

            WHEREAS, He was first elected the Chief clerk of the Assembly in 1923 and, except for a brief period between 1937 and 1940 when he did not seek the office, he was continuously re-elected until his recent retirement; and

            WHEREAS, It is a matter of common knowledge that Arthur accorded each member of the Legislature, whether novice or veteran, whether Republican or Democrat, whether liberal or conservative, with the same fairness, helpfulness and spirit of cooperation and as a consequence was deeply respected and admired by those whom he served; and

            WHEREAS, He was equally esteemed by those, who like himself, have assisted the Legislature, in its deliberations and by those untold hundreds who have used and enjoyed his publication “The Legislature of California”; and

            WHEREAS, Arthur Ohnimus possessed a rare combination of dignity, courtesy, warmth, and honesty; and

            WHEREAS, The death of his great Californian is an occasion of mourning for his many friends and an occasion of incalculable loss to all of the people of the State of California, who were the beneficiaries of his boundless energies and talents; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That the Members by this resolution express their regret and sorrow upon learning of the death of their good friend and faithful servant, Arthur A. Ohnimus; and be it further

            Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly shall transmit a suitably prepared copy of this resolution to Arthur’s widow, Bernice Ohnimus.

This page displays 2 newspaper clippings from the Sacramento Bee.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Sacramento Bee

Governor is sworn in for Second Term

A picture of Ohnimus holding a gavel is shown. The description underneath the photo reads: Arthur A. Ohnimus, veteran chief clerk of the state assembly, calls the lower house to order. Bee Photos.

Urges Broad Field of ’63 Changes

Additional Capitol stores and pictures are on pages A10 and B1.

By Herbert L. Phillips

            “We are here to bear a lantern for the future, not carry a torch for the past.”

            Governor Edmund G. (Pat) Brown today made that the central theme of his inaugural address as he was sworn in for a second term in elaborate ceremonies at the State Capitol’s west portico and placed a many sided 1963 program before California’s new legislature.

            It ranged widely from recommendations for a stage state tax study commission, curbs on excessive loan interest rates, equalization of public school district cost burdens and creation of a statewide educational television network to proposals for solution of urban problems, stronger anti-discrimination laws, new advances in labor…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Page A6

The Sacramento Bee

Tuesday, June 4, 1963.

Chief Clerk’s 70^th

State Assembly Takes Note of Aide’s Birthday

            Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus received an unusual tribute from a grateful state assembly.

            The reason: it was Ohnimus’ 70^th birthday anniversary yesterday.

            The assembly members give him a standing ovation. And Assemblyman Clayton Dills of Los Angeles played Happy Birthday, an honor generally reserved for members only.

Huge Cake

            Speaker Jesse M. Unruh of Los Angeles County, Assemblymen Tom Bane of Los Angeles County, chairman of the rules committee; Jerome R. Waldie of Contra Costa County, majority leader, and Robert W. Crown of Alameda County, chairman of the house ways and means committee, Democrats all, carried to the assembly rostrum a huge cake, decorated with a Capitol, assembly journal and other things with which Ohnimus has been so familiar for years.

            A Republican, Ohnimus has weathered many changes in administrations. He started work as an assembly attaché in 1915, moved to minute clerk in 1921 and first was elected chief clerk in 1923. He has been in the position since then except for the period 1937-40.

Suitable Copy

            Assemblyman Charles J. Conrad of Los Angeles County, the Republican minority leader, introduced a resolution congratulating Ohnimus, It was adopted unanimously and the assistant chief clerk was ordered to prepare a “suitably engrossed copy. Ohnimus has been doing this for years on members’ resolutions.

            Incidentally, it took five tries for Ohnimus to blow out the candles on his cake. 

*An image is shown to the right of this newspaper which shows Grace Plessinger holding a cake and trying to feed it to Arthur Ohnimus who is looking at the camera and smiling. The description at the bottom of the image is cut off and unreadable.

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

A drawing image of a house is shown here.

December 23, 1955

About People and Things

By Roy Hann

            ‘Happiness may be thought, sought or caught-but not bought.’ For this one, thanks to an unknown friend.

            Unless the men back away, the kids will never see the Hales electric train window display at their 9^th and K store.

            Arthur and Bernice Ohnimus of 1100 N Street. They don’t come any nicer than those two wonderful people.

            In a market place and with laden arms with Jack M. Roberts of 221 East Sandberg Drive.

            Tom Arden, of 2635 Portola Way, a fine representative of the Fourth Estate.

            Most people nowadays have more respect for old age if it is bottled.

            Former Sacramento Police Chief, W. M. Hallanan of 1348 Markham Way, looking more youthful than ever.

            Our friends informs he doesn’t know the speed of light, but does know it gets there too early in the morning.

            A beaming bachelor dropped this on our lap, then ran.

            Confusion: One woman plus one secret.

            Excitement: Three women plus one secret.

            Bedlam: Three women plus one bargain.

            Chaos: Four women plus one luncheon check.

            The most enthusiastic man we have met in a long time is Vallie Vanarsdell, the General Petroleum agent in Fort Jones, population 200. He just exudes enthusiasms for the great Scott Valley and the countless scenic attractions of that beautiful area. Vallie is our idea of a one-man Chamber of Commerce.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Sacramento Bee 5/4/51

Legislative Sidelights

            Assemblyman Charles Edward Chapel (R) of Los Angeles County reports he has written a letter to Dean Acheson asking the secretary of state if he wants to comment on Chapel’s state assembly resolution which would call on congress to impeach Acheson.

            Chapel enclosed a copy of the resolution, AJR 31, and closed the letter with this signoff line: Very cordially ours.

            Legislative observers have expressed amazement at the speed shown by the lawmakers in their work at this session.

            For instance in the assembly nearly 1,000 assembly bills and 200 senate bills have been passed in the eight weeks the legislators have been at work since returning to Sacramento in March.

            The volume of work has caused considerable wear and tear on the workers at the desk. Chief Clerk Arthur Ohnimus works Saturdays and often on Sundays to keep pace with the output. Geraldine Hadsell, minute clerk, spends her Saturdays at work. But a sympathetic assembly has compensated the desk crew somewhat. They have gotten two pay raises since the session began.

            In an effort to cut down debate and speed up the passage of bills the senate has adopted a gag rule limiting the opening discussion of a measure to 10 minutes, the closing discussion to five minutes and allow all other speakers seven minutes.

            To back up the rule Senate Secretary Joseph Beek purchased a clock which rings at the end of a specified time.

            This gadget has been shown to the members by Senator Harold J. powers of Modoc County, president pro tempore, with the  warning it will be in use in the future on all controversial bills.

            Governor Earl Warren has signed a bill to get rid of $25.41 left in the California State building fund of 1925. The measure, AB 612, Stewart, puts the money into the interest and sinking fund for state buildings.

Third newspaper clipping reads;

Wednesday, February 22, 1950

Hi-Y Legislature Youth Delegates are registered

            Delegates to the second annual California Hi-Y Youth and Government Model Legislature registered today in the Sacramento Young Mens Christian Association Building, Fifth and J Streets.

            The youth legislature will open tomorrow in the Capitol at 10 AM with Justice Paul M. Peek of the third district court of appeal giving the oath of office to the assemblymen, and Frank M. Jordan, secretary of state, giving the oath to the senators.

160 Will Take Part

            Approximately 160 boys and girls will assume the roles of assemblymen and senators for a three day session .A total of 100 more will attend the session as observers and lobbyists sent by various Hi-Y and Tri-H-Y Clubs throughout California.

            The model legislature is sponsored by California YMCAs in cooperation with Stanford University and Whittier College.

            Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the regular state assembly, will preside at the opening of the youth assembly and Richard Callahan, youth lieutenant governor, will preside over the senate. A youth speaker pro tempore for the assembly will be elected to relieve Ohnimus.

Warren will Welcome

            Following the organizational meetings of each house, a joint convention will be held in the assembly chamber to hear a welcome address by Governor Earl Warren.

            The afternoon session will be devoted to committee meetings. A legislators’ banquet will be held in the Elks Temple at 7 PM. William Erickson, president of the Sacramento Hi-Y Council, will deliver a welcome address.

            John F. Fisher, executive director of the state personnel board, will give the main address of the evening. His subject will be The Challenge of Public Service.

Special Entertainment

            The dinner and talks will be followed by a special entertainment program, starring Jeanne Turpin Determan, concert soprano, who was winner of the 1947 Atwater Kent Audition, has appeared as soloist on the Standard Hour and has been in a number of television shows and motion pictures.

            Frederick Ehrett of the Pease Conservatory of Music, Sacramento, will be her accompanist.

This page displays 2 newspaper clipping

First newspaper clipping is partially cut off so the name of the newspaper company and the title of the article aren’t fully shown. It reads:

ADVOCATE PUBLISHED

Tuesday and Fridays, delivered by carrier in Susanville and Westwood…

One Paper,

One Coverage,

One Cost!

Volume 76, Number 59 Tuesday, Jan 20, 1942

Judge N. Wemple Dies

Monday; Brief Illness

Life is Parallel to History of Country

            N. V. Wemple, member of a pioneer family of Lassen County which is closely connected with the very growth of this section of California, died at the Riverside Hospital last night near 10:30 o’clock, leaving the community saddened with the knowledge that it has lost one of its best known and useful citizens.

            Wemple, who was nearing his seventy-first birthday, was born in Milford, Lassen County on May 7, 1871, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Crawford Wemple. Joseph Wemple was one of the sturdy pioneers who came to Lassen County and aided in developing his adopted town and county.

Education

            “N.V.” as he was known to so many, received his elementary education in the public schools of Milford and graduated from San Jose State Normal College.

            On August 14, 1892, he and Pearl Bronson were united in marriage. To his happy union were born the following children: Orville E., Guy B., Fred, Lyle E., Maude, Percy N. and Bernice M. Wemple.

            Wemple was engaged in the farming and livestock business until 1906. At that time he was elected to the Assessor’s office of Lassen County in which capacity he served for two four year terms. He retired from public life at the end of the second term and took up ranching at Milford. In 1920 Wemple started the Wemple Lumber and Warehouse Company at Litchfield. It was while in this business that he was elected to the Assembly of the California State Legislature in 1925, serving his county well for two terms.

            Always active in civic and lodge circles, he was a past master of Janesville Lodge No. 232 of the F. and A. M., and a member of the Knights Templars.

            Following his service in the legislature he returned to Lassen County and was appointed to the office of Justice of the Peace and Honey Lake Township in 1933. Wemple…

(Continued on Page Four) *This continuation page is not shown.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Forty-One Given Jobs by Senate

Members Warned Some of Stenographers May Not be Permanent

            Forty-one employees have been added to the payroll in the senate under the economy program instituted for this session of the legislature, since the appointment of constitutional officers Monday.

            The list of employees was made larger than was expected by the employment of twenty-four stenographers, whereas provision had been made for only sixteen. Senator Ralph E. Swing, San Bernardino County, chairman of the attaches committee, however, warned that this list may not be permanent, and if the need arises some of them maybe dropped from the payroll.

Six-Day Week

            All senate employees are on a six day week basis, whereas in the past they were paid for seven days.

            In addition to the twenty-four stenographers, Ruth Conover has been appointed chief stenographer.

            Victor Moitoret of Oakland and formerly of Sacramento, and Jerry Lewis of Sacramento have been appointed pages by Lieutenant Governor Frank F. Merriam.

Others Named

            The appointments announced by the attaches committee include the following:

            Henry A. Frazer, Dorothy Burke, Jeanne Steward, Margaret Douville, Georgia Pearl, Verda Roberts, Jesse Watson, Margaret Bridges, Dorothy Davis, Neva M. Gregg, Wanda Durkee, Belle Johnson, Lilly E. Smith, Bernice Wemple, Francis Callicot, Mrs. J. F. Maher, Julia Hayes, Margie Christie, Ann W. Neil, Gladys Guisto, Edith MacNair, John Parish, Josephine Pewterbaugh and Irene Silva, stenographers, $5 per day.

            L. Williams, assistant journal clerk, $5 per day; Winona Farley, assistant journal clerk, $5; Robert M. Wilson, Harry French, assistant secretaries, $5; Lena Sorensen, Ada Ford, Arthur Schilder, James Gardiner, Kenneth Morley, assistants at desk, $5; Laura D. Prentice,  mailing clerk, $5; Harry Jordan, W. M. Youngman, J. M. Allen, Sabert Summers, assistant sergeants-at-arms, $5.

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping. Words that are cut off or unreadable will be replaced by 2 asterisks.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Sacramento Bee

February 3, 1958-80 Pages-Four Sections

Knight Asks Nearly 2.2 ** Spending Plan, No **

An image is shown here of Arthur Ohnimus showing 2 men, Don Anderson and Lou Cusanovich the state budget. Underneath the image is a description that reads: Arthur Ohnimus, left, chief clerk of the state assembly, shows freshmen Assemblyman Don Anderson (R), center and Lou Cusanovich (R), both of Los Angeles County, the state budget which this year is printed in two volumes instead of one because of its size. Anderson and Cusanovich were elected in special elections held since the last legislative session.

Bee Photo.

Second newspaper clipping is an image of Arthur Ohnimus holding a gavel and doing roll call. Underneath the image is a description that reads: Arthur A. Ohnimus, veteran chief clerk of the state assembly, calls the lower house. Bee Photos.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Bill Total Declines in Legislature

            Sacramento, March 16-A foot dragging session of the California Legislature approached its eleventh week with a few important issues settled and members indicating a strange reluctance to introduce bills.

            Senate introductions totaled 973 and the Assembly’s 1,891 as both houses recessed for a long weekend on Thursday.

            Assembly Chief Clerk Arthur Ohnimus said Saturday the pace was approximately 300 behind normal for an odd-year general session, when anyone can introduce a bill on any subject, and the total in both houses normally approaches 6,000.

            By constitutional mandate, the session must adjourn June 21. The last day for unlimited introduction of bills is April 26.

            Thereafter, an author can submit a bill only with sanction of either house.

This page displays 6 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Sam M. Greene

            I have often wondered where the names of California cities and counties came from, and I was pleased to receive not long ago from a long-time friend of mine a book which he had written giving the origin of the names of California counties. His name is Arthur Ohnimus, and he is chief clerk of the California State Assembly, which office he has held for many years, as he was chief clerk when I was a member of the State Assembly back in the early 1930s. And in reading the book I found that the origin of our county names is so interesting that I thought I would tell some of them in my column, so here goes.

            Los Angeles County’s name means The Angeles, which many of my readers already know. But whether the name was chosen because it was settled by angels from heaven, I do not know. San Francisco was not settled by angels, I am sure, as the early settlers of that city were mostly gold diggers, both male and female if you know what I mean. And some of the female early settlers up there were sure not angels, but merely fast dames who moved there to dig gold from early settlers by entertaining them at night-all night.

            And as to the origin of the names of other counties, Arthur’s book said that Alameda County, for instance, got its name from the Spanish world Alamo, which means a grove of popular trees. And Alpine County was so named because alpine means mountainous, and that county is near the mountains. And Amador County was named after Jose Amador, a Spanish soldier who started a gold mining town in that area.

            And Butte County was so named because the word butte means a blunt elevation, in the Teutonic language, and Butte County is in the mountain area of the State. And Calaveras County got its name from the fact that an early explorer found the skulls of many Indians in that area, and the Spanish meaning of Calaveras is “skulls.”

            And Glenn County was named after a Dr. Glenn who was an early settler there, and was a prominent citizen. And Imperial County was so named by the Imperial land Co., which started the valley there as an agriculture center. And Inyo got its name from the Indian word qinyo, which in English means the dwelling place of a great spirit. And Lake County was so named because it has so many beautiful lakes within its borders. And Lassen County was named after Peter Lassen, who was one of Gen. John C. Fremont’s guides when he was exploring the Pacific coast areas of the United States. And Madera County got its name from the Spanish word madera, which means abundant timber. And Modoc County was named after a fierce tribe of Indians called Modocs, that settled there before the whites moved in.

            And Orange County, believe it or not, was so named because the principal crop raised there in the early days was oranges. And Riverside County got that name because it was first a small settlement beside a branch of the Santa Fe River. And I’m sure Santa Barbara County got that name wasn’t so named because the first settlers there were barbarians, as one of the early citizen there was my sister and her husband, and they never were barbarians. The county got its name from Saint Barbara, a lady saint who accompanied the first exploring party up along the Pacific Coast. And Sonoma County got its name from the Indian word Sonoma, which means Valley of the Moon, and the moo shines up there quite brightly, especially when it is full.

            All of which are some, but not all of the names of California counties mentioned in the History of the California Legislature written by my friend Arthur Ohnimus. And I’m sure he will be pleased to read this column when I send him a copy of it. And I’m sorry that I cannot give the origin of all the names that he mentions in his book, as there isn’t room in one column to name all of them.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Sam M. Greene

            I received a gift from a friend recently which I appreciated very much. The friend was Joseph A. Beek, who was secretary of the State Senate when I was a member of the State Assembly, back in the early 1930’s. And the gift was a history of the California Legislature, written by himself. One reason I appreciated it was because it showed a picture of the Legislature and other state officials when I was a State Assemblyman from this district, and it showed me and my beautiful smile, sitting in the front row of the Assembly Chamber. Only my seat was so far back in the photo that I could hardly tell whether my color was Greene, or almost black, like a member from colored section of Los Angeles was. But I’m sure that it was I, as may name was in the list printed below the picture.

            Joe Beek, as his friends called him, owns a ferry boat line that takes folks to and from Balboa Island to the mainland of California, at so much per. I have ridden on his ferries over to the Island and back several times, free of course, as Jose would never let me pay for the trip, because we had been good friends for so long. And that is also the reason that he sent me a copy of his history of the California Legislature, which pictured me as one of the inmates of the State Capitol building, as it was back in the 1930’s. A few years ago it was disfigured by modernistic architects who not only changed the ornamental interior of the entrance hall, removing the famous statue that stood in the center of it, but made the two-level front lawn, with steps leading up from one level to the other, all one sloping lawn, with no steps. Which in my opinion not only makes the Capitol building look lower, but mars the beauty of the front lawn. And they also added an office building to the rear of the old Capitol building that does not match it in anyway. Some so-called architects seem to think more about making money by changing historic buildings than they do about leaving them as they are, for future generations to enjoy. And I’m sure glad that none of them ever got permission to tear down the beautiful old Capitol building and replace it with a twelve-story office building, which I feel sure some of them would have liked to do.

            The spacious acreage of trees and flowers around the Capitol building is one of the most beautiful and famous in the United States. And I feel sure the “reformer architects” would have made that an ugly old set of gardens if they could have gotten permission to do so. And I think they would also have torn down the old Capitol building, built in 1853, and have built one they would call more modern, if they could have gotten permission to do so. A group of them did try to replace the historical old Governor’s Mansion, up the street a few blocks from the Capitol grounds, a few years ago, with a modern-looking home for the Governor and his family, but thank goodness they never got permission to commit that crime.

            When I was a member of the California legislature, back in the early 1930’s, I stayed in the Sacramento Hotel, which was then just new. And I read in the papers recently that it has been torn down to make room for store buildings, as it is in the heart of the business district. But I can’t be saddened too much about old structures not being allowed to stay erect, as I am rather old structure myself, and I don’t enjoy standing erect too long at a time.

            When I visited Sacramento the last time, several years ago, I walked through the old Capitol building, and I visited the Senate and the Assembly chambers. And I was glad to find that the “modernistic” have never succeeded in dumping the told desks that the members had to use during legislative sessions. My old desk was just where it was thirty years ago, and it had the same hinged lid to raise and put records of files inside. And I was glad that the Assembly still has the same front clerk that they had when I was a member,-Arthur Ohnimus. And I was told that the lady from the State Printing Office, who took notes for the daily minutes printed for the members, Eleanor Donoghue, was still doing that job. But as I didn’t get to see her, I couldn’t learn whether she was still as pretty as she used to be. As she sat just a few feet in front of my desk, I always enjoyed the sessions of the Assembly when she was there.

            But to get back to Joe Beek’s history of the California State Legislature, if you are interested in  seeing some of the photos in his book, taken about thirty years ago, drop by sometime and I’ll let you see how the old Capitol building looked in those early days. And also came of the other antique sights that were there then,-including me.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Women Voters Plan tour of Capitol Thursday

            More than 500 members of the League of Women Voters of California are scheduled to tour the Capitol tomorrow during the first “inside Sacramento” outing of the league.

            Mrs. George Bramson, the league’s state legislation chairman, said members from 23 local leagues in the state are expected to participate.

            Activities will begin at 10 AM in the Masonic Temple, 12^th and J Streets, where registration will be held. The program calls for talks by Arthur Ohnimus, former chief clerk of the assembly, and Paul Ward, legislative secretary to Governor Edmund G. Brow; a tour of the governor’s office, the senate chambers and the assembly chambers, and attendance at committee meetings.

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

Legislative Talk

            Arthur Ohnimus, author and retired chief clerk of the state assembly, will speak on legislative procedures to members of the Chi Omega Alumnae when they meet tomorrow in the home in North Highlands of Mrs. Philip Kisabeth. Mrs. Ray Boege will be cohostess.

Fifth newspaper clipping reads:

Assembly Chief Clerk gets $1,200 Post

            Arthur A. Ohnimus, veteran chief clerk of the State Assembly, was appointed by the Assembly Rules Committee yesterday to the new position of chief administrative officer of the Assembly.

            The job will pay $1,200 a month and will become effective in September.

            Committee Chairman Miller (D-San Fernando) said the new position is needed because of the heavy volume of interim work by legislative committees.

            In past years, Ohnimus worked in the attorney general’s office during non-legislative months.

Sixth newspaper clipping reads:

Ohnimus is Named Assembly’s Chief Administrator

            The assembly rules committee today appointed Arthur A. Ohnimus to the new position of Chief administrative officer of the assembly at a salary of $1,200 a month, beginning in September.

            Assemblyman Allen G. Miller (D) of Los Angeles County, rules chairman, said the position is needed because of the heavy amount of interim work by legislative committees.

            Ohnimus, the assembly’s veteran chief clerk, in the past has not been employed between legislative sessions, but has worked for the attorney general’s office.

            The committee also retained Francis (Tony) Beard, sergeant at arms, for interim work at a salary of $600 a month.

            The committee increased the pay of legislative secretaries from $400 to $420 a month.

THE SACRAMENTO BEE Sunday, November 25, 1973 Page S3

91 Years in the Capitol

By Becky Hamilton

Bee Staff Writer

            STREETCARS were drawn by horses and the sidewalks were heavy plants when Mrs. Ernest Chappell was born Pearl Labhard in Sacramento in 1882, on L Street between 6^th and 7^th Streets.

            Having celebrated her 91^st birthday anniversary this month, Mrs. Chappell reminisced about the early years here which she seems to remember flawlessly.

            “When I was 4 years old we lived at the southeast corner of 7^th and K,” she said. “There was a Catholic church across the street, St. Rose, and a man sold tamales on the corner for 15 cents.”

            AT THAT TIME of her life, too, a traveling theater troupe came through and drafted her part for a part in “Cinderella.” At age 6 she sang in the Piper’s Opera House in Virginia City, Nev. The dress her grandmother made for the occasion and her satin slippers are displayed in a case in the opera house.

            When she was 9 years old, Mrs. Chappell remembers, she was dressed as a fairy who stepped from an opening rose in the window of Weinstock-Lubin to try on hats.

            “I remember everything about it. I can tell you all the people who helped me,” she said.

            SHE ALSO remembers being May Queen at Atkinson Business College when it was on the second floor of Hale’s.

            “Each vote cost 5 cents, and we had enough to pay for a lunch and barge upriver to a picnic ground,” Mrs. Chappell said.

            When she started work as a glove saleswoman for Weinstock’s, Mrs. Chappell walked from her home at 23^rd and N Streets every day to the store at 4th and K. She punched the clock at 6:45 AM, she said, and worked until 6 except on Saturdays when she worked until 10 PM. The pay was $12 a month.

            IN 1904 SHE married Chappell, who was in the interior decorating business .later he worked for the city. Mrs. Chappell said her husband started the Crippled Children’s School, through the Sacramento Rotary Club, making sure the children had presents and a Christmas party each year. The Rotarians still carry on the school and party.

            An early aviation enthusiast, Chappell and West Sacramentan Ernest Brainard in 1910 build a “chicken wire and tin” Curtis-type plane to be flown at the State Fair that year.

            According to a newspaper article, a pilot from San Francisco changed his mind about flying the plane. The article reports:

            “Later, Chappell decided to fly the plane himself. ‘When I got the plane off the ground,’ said Chappell, ‘I didn’t know how to guide it or land it and the tricks I did were purely because I couldn’t help myself.’”

            He flew the plane under the old M Street Bridge and it sank in the river on the other side, Mrs. Chappell remembers.

            For eight years she and her husband managed the St. Francis Hotel at 10^th and I Streets, which she said was operated by the city. Then for 15 summers they managed Camp Sacramento.

            “I was hostess and postmistress,” she said. Her daughter, Mrs. LaMont Whittier, noted her mother was much more than that and always had a flair for entertaining.

            “I’VE OUTLIVED all my friends,” said the lively lady who says she has no pain and has always eaten anything she wants.

            She was a charter member of a club formed in 1904, but it had to be disbanded last year when four more members passed away. “I had been the only original member for quite a while,” she said.

            Until recent years, Mrs. Chappell cared for her flower garden and for 40 years she has kept an arrangement of flowers in the front window of her home. She said:

            “People who don’t know me know my window.”

Two images is also shown in this newspaper clipping.

First image is of a fifth grade class photo from 1893. Underneath the picture has a description that reads: The Union Primary School fifth grade, class in 1893 included Pearl Labhard, second from right in the front row, now Mrs. Ernest Chappell. The school was at 7^th and G Streets.

Second image is of Mrs. Ernest Chappell wearing a floral dress standing in a room which looks to be a dining room. Underneath the picture has a description that reads: Mrs. Ernest Chappell. Bee Photo by Ward Sharrer.

June 27, 1963

Honorable Tom Bane

Chairman, Assembly Rules Committee

State Capitol

Sacramento, California

Dear Mr. Bane:

When the members of the Rules Committee most graciously remembered the occasion of my birthday, I assumed that each member knew it was not my intention to seek re-election as Chief Clerk in the 1964 Session. However, as in my conversation with you, it was my desire to complete the work of this session, which would take until the first of October of this year. The last day for the Governor to sign bills for the session just adjourned will be July 26^th, and the bills will not become effective until the 91^st day after the 21^st day of June adjournment.

With the Special Session being called for July 8, this will add additional work to be completed within the period of time just mentioned.

The question of compensation is of no moment to me for the services I will perform, as I want to finish the work of the session. You, Mr. Bane, very kindly suggested that the difference between what my retirement would be, subtracted from my present salary, would be compensation, to which no criticism would be offered. I would have no objection to this arrangement. However, I want it again distinctly understood that I have no desire to make more money from my services performed after July 1^st. I would like to perform the duties of Chief Clerk during the Special Session, and I hope that those services would be of assistance to the Members of the Assembly.

I wish to take this opportunity of expressing my deep appreciation to each and every member of this committee, and to the Members of the Assembly for the many courtesies that I have received at their hands during the many years that I have served as Chief Clerk of this house.

Cordially yours,

Arthur A. Ohnimus

AAO/aw

This page displays a single newspaper clipping which shows various types of content. The newspaper clipping is by the Sacramento Union dated Tuesday Morning, December 13, 1949. Cost of newspaper is shown to be 5 cents.

Big centered title on this newspaper clipping reads:

Measure would force Lobbyists to List all Money Received, Spent

First content of this newspaper clipping reads:

Warren Puts Main Stress on Lobbies

            Governor Warren went before the special session of the Legislature yesterday to demand strict control of professional lobbying to protect “the honor of our state.”

            Warren recommended that the state continue to finance payments of aged and blind pensions through next June 30 at a cost of $8,000,000 because the counties were unable to budget funds to meet the requirements subsequently imposed by Proposition 2.

            He also advocated:

1. Appropriation of $1,000,000 to help overcrowded school districts finance their activities through the current instruction year.
2. INCREASE in the salary of the state director of social welfare from $10,000 to $12,000.
3. Advance in the date of a special bond election to provide funds for the veterans’ home and farm purchase program.
4. Consideration of strengthen laws to curb sex crimes.

The governor in his 21-minute address told a joint session of the Senate and Assembly:

“The time has arrived for us to prove to the world that independence from every corrupting and corroding influence is a part of our concept of personal and government responsibility.

“The current stories of corrupt practices, even if unverified, are sufficiently graphic to establish the type of activities that should be prohibited by the law of our state.”

WARREN SAID that he had prepared a bill to control lobbying which “no honest man need fear,” and which would apply only to those who endeavor to influence legislation for compensation.

“In brief,” he said, “it requires any legislative representative, commonly referred to as lobbyists, to be certified by the secretary of state after filing a statement listing the subjects on which he proposes to influence legislation, together with the names of his employers and the amount of his compensation.

“Thereafter he is required to account for his expenditures and any financial transaction he has with, or any campaign contributions made to any legislator, the governor or the lieutenant governor, all of whom are part of the legislative process. His employers must also file a statement authorizing the employment and confirming the amount paid pursuant to it.”

WARREN ALSO said the bill would prohibit any elected officer or employee of the state from representing anyone for compensation before the Legislature or before any officer, board, commission, or administrative agency.

At present, lobbyists are required only to register and list the name of one employer.

“Tens of thousands of dollars…

(Continued on page 7, col 1) *that page is not shown.

Second content is an image of Sam L. Collins speaking in front of a microphone. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

Sam L. Collins, speaker of the Assembly, reads a statement in which he called for stringent regulation of lobbyists and denied the truth of an article in Colliers Magazine which asserted liquor lobbyists Arthur Samish was the “secret boss of California” and had given him the speakership.

Third content is an image of Arthur A. Ohnimus speaking in front of a microphone. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the Assembly, calls the Assembly to order. With Ohnimus presiding, the Assembly went through its routine organization, re-electing the officers of the last regular session, including Sam L. Collins as speaker. Collins then relieved Ohnimus.

Fourth content reads:

Dozen Bills laid Before Lower House

By Norma Deuel

            The Legislature organized quickly in special session yesterday to consider measures against lobbying, to tighten up the laws concerning sex offenders, and to make financial arrangements for old age and blind pensions, schools, and veterans.

            By the time the Assembly recessed in late afternoon until this morning, a dozen bills had been introduced, and more were being readied. Against lobbying they proposed:

            1-TO required lobbyists to register with the secretary of state the amount of money they receive and spend with failure to do so constituting a felony.

            2-To require lobbyists to report all expenditures and contributions of $20 or more made to influence legislation.

            3-To require lobbyists to register with the chief clerk of each house, give the amount of their salary and a detailed expense account stating what sums were paid and to whom.

            4-To prohibit representatives of state departments from appearing before legislative committees except on invitation of a member of the Legislature.

            Against sex offenders, measures were introduced which would:

            1-Force persons convicted of sex crimes at any time in the past to register within five days of their release from an institution or after a change of address.

            2-PERMIT a doctor or probation officer to turn in persons for treatment as sexual psychopaths. At present, only the individual himself or his family may do so.

            3-Permit the death penalty for persons found guilty of molesting a child under 14 sexually.

            4-Impose life imprisonment upon a second conviction for rape.

            The legislators were spurred in considering lobby legislation by demands from Governor Warren and Speaker of the Assembly Collins, and by recent publication of a nationally circulated magazine article alleging that liquor lobbyist Arthur Samish was the “secret boss of California.”

            Authors of anti-lobby legislation included Assemblymen Glen Anderson, John L. E. Collier, Arthur W. Coats and Harlan Hagen, while sex laws were proposed by Assemblymen Ralph…

(Continued on page 7, col. 2) *that page is not shown.

Fifth content reads:

Auditor Critical of City on its Billing Work

            Criticism of certain procedural practices of the city is contained in a report submitted yesterday with annual audit of the books for 1948-49 by Crawford J. Porterfield, a certified public accountant.

            Porterfield, who also audited the books in 1947-48, was critical for the second year in a row of the delay in billing garbage, water, and sewer accounts.

            The auditor said that, though certain corrective measures had been taken, the condition was still unsatisfactory.

            “A TEST of the established rates against the amounts billed disclosed an excessive number of billing errors. The coordination between the billing and administrative departments is inadequate to cope with the delinquency of collections which exists. There continues to be excessive delay in mailing the bills.

            “The billing equipment is unable to prepare all bills, with the result that the administrative departments issue special classes of bills, thereby creating division of responsibility.

            “As a carry-over from prior years, there was no verified balance of accounts with which to establish accountability for the current year. Consequently, the revenue could be audited by test and inspection only, which audit disclosed the results above recited.”

            Porterfield also scored certain…

(Continued on Page 2, Col. 4) *that page is not shown.

Sixth content reads:

Owner of Club Admits Guilt in Gambling

            District Attorney O’Shea chalked up victory. No. 1 yesterday in his move to wipe out any gambling activity in Sacramento County.

            The first of four men charged with promoting gambling in Isleton, Fausto Toleda, owner of the club which bears his name, went into Isleton Police Court and pleaded guilty.

            Judge W. J. Phelps then imposed a $150 fine on Toleda for operating two slot machines; added $250 for maintaining a disorderly house; and allowed him to go free on a year’s probation in lieu of six month jail term.

            Three others charged with operating gambling devices also appeared in court yesterday, but further action in their case was postponed.

            Manuel Valine, owner of the Del Rio Hotel; his son, Arthur; and Louis Harrison, an employee; were represented by Attorney Anthony J. Kennedy, who asked for additional time to decide on how to plead. Judge Phelps allowed them until December 22.

            All four were arrested by Sheriff Don Cox on December 3 after two raids.

            Cox said he confiscated slot machines from Toleda’s a crap table and blackjack cards and slot machines in the Del Rio.

            Information which guided the sheriff and his deputies was provided by an undercover man who spent several days investigating complaints about gambling in the Isleton area. The “private eye” was engaged by O’Shea.

Some of the words in this newspaper clipping are cut off, they will be replaced by two asterisks.

Warren Lists Lobby Control Plan Terms

            Governor Earl Warren today announced the terms of a sweeping legislative lobbyist regulatory measures which he will offer to the special legislative session Monday to control “subversive influences” which he said “emanate from the use of money for the purpose of influencing legislators.”

            Warren told a press conference his bill will provide for these things:

            Registration with the secretary of state by “every person who is employed to influence legislation in any way,” such privately hired lobbyists to obtain a certificate before engaging in their activities.

Statements Under Oath

            Statements under oath by every private lobbyists setting forth “a subjects of legislation which he has been hired to influence,” together with a list of every employer and the amount of money each such employer has pain him.

            Statements under oath by each such employer of a lobbyist as all amounts of money he has furnished for lobbying purposes.

            Monthly statements, filed with the secretary of state under oath by every lobbyist, setting forth “expenditures made by him for the purpose of influencing legislation.” This would include a list of the names of all persons to whom the lobbyists has paid any amount above specified minimums, and production of vouchers as evidence of these disbursements. The statements would become public state records.

License Revocation

            Revocation of lobbyists’ licenses or certificates for the violation of any of the proposed regulation. The bill also will carry fine and imprisonment penalties for violating. In addition to court action against offenders, each house of the legislature “would have full power disbar any lobbyists for any violations of this law.”

            Requirement that every lobbyist record with the secretary ** state “any campaign contributed made by him, directly or indirectly, for any candidate for the legislature, lieutenant governor or governor.” Warren pointed out ** lieutenant governor is a legislative officer with the right of veto case of senate ties, while the governor, of course, has the right to sign or veto legislation, and he might be subjected to ** lobby pressures.

Prohibition is cited

            Prohibition against any state officer, either legislative or **, accepting any private compensation for prosecuting any ** before any officer, board of commission of the state. Reply a reporter’s questions, Warren ** this provision is intended to ** such situations, for instance lawyer-legislator pleader ** for private hire before the board of equalization.

            Governor Warren said lobbyist registration and other ** will not apply to representatives of public agencies, ** state, city, county or district appear in Sacramento under authorize to present mental points of view to ** committees. The California ** of Cities or the County ** Association of California, ** Governor told an inquirer, ** ** be covered, since they ** ** behalf of public agencies.

‘Can’t Serve Two **

            Concerning the ** ** state officers as private ** for hire before a state ** commission, Warren said.

            “When we take public ** ** must, of necessity, limit ** ** of our private financial situations. You can’t serve two ** **. You can’t serve private ** interests and, at the same time serve the public interest ** two might conflict-an ** they do conflict.”

            Commenting further ** ** all purpose of the **, the governor added:

            “This bill is not design to prevent anybody from ** causes to the legislature ** citizens from coming to ** ** to petition their ** ** is not designed to prevent any citizens or any ** ** from appearing…

(Continued on page 4) *that page is not shown.

This page displays 2 panorama image of San Francisco.

First panorama image shows the city of San Francisco during the great fire of 1906.

Second panorama image shows the city of San Francisco after the great fire. Underneath the image the description reads: San Francisco after the earthquake and fire which practically ruined the City and which was speedily built by an enthusiastic people. 

This page displays a panorama image of San Francisco. It shows the city before the earthquake. The description underneath the photo reads: Sam Francisco 1904, before the earthquake and fire.

This page displays 2 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Assembly Body Uses Up Funds

Committee on Legislative Procedure has to Quit

Secretary of Body Handles Several Tasks

Electric Roll Call System

Heads Recommendation

            SACRAMENTO, April 13. (Exclusive)-Having spent every penny of its $5000 appropriation and issued a report recommending a few changes in handling meetings of the Assembly, the Assembly Interim Committee on Legislative Procedure has concluded its affairs pending the session of the Legislature next January.

            A resolution creating the committee was rushed through the Assembly May 14, 1931, or one day before final adjournment, when the calendar was overcrowded with business.

SECRETARY BUSY MAN

            Speaker Levey appointed Assemblyman Patterson of Taft as chairman, with Assemblymen Roland of Oakland and Sewell of Whittier. The committee chose C. William Booth of Sacramento as its secretary.  Booth was an assistant clerk in the Assembly and is regarded as the prime mover in the creation of this committee.

            Booth has received the largest share of the $5000. He drew his first warrant for $670.20 on May 23 or eight days after the Legislature adjourned. In all he has received $2154.78. Chairman Patterson has drawn $1398.82, Sewell $773.60 and Roland $672.80. Booth also has been attending meetings of the Legislative Water Committee, and was employed from July 10 to October 15 and again from November 16 to December 20 as a law examiner for the legislative counsel bureau at $185 per month.

RECOMMENDATIONS

            While not engaged on other matters, Booth has traveled to forty States observing their legislative procedure.

            The committee has recommended installation of an electric roll call system, a change in committee meeting times and make-up, installation of a ventilating system for the Assembly chamber, a new lighting system, a rearrangement of…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

WHERE STATE MONEY GOES

            The Assembly Interim Committee on Legislative Procedure, which is a long and fancy name for giving C. William Booth, an Assembly clerk, a job between sessions, has spent all of its appropriation of $5000 and will now fold up its activities until it makes its report. Of this amount Booth received $2154 and the legislative members the rest.

            Of course, $5000 is not a vast amount of money in the finances of the State of California, nor need it be assumed that Booth did no work; indeed, the committee’s publicity declares he has visited forty States. His travels cost the State 10 cents a mile. But if he secured any information which would not have been obtained by the expenditure of forty 2-cent stamps, and a little money for stationery, it has not been disclosed. The committee proposes to report favoring an electric roll-call system, better ventilation for the Assembly chamber, a better lighting system, cutting printing costs and other changes which it says will save money. Most of these suggestions could have been made by any bright page without investigation outside Sacramento.

            Multiple $5000 by the number of other time and money-wasting State bodies of a similar nature and it becomes no wonder why the State is always nearly broke and the taxpayers more or less completely so. This particular one was created by a resolution put through in the closing hours of the session, when no Assemblyman was absolutely sure he was not voting to hang his grandmother.

Sunday, March 29, 1959

The Sacramento Bee

Local and Superior California News; Editorials; Features

Unsung Heroes of State Legislature Handle Multitude of Important Tasks

By Richard Rodda

            The state legislature is something like an iceberg-there is a lot if it under the surface.

            Behind every one of the 120 lawmakers there are seven employees-the unsung heroes who seldom get their names in the papers. 

            There are the assistant sergeant at arms, the garage attendants, the bill room clerks, stenographs and secretaries, proof readers and others too numerous to mention.

            In fact, there are 834 employees giving full time duty to the legislature.

            Many of them work the graveyard shift, from midnight to 8 AM, and would not know a senator or an assemblyman if they saw one.

Get Things in Order

            But they have to set type in the printing plant, clean offices, and keep the bills posted to date so the legislature can start work in the morning with everything in order.

            Estelle Fairfield is in charge of a crew of a dozen women who work all night in the basement of the Capitol. It is their job to maintain a complete set of bills with all amendments for each legislative member, attaché, members of the press and the governor’s office.

            Mrs. Fairfield never grows tired of the work. She has been doing it for 34 years.

            Among the important but seldom publicized functions of the legislative process are those performed by the staffs of the engrossing and enrolling clerks.

            This is a proof reading operation and it requires alertness for errors in punctuation, grammar or fact, lest a bill be passed which says something the author did not intend.

Misplaced Comma

            “The classic example of what can happen with the misplaced comma,” says Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus of the assembly, “occurred in congress. A comma was omitted between the words fruit and juices in a tariff bill. So fruit came in free.”

            Charles W. Robbins is the engrossment and enrollment clerk in the assembly and Rawlie Vandegrift has the same job in the senate.

            An enrolled bill is one which has been checked and double checked as it travelled through the committees and houses and is on its way to the governor.

            The staffs of the sergeant at arms are vital to the operation of the legislature. They must keep order at committee hearings and legislative sessions and see that unauthorized persons are not admitted to the floor of the senate or assembly.

Coffee Maker

            Genial Cliff Ritchie, assembly assistant sergeant at arms, has extra work this year because the lower house serves free milk and coffee to its members and the press. Ritchie spends about here hours a day making coffee, in addition to his other duties.

            The legislature adds to the problems of the state police.

            “Everyone who comes to see a senator claims he’s a VIP and wants parking privileges in the Capitol,” laments Captain Philip Sheehan. “I’ve never seen so many VIPs.”

            Parking in the Capitol garage is limited to legislators, attaches, the governor and a few others.

            The state printing plant has a graveyard shift of 152 employees working exclusively for the legislature. Richard Ensbury is foreman of the composing room, Jack Ryan has charge of the bindery and King Feder runs the press room.

            Paul E. Gallagher, state printer, said three and a half to four tons of paper a day are consumed for the legislature. In getting out the journals, histories, files and other documents, the plant does the equivalent of publishing a daily newspaper.

Legislative Workers

            The legislative payroll itself has 552 employees. These are the secretaries, stenographers, sergeant at arms and clerks and the staffs of the legislative analyst and auditor general.

            The legislative counsel bureau, whose attorneys draws up most of the bills, has 600 employees.

            The extra elevator operators and a dozen or more janitors are put on for the duration of the legislature.

            In recent years the number of visitors to the Capitol, especially school children, has increased to the pint an escort service has been started. Each day a group of guides can be seen showing classes around the Capitol. The old time legislators call them the rosy cheeks because former Assemblyman Chester F. Gannon of Sacramento County always ** in introducing the “bright eyed, rosy, cheeked pupils in the gallery.”

There are also 4 pictures shown in this newspaper clipping.

First picture is of Estelle Fairfield in front of many bills. Description underneath the picture reads: After 34 years, Estelle Fairfield never tires of her night job in the Capitol. Here she inspects complete sets of bills before distribution.

Second picture shows a man working at the printing plant and he is typing on some type of machine. In the background also shows other men doing the same tasks. Description underneath the picture reads: Otto Paver of 2537 Borica Way and several hundred other employees of the state printing plant work exclusively for the state legislature.

Third picture shows two women by the name of Rawlie Vandegrift and Mrs. Norva Muse looking over a bill. Description underneath the picture reads: Rawlie Vandegrift, left, chief engrossing and enrolling clerk for the senate, examines a bill with her chief assistant, Mrs. Norva Muse.

Fourth picture shows 2 men standing in front of a coffee maker; one of the men is pouring coffee in the other ones cup. Description underneath the picture reads: Cliff Ritchie, assistant sergeant at arms of the assembly serves coffee to Assemblyman Allen Miller of Los Angeles County, chairman of the rules committee.

Bee Photos.

This page displays 5 newspaper clipping. Some of the newspaper clipping are cut off, words that are cut off or unreadable will be replaced by 2 asterisks.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Mrs. Leah M. Smith, employed as office attendant by Fong Wan in his Oakland office, also testified. She told of hearing of the alleged bribery attempts from her employer. She said that Brackett and Senator Hurley had come to Fong Wan’s office. She also declared that she had heard from her employer that $10,000 was the sum wanted to kill the bill.

Clears Wilkenson

            T. Wah Hing, Sacramento Chinese doctor, occupied the witness stand during the morning hours. He told of having had Sergeant-at-Arms Wilkenson get into telephone communication with Assemblyman Smith regarding the contemplated visit here of Smith and latter his refusal to come. Hing proved a poor witness. He did testify, however that Fong Wan had telephoned him that Brackett had called at Wan’s office and had said that “Smith was very angry because Wilkenson had offered him to kill the bill.”

            Hing said that Wan later telephone him that Smith was going to make Wilkenson lose his job.”

Hing was hesitant about bringing Wilkinson’s named into the case. Hing denied that Wilkenson had ever been paid any money for his aid or that any sum of $500 or any other amount had been discussed between the two.           

The monotonous testimony of Hing’s was interrupted once when question was asked as to who made the longest speech at the recent Chinese banquet. Assemblyman William B. Hornblower of San Francisco was declared to have the most prolonged oratorical effort.

Denial by Ohnimus

            Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus, another of those involved in the herb bill scandal, declared that he never made the statement to Smith that here “was $500 in it to kill the bill.” He described his visit on February 12 to Smith’s house in Oakland, where he said he had told Smith that he understood there was money in the bill. He denied that he had even seen any Chinese or other persons regarding the measure or had he discussed the subject of money with Wilkenson.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

The report continues:

            “It appears, both from the testimony of Ohnimus and Wilkinson that no mention was made during their trip from Sacramento to Oakland concerning assembly bill ** nor in relation to any other legislative matter or proposed legislation. It is for the house to say whether this silence concerning the bill was maintained during the trip and to judge of the significance to be given to this testimony.

Smith Apologizes

            “It appears, upon the re-assembling of the legislature on the 24^th of February, 1925, Mr. Smith apologize to Mr. Ohnimus for what he had said; that Mr. Ohnimus understood this apology as an expression on the part of Mr. Smith, that he (Smith) was mistaken as to the conversation.

Score Attaches

            “It is impossible for the committee to reconcile the differences in the two statements given by Mr. Ohnimus and Mr. Smith, nor can they be reconciled. There is sufficient in the testimony concerning the actions of the two elective officers of the house, the chief clerk and the sergeant at arms, to call attention to their unwarranted activities concerning the defeat of this measure. These activities are calculated to bring, and have brought upon the house the odium in the public mind that its members are disregardful of their own conduct and of the conduct of their officers. Such conduct is not to be indulged in a light or frivolous manner, and the excuse that such matters were referred to by the officers of the house in jest is entirely reprehensible.

            “Every reference by an officer of the house characterizing any bill as a ‘cinch bill,’ or introduce for cinch purpose, is reflecting upon the member of the house who introduces it, and it also reflects upon the system of government which countenances it. If any officer of the house knows, or has reason to suspect anything, concerning a bill of this character, it is his duty to impact such knowledge to the speaker of the house; to treat it otherwise is to show utter disregard of the gravity of such a situation.”

CONDEMN OHNIMUS, WILKINSON

            “The two officers of the house involved are deserving of the severest condemnation for their conduct, and it is immaterial whether that conduct reaches into a zone of corruption, or whether it is indulged in out of a disregard of the very highest ideals which should actuate their conduct.

            “The committee, as solemnly as ** can possibly impart, and ** severely as judgment is capable, ** ** the two officers of the ** ** their conduct in this matter whatever their motives may have been.”

Third newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping, it reads:

Solons Hear $5000 Fixed as Cost of Killing Movie Bill

(Continued from page one)

of the assembly, and Charles Wilkinson, sergeant-at-arms of the assembly, mentioned by the Chinese herb doctors.

            Frank Coombs of Napa, a member of the committee, suggested that Smith retain counsel. When apprised of this Smith said under no circumstances would he engage a lawyer.

            “There is no reason why I should have a lawyer,” he said. “My case is in the open. All I want is an opportunity to appear before the committee and tell my story-the same one that already has been told. I am not involved in any way and all I seek is the privilege to clear myself.

            “It makes no difference to me whether, as defendant, I am called before or after all the other testimony has been taken by the committee.”

            Smith reiterated his statement that he was told by Arthur Ohnimus that “there is $500 in it” if the bill did not “get through.”

            He also reaffirmed his statement that he and Ohnimus had “words” when the latter appeared at his home in Oakland “to tell me about the money.”

            “Ohnimus’ statement,” said Smith, “that I got him ‘all wrong’ when I thought he was there to make an offer, is his story. Maybe that’s so. At any rate, I did not get it that way and I only told them (meaning Warren and Drew) all of the facts.”

            Wilkinson maintained his story that he ‘only performed a courtesy that I would do so for any legislator.” He admitted the story that Chinese told him “he was about to lose his job” as a result of the telephone message to Smith, telling him that Chinese in his city wanted to see him about the bill.

Open Sessions

            George C. Cleveland of Watsonville suggested that the sessions of the committee of investigation be executive, but disapproval of such a procedure was expressed by the other four members of the committee.

            T. M. Wright said the hearings must be open to the press and to other members of the legislature, or else “they will look upon his body as a ‘whitewash’ committee.”

            Chairman Graves expressed himself as being in favor of open sessions and that all facts be given to the press without hesitation. He said the public has a right to know every detail of the investigation.

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

Assemblyman Edward J. ** ** the charges and into which have been made as ** motives in introducing the bill appears as a fact that Brackett and Smith were not acquainted and had never had any dealings. Upon the question of veracity between Fong Wan and Brackett, it is immaterial which one is speaking the truth so far as Assemblyman Smith is concerned. If Brackett was speaking the truth, Smith’s name was not used, and hence was never used in connection with any of these reports. If Fong Wan’s version is true, it amounts to hearsay, and would appear to have come from Brackett, speaking entirely for his own interest and using all of the pressure and argument in and thereof, wholly unacquainted with Assemblyman Smith and without authority of any kind or character to speak for Smith.

Smith Acquitted

            “The committee therefore acquits Assemblyman Edward J. Smith of any of the charges of insinuations made against him, and of any misconduct in the matter.

Bill Censured

            “It is brought to the attention of the committee that the character of assembly bill 440 is such that an immediate presumption arises to the effect that such bills are not introduced in good faith, and that they are commonly styled “cinch bills.” In this connection we desire to impress upon the members of the legislature, and, we hope, upon others who may be members of future legislatures, that such bills call for the peculiar activities of the lobbyist, and are often introduced for the mere purpose that some money shall be made, and that corruption may follow.

            “A bill of this character should have been first endorsed by some government agency having the administration of justice concerning the regulation or the sale of the drugs mentioned in the bill, and should have the support of the police force of the city wherein the member resided, or of some such authority, in order that when introduced it might import good faith. We do not offer this condemnation of any motives in introducing this particular bill, but as a general observation concerning the future.”

Wilkinson’s Part

            The report goes into the history of the relations between Sergeant-at-arms Wilkinson and T. Wah Hing, Chinese herb doctor at 725 ½ J Street, this city, and details that Wilkinson not only gave the Chinese copies of the herb bill, but on a later occasion called up Smith on the telephone and sought to have the assemblyman come to Sacramento to meet the Chinese; that Smith assented to the arrangement but later declined to keep the engagement.

            The report also details testimony showing that Wilkinson had employed two assembly stenographers at Wah Hing’s request, to write letters against the herb bill; that Wilkinson was given $20 by the Chinese to be used in defraying the expenses for stamps and other incidentals.

            “In assisting the Chairman in these matters, Wilkinson was contributing to the preparation being made to defeat the bill, whether intentionally or not,” is states.

Would Avoid “Trouble”

            The report then takes up Wilkinson’s testimony before District Attorney Earl Warren and Chief Clerk Police James Drew of Oakland, and recalls that he had denied to those two interrogators that he knew who the Chinese was who had visited him at the Capitol and for whom he had telephoned to Smith. The report quotes Wilkinson’s testimony before the legislative committee in which he explained his reason for suppressing that information by saying he “would do anything to keep a member of the legislature out of trouble,” that he “didn’t want to stir up a stink.”

Fifth newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping, it reads:

Four Named by Witnesses in Alleged Chinese Bribery Inquiry

(Continued From Page 1, Col. 3)

taking the alleged bribe money.

            Charles H. Wilkenson, sergeant-at-arms of the Assembly, was connected up as the man who suggested the Chinese banquet to the San Francisco legislators given on February 20 in the halls of the Chinese Six Companies in San Francisco for the purpose of “lobbying” against the anti-herb bill. Wan also declared that Senator Edgar S. Hurley of Oakland had come to his place with Brackett and had heard the price of killing the herb bill fixed at $5000 and had recommended Brackett as “a good lobbyist.”

            Another new fact brought out today was that Brackett had told the Chinese that “Hurley was his brother-in-law and would handle for Mr. Smith in this matter.”

            Y. L. Chan, Oakland herb doctor, the first witness called, declared that Fong Wan had telephoned him before the herb bill was introduced that Brackett had come to the latter with advance information on the herb bill.

            Assemblyman George Cleveland of Watsonville, a member of the committee, brought the name of Former State Senator Frank M. Carr of Oakland into the hearings in an attempt to pin down Chan with a statement that Carr had been acting as adviser to the herb doctors in the matter of their disclosures.

            “Didn’t he say he fought each other in the last campaign?” Assemblyman Smith interjected as Chan told of Carr’s advice to “fight the bill legitimately.”

            “No,” was the answer of the Chinese.

$4500 Set as Price

            The three Chinese first called before the committee, Chan, Wan, and Lee Chuck of San Francisco, gave corroborating testimony to the fact that final agreement on a sum of $4500 was to be paid for quashing the anti-herb bill in the Legislature; of this sum $2500 was allotted by Brackett to Smith; $750 for Senator Hurley; $750 for himself, and $500 was for incidental expenses.

            Lee Chuck, the Chinese merchant and butcher, added the additional…*this side of the column is cut off.

Second column of this newspaper clipping continues from the first column it reads:

seeking information as to “who was making trouble for ** in Oakland” over the herb bill.

Wan Star Witness

            Wan, the Oakland herbalist in whose place the principal negations were alleged to have been carried on, was the star witness. He sketched in detail the numerous visits of Brackett to his place and told of the first demands of Brackett for $10,000 and of his final agreement to take $4500. He also sustained the statements of Chan and Chuck that an alleged agreement was discussed to pay $750 down to Brackett and place the remainder of the money in the Bank of Italy in Oakland until the bill was finally acted upon.

Warned of Trap

            Wan also declared that he went to Brackett’s house and personally warned the former Assemblyman’s sister to tell her brother not to come to the place where the trap had been laid and marked money provided by the police authorities to catch Brackett in the extortion plot charged by the herbalists. Wan declared that it “was terrible to see a man caught with marked money,” so he tipped off the plans of the authorities.

            The Oakland Chinese freely admitted that he was willing on behalf of the Chinese Protective Association to pay a price to have the herb killed, but that the price was “too high.”

Offer Angers Smith

            Between the numerous visits of Brackett, Wan testified that Brackett had said that Wilkenson had come from Sacramento to see Smith and had offered Smith $500 to kill the bill. This later offer was said to have angered Smith.

            The special Senate Committee created by the Swing “anti-cinch bill resolution organize today ** Senator Ralph Swing, chairman, announced that the committee ** begin tomorrow receiving applications for certificates to appear to the Senate and before its committees. It will be necessary for lobbyists to obtain these certificates in order to have access to the Senate chamber or to advocate or oppose any bill before committees. Senator J. M. Inman, Sacramento was elected vice-chairman of the…*the rest of the newspaper clipping is cut off.

This page displays 8 newspaper clippings. Words that are cut off or unreadable will be replaced by two asterisks.

First newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping it reads:

Solon Cleared in Herb Probe

Continued from Page One

by the Assembly against any of those who have been involved in the investigation.

            It submitted lengthy extracts from the testimony taken for the consideration of the house, with the suggestion that the members draw their own conclusions.

            After summarizing the statements made by the Chinese herb doctors and former Assemblyman William Brackett and Assemblyman Smith before the committee, the report makes the following find:

            “This is the only evidence against Assemblyman Smith concerning the charges and intimations that have been made as to his motives in introducing the bill.

            “It appears as a fact that Brackett and Smith were not acquainted and had never had any dealings. Upon the question of veracity between Fong Wan and Bracket, it is immaterial which one is speaking the truth so far as Assemblyman Smith is concerned.

Evidence Indirect

            “If Brackett is speaking the truth Smith’s name was not used and hence was not used in connection with any of these reports (of extortion). If Fong Wan’s version is true it amounts to hearsay and would appear to have come from Brackett speaking entirely for his own interest and using all of the pressure and arguments in aid thereof, wholly unacquainted with Assemblyman Smith and without authority of any kind or character to speak for Smith.

            “The committee therefore acquits Assemblyman J. Edward Smith of any of the charges or insinuations made against him and of any misconduct in the matter.”

            At this point in his reading of the committee’s report Assemblyman Sidney Graves, committee chairman, was interrupted by a burst of applause.

Bill Criticized

            The report carries a mild criticism of Assembly bill No. 440-the Smith herb bill. It says:

            “A bill of this character should have been first endorsed by some government agency having to do with the administration of justice or concerned with the regulation or the sale of drugs mentioned in the bill, and should have the support of the police force of the city wherein the member resided, or of some such authority, in order that when introduced it might import good faith.

            We do not offer this in condemnation of any motive in introducing a particular bill, but as a general…*the bottom of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

Second newspaper clipping is ripped at the top so the first paragraph is not fully shown. Starting from the middle of the first paragraph it reads:

He denied that any mention of money had been made by Fong wan and other Chinese in the presence of Senator Hurley, and declared that Hurley, who gave him, at his request, the copy of the title of the Smith bill, had cautioned the Chinese against bribery.

            Brackett brought in the name of Sergeant-at-Arms Charles H. Wilkenson of the Assembly, and said that from Hurley he had obtained the information that Wilkenson had gone to Assemblyman Smith with an offer of $500 to “lay off” his own measure.

Admits Conferences

            Brackett admitted his numerous visits to Wan’s office in Oakland, his dickerings for the lobbyist position and that he had watched the newspapers to see what bills introduced in the Legislature might offer lobbyists possibilities.

            Clarence Morris, former San Francisco Assemblyman, appeared as Brackett’s counsel and sought to prevent certain lines of questioning, but was overruled by the special investigation committee.

            “The Legislature and the people of the state are looking to us to get the truth of this situation,” Assemblyman Sidney Graves, chairman of the committee, declared in overruling legal technicalities brought forth by Morris.

            Brackett changed the dates and much of his testimony given before District Attorney Warren. He recalled that he did not know Assemblyman Smith and that Hurley’s only connection with the case was as a friend of his. Hurley, he declared, had recommended him as a good lobbyist.

            It developed during the questioning that two years ago Brackett was employed as a lobbyist for a crab bill amendment to the fish selling laws, and that the bill was introduced in the Legislature by Senator Hurley.

            Brackett substantiated much of the testimony given by the Chinese herbalists as to the negotiations between the two sides, but denied all allegations as to the reported attempts at extortion.

            At one time during the questioning he digressed to savagely attack the newspapers for their reports and later admitted that he had changed much of his testimony.

Other Witnesses

            Previously to calling Brackett there appeared Y. T. Dang, officer of the Chinese Protective Association and the dapper Chinese who appeared on the scene as lobbyist for his organization; Miss Florence Murphy, daughter of Assemblyman J. J. Murphy of Weed, and Miss Dolores Burrell of Woodland, stenographers attached to the Assembly, who had been employed during the legislative vacation at the instance of Sergeant-at-Arms Wilkenson to write the letters of protest against the bill sent out the Chinese association.

            Both girls had heard nothing of the alleged extortion plot and quit their work as soon as they heard of the case. They both say that Wilkenson had merely acted as a friend in helping obtain employment during the recess.

Heard of Bribery

            Mrs. Leah M. Smith, employed as office attendant by Fong Wan in his Oakland office, also testified. She told of hearing of the alleged bribery attempts from her employer. She said that Brackett and Senator Hurley had come to Fong Wan’s office. She also declared that she had heard from her employer that $10,000 was the sum wanted to kill the bill.

            Wang, the Chinese who wrote the letters to Assemblymen, Native Sons and Native Daughters’ parlors and others asking help in the fight against the Smith bill, named $10,000 as the sum wanted by Brackett to kill the bill. He said that he had sent the flowers to the five Assemblymen and to Speaker Merriam, following a Chinese custom in such matters.

Clears Wilkenson

            T. Wah Hing, Sacramento Chinese doctor, occupied the witness stand during the morning hours. He told of having had Sergeant-at-Arms Wilkenson get into telephonic communication with Assemblyman Smith regarding the contemplated visit here of Smith and latter his refusal to come. Hing proved a poor witness. He did testify, however, that Fong Wan had telephoned him that Brackett had called at Wan’s office and had said that “Smith was very angry because Wilkenson had offered him $500 to kill the bill.”

            Hing said that Wan later telephoned him that Smith was going “to make Wilkinson lose his job.”

            Hing was hesitant about bringing Wilkinson’s named into the case. Hing denied that Wilkenson had ever been paid any money for his aid or that any sum of $500 or any other amount had been discussed between the two.

            The monotonous testimony of Hing’s was interrupted once when question was asked as to who made the longest speech at the recent Chinese banquet. Assemblyman William B. Hornblower of San Francisco was declared to have the most prolonged oratorical effort.

Denial by Ohnimus

            Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus, another of those involved in the herb bill scandal, declared that he never made the statement to Smith that here “was $500 in it to kill the bill.” He described his visit on February 12 to Smith’s house in Oakland, where he said he had told Smith that he understood there was money in the bill. He denied that he had even seen any Chinese or other persons regarding the measure or had he discussed the subject of money with Wilkenson.

Fourth newspaper clipping has two columns with different story content. The right column is cut off however the left is fully shown, it is actually a continuation of another newspaper clipping, it reads:

New Disclosures made in Herb Bill Extortion Charges

(Continued from Page 1, Column 3)

Assemblyman Edward J. Smith, author of the measure, as one of those involved in the tangle, has declared that he “did not know the local Chinese and could not recognize them if he saw them.”

            According to T. Wah Hing, wealthy Sacramento herb doctor, Wilkenson was at the office of the Chinese Protective Association on numerous occasions and employed two stenographers from the Assembly to write letters to all members of the Legislature asking them to vote against the Smith herb bill.

            A second development was that Hing acknowledge that he was the Chinese who had Wilkenson telephone to Assemblyman Smith asking the latter to come to Sacramento to talk over the bill, and that Hing was the same person who later called Wilkenson on the phone and told him to go to the Washington street address in San Francisco’s Chinatown to talk to an “unnamed Chinese” about the Oakland plot against Wilkenson.

            Confronted with the Hing statements, Wilkenson admitted that he had visited the local Chinese, but declared that he had not been induced to do so because of promises of “financial reward.”

            Hing declared that Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus of the Assembly, another of those named by Assemblyman Smith, had never been to see him, and that Ohnimus had nothing to do with the negotiations with Wilkenson.

            The Chinese puzzle over the herb bill became more involved when it was discovered that Y. T. Dang, the dapper Chinese who placed the floral offerings on the desks of each of the women members of the Assembly the other day, is also known as Ang Yuen on the letterheads of the Chinese Protective Association. Chan Mon of San Francisco is the treasurer of the organization.

            The Chinese, stirred up over the herb bill muddle, have discovered that State Senator Edgar S. Hurley of Oakland has an anti-Chinese lottery bill which would subject them to conviction on a felony charge. Hurley said today that he will have the bill amended to make the charge a high misdemeanor instead.

            District Attorney Earl Warren of Alameda County, who conducted the first investigation here of the bribe charges against the Legislators, declares that he did not favor the bill ommended to Hurley that the crime be made a misdemeanor instead of a felony, as the latter would make convictions impossible.

            Senator Hurley also is included in the list of those named by the Chinese in the herb bill disclosures.

            Senator Hurley said today that he would be glad to go before the special investigating committee and state his side of the controversy on Monday.

Fifth newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping it reads:

Light by a remark which seems to have been more than careless, and well-nigh approaching the criminal * * * * The only object in bringing in the name of Mr. Hood was that the person using his name might be the better enabled to exert pressure upon those interested in defeating A. B. No. 440.”

Brackett Enters

            The report details the history of the bill’s introduction and continues:

            “Thereafter some public notoriety was given to this bill and to its import, and the testimony of William R. Brackett, a former member of this house, shows that he read and account of the bill in a newspaper. He made some remark to the effect that it appeared to be a good bill calling for the employment of a lobbyist at Sacramento in order to secure its defeat. The avowed purpose of Mr. Brackett in endeavoring to have himself engaged was not out of any public spirited feeling, but arose simply because he saw in it a fair field for the talent and remuneration of the lobbyist. He immediately repaired to the office of Fong Wan, an herb doctor in the city of Oakland. Out of the conversations between the two the charges against Assemblyman Smith seems ** to have sprung.

            Verbatim testimony of Fong Wan that Brackett had said the $5,000 he demanded from the Chinese was to be dived between Assemblyman Smith, Senator Hurley and himself and a part of Brackett’s testimony in denial follows: *The rest of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

Sixth newspaper clipping is cut off after the first paragraph it reads:

Friends Sure little to be Next Speaker

Sufficient Number of Votes Believed Lined up to Insure Election

By Earl C. Behrens

            Friends of Assemblyman Walter J. Little of Santa Monica believe he has a sufficient number of votes lined up to assure his election as Speaker of the next Assembly. Little’s principal concern at present is to hold the strength he has acquired in his campaign for the speakership.

Seventh newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping it reads:

TESTIMONY IN GRAFT CHARGE CASE CLOSES

(Continued from Page one)

of fact I would have gone there with him and spoken a good word for him even if he had told me all about what bill he referred to.”

Friendship Admitted

            Senator Hurley declared he and Brackett are warm friends, although he said:

            “Brackett’s reputation is not the best in the world and neither is it the worst. I never pick my friends for what other people think about them. I have ex-convict friends, and I suppose some of my friends now may someday be convicts.

            “The worst I ever heard about Brackett was that he was a damn fool. And I guess I think so myself.”

            When the committee asked Smith where he got the information he could get $5,000 for the defeat of the bill if he so desired, he said:

            “Oh, I just imaged I could get that amount. I had heard from a friend that someone told him the Oakland Chinese were raising a big sum to send former Senator Carr to Sacramento to beat the bill. I told that friend to keep an eye on the bill and watch it move, because I intended to see that the bill was passed.”

            The committee recalled witnesses to testify again concerning statements that were made.

            The testimony offered at the hearing and the statements made by District Attorney Earl Warren of Alameda County, relating to his interview of witnesses, will be checked by the committee.

The eighth newspaper clipping is positioned in a way that more than half of the content is cut off so its unreadable.

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping, it reads:

caught by the trap,” referring to the plan of Oakland detectives to arrest Brackett after he had been given marked money.           

            Ohnimus denied the statement by Assemblyman Smith last week before District Attorney Earl Warren of Alameda County, and James T. Drew, chief of police of Oakland, that he told the author of the bill he knew where he could get some money for the “killing” of the measure.

            “I only said,” Ohnimus stated, “that I understand there is money up on the bill. By that I only meant that I heard there would be a big fight made against the bill.”

            In notes written by Warren for reference to the committee, he had quoted Ohnimus as saying “there is a lot of money around on the bill and I know where some of it is.”

            “I did not say that to Earl,” Ohnimus declared.

Witness Not Certain

            Warren then said the statements of witnesses was only taken down in notes and not placed on typewritten pages until the next day and that possibly Ohnimus had not made the statement.

            Ohnimus admitted having had words with Smith, during his recent visit to Oakland where he got the assemblyman out of bed at about 8:00 o’clock in the morning for an informal visit.

            “He got mad when he thought I had offered him money,” Ohnimus said, relating incidents in connection with his Oakland visit.

            “I said to him,” he continued “why Eddie, you don’t think I, a good friend of yours, would ever do a thing like that. You know I wouldn’t.”

            Ohnimus said that Smith then asked him about Wilkinson, who was outside in Ohnimus’ automobile to have breakfast with him, but they refused because they had eating a few minutes prior.

Apology Offered

            “When the session opened again,” said Ohnimus, “Smith came to me and apologized for the quarrel we had and I said to him: ‘Oh that’s all right Eddie, misunderstandings are liable to happen once in a while.’”

            The chief clerk declared that probable reason for heated words between himself and Smith was due to the fact that Smith had been aroused from his sleep unexpectedly and that he had been driving “most of the night from Sacramento.”

            Clarence Morris of Oakland, a former assemblyman, is counsel for Brackett.

Wilkinson Grilled

            Charles Wilkinson, sergeant at arms of the assembly, was grilled severely when placed on the stand and after more than an hour’s questioning, T. M. Wright, a member of the investigating committee, intimated that Wilkinson has not told all he knows, declaring that some of the details were fixed definitely in his mind, while others were not remembered.

            Wilkinson denied over having discussed the Smith bill with anyone. Frank Coombs, a member of the committee, asked Wilkinson if it was not unusual that he would ride…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is not shown.

Second newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping it reads:

Herb Bill Author Cleared in Inquiry into Extortion Plot

(Continued From Page 1, Column 3)

Hurley of Oakland, presumably because of Senatorial courtesy in the matter.

4. Omission of the name of William R. Brackett, former Oakland Assemblyman, alleged go between, with simply the insertion of excerpts from his testimony.

5. Condemnation of Sergeant-at-Arms Charles H. Wilkenson and Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus, “ask solemnly as language can possibly impart and as severely as judgment is capable in their conduct in this matter, whatever their motives may have been.”

6. Submission to the Assembly of certain portions of the testimony in order that that body “may be able to draw its own conclusions, rather than to depend upon recommendations of the committee.”

            As soon as a report became current that the two attaches would be requested to resign, preparations were being made to fight the adoption of the report as submitted.

            The agreement on a postponement forestalled the impending battle on the floor.

            The report of the investigating committee was read by Chairman Sidney T. Graves and signed by his colleagues, Assemblyman T. M. Wright, Isaac Jones, George C. Cleveland and Frank L. Coombs.

Attaches Condemned

            In dealing with Wilkenson and Ohnimus the committee declared “the officers of the House involved are deserving of the severest condemnation for their conduct, and it is immaterial whether their conduct reaches into a zone of corruption or whether it is indulged in out of a disregard of the very highest ideals which should actuate their conduct.”

            The committee quoted from the testimony of Brackett denying that he had made mention of any amount which was to go to Assemblyman Smith, author of the anti-herb bill or to Senator Hurley, and from Fong Wan, one of the Chinese herbalists involved, who declared that Brackett had said he was to divide $5000, as follows: “$2500 for Smith and $1000 for himself and Hurley and $500 for expenses.

Veracity Waived Aside

            “This is the only evidence against Assemblyman Edward J. Smith concerning the charges and intimations which have been made as to his motives in introducing the bill,” the report declares. “Upon the veracity between Fong Wan and Brackett, it is immaterial which one is speaking the truth so far as Assemblyman Smith is concerned. If Brackett was speaking the truth, Smith’s name was not used, and hence was never used in connection with any of these reports. If Fong Wan’s version is true, it amounts to hearsay, and would appear to have come from Brackett, speaking entirely for his own interest and using all of the pressure and argument in aid thereof, wholly unacquainted with Assemblyman Smith and without authority of any kind or character to speak for Smith.”

Bill Discussed

            Concerning the bill which caused the furor, the committee declared.

            “It is brought to the attention of the committee that the character of Assembly bill 440 is such that an immediate presumption arises to the effect that such bills are not introduced in good faith, and that they are commonly styled ‘cinch bills.’ In this connection we desire to impress upon the members of the Legislature and, we hope, upon others who may be members of future Legislatures, that such bills call for the peculiar activities of the lobbyist and are often introduced for the mere purpose that some money shall be made and that corruption may follow.

Lacked Endorsement

            “A bill of this character should have been first indorsed by some Government agency having the administration of justice concerning the regulation or the sale of the drugs mentioned in the bill and should have the support of the police force of the city wherein the member resided, or of some such authority, in order that when into that when introduced it might impart good faith. We do not offer this in condemnation of any motives in introducing this particular bill, but as a general observation concerning the future.”

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Smith Names Hood

            Assemblyman Smith has stated publicly that it was from Hood that he first got the inspiration for the bill.

            The three Chinese testifying were Lee Shuck, San Francisco herbalist and butcher, T. Y. Chan and Fong Wan, Oakland herbalists, the last being the witness at whose store negotiations with Brackett took place.

            Chan testified that Brackett explained to him that the bill would surely pass because Smith was a strong administration man and that there would be no doubt of the governor’s signing it. This aroused the hire of Assemblyman George Cleveland, one of the administration members of the committee, and there after Cleveland repeatedly shot sarcastic queries at the witnesses, plainly indicating his belief that the stories of the Chinese were not be credited.

Merriam Attends

            At Cleveland’s elbow through these proceedings sat Speaker Frank Merriam of the Assembly.

            All three Chinese agreed in their account that demands were made.

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Thursday, January 9, 1947

The San Francisco News

An image is shown of Wilkie Ogg allowing Dolly Smith to pass the “exclusive portal.” Underneath the image is a description and it reads:

He DID It-The man responsible for enforcing the rules restricting the movements of lobbyists in legislative chambers is Sergeant-at-Arms Wilkie Ogg, here shown as a benevolent Cerberus guarding the gate in the Assembly. He is permitting Dolly Smith, secretary to the Assembly chief clerk, to pass the exclusive portal. But ineligibles must keep out.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

The Sacramento Bee

Four images are shown here. A description describing the images is shown underneath the photo it reads:

Scenes at the opening of the California Legislature today show Lieutenant Governor Frederick F. Houser, top left, calling the senate to order; Governor Earl Warren, top right, addressing a joint meeting of the houses; Chief Clerk Arthur Ohnimus, Speaker Charles W. Lyon of Los Angeles and Speaker Pro Tempore Thomas A. Maloney of San Francisco, left to right lower left, at the opening of the assembly which was called to order by Ohnimus, and Senator Jerrold L. Seawell of Placer County, lower right, who was chosen for another term as president pro tempore of the upper house. Bee Photos.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

The Sacramento Union

Sacramento, California, Tuesday Morning, March 2, 1948

An image is shown here of four men speaking to one another. A description underneath the photo reads:

AS THE ASSEMBLY ORGANIZED for business yesterday, Speaker Sam Collins (center) and Speaker Pro Tempore Thomas A. Maloney (left) behind the speaker’s desk confer with Harold Lewright (left standing), first assistant clerk and Chief…*the rest of the description is cut off.

This page displays 4 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Relief takes precedence over budget in Legislature

By Leslie E. Claypool

            SACRAMENTO, March 19-(Special)-California’s legislators will buckle down tomorrow to whip out an agenda that may make or break political futures for many of them and they hope to goodness they can wind it up by Easter (April 9).

            Pushing even ahead of the annual budget, which was what brought the solons here in the first place, is relief.

            And topping the relief situation, which some aver is rapidly becoming critical, is the emergency in Kern County.

            In this county are perhaps 300 families of the migratory workers who are destitute and in need of food.

            They are seasonal workers and must wait until another crop is ready to harvest, which will be weeks away, before they can get work.

            Gov. Earl Warren has called a conference in his office for tomorrow to discuss means of tiding these families over.

            Meanwhile, Sen. Jess R. Dorsey, R., Bakersfield, and Assemblyman Joe C. Lewis, D., Buttonwillow, who represent the county in the Legislature, are unhappy at not being invited and are laying plans of their own for relief.

            On a boarder scaled there are several plans afoot to get statewide relief going and these efforts were spurred by the report that a large church in San Francisco will open a breadline tomorrow. 

            As for the budget, now the No. 2 item on the program, many think it will go through by this weekend with only minor changes.

            After the main budget pitch is over will come some kind of amendments to the pension law.

            Guesses are accumulating that the Legislature will do something to relieve the counties of the new burden they have acquired under Proposition No. 2.

            Whether this will be on the basis of a cash formula such as Arthur J. Will, Los Angeles county superintendent of the charities, proposes, or by some form of subvention of increased sales taxes to the counties as the California Supervisors association proposes, is undetermined.

            Either would satisfy the counties.

            It is expected some kind of relatives’ responsibility will remain, but perhaps only a token variety.

            Child care centers are still loitering around and those who oppose extension are being accused of contributing to the delinquency of child care centers. As there is no extension, the centers will end June 30, perhaps permanently.

            The two bills banning slot machines are still clanging around.          

            Some think they are as good as dead, since the Assembly refused to accept an amendment to the bills that would exempt steamships in interstate and international trade from the seizure provisions.

            If California proposes to seize slot machines on foreign vessels tied up in the state’s ports when the machines are under lock and key, any number of lawyers will be in the courts to knock that provision out.

            Others will bet that without the amendments the bills will never get to the courts.

            Lobbying laws are still pending and the Collier bill, sired by Assemblyman John L. E. (Bud) Collier, R., Los Angeles, becomes law Tuesday and unless or until repealed it will stick for quite a while.

            Until an amendment can be rigged up to put the clerical work in the secretary of state’s office, Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the Assembly, has to handle it and he says he’ll do the best he can.

            He’ll be quite a busy man starting Tuesday registering the lobby lads.

            An interim committee headed by Assemblyman Thomas M. Erwin, R., Puente, will go ahead with a new lobby bill which, among other things, would repeal the Collier act.

            Governor Warren has said he will not accept the Erwin bill, but Erwin says it is his committee’s job to legislate and the governor can do what he likes.

            There is a little matter of finding $35,000,000, more or less, for the schools and one proposal is that all tobacco be taxed 3 percent to aid in that.

            The tobacco people have thus far said nothing, it seems, but there metropolitan daily newspapers have come out editorially against the tax, which its proponents concede isn’t helping them any.

            Another gadget here which is by no means a minor worry is a proposal to repeal a joint resolution the Legislature adopted last year asking Congress to call a convention to amend the constitution to permit America’s entry into some kind of a world government to end war.

            The original resolution was sponsored by the World Federalists, Inn., and seemed to many harmless enough.

            But certain patriotic groups and certain individuals, some of them allegedly friendly to Gerald L. K. Smith, are working with Sen. Jack B. Tenney, R., Los Angeles, and Sen. Hugh Donnelly, D., Turlock, in an effort to repeal the resolution.

            That fight, which as many good, sincere people on both sides, is expected to go boom boom this week.

            This, plus many other things that lawmakers never expect, would fix the boys up so they would have to roll Easter eggs with their kiddies on the capitol lawn instead of at home.

            And if there is any shortage of eggs you can depend on some of the legislators to lay a few.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

State’s Solons are Gathering for Session

Pictures on Page 17

By Richard Rodda

            California’s 120 state senators and assemblymen are beginning to converge on Sacramento for the opening of the 1953 session of the legislature Monday.

            A few already have arrived but most of them are expected tomorrow night and Sunday.

            Members of both houses will meet at noon Monday, elect their officers and then gather in the assembly chamber for a joint session to hear Governor Earl Warren’s message.

Ready For Bills

            Then they will be read to introduce bills. They must get them all in within 30 days. This will be followed by a 30 day recess. In march the lawmakers will return for the debating, committee hearings, maneuvering and strategy leading up to the passage on rejection of the bills.

            Usually more than 5,000 bills are introduced in January of which about 1,500 eventually are passed and signed by the governor.

            The session, including the January portion, is limited to 120 days.

            Taxes, highways, school financing, prison overcrowding and budget balancing are expected to be among the key issues of the weeks ahead.

Speakership Fight

            Preliminary interest centers on the speakership fight in the lower house. Assemblyman Sam L. Collins of Orange County, speaker for six years, will not return. This leaves the field wide open and Assemblymen James W. Silliman (R) of Monterey County and Jonathan J. Hollibaugh (R) of Los Angeles County have become the leading contenders.

            No such contest has arisen in the senate. Lieutenant Governor Goodwin J. Knight is designated by the constitution as presiding officer. The comparable job to speaker, so far as deciding policy questions in the senate are concerned, is president pro tempore. Senator Harold J. (Butch) Powers (R) of Modoc County is expected to be elected without opposition. Both speaker and president pro tem are automatically chairmen of the powerful rules committee of the respective houses.

Setups of Houses

            No county in the state has more than one senator. A few senators in the sparsely populated areas represent two or more counties.

            But the assembly is apportioned on a population basis. Los Angeles County has 31 and San Francisco and Alameda have six each. Sacramento County has two assemblymen-Gordon A. Fleury of the eight district and Roy J. Nielsen of the ninth, both Republicans. The senator is Earl D. Desmond, Democrat.

Lobbyists, Too

            Usually about three lobbyists to every legislator come to Sacramento during the lawmaking season. This means good business for the hotels and restaurants.

            The lobbyists, referred to often as the third house, represent special interest groups such as the railroads, oil companies, Organized Labor, farmers, school teachers, banks utility companies and others.

40 Votes May Win Speakership Race

            If the race for speaker of the assembly is close Monday, the winner may be elected with 40 votes.

            This was asserted today by Arthur A. Ohnimus, veteran chief clerk of the lower house, who will preside at the opening ceremonies.

            Ohnimus said the lower house will convene with only 79 of its 80 members present due to the absence of Assemblywoman Kathryn T. Niehouse (R) of San Diego, who is ill.

            Although the rules say 41 votes are needed to elect officers, Ohnimus stated an opinion of the legislative counsel and a precedent in 1925 indicate it can be…

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Third newspaper clipping is a continuation of the second newspaper clipping, it reads:

State’s Solons are Gathering for Session

Continued from Page 1

done with a majority vote of those present.

            In 1925 former Governor Frank F. Merriam was elected speaker by a 40 to 39 vote over Isaac Jones of San Bernardino County. In the 1930s Hugh P. Donnelly of Stanislaus County was named speaker pro tempore with 40 votes to 39 for Gardiner Johnson of Alameda County.

            Both Assemblymen James W. Silliman of Monterey County and Jonathan J. Hollibaugh of Los Angeles County, leading contenders, claim enough votes to win.

Legislative Auditor is to Urge Economies

            California legislators were told today the state government can avert new taxes-or a deficit-only by a retrenchment in major spending programs.

            Legislative Auditor A. Alan Post said he will recommend that the legislature “tighten up” on such big items as education and social welfare in order to assure a balanced budget.

            Post stated that in his report to the joint legislative budget committee he will urge a series of economies with the objective of balancing the state’s 1953-54 budget without additional taxes.

            “It’s going to be hard, very frankly,” he said in an interview, “to dig up the money to balance the budget without retrenching on some basic policies adopted in recent years.”

            The legislative auditor, who works independently of the state administration, expressed confidence 1953 will be another full employment year and that state revenues will continue high. However, he pointed out it costs more each year to run the government of a state which keeps on growing.

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

Senate, Assembly Again Elect Powers, Collins

            President Pro Tempore Harold J. Powers of the senate and Speaker Sam L. Collins of the assembly were reelected today as the legislature opened its budget session.

            Senator Powers, a Republican, is from Modoc County. Collins, an Orange County assemblyman, also is a Republican. Other officers elected are:

            Senate-Joseph A. Beek, secretary; John F. Lea, minute clerk; Rev. John G. Terwilliger, and Joseph F. Nolan, sergeant at arms.

            Assembly-Thomas A. Maloney, speaker pro tempore; Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk; Wilkie Ogg, sergeant at arms; Geraldine Hadsell, minute clerk, and Rabbi Irving Hausman, chaplain.

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping. Words that are unreadable will be replaced by two asterisks.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Part 1-Monday, June 18, 1951                                                            Los Angeles Times

Sacramento MailSack

By Chester G. Hanson

            SACRAMENTO, June 17-As we swung into the last week of the session I was thinking of the stroke of 12 midnight next Saturday when, according to the new Constitutional provision, the show will be over.

            And then I got to thinking of Gray’s “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard” which we used to read in high school and of which we were required to quote passages by memory, but all I could recall at the moment were the lines about the lowing herd and the world, and darkness and me.

Verse Put Together

            My old friend downstairs in the apartment, T. Fenton Knight, supplied the note about the plowman. But Arthur Ohnimus, veteran chief clerk of the Assembly, put it all together for us, thus:

The curfew tolls the knell of the parting day

The lowing herd winds slowly *8 the lea

The ** ** ** his weary way

Leaving the world to darkness and to me.

            Another way of saying it is this:

            The house of midnight June 23 having arrived, the Lieutenant Governor in the Senate and the Speaker in the Assembly dropped their gavels and declared the session adjourned sine die in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. The lawmakers packed their things and went home, as did members of the “third house”-and I ain’t assaying which is the herd and which is the plowman.

Left in Darkness

            The Mailsack quit publishing and so the world was left in darkness.

            And if anyone wants to enjoy a piece of poetry, get hold of a good collection of the old standard poems and read Mr. Gray’s Elegy. And read some of Mr. Milton’s stuff, such as “L’Allegro” and “Il Penseroso.” And turn to “Thanatopsis” (gosh, boys, take care of that spelling) and its passage that begins:

So lives that when thy summons comes

To join the innumerable caravan…

            We don’t have enough poetry reading today to quiet the nerves and lead us more into contemplation.

            We don’t do enough of what that rural editor (back in Iowa, wasn’t it?) who remarked that it pays every once in a while to sit down under a true and look around.

Only One More Week

            Well, what I started out to call attention to was that we have only one more week to go with this session.

            I was about to blow a whistle and sound an alarm to the effect that a lot of legislation was going to be caught in the last-minute squeeze because, for the first time, the adjournment hour is set by reason of provisions in the Constitution, saying the session shall run for 130 days only.

            But Brother Ohnimus says the lawmakers can get through hall right. There are about 100 items on the Assembly daily file and about the same in the Senate or maybe 125.

They May Make It

*The bottom of this column is folded so the content is unable to be seen.

            It has been a lusty session and a rough one at times. When they came together last Jan. 8, the keynote was defense mobilization. We sort of lost sight of that in a way, although there has been an appropriation for civilian defense, handicapped by lack of knowledge of what the Federal government plans and wants. Also, plans for building construction by the State have been curtailed by defense needs and so that affected budget calculations.

Child Care Affected

            Child care center legislation was vitally affected by the needs of the aircraft and other defense industry for women workers, although we have our fingers crossed right now as to what type of bill on this subject will finally pass.

            Offhand, I cannot think of any outstanding piece of legislation at this session that is going to affect the people very much.

            Sometimes proposals to adopt a new tax or to increase a tax gets a lot more publicity than it deserves. No new or increased taxes this time.

Wouldn’t be Noticed

            Now I’m not advocating any new or increased taxes, but I just can’t help remarking that to hear the screams about a tax on cigarettes you would think they were proposing to cut the ears off every third child found on the streets. Same as to a tax on beer, whiskey and wine. Shucks, the drinkers and smokers wouldn’t notice it.

            As a matter of fact the boys in the alcoholic beverage trade in the last 10 years or so have taken more from the people who drink those beverages than any beverage tax ever dreamed of. At Sacramento they cut the size of the package, boosted the prices tremendously, denied the people the right to buy cheap bulk wine and in the bars where you used to get a man-sized drink they not only increased the price tremendously but cut the size of a jigger to a mere sniff. And a bottle of beer used to be a bottle of beer and “rushing the growler” was an old American custom that went into the ash can along with bulk wine.

            There is more chronic alcoholism today than in the days of a real schooner of beer, a he-man shot of liquor at the bar and a pitcher of win out of a barrel.

            And another thing, just to get everybody mad at me, let’s throw the women out of the bars.

An image of a comic is shown above the title. The comic is of a man sitting in an office with his legs on the desk, talking to a woman on the phone and writing on the wall that reads “Aw shut up.” Underneath the image is a sentence that reads: “Yes, dear-Yes, dear,-Yes, dear-”

Warren Getting New Water Bill

By a Times Staff Correspondent

            SACRAMENTO, June 17-Of vital importance to communities in Southern California, particularly where underground water supplies are relied on extensively, Assembly Bill 3414 was on the way to Gov. Warren for signature.

            The bill, by Assemblyman Earl Stanley (R) Balboa, says in effect that if a community reduces its draft on an underground water supply by buying water from an “outside” source, such as Colorado River water, it shall have credit for that amount in its right to the underground supply.

            There has been a lot of litigation on that problem and the bill aims to protect the rights of cities or districts using outside water supplies. Members of the Metropolitan Water District are very much interested in this bill.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Legislature Faces Rush in Last Week of Session

            SACRAMENTO, June 17 (AP) Only one week remains of the 1951 session of the California Legislature.

            It will be a crowded six days. One policy-spending question overshadows all the others left to be decided before the mandatory midnight Saturday quitting time.

            How much, if any, of the $48,000,000 school-support increase approved by the Assembly will survive the Senate’s screening?

            Gov. Warren has threatened to veto any appropriation which goes more than $28,000,000 over the $1,034,000,000 State budget he signed last week. The $28,000,000 figure represents the administration’s new budgetary surplus estimate.

            The school bill will be considered by the Senate Education Committee tomorrow but the hearing is expected to be brief. The real work will be done in the Finance Committee.

            Other money bills have been voted from one house to the other in the last few days since the Governor approved the budget. *The rest of the remaining paragraphs are partially cut off, it would be hard to decipher what the other half of the content is.

Third newspaper clipping shows an image of 3 men and a woman exchanging things to one another. The only person recognizable is Arthur Ohnimus either receiving or giving a book to an unidentified man.

This page displays 4 newspaper clipping. Words that are unreadable will be replaced by two asterisks.

First newspaper clipping reads:

San Rafael Independent

Nov 18, 1944

Allegiance to the Flag of the United State

Capitol ‘Small’ Talk

By M. F. (Pop) Small

            I can’t quite make up my mind whether I should go in for book reviewing or charge advertising rates in this column.

            A few weeks ago, I told you that State Printer George H. Moore would send you a beautiful brochure on Sutter’s Fort for the small sum of two bits, and that for a dollar you could have a copy of a volume describing your State Capitol, profusely illustrated.

            George reports that my plug brought him a tidy piece of business, and he adds that both books are still available.

            And now I am able to call your attention to a publication which you can have for free.

            It’s a history of the Constitution of California. The Legislature appropriated money to have 10,000 copies printed because it wants the people to become better acquainted with their state government.

            Its contents include a complete text of the constitution, and of the Constitution of the United States, the Act for the Admission of California into the Union, the Declaration of Independence and similar historical material.

            The work was prepared by Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the Assembly since 1923.

            Ohnimus is an authority on the subject, and tells me that only one state constitution in the country is wordier than California’s.

            The California constitution uses up 222 pages of Ohnimus’ book, while the United States constitution is covered in 25 pages, including the 21 amendments.

            But the constitution of the state of Colorado holds the record, setting forth as it does such detailed matters as how the portraits of its governors shall be hung in the state capitol.

            The California document is wordy enough, and is enlarged every time there is a general election in the state. The voters added eight sections to it on Nov. 7.

            As for the portraits of our governors, this is left to the legislature, a course which appears to have been sufficiently effective.

            At least, the lobby of the main floor of the State Capitol is lined with pictures that include every chief executive of the state down to Culbert L. Olson.

            The legislature appropriated $1,500 in 1937 to preserve for posterity the faces and figures of Clement Calhoun Young, James Rolph Jr. and Frank Finley Merriam.

            Each picture costs about $500, including the artist’s fee and a gilded frame. What it may cost the taxpayers for the time their principal officer sits still while the painter struggles with his oils and tempers is not figured in.

            Governor Young and Governor Merriam would not give the time, and Governor Rolph died before the matter was brought to his attention. The three pictures were painted from photographs.

            Eventually, of course, the legislature will get around to providing the money for a painting of Governor Olson, who was regarded as one of the handsomest chief executives California ever had.

            But to get back to the book by Arthur Ohnimus. The state government wants you to have a copy provided you will make good use of it. Ohnimus reports that a lot of requests have been received from school children as a result of the notification he sent to teachers.

            To get your copy, address your request to Arthur A. Ohnimus, State Office Building No. 1, Sacramento 14, California.

            Between sessions of the Assembly, Ohnimus is a deputy attorney general. He was appointed last year after serving for nearly a quarter of a century under former District Attorney Matthew A. Brady of San Francisco.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

            THE SPEAKERSHIP of William Moseley Jones in the California assembly promises to go down as the weirdest in all capitol history. When a day is done no one knows for certain what has happened. Legislators wait for the journal the next…

(Continued on Page 2, Col. 3) *this newspaper clipping continues in the third newspaper clipping.

Third newspaper clipping is a continuation of the second newspaper clipping it reads:

Sacramento by C.J.L.

(Continued from Page 1)

morning to find out, but learn to their consternation that even it no longer can be depended on.

***

            THE JANITOR sweeping the floor, or emptying the waste baskets, may be likely to find an important bit of legislation as the clerks who are supposed to keep track of what is going on. If a rule of order stands in the way of procedure, it is ignored. If a member is absent, there is someone around to vote for him. If an assemblyman doesn’t know how many ballots he needs to win assembly approval the speaker obligingly tells him, or sees that a bill is protected against defeat. Lobbying is ignored. A mild way of describing what is going on is to refer to it as a “made house.”

Fourth newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping that is not shown. This newspaper clipping reads:

Legislature Faces 400 Bills in Last Day of 1945 Session

(Continued from Page 1)

debates of the session, marked by sharp and repeated exchanges of personalities, the assembly also voted 53 to 19 last night to continue the activities of the Tenney joint investigating committee on un-American activities for another two years.

Changes Tenney Buildup

            Before the shooting was all over, these broadsides had been fired:

            Los Angeles Assemblyman Lester McMillian called the past work of the committee valueless and charged the chairman, Los Angeles Senator Jack B. Tenney has been using the organization politically to “build himself up.”

            Los Angeles Assemblyman Augustus Hawkins accused the committee of trying to level “suspicion against allies of this nation” and claimed its extension would empower it to “jump on every progressive group in this state.”

Gannon Flays Reds

            Sacramento Assemblyman Chester F. Gannon “poured it on the Reds”-in his own words-quoted J. Edgar Hoover, head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on the Communist situation in California and said the committee is sorely needed.

            Los Angeles Assemblyman Albert Dekker assailed Gannon (who had called him “a grease paint hero of Hollywood”) and described Tenney as biased and “playing peacock-a lot of noise but no sense to it.”

            Assemblyman Randal F. Dickey of Alameda County presented the resolution, SCR 66, Tenney, which would set up a committee of four assemblymen and three senators.

            The senate wants to send the resolution to conference and change it to give the upper house equal representation. If this fails, it is likely the senate will put through a separate resolution calling for an independent senate investigation of subversive activities.

Pass Jobless Pay Limitation Bill

            The lower house gave final approval, 42 to 34, to SB 615, Sutton, writing the federal definition of agricultural labor into the State Unemployment Insurance Act. It was estimated this would eliminate 40,000 fruit and vegetable packing and processing workers from unemployment insurance benefits.

            A $50,000,000 state veterans bond issue for farm and home purchase loans-raised from $30,000,000 suggested in the senate-was proposed for the 1946 ballot by the assembly with passage of SB 268, Hatfield.

$10 Additional Pay Loses

            The hope of state employees for another blanket pay rise of $10 a month, on top of a $15 increase provided for in the 1945-47 budget, went glimmering when the senate governmental efficiency committee tabled an assembly approved bill by Assemblyman Edward Gaffney of San Francisco.

            Gaffney argued $19,000,000 in the budget was sufficient to finance the $10 boost he advocated without an additional appropriation. But the senators preferred the earlier budget program formula of giving an extra $15 to all state workers who have not had an increase in the last year and then directing the state personnel board to make whatever other adjustments surveys of the salary schedules justify.

            Senate concurrence in an assembly amendment sent to Governor Warren’s desk, SB 677, Crittenden the legislative flood control and water resources policy declaration which undertakes, among other things, to commit the state to contribute $31,000,000 toward future local flood control costs to qualify California for $450,000,000 in postwar federal aid money.

Water Reservation Plan Loses

            Senator Jesse M. Mayo of Calaveras County asked the senate to throw the measure into free conference because of assembly elimination of language which would guarantee to upland counties 15 percent of available water for use above any flood control works. The senate voted, 24 to 13, however, to accept a lower house revision which would leave it to the state finance department to make sure no area of water origin is deprived of amounts necessary for county development.

Industrial Relations Board

            The senate passed, returning to the assembly for concurrence, in amendments, AB 1391. Lyons, to reorganize the state department of industrial relations and the industrial accident commission. The commission would be increased from three to seven and the salaries increased from $5,000 to $7,200. Three commissioners would be in the north and three in the south, with a chairman at large. The members would work constantly on industrial accident cases.

            Approved by the assembly was SCA 22, Judah, a proposed constitutional amendment to permit the legislature to pass laws amending or repealing initiative measures, providing the amendments or repealing proposals are submitted to vote of the people. Under the present law an initiative cannot be changed except by another initiative. The new suggestion will be on the ballot at the next general election.

*The bottom of this column is cut off.

Next column is a continuation of the first column:

288 by Senator Charles Deuel Butte County.

            The proposal, as it went to the governor for signature carries $1,200,000 appropriation for temporary operation of the institution which is intended for youthful law breakers considered too difficult to handle in the state reform school and not hardened enough in crime to be committee to the penitentiaries. Funds for permanent construction are set up under the budget.

Blind Aid Increase **

            The California allowance for the needy blind would be increased from $50 to $60 a month, if the governor signed SB 336, which the assembly passed last night. The author, Senator H. R. Judah of Santa Cruz County, said the cost would be $756,000 for the next two years this type of aid being shared half by the federal government and of quarter each by the state and the affected county.

            The assembly authorized interim study committees on crime prevention (Middough), interstate cooperation (Massion), postwar rehabilitation (Knight), exhibitions and fair (Leonard), continuation of old ** pension promotions investigation (Werdel), insurance (Waters), ** for the blind (Neihouse), public education and textbooks (Dunn) transportation and ** (Burns), livestock and dairy (Thorps), governmental efficiency (Field), public morals (**) military affairs (McCollister) ** elections (Robertson).

            The senate, meantime, authorize interim committees on postwar construction, local government agencies, harbors, state training scheme for boys and girls, plans for ** hatcheries and game preserve shoreline development and ** erosion and government reorganization

Senate Demands Equal Rights

            The senate last night served notice it will insist on equal representation on joint legislative fact finding committees.

            The upper house unanimously rejected assembly amendments to ** 51, Hatfield, creating a joint interim committee on agriculture which would give the assembly members and the senate four. The original resolution called for four members from each house.

            Speaker Pro Tem Jerrold Seawell, speaking in opposition to ** amendments, declared:

            We should refuse to concur amendments to any joint committee resolution which gives the assembly more members than the senate. This house has equal legislative authority. If the assembly does not agree to this we should appoint our own committees and forget about the assembly.

Senate Again Rejects Political Belief Bill

            An attempt to revive legislation to permit employers to discharge persons adhering to subversive ** failed in the senate late yesterday.

            Senator Jack Tenney of Los Angeles stirred up a debate on ** question by offering amendments ** AB 335, Gaffney, which he said ** aimed at subversive workers known to be on the payroll in war factories.

            The amendments were defeated 15 to 22. The bill itself, which was passed today, provides that an employer may not interfere with the political beliefs of an employee. Such a law at present applies to employers of 20 or more. The Gaffney bill extends its application to all firms.

            The senate also:

            Referred to committee AB 1126, Kilpatrick, to enable counties to finance ** for the aged.

            Passed 1388, Leonard, to validate ** acts of taxing agencies and ** districts.

            Passed AB 1437, to increase the salary of the legislative counsel from $7,000 to $10,000 a year.

            Adopted AJR 16, Gaffney, request congress to enact legislation providing funds to return runaway transient youth to their homes; AJR 16, Gaffney, ** the establishment of military and ** academics on the Pacific and Gulf coast and AJR 49, Kilpatrick, asking congress to remove certain defects in the GI **.

            Passed AB 1087, Kraft, to prevent ** proper use of official badges or insignia for peace officers.

            Adopted a resolution ** the president and congress to enact 807 providing for increases in competition to federal employees.

Assembly Approves Two Park Purchases 

            An appropriation of $50,000 (** 1256 Mayo) was approved last night by the assembly to acquire the ** mining town of Columbia, ** County, as a part of the state park system. The money would be matched by local contributions.

            The lower house also approved SB 277, Gordon, to appropriate ** 000 to acquire lands in Napa County for the proposed Robert ** Stevenson State Park.

House Bars Audit of School Funds

            The assembly by a vote of 35 to 29 last night refused passage of ** 849, Rich, which would ** $100,000 for department of financial audits of state funds allocated ** school districts.

            Assemblyman Chester Gannon of Sacramento County in urging passage of the bill declared the ** “has no idea of what becomes of the money” after it is allocated…*the rest of the newspaper clipping is cut off.

This page displays 4 newspaper clipping. A handwritten note is also at the top of the page and it says: N V Wemple = Bernice (Wemple) Ohnimus father.

First newspaper clipping reads:

A portrait of Mrs. Maud Tombs is shown here

WILL LEAVE OFFICE-Mrs. Maud Tombs, Lassen County Clerk since 1918, plans to retire at the end of her current term. Her daughter, Mrs. Nadine Wemple, a deputy clerk since 1932, announced she will seek the office in the June primary.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

N. V. Wemple Lord of Lower Court

            At a meeting of the board of supervisors held on Tuesday, N. V. Wemple, of Litchfield, was voted justice of the pace of Honey Lake Township. The vote was taken by individual secret ballot and Wemple received 3. Earl Nash received one, and E. L. Shirley, one. The job pays $100 a month. Applicants for the office included: C. H. Prince, E. L. Shirley, Earl Nash, N. V. Wemple, T. F. Sifford, A. K. Philbrook, W. A. Younie, Fred H. Felt.

            A bond of $1,000 is required of the incoming officer.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

WEMPLE IS APPOINTED TO LASSEN POSITION

            SUASANVILLE (Lassen Co.), Dec. 27-N. V. Wemple has been named by the Lassen County Board of Supervisors to succeed the late Herbert E. Torrey as justice of the peace of Susanville. Wemple was one of eight applicants for the position.

            The new justice is at present foreman of the Lassen County Grand Jury and president of the county tax commission. He formerly held the office of county assessor and was a member of the assembly for two years. He resigned both of these positions voluntarily.  

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

Fifty-One “Sweethearts” Attend Show        

            Fifty-one couples attended the show at the Sierra Theatre last night as the guests of the Lassen Advocate-Mail. Although sixty had registered and signified their intention of attending “Sweethearts,” the one hundred and two persons that did attend voiced their happiness at being able to attend.

            These “Sweethearts of Thirty Years” were seated in the middle section of the theatre and filled about half of that section.

            With registrations coming in by person, mail and telegram, the registration went much higher than was first expected. The oldest couples Mr. and Mrs. Frank Nett, married January 31, 1882; and Mr. and Mrs. August Anderson, married July 2, 1882, were not able to attend the show, but do win the “honors” for being the oldest couple to register.

            Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Tucker of Susanville have been married longer than any other couple to attend the show. They were married December 21, 1886. Only a few years behind them were Mr. and Mrs. N. V. Wemple were married August 14, 1892. The “Newlyweds” of the “Sweethearts of Thirty Years: were Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Hunt who were married December 30, 1908.

            After the show the “Sweethearts” were treated to a piece of wedding cake by the Superior Bakery for the occasion. The bakery had prepared the cake especially for the show and each couple was given a piece as they left the theatre.

This page displays 7 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Assembly Clerk Says Lobby Law Load Too Heavy

By Norman Deuel

            ARTHUR A. OHNIMUS, chief clerk of the Assembly, told the Legislature yesterday that the duties imposed upon him by the Collier Act requiring registration of lobbyists are of such magnitude that he could not perform them. In asking the Assembly Rules Committee to place the responsibilities “elsewhere,” Ohnimus called into question the workability of the state’s first anti-lobby statue adopted at the special session last December. It will come into effect March 22.

            The chief clerk, in a four page communication submitted to the Rules Committee, posed a series of questions as to how the law should be enforced and declared it was “physically impossible” for the clerk to perform all of the duties prescribed for him.         

            THE COMMITTEE voted to print the communication in full in the Assembly Journal. Chairman Randall Dickey said he would name a subcommittee to consider the question and seek a way out of the difficulties.

            After hearing Ohnimus’ statement, committeemen discussed the possibility of putting the clerk’s position on a fulltime basis, possibly under civil service, or of amending the law to give the task to the secretary of state. All these suggestions met objections from members.

            The Collier Act requires that lobbyists register with the chief clerk of the Assembly and the secretary of the Senate, and list their expenditures.

            OHNIMUS POINTED out that the records, which might run into thousands of pages and must be preserved for two years, not only presented a problem of space but must be kept available for public inspection.

            How could he do this, he asked, when if in the Assembly Chambers the public would not have access to them, and if he as chief clerk were out of the Assembly he could not perform his duties. He is required to be present personally when a citizen has access to the documents.

            He also raised the question of to whom to report violations, and asked who would enforce the provisions of the law. Ohnimus is an employee of the Assembly during sessions although he puts in much time during interims without pay.

            AT THE SAME time, Assemblyman Maloney presented to the committee an exhaustive report on the Collier Act by the legislative counsel, a document which ran to eight pages of single spaced type describing what the duties of the clerk were under the law and its other provisions.

            Assemblyman Doyle, a committee member, predicted that cost of printing under the act might run to a “million dollars” and asked, “Does this silly bill justify it?”

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Assembly Clerk Views Signing of Lobbyists as Burdensome

            Arthur H. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the assembly, does not like the idea of being in charge of the registration of lobbyists when the Collier Lobby Control Act becomes effective March 22^nd.

            The bill, enacted by the December special session, places the chief clerk in charge of lobbyist registration and income and expense records.

Some Other Officer

            “May it be suggested,” Ohnimus has advised the assembly rules committee, “the duties be placed with some other officer of state government who maintains a full time office in order that registration may be made during regular office hours and that the records prescribed to be kept may be open to public inspection during those office hours.”

            Ohnimus said he feels the new duties imposed would be of such magnitude he could not devote the necessary time to them. And, he points out, he should not be expected to do so.

            The chief clerk raised a question of what will happen if required records are not filed. He said there is nothing in the law to show who has enforcement powers.

Opinion in Journal

            The rules committee directed Ohnimus’ opinion to be printed in the assembly journal for all to read. The group also decided they would go into the lobby law more thoroughly at a future date and decide if some amendments can be worked out to correct what some members called uncertainties in the law.

            Assemblyman Randal F. Dickey of Alameda County, chairman of the rules committee, suggested a possibility of keeping the records in his office which is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM and until noon on Saturdays. Under this plan, he explained, the records could be available for public inspection during regular hours.

            There is feeling among some committee members the law should be repealed in its entirety.

            Said Assemblyman Thomas Doyle of Los Angeles County: 

            “Throw the whole thing in the sewer.”

            Commented Assemblyman J. J. Hollibaugh of Los Angeles County:

            It (the law) is a lot of applesauce.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Ohnimus Quits in Protests of Lobby Load

            Arthur Ohnimus, veteran chief clerk of the Assembly, submitted his resignation yesterday because he said it was physically impossible for him to carry out duties imposed upon him by the Collier Act requiring registration of lobbyists.

            He later withdrew the resignation temporarily on request of Speaker Sam L. Collins pending possible action by the Legislature to ease the situation.

            The Assembly Rules Committee yesterday passed out an amendment to the Collier Act which would authorize an administrative agency to assume responsibilities of registering lobbyists and maintain the information available to the public.

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

Ohnimus Doesn’t like Lobby Registrar Job

Special to the Chronicle

            SACRAMENTO, March 7-Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus of the Assembly doesn’t like the job of keeping the records of the lobbyists who will be required to register and report expenditures under the new law which becomes effective, March 22.

            Ohnimus thinks he already has enough work to keep him busy and has suggested to the Assembly Rules Committee that the law be changed to give some other official the job of keeping the books on the lobbyists.

Fifth newspaper clipping reads:

An image is shown here of Arthur Ohnimus looking over Assemblyman James Phillip’s shoulder as he signs a document. Next to Ohnimus is Assemblyman John L. E. Oliver. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

FIRST ONE-James Phillips, former Assemblyman, now representing State Employees’ Association, was the first to register at Sacramento under new Lobbying Act. Others, left to right, are Assemblyman John L. E. Oliver, author of the bill, and A. A. Ohnimus, Assembly’s chief clerk.

Sixth newspaper clipping reads:

New Lobby Law may have to be Changed to make it Work

            SACRAMENTO, March 7-(Special)-After March 28 California will have a new lobby law which the Legislature once thought might turn out to be a humdinger. Today, how different!

            Now, most of those legislators realize that the act, when it becomes a law, will be an administrative nightmare and they are seeking ways to remedy it.

            It has been found that the law would impose such a burden on the Assembly chief clerk and the Senate secretary that they would have to be three men each and work around the clock, if not the calendar, to handle the work.

            The Assembly chief clerk, Arthur A. Ohnimus, is a fulltime employee with the State Department of Justice. He takes a leave of absence to work for the Assembly when it is in session. The work of registration, making reports and keeping files open to the public and chasing the 350 or more lobbyists for information would be too much for any one man.

            What is the answer? The Assembly rules committee is trying to find out. It may be the law will have to be amended to put the bookkeeping and administration in the secretary of state’s office and to hire more help. It seems the only way out.

            Legislators talked to about it said it looks as if the law, enacted at the December special session, was put through too hurriedly, Ohnimus isn’t talking.

            There is a report here that certain prominent citizens of California have had a heart-to-heart talk with Gov. Earl Warren about the law and that he has agreed to technical amendments that will make it workable, which it doesn’t seem to be now.

            It is predicted that the governor will soon have another little matter involving lobbying by his own department heads brought to his attention. A. I. Stewart, R., Pasadena, chairman of the Assembly Governmental Efficiency committee, is pretty much “het up” about the whole thing.

            “Sometimes we legislators work our heads off to get what we think is a good bill passed by both houses,” said Stewart.

            “We collaborate, conduct research, work before committees, taking amendments and strive in... *The rest of this newspaper clipping is not shown.

Seventh newspaper clipping reads:

            SACRAMENTO-The Chief Clerk of the State Assembly asked to resign today asserting the Collier Anti-Lobbying act gave him too much work to do. Clerk Arthur Ohnimus submitted the resignation as an attempt was resumed in the Legislature to repeal the Collier Act and substitute what opponents call a softer set of regulations.

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

An image is shown here of Arthur Ohnimus looking over Assemblyman James Phillip’s shoulder as he signs a document. Next to Ohnimus is Assemblyman John L. E. Oliver. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

FIRST ONE-James Phillips, former Assemblyman, now representing State Employees’ Association, was the first to register at Sacramento under new Lobbying Act. Others, left to right, are Assemblyman John L. E. Oliver, author of the bill, and A. A. Ohnimus, Assembly’s chief clerk.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Lobbyist Control

Ohnimus May Resign Because of Collier Law

By Earl C. Behrens

Political Editor, The Chronicle

            SACRAMENTO, March 27-Lobbyist regulation popped up to plague the Legislature again today.

            Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus of the Assembly submitted his resignation, but later agreed to remain on the job while the Rules Committee is working on a plan to give him assistance in the registration of lobbyists under the Collier law on that subject.

            Tonight, the Senate Rules Committee, considered the Erwin bill, a substitute lobbyist proposal for the Collier Act which became effective March 22.

            In submitting his resignation after 23 years of service, Ohnimus said the Collier law “imposes new duties upon the chief clerk of such an exacting, responsible and time consuming nature” that he did not care to continue in his Assembly post. Ohnimus, a deputy attorney general is on leave from that position when handling the legislative job.

Dual Capacity

            Ohnimus said he felt he could not be in two places at once, in the Assembly chambers as chief clerk and out in his office handling the lobbyist regulations.

            The Assembly Rules Committee went to work to get a measure approve to permit Ohnimus to turn over the registration of lobbyists, etc. to an assistant.

            In the Senate, Secretary Joseph A. Beek continued to handle the registrations.

            The law provides that the Assembly chief clerk and the Senate secretary are responsible for the registrations.

            Assemblyman John L. E. Collier (Rep-Los Angeles), author of the controversial lobbyist control law, has introduced an amendment, transferring to the Secretary of State the task of handling the registrations and matters in connection thereto.

Proposals Bottled Up

            Collier complained in the Assembly this morning that his amendments were bottled up in the Governmental Efficiency Committee.

            The Erwin lobbyist regulatory measure, already approved by the Assembly, requires registration of all lobbyists, identification of their employer or employers and the filling of a statement of their total expenditures in connection with legislation. The measure does not require the detailed accounting included in the Collier law. It sets up a “legislative advocates board” of four Senators and four Assemblymen to administer the proposed act.

            Tomorrow the Assembly will act on the report of the Conference Committee on Governor Earl Warren’s annual budget for the 1950-51 fiscal year, beginning July 1.

            The committee made alterations in the budget to effect cuts which turned a prospective $5,600,000 deficit into a $2,300,000 general fund surplus by June 30, 1951.

            The Legislature had increased the budget by about $5,000,000 over the recommendations of Governor Warren.

            Ass agreed upon by the Senate…

Continued no Page 4, Col. 4 *the continuation of this newspaper clipping is not shown.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Assembly Clerk Ohnimus to quit if not given Aid to Sign Lobbyists

By R. W. Jimerson

Examiner Political Editor

            EXAMINER BUREAU, SACRAMENTO, March 27-Enforcement of the Collier Lobbyist-Regulation Act broke down at least temporarily today when Assembly Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus submitted his resignation.

“effective forthwith.”

            Ohnimus, veteran lower house official, warned the lawmakers on March 8, that he could not take over the responsibility of enforcing the act. Today he reaffirmed his declaration, after four days of actual work in registering lobbyists, and sent a formal letter of resignation to Assembly Speaker Sam L. Collins.

Legal Theory

            As Ohnimus’ resignation left the assembly without a chief clerk, and the assembly has been proceeding on the legal theory that administrative details in connection with the Collier Act must be handled by the chief clerk personally, there was an hour or more of stalemate.

            Then Ohnimus consented to withdraw his resignation temporarily while the assembly leaders searched for a way out of the difficulty.

            The rules committee hastily met in special session and, at the advice of the legislative counsel bureau, decided to attempt to amend the Collier Act by designating two “assistant chief clerks” who can take over the burden of enforcement.

For 23 Years

            Meanwhile Ohnimus technically was still chief clerk, but he made it clear that he will insist on acceptance of the resignation unless relieved of the “exacting responsible and time consuming” duties he says are involved.

            I’m serious about this,” Ohnimus declared. “The act is ambiguous to start with, and it contains various penal provisions. I am not going to take any changes on a penal statute I don’t understand.”

            Ohnimus has been chief clerk for twenty-three years. He obtains leave of absence each session of the legislature from the attorney general’s office, where he is deputy.

            Assemblyman Thomas Erwin’s substitute lobby-regulation bill, which passed the assembly last week, was scheduled for hearing tonight before the senate rules committee.

12 More Sign as Lobbyists

            SACRAMENTO, March 27-(AP)-Twelve more legislative representatives registered today under the Collier Lobbyist Control Act. A total of fifty-six are now signed up for the present legislative session. The latest batch included:

            Ralph H. Taylor, Sacramento, Agricultural Council of California; compensation, “to be determined as requirements develop.”

            Jay H. Kugler, San Francisco, Dairy Institute of California; compensation $15,000 a year, but “no part of which is exclusively for legislative representation.”

            Donald A. Carlson, Los Angeles, assistant manager, Dairy Institute of California; compensation $7,200 a year, but “no part of which is exclusively for legislative representation.”

A. D. McLennan, Los Angeles, special representative to general manager AT&SF Railway; compensation, yearly salary.

            Ed Clancy, Los Angeles, California Medical Association; compensation, $12,000 a year.

            Arthur F. Corey, San Francisco, California Teachers Association on, $44 per day.

            Charles P. Scully, San Francisco California State Federation of Labor; compensation $100 per month as general counsel and varying payments on a fee for other work.          

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Wednesday, January 22, 1947

An image is shown here of Arthur Ohnimus speaking to two gentlemen by the name of Charles Lyon and George Killam. Underneath the image is a description it reads:

OLD TIMES- Secy. of the Assembly Arthur Ohnimus (at desk) talks over the “good old days” with two old-timers who remember them. Charles Lyon (right), now a legislative representative for the construction industry, held down Mr. Ohnimus’ job last year and was a legislator for 30 years before that. George Killam, superintendent of state buildings and grounds, retires Feb 1 after 25 years.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Two images of Joseph A. Beek and Arthur Ohnimus are shown side by side. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

Joseph A. Beek, left, secretary of the state senate, and Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the assembly, called the rolls today to open the 1953 session of the legislature. Bee Photos.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

THE SACRAMENTO BEE, SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1956

An image is shown of Arthur Ohnimus and 4 other men at a legislative briefing. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

            LEGISLATIVE BRIEFING-A conference to acquaint new state lawmakers with the operation of the legislature was held yesterday and today in the Capitol. At the briefing are seating, left to right, Ralph N. J. Kleps, legislative counsel and chairman of the conference; Assemblyman Harold T. Sedgwick (R) of Butte County, and Thomas MacBride(D) of Sacramento County. Standing are Senator Stanley Arnold (D) of Lassen County, left, and Arthur A. Ohnimus, assembly clerk. Not shown is a fourth new legislator, Senator John J. Hollister, Jr., (D) of Santa Barbara County. Kleps and Ohnimus were among the speakers. The legislature will convene Monday. Bee Photos.

This page displays 2 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping:

Sacramento Bee

Tuesday, March 2, 1954

            FIRST MESSAGE A portion of the state legislators are shown below as they listened to Governor Goodwin J. Knight, indicated by arrow at the upper right, deliver his administration’s first message to the legislature. Both houses met in the assembly chamber to hear the governor.

An image of a portion of the state legislator is shown, with an arrow pointing at Governor Goodwin J. Knight.

Underneath the first image to the left is another image of Chief Clerk Arthur Ohnimus and Assemblyman Caspar W. Weinberger having a conversation and exchanging documents. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

LIQUOR PROPOSAL-Assemblyman Casper W. Weinberger, left (R) of San Francisco is the author of one of the first measures introduced at the legislative session. His proposal, ACA 1, would separate liquor control from the board of equalization and set up a new department. The measure was recorded by Arthur Ohnimus, chief clerk of the assembly.

To the right of the image is another image of spectators seated before the Governor. It shows 3 women, a man and a child. The child is seated on one of the women’s lap. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

            SPECTATORS-Seated before the governor as he delivered his message at a joint session yesterday were, left to right Mrs. James W. Silliman, wife of the assembly speaker; Mrs. Harold J. Powers, wife of the lieutenant governor, and the governor’s son in law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Eaton, and granddaughter, April (Snowflake) Eaton, 22 months old. Another picture taken at the legislative session on page 11. Bee photos.

Second newspaper clipping from the Sacramento Bee reads:

Session will convene at Noon Monday

By Richard Rodda

            The 1956 session of the state legislature, with water conservation and the budget as the main issues, will start at a noon Monday in the Capitol.

            Unlike the odd year wide open sessions which can run as long as 120 days, this year’s meeting is expected to last about a month.

            It is limited to consideration of the budget and special items recommended by the governor.

            A 1956-57 proposed budget totaling approximately $1,700,000,000 is expected to be presented to the lawmakers by Governor Goodwin J. Knight. This would be the largest budget in the state’s history.

26 Other Items

            The governor has issued a call for a special session running concurrently with the budget session in which he has listed 26 items.

            Of major importance is his proposal to consolidate all state agencies dealing with water problems into a single department.

            An item in the budget appropriating funds to start the $1,500,000,000 Feather River Project will bring water conservation further into prominence.

116 Lawmakers

            The session will bring 40 senators and 76 assemblymen to Sacramento.

            Both the senate and assembly will meet at noon to organize and then gather in the assembly chamber for a joint session to hear the governor deliver his message.

            Officers of the houses are expected to remain unchanged. Senator Ben Hulse (R) of Imperial County is president pro tempore of the senate and Assemblyman Luther H. (Abe) Lincoln (R) of Alameda County is speaker of the assembly.

            Veteran Secretary Joseph A. Beek of the upper house, a familiar figure in the Capitol for nearly 45 years, and Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus of the assembly, whose service goes back to 1923, will be at their respective desks.

            The assembly has one job to fill, that of sergeant at arms, due to the recent death of Wilkie Ogg.

            Tony Beard of Sacramento is serving temporarily as Ogg’s successor.

Down Four

            Because of vacancies the assembly will be short four representatives. According to Ohnimus, this is the largest number of openings at any one time in many years.

            Governor Knight has called special elections for June 5^th to fill the vacancies in the 25^th district of San Mateo County, 35^th district of Tulare County, the 63^rd district of Los Angeles County and the 75^th district of Orange County.

            These vacancies were caused by the death of Assemblyman Roscoe Patterson of Tulare County and the resignations of Assemblymen Daniel Creedon of San Mateo County, LeRoy E. Lyon of Orange County and G. Delbert Morris of Los Angeles County.

            Creedon and Lyon have become lobbyists for beer and railroad interests, respectively. Morris is serving a prison sentence for perjury in connection with the Southern California liquor scandal.

GOP Margin

            The senate will have 22 Republicans and 18 Democrats while the assembly will line up with 43 Republicans and 33 Democrats.

            Newcomers to the legislature, all named at special elections since the close of the 1955 session in June are: Senators Stanley Arnold (D) of Lassen County and John J. Hollister, Jr. (D)…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

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First newspaper clipping reads:

Folsom School Expansion Plan said Complete

            FOLSOM-Following a survey by school officials which indicates enrollment in local schools will double within the next three years, school authorities here announced they have completed preliminary plans for a $240,000 school expansion program.

            The program according to W. E. Mitchell, superintendent of Folsom Unified School District, will be started during the coming summer months in order that facilities will be available for the expected influx of Folsom Dam workers.

            Largest single expenditure will be for an elementary school, to house pupils in grades four to six. This will be located in east Folsom near the new Folsom housing development now under construction.

            COST OF THE school, which will comprise five classrooms and offices, is estimated at $100,000. Condemnation proceedings against the property on which the school will be located will start within 10 days, Mitchell said.

            The school will be built on plans allowing for expansion when more classroom space is needed.

            In addition to the proposed classrooms, plans also have been formulated for construction of a $110,000 gymnasium. Mitchell said it is hoped the gymnasium can be completed by December 1 1951.

            OTHER PLANS call for construction of additions to the high school shop. It is expected this will cost approximately $20,000.

            Included in the plans for the shop is a mechanical drawing room, a craft studies room, and service rooms.

            Present average attendance at the Folsom schools is 1200. It is expected that by 1953 the enrollment will be close to 2500 students. Enrollment at the local schools has tripled in the past five years.

            Financing of the construction will be done with state aid **, said school authorities.

*the rest of this column content is cut off and unreadable.

Reopens with Modern Store

An image of the new remodeled Mayhood men’s store is shown. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

AFTER SEVERAL WEEKS of remodeling, the new Mayhood men’s store at 1026 K Street held formal opening this week. This new store was designed by Dick Richards of San Francisco. Floyd Crowder, Sacramento, was general contractor.

Assembly Okeh Given Budget

(Continued from page 1)

818. For other construction in Sacramento $812,500 is provided to alter and furnish the State Capitol and annex and $590,707 to construct a reception center for the California Youth Authority near Perkins.

            Assembly opposition to passage came from Assemblyman August F. Hawkins of Los Angeles, who protested cutting to $3,000,000 the $6,000,000 child care center appropriation added in the lower House. The compromise, along with some 300 smaller changes, was reached in conference committee.

Ask Clerical Aides for Chief Clerk

            Legislation which would authorize the chief clerk of the Assembly to employ clerical help to carry out duties imposed on him by the Collier Act to regulate lobbying was introduced yesterday by Floor Leader Randal F. Dickey of Alameda County. Resignation of Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus is pending if the legislation is not changed. Ohnimus contends it will be impossible for him to do the work himself.

No Changes Seen in Work Benefits

            There will be no liberalization of unemployment and disability insurance benefits at this session of the Legislature…*The rest of this column is cut off

Council Moves for U.S. Aid

(Continued from Page 1)

            Amount of the capital grant may be added to the project cost in computing the federal aid, he said.

            THE URBAN Redevelopment program is planned for the Sacramento’s West Side.

            One of the provisions of the act is that plans must be made for all persons displaced by the redevelopment, according to Hall.

            The planning engineer predicted that a redevelopment program for Sacramento’s blighted areas would increase assessed valuations there and materially reduce city health, police and fire costs.

            SUGGESTED for the advisory committee were representatives from women’s clubs, Lincoln Council, League of Women Voters, labor, Negro organizations, city schools, real estate brokers, County Welfare Department, Lincoln Christian Center, City Council, City Planning Commission, Public Housing Authority, Real Estate Board, banks, Retail Merchants Association, Chamber of Commerce, Junior Chamber of Commerce…*The rest of this column is cut off.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Sac Bee Saturday 1/15/1955

Back Fence Gossip

            Invocations, generally speaking, are not the rip roaringest part of anybody’s program.

            When the churchman gets up to speak he may expect to be treated with courtesy and attention but little else. And it is a very rare day indeed when one of these overworked toilers in the vineyard of the Lord sits down to cheers.

            That is why the invocation by the Rt. Rev. Noel Porter, bishop of the Sacramento Diocese of Episcopal Churches, at this week’s Rotary Club meeting, bears repeating.

            The bishop advised his listeners not to be shy about entering church. Get to know the inside of such edifices, was the general trend of his thought. And he just about brought down the house with his closing words of advice:

            “After all, when you are carried into church for your final visit, you don’t want the Lord to look down at you and say ‘Who is this fellow, anyway?’”

            Taffy, a tiny, blond toy cocker spaniel is pretty well convinced there must be an easier way than the one she tried to find out what strange land lies on the other side of her owner’s home at 618 51^st Street.

            Mrs. Weldon Warner, whose 14 year old daughter, Susan owns the inquisitive pooch, got the surprise of her life when she discovered Taffy hold on for life at the highest point of the steep roof of her home.

A drawing is shown of a dog on top of a roof.

            How did Taffy get there? Why did what a human would do.

            The ladder had been ** the back yard, propped against the house, by a television antenna repairman. Despite the fact one rung was broken, tiny Taffy, fed up with that fenced in feeling, managed to climb onto the roof.

            Mrs. Warner climbed a stepladder, coaxed the dog to the edge of the roof and grabbed her.

            “She was shaking like a leaf,” Mrs. Warner recalled, noting the dog probably had been on the roof about an hour and a half.

            Which makes for quite a display of never, at that.

            Taffy is not the only example this week of somebody showing a lot of crust, however.

            Up in Goldfield, Nev., there is, or was a thief with more brass than the army band.

            Sheriff E. N. Kitchen found this out when he tried to drive his car away from the front of his house the other day.    

            It wouldn’t start because somebody had siphoned off all the gasoline in the tank.

            Another peace officer who had rather harrowing experience this week is Patrolman Raymond McIntyre of North Sacramento.

            Some experts contend a policeman or a fireman never really gets indoctrinated until he has tangled with a cat, caught in a high place and unable to get down.

            So this week, after a mere three months as an officer, the time arrived for Patrolman McIntyre. The subject was a kitten. The place, the top of a house.

            The operation was proceeding smoothly until, halfway down the ladder, the kitten decided it wanted to go back up on the roof. It let out a screech and started crawling frantically. After a teetering, hazardous struggle, McIntyre won out and he and the kitten got to the ground safely. McIntyre’s reaction:

            “Boy, was I glad to get off that ladder.”

            There was some State Capitol doings this week, also, which are worthy of note. For example:

            Appreciative of the work of his assistants, Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus of the assembly went to bat before the rules committee got each a $1 a day raise.

            Ohnimus didn’t say a thing about himself.

            So he is receiving his same old pay.

            California’s new state budget is the biggest on record in more ways than one.

            First, of course, it contains the largest proposed expenditure total on record-$1,529,000,000.

            It also is the biggest budget in the history of the state printing plant, containing 1,501 pages.

            It is two and one half inches thick and weighs seven pounds.

            State Printer Paul Gallagher points out the budget averages $1,000,000 a page.

            The signing of the first bill of the 1955 legislative session brought together two classmates of 35 years ago. Lieutenant Governor Harold J. Powers, who signed the bill in the absence of the governor, and Senator John A. Murdy, Jr., of Orange County attended the University of California Agricultural College in Davis, Yolo County. Murdy was author of the first bill signed.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Business Visitors       

            Raymond F. McCarthy, special agent for the department of justice, Sacramento, and Arthur A. Ohnimus, deputy attorney general, also of Sacramento, were business visitors in Westwood this week.

            Ohnimus was the guest speaker of the Pine Knot Club at its regular Wednesday luncheon yesterday noon. He has been chief clerk of the

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping, it reads:

Legislature Gets Under Way; Faces Controversial Issues

(Continued from Page One)

The Bee Radio KFBK and the American Broadcasting Company network.

            He characterized his record sized reelection vote as “a reminder of responsibility-the responsibility to keep on trying” and said it also constitutes “a challenge to continue facing problems and seeking solutions which must be found if we are to make California a prosperous and happy place in which to live.”

            Recapitulating some of the major matters on which he will ask legislation, Warren said he will recommend:

            That the legislature, starting next Monday, tackle the question of highway expansions and traffic safety, since he feels “the terrible toll of deaths and injuries…requires not only urgent but special attention.”

Water, Forest Programs

            That the water resources board be granted enlarged powers to study ultimate management of the Central Valley Project and other water problems which have aroused “too much emotion between contending groups and too little interest on the part of the general public.”

            That a broader program be authorized in protection of forest lands, reforestation and preservation of natural resources generally.

            That agricultural production and marketing research programs be expanded.

            That the general state government tax rate reductions of 1943 and 1945 be continued in force for another year.   

            That, after the new budget is balanced, a substantial portion of the general treasury surplus be set aside in a special “rainy day” reserve fund.

Prepaid Medical Care

            That California’s public health program be enlarged in several directions to include prepaid medical care based upon a public insurance plan, state aid to the localities for county health services and district hospital construction (with federal help) and greater subsidies for control of tuberculosis.

            The new program of annual legislative sessions, of which this is California’s first, will go far, Warren predicted, to expedite solutions of perplexing fiscal and other state problems.

Complete Health Plan

            As to public health insurance, which he championed two years ago, Governor Warren stated his 1947 position plainly:

            “I’ll be doing the same again this year. No broad health plan is complete that fails to give consideration to the economic ability of people to make use of the medical services, hospitals and clinics which are available.

            “I will continue, as I have in the past, to advocate a plan of insurance under which we can spread the cost of such services and make the benefits of modern medicine available to all our working people.

Problem Must Be Solved

            “I am hopeful that some of those who opposed the plan so bitterly last time have since come to realize that it deals with a problem that must be solved. I don’t see how anyone can look at the expenses of sickness in California today and not conclude that the cost of proper medical care is beyond the limits of the workingman’s paycheck.

            “Almost everything that is worthwhile is achieved only after a struggle, and decent medical care for our people is no exception. Of course, there will be opposition. But I take the view that if a thing isn’t worth fighting for it isn’t worth having.”

Family Will Watch

            Mrs. Warren, the Warren children and other members of the governor’s family were on hand for the inauguration ceremony, set for the assembly chamber before a joint session of the two houses.

            It marked the first induction of a governor for a second four year term since January, 1915, when the late Hiram W. Johnson began his second administration.

            Knight’s inauguration gave California a new lieutenant governor after a weekend in which there was none, due to the resignation Saturday of Lieutenant Governor Frederick F. Houser who becomes a Los Angeles County superior judge today.

            Also taking office today are the other state constitutional officers, including Fred N. Howser, the new attorney general. Republican Howser succeeds Democrat Robert W. Kenny, defeated for the governorship by Warren at the primary last June.

Issue before Lawmakers

            In addition to the matters touched upon by Governor Warren in his…*the rest of this column is cut off.

Second column is a continuation of the first column:

of the other issues and proposals advanced by legislators , the administration and other sources as the session got underway:

            Highway financing, with increases suggested both in the gasoline tax and the levies on trucks, buses and other heavy vehicles. Siskiyou County Senator Randolph Collier, chairman of the interim highway study committee has announced he will offer a bill for a 3 cent jump in the gasoline tax.

            Additional financing for child care centers.

            A broadening in the labor code section on state mediation of labor-management disputes.

            An attempt to give permanency to the wartime prohibition against hot cargo and secondary boycotts in labor disputes.

Liquor Law Proposals

            Proposals to take food out of cocktail bars, change the tavern midnight closing regulation and divorce liquor control from the state board of equalization.

            A 1947-48 state budget which is expected to be the largest in history.

            Creation of a state aviation commission handle future recruitment of agricultural labor.

            Reorganization of the state department of employment, with the agency placed under an administrative director of cabinet rank.

            Creation, at Warren’s request, of a new state commission on racial discrimination.

            Creation of a new commission to deal with commercial fish and game problems and regulations.

            Separation of the California Highway Patrol from the department of motor vehicles.

            Abolition of the state reconstruction and reemployment commission and the farm production council the two remaining wartime agencies.

            Taxation changes, including a levy on cigarettes and liquor to raise more funds for local government purposes.

Democratic Proposals

            Democratic State Chairman Roosevelt said legislators of his party will be urged to support these planks in the 1946 Democratic platform:

            Public health insurance additional aid to veterans, housing legislation, a “full employment” bill, a fair employment practices commission, a state housing authority, commercial rent control, revision of the state constitution and a liberalized $60 at age 60 old age pension.

            Roosevelt “hoped” all Democrats will back such a program but conceded party discipline is “not complete or rigid” in the California Legislature and stated there will be “no effort to discipline or dictate to members.”

A comic image is shown of a man dressed up in a suit with a cigar in one hand and a briefcase in the other hand.  The brief case has a sticker on it with the name “Sen. McBumble.” Above the comic has a text that reads:

Senator McBumble Says:

“NO WONDER FOLKS DON’T UNDERSTAND US LEGISLATORS. WE ELECT ONE GUY SPEAKER TODAY AND THEN THE REST OF THE BOYS DO ALL OF THE ACTUAL SPEAKING FROM NOW TILL NEXT SUMMER!”

Second newspaper clipping reads:

A portrait of four men is shown. The description underneath the image reads:

Assemblyman Sam L. Collins of Orange County (upper left) was elected speaker of the assembly as the 1947 legislature convened today. Assemblyman C. Don Field, right, of Los Angeles County, was his chief rival. Senator Harold J. Powers of Modoc County (lower left) was elected president pro tempore of the upper legislative house. Fred N. Howser (lower right) the former district attorney of Los Angeles County, took office today as California’s new attorney general. All are Republicans.

Thirds newspaper clipping reads:

Chief Clerk’s 70^th

State Assembly Takes Note of Aide’s Birthday

            Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus received an unusual tribute from a grateful state assembly.

            The reason: it was Ohnimus’ 70^th birthday anniversary yesterday.

            The assembly members give him a standing ovation. And Assemblyman Clayton Dills of Los Angeles played Happy Birthday, an honor generally reserved for members only.

Huge Cake

            Speaker Jesse M. Unruh of Los Angeles County, Assemblymen Tom Bane of Los Angeles County, chairman of the rules committee; Jerome R. Waldie of Contra Costa County, majority leader, and Robert W. Crown of Alameda County, chairman of the house ways and means committee, Democrats all, carried to the assembly rostrum a huge cake, decorated with a Capitol, assembly journal and other things with which Ohnimus has been so familiar for years.

            A Republican, Ohnimus has weathered many changes in administrations. He started work as an assembly attaché in 1915, moved to minute clerk in 1921 and first was elected chief clerk in 1923. He has been in the position since then except for the period 1937-40.

Suitable Copy

            Assemblyman Charles J. Conrad of Los Angeles County, the Republican minority leader, introduced a resolution congratulating Ohnimus, It was adopted unanimously and the assistant chief clerk was ordered to prepare a “suitably engrossed copy. Ohnimus has been doing this for years on members’ resolutions.

            Incidentally, it took five tries for Ohnimus to blow out the candles on his cake. 

*An image is shown to the right of this newspaper which shows Grace Plessinger holding a cake and trying to feed it to Arthur Ohnimus who is looking at the camera and smiling. The description at the bottom of the image reads: Grace Plessinger, an assistant assembly clerk, was on hand to honor Arthur Ohnimus, veteran chief clerk of the lower house, as he reached the age of 70. Bee Photo.

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Starting with the first content on the far left column, it reads:

…the credible work of the vast majority of our legislators, officers and employees.”

            The bill has been drafted, Warren explained, after study of the laws of congress and 25 states in regulating lobbying.

Says Most Honest

            Emphasizing that honest lobbyists are greatly in the majority, the executive’s massage went on:

            “Everyone around this Capitol knows the kind of lobbyist influence which is not helpful; that is not honest. As with other businesses and professions, therefore, the rules must be made to regulate and control the few who flout decency rather than for the convenience of the many who conform the decency and law.

            “Every citizen knows in his heart that corrupt lobbying deprives our government of the equality which he cherishes for it. He cannot understand why it is not scourged from the halls of our Capitols. He believes it can be done. And so do I.”

Personnel Shift

            In addition to the $8,000,000 to carry pension costs of the county governments through the end of this fiscal year, since they are not budgeted to resume that expense immediately, Warren advocated legislation to transfer social welfare personnel from the state back to the counties and to boost the salary of the state social welfare director from $10,000 a year to $12,000.

            Assembly Democratic Floor Leader Julian Beck announced a lower house Democratic caucus has voted to seek a broadening of the special session call to permit consideration of all aspects of the old age pension question, including the issue of relatives’ responsibility and whether the program ought to be handled by the state or county governments. It was announced an assembly resolution to that effect will be pressed by Democratic Assemblyman Vernon Kilpatrick of Los Angeles County.

            The Republican governor said he intends to call another extra session at the time of the regular March budget meeting to take up general pension questions.

This page displays a single newspaper clipping with various types of content.

Warning on School Needs

            Unless funds are advanced to help school districts with excessive and unforeseen enrollment increases, the governor warned, some districts “will be compelled to shorten their school year or leave teachers’ salaries unpaid.”

            In meeting the problem of increasingly prevalent sex offenses, Governor Warren endorsed proposals to make murder committed in the perpetration of sex crimes against children under 14 murder in the first degree, carrying the death penalty.

            He also asked consideration of an amendment of the kidnapping law to apply the death penalty, or life imprisonment without parole, to the crime of kidnapping for the purpose of committee sexual offenses.

            A strengthening of the law requiring registration of sex offenders likewise was recommended.

            Warren said a medical establishment for the treatment of sex psychopaths and other psychopathic prisoners of the department of corrections ought to be authorized at the earliest possible date.

Would Advance Bond Proposal

            The governor proposed that the $100,000,000 veterans’ home and farm purchase bond act of 1949 be submitted to the voters at the state primary election next June, rather than at the general election next November, and that the same procedure be followed with a proposed constitutional amendment redefining the taxable interest of veterans in homes being purchased under state contracts.

            His message also urged consideration of a city and county charter amendments (including those of Sacramento) which were approved at last month’s election.

New Solons Take Office at Session

            Three new legislators took office today at the opening of the special session of the state legislature.

            They are Senator A. W. Way of Humboldt County representing the third senatorial district, Assemblyman Ralph R. Cloyed of San Diego County, eightieth assembly district and Assemblyman Carley V. Porter of Los Angeles County, sixty ninth district.

            Way succeeds the late Senator Michael J. Burns and Cloyed and Porter succeed Howard Cramer and Ralph C. Dills, respectively, both resigned.

            There was 117 legislators present for the opening ceremonies, there being three vacancies among the 40 senatorial districts and 80 assembly districts.

            The senate has 25 Republicans and 14 Democrats and the assembly 44 Republicans and 34 Democrats.

Parking Spaces are set aside for Legislators

            A three block long strip of parking spaces next to the Capitol is reserved for California’s legislators for the duration of the special session.

            In addition to these spaces, the legislators may park in the circle between the Library and Courts Building and State Office Building No. 1 and a few spaces in the area immediately surrounding the Capitol.

            The reserved spaces on the city streets are on the north side of the N Streets from Tenth to Twelfth Streets and on the east side of Tenth Street from Capitol Avenue to N Street.

Wreath is placed on Heisinger Desk

            A memorial wreath of laurel leaves was placed on the vacant desk of Assemblyman Sam L. Heisinger of Fresno County before the roll call was made in the lower house today.

            Heisinger, who had served longer in the assembly than any other member when it adjourned last July 2^nd, was killed in the crash of his automobile and a train September 21^st.

            The poultry man and farmer first was sent to the assembly to represent the thirty fifth district in 1921 and he was returned for all but two terms to serve until his death.

Civil Engineers Will Hear Conservationist

            The sportsman’s Santa Claus will be the subject of a talk to be delivered at the regular luncheon meeting tomorrow noon of the Sacramento Section, American Society of Civil Engineers in the Elks Temple. The speaker will be W. H. Bostwick, supervisor of the conservation education, California Division of Fish and Game.

Second content reads:

            JOINT SESSION-Speaker Sam L. Collins, left, of the assembly and President Pro Tempore Harold J. Powers of the senate presided in the assembly chambers for the joint session.

Third content is an image of two men Speaker Sam L. Collins and Harold J. Powers speaking into a microphone and reading off of one paper together. Underneath the image is another description that reads:

            NEW FACES-Ralph R. Cloyed, left, of San Diego County, and Carley V. Porter of Los Angeles County took office today as assemblymen for the eightieth and sixty ninth districts, respectively. Cloyed is a Republican and Porter a Democrat. Both were elected at the special election November 8^th to fill vacancies in the lower house.

Fourth content is an image of Senator A. W. Way. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

            PROMOTED-Senator A. W. Way of Humboldt County is shown at his seat in the upper house chamber. A former assemblyman Way was elected to fill a vacancy in the upper house and took over his new duties today. (Story on page 1.) Bee Photos.

Fifth content reads:

Chamber will Ask Four Lane Nevada to Bay Highway

            The Sacramento Chamber of Commerce will request state and federal highway agencies to take immediate action for the widening of US 40 to four lanes from Nevada to the bay area.

            The proposal was made at a director’s meeting today in a recommendation by the highway committee in a report by John O. Bronson, Chairman Bronson advised the board further recommendations on various road projects in and around Sacramento-such as the H Street traffic jam problem-will be made at the next morning.

            The board also took steps to guarantee greater participation of chamber members in chamber activities by approving a policy of circulating referendums on public questions among the members.

Sixth content reads:

Christmas Comes Early-His Name is Dennis Franklin

            SAN BERNARDINO, Dec 12-(AP)-Christmas came early this year. His name is Dennis Franklin Christmas, weight five pounds, born to Mrs. Jeff G. Christmas in Community Hospital.

Seventh content reads:

            Rod McWilliam of 653 Fifty Fourth Street is the new president of the Sacramento Musicians Union, Local No. 12, American Federation of Musicians.

            He was elected at the annual business meeting of the union yesterday, succeeding John Deus. A total of 300 votes were cast in the election.

            Other officers are: Rollie Barton, vice president; Al Wittenbrock, secretary and business agent; Ray Nelson, treasure; Adam Bencich, sergeant at arms; Thomas King, Carl King, Norman Douglass, Mildred Springer and Dan Parenti, board of directors; L. E. Ashworth and C. A. Fisher, board of trustees; McWilliam, Deus and Nelson, delegates to the convention of the American Federation of Musicians and to the tri state convention of the AF of M.

Eighth content reads:

Virgil Azevedo Wins Chest Campaign Oscar

            Virgil Azevedo was awarded an Oscar for his outstanding work in connection with the recent Community Chest campaign luncheons at a meeting of the chest speakers bureau today in Wilson’s Confecaurant.

            The award was made by Frank MacBride, Jr., chairman of the Chest establishments division during the campaign. MacBride praised the work of the speakers bureau declaring it was the second most important factor in the success of the drive. He said only the solicitors of funds contributed more.

            MacBride was introduced by W. A. Hicks, chairman of the bureau, and following the address and open forum on how the work of the bureau can be improved next year.

            The next meeting of the bureau is scheduled for January 10^th when a new chairman is to be named.

Ninth content reads:

May Attend Program by Long Symphonette

            A near capacity audience in the ballroom of the E. B. Crocker Art Gallery yesterday afternoon gave enthusiastic applause to a program of chamber music by the Long Symphonette.

            Music played included works by Corelli, Vivaldi, Bach, Sibelius, Gliere, Redman and Copland.

            The orchestra consists of Gladys Long, Barbara Long and Leroy Deeg, violins; David Burnam, viola; Leland Long, cello; Albert Modell, bass, and Rosalie Brandt.

Tenth content reads:

Organization Notes

            The traditional goose stew dinner of American Legion Post No. 61 will be given this evening at Fifteenth and H Streets starting at 6 o’clock. Dewey Baker, Jr., vice commander, is in charge. John Matson will present a novelty act.

            The Sacramento Junior Advertising Club will hold its last meeting of the year Wednesday at 7:30 PM in the Hotel Sacramento.

            The Sacramento Section Institute of Radio Engineers, will hold its monthly meeting tomorrow in the Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s auditorium at 8 PM. The meeting is open to anybody interested in electronics.

            E. R. Dearing of Yreka, international counselor of Lions Clubs, will be the guest speaker at the luncheon meeting tomorrow of the Fort Sutter Lions Club in Rosemount Grill.

            John H. Phillips will be installed as president of the Sacramento County Horsemens Association at a dinner meeting this evening at 6:30 o’clock in the organization’s clubhouse on the Auburn Boulevard. Dancing will follow on the installation ceremony and dinner.

            The Associated Song Writers Club will meet at 8 o’clock tonight at 1318 J Street. The results of a recent song judging program sponsored by the group will be given by Mrs. Mabel Betz.

            Election of officers for the coming year will be held by members of the Oak Park Merchants Association at a dinner meeting at 6 o’clock tonight in the George W. Manhart Post American Legion Hall, Thirty Fifth Street and Fifth Avenue.

            The Christian Brothers School Mothers Club will sponsor its monthly card party tomorrow at 1:30 PM in the school dining room, Twenty First and Broadway.

The Eleventh content reads:

US Coffee Association Elects Bay City Man

            BOCA RATON (Fla.) Dec 12 –(AP)-J. A. De Armound of San Francisco is the new president of the National Coffee Association.

            He was elected Saturday at the closing session of the annual convention.

Twelfth content reads:

Five Pairs of Pants are Stolen from Room

            J. W. Fey, listed as a resident of the Coloma Hotel, 508 K Street, reported to the police a thief entered his unoccupied room during the weekend and fled with five pairs of trousers valued at $100.

            Scientists are making synthetic minerals at high pressure in stainless steel “bombs.”

Thirteenth content reads:

Barnett, Sent to Prison on Sex Charges, Loses Parole Plea

            Earl Barnett, former Sacramento draftsman, who was sent to San Quentin Prison in 1944 as a leading figure in a sex perversion ring which involved several boys of high school age, again has been denied a parole by the state adult authority.

            The authority, which considered the parole applications of Barnett and seven other men convicted of sex offenses in Superior California, ruled it will give no further consideration to Barnett’s parole appears for another year.

            Barnett has sought a parole repeatedly since his was sent to the prison five years ago following his conviction on 12 charges of sex perversion. The charges were brought against him by the county grand jury following a police raid on his home.

            The authority has set his prison term at 15 years.

            The parole request of James T. Patterson, convicted in Sacramento of forcible rape, was granted, but the petitions of the other six men were denied. Patterson was granted the last two and one half years of his 10 year sentence on parole.

            Patterson, a former local taxicab driver, was convicted December 2, 1946, of having raped an 18 year old Hagginwood girl when he parked his car on a lonely road while returning from a theater date.

            The other parole request which were denied are:

            Bernard Joyce, Sacramento County, assault with intent to commit rape; Charles Beauch, Lake County, assault with intent to commit rape; Stephen Holland, Napa County, lewd and lascivious conduct; Isaac Manuel, Solano County, lewd and lascivious conduct; Jay Jackson, Sacramento County, crime against nature.

Fourteenth content reads:

If you must, Girls, This is how to pick Christmas Tie

By Hal Boyle

            NEW YORK, Dec 12-(AP)-Girls, I’ve been a bad boy.

            And if Santa Claus is to come my way this year, you’re going to have to get me out of the doghouse.

            How can you help? By going out and buying a big fistful of Christmas neckties and giving them to the men in your lives.

            About a week ago I bemoaned the fact women were allowed by law to present neckties as Christmas gifts. I suggested the formation of a society to stop the custom.

            Well, I didn’t expect to be nominated man of the year for this suggestion. Nor did I expect grateful fellow men to set up statues in my honor-minus a necktie-on every courthouse lawn.

Frances Fumes

            On the other hand neither did I expect to end up in the doghouse. But here I am-stuck in it up to my cravat.

            The first reaction came from my own wife.

            “So you don’t think women are smart enough to pick out neckties, Rover/” said Frances, baring a bicuspid. “You’ll be lucky if you get a bowtie from me, Smarty. And where, anyhow, is that fur coat you promised me 12 years ago? Are you waiting for the minks to die of old age?”

Fish is Furious

            Right on top of that, Byron Fish, columnist of the Seattle Times, wanted to know if I was trying to ruin his annual Christmas party.

            It seems Seattle men are proud of the neckties their wives give them. Last December 29^th they held a National Necktie Party Day on which every man proudly wore the most flamboyant tie on his Christmas rack.

            They were going to give a guard prize, but unfortunately the judges went color blind by mid-day. This year Byron’s going to give them blinders.

            As if I weren’t feeling bad enough, along came a telegram from Pete Hoyt, managing editor of the Cedar Rapids, Ia., Gazette claiming I had insulted a fine old Christmas tradition.

            “Ten men’s clothing stores here are cussing you,” he said. “Eighty percent of tires are bought by women for their menfolk. Some men never would wear a necktie if some woman didn’t buy it for him. Thank what a drab world it would be without Christmas neckties.”

Pete Proposes

            Pete insisted some women have good taste in ties and said it would be a good idea if I gave a few pointers to the rest of the girls on what kind of ties men like. So, on the chance that will get me out of the doghouse, here goes:

            There is only one way sure, girls, to make a man happy with a gift cravat. He probably already will be wearing the tie he loves best. Just kick his feet out from under him, pin him with a half Nelson, tear the tie from around his throat, take it to the store and say “Gimme the nearest one like it you got in stock.”

No Flashing Lights

            If you can’t get his favorite tie away from him, then take a color photo of your Christmas tree to the store. Put the color photo on a stock of new ties. If they match, don’t buy any. Try to select one which looks as little like the Christmas tree as possible.

            Another good way is to pick out a tie and tell the salesman: “If I purchase this one, will you take it in exchange for the one you have on? I can take it home and press it and my husband will never know the difference.”

            If the salesman backs away in terror, choose another tie.

            But if you just simply can’t make up your mind, there’s always this way out-buy your boyfriend a tie for his tux. You can’t go far astray there, ma’am even at Christmas.

Fifteenth content reads:

Master Zoning Plan Curbs are Protested

            The board also:

            Filed protest by the Butter Cream Baking Company and the local sign painters’ union against restrictions on billboard erection in the proposed master county zoning plan.

            Authorized the issuance of a $69,000 bond issue for the Sutterville Heights School District and set January 4^th at 10 AM for the opening of bids. The same date was set for opening bids on a $24,000 issue for the Pacific School District.

            Referred to Kiefer a protest by property owners against blocking off of Blair Avenue near the Victory Acres Tract by the Jensen Crop Dusters.

            Set January 17^th for an election on a proposal to form the Arden Park District.

            Dissolved these assessment districts: Nichols Park, Sacramento Heights, Hollywood Park, Carleton Tract, Fruitridge Park, Coyle City Acres and Wright & Kimbrough Tract No. 36. Sewer work in the area is being taken over by County Sanitation District No. 1.

            Referred to the district attorney’s office a request by the state for the establishment of a county fund to receive aviation gasoline tax money.

            Granted a property tax exemption to the Independent Baptist Church, Sixty Fifth Street and Fourteenth Avenue.

            Approved the annexation of certain property to County Sanitation District No. 1.

            Granted a request by the Fair Oaks Recreation, Park & Parkway District to have the county purchasing agent buy 125 folding chairs.

Sixteenth content is a continuation of another newspaper clipping it reads:

High Court Upholds Rent Control Act

(Continued from Page 1)

            of the state law, and asked the tribunal to review the case.

            Justices Black, Reed and Burton favored a hearing, but Chief Justice Vinson and Justices Frankfurter, Jackson, Clark and Minton said no. Justice Douglas took no part.

            The issue arose during a strike of Boise employees of Western Electric Company, a subsidiary of the Bell Telephone System. Four strikers picketed the building housing headquarters of both Western Electric and the Bell system in Boise.

            The pickets were convicted of violating the Idaho ban and were fined $50 each. The Idaho Supreme Court upheld the convictions, saying the pickets’ placards did not state the dispute was limited to Western Electric and that the pickets “had no right to picket in such a way as to injure someone lese not a party to the labor dispute.” The pickets were members of the Association of Communication Equipment Workers.

            The CIO’s appeal to the high court contended the state law violates free speech guarantees.

Insurance Firms Can Sue US in Own Name

            In other actions today, the tribunal:

            Decided 7 to 1 insurance companies have the right to sue the United States in their own names when they seek to recover money paid to insured person injured through negligence of government employees. The ruling was given in flour suits filed by as many insurance companies.

            Rule 7 to 0 the federal government may tax tickets to a public bathing beach. The decision applied specifically to the Village of Wilmette in Cook County, Ill., which owns and operates a money losing bathing beach on lake Michigan.

Sanitation Board Approves Bills

            County Sanitation Board No. 1 today approved monthly bills and discussed routine business following the supervisors’ meetings. Sacramento Mayor Belle Cooledge, Supervisor T. Luke Conrad and James R. Garlick, supervisors’ chairman, are members of the sanitation body.

This page displays a single newspaper clipping with various types of content.

Starting with the first content on the far left column, it reads:

Governor Presses for close Watch Over Lobbyists

(Continued from Page 1)

…on which he proposes to influence legislation, together with the names of his employers and the amount of his compensation.

            “Thereafter he is required to account for his expenditures and any financial transactions he has with, or any campaign contributions made to any legislator, the governor or the lieutenant governor, all of whom are a part of the legislature process.

            “His employers must also file a statement authorizing the employment and confirming the amount paid pursuant to it.

Restrictions on Officials

            “Up to this point the restrictions are against the lobbyist. Now we propose to apply the principle to ourselves. Whenever a citizen accepts public employment, he must, of necessity, limit his financial transactions in a manner that will avoid a conflict between his personal interest and that of the public.

            “No man can serve two masters. And when one in public service tries to do so, it is invariably the public interest that suffers.

            “It is therefore provided in the bill that, except in performance of official business, no elected officer or employee of the state shall represent anyone for compensation before the legislature or before any officer, board, commission or administrative agency, or prosecute any claim against the state before such agency.

            “There have been flagrant examples of such employment and they have not been to the best interest of the state. A clear line of distinction drawn between public and private interest in this regard would greatly increase the integrity as well as the efficiency of state government.”

Called Matter of Urgency

            The lobbying issue is a matter of urgency, Warren stated, because it “involves the honor of our state.” Thousands of dollars have been spent in past investigations, he said, but the legislature “has never faced the problem squarely” as many other states have done.

            “To our discredit,” he added, “disreputable lobbying practices are still impairing the efficiency of state government and besmirching…*the continuation of this content is cut off.

An image comic is shown of a man and a parrot. The parrot has a word bubble coming out of his beak and it says: Who’s gonna play Santa Claus pop? The comic also has words in the background that reads:

Senator McBumble Says:

Well, Friends, I guess this is a special session in which every’budy is expected to look out for No. 2 as well as the usual “No.1”!

Second content reads:

ATTENTIVE There was standing room only in the gallery of the assembly chamber today when Governor Earl Warren addressed the assembly and senate at the opening of the special session of the state legislature.

An image is shown of the gallery of the assembly chamber filled with people. There are no empty seats, resulting in others standing in the back.

Third content reads:

An image is shown of Sam L. Collins and Harold J. Powers both holding the same gavel. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

JOINT SESSION-Speaker Sam L. Collins, left, of the assembly and President Pro Tempore Harold J. Powers of the senate presided in the assembly chambers for the joint session.

Fourth content reads:

An image of Arthur Ohnimus is shown calling the assembly to order. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

            TAPS GAVEL-Veteran Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus officially calls the assembly to order.

Fifth content reads:

An image of Governor Warren is shown speaking in front of a microphone. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

            A MESSAGE-Governor Warren urged sweeping regulation of professional lobbyists as he delivered his address.

Sixth content reads:

ILWU Officers will be Installed Jan 7

            Walter Arndt, newly elected president of the Sacramento Local No. 17 of the International Longshoremens and Warehousesmens Union, will be installed at a meeting January 7^th.

            The local, an affiliate of the Congress of Industrial Organizations, held its annual election Saturday. There were 759 votes cast out of a total of 1,185 eligible.

            Others elects are Frank E. Thompson, secretary-treasurer and business agent; Art Bleeck, recording secretary; Albert Kozlosky, assistant business agent; Emil Massey, dispatcher; Claude Thompson, sergeant at arms.

            A runoff election will be held for the office of vice present between A. H. Wulff and Ed Kimbrough, highest candidates.

            The following were elected to office in the Lincoln, Placer County, unit of the local: Chairman-Lawrence Melendrez; vice chairman-Alfred Elster of Roseville, Placer County; recording secretary-Irene Prima; sergeant at arms-A. Bertinoia.

            An executive board composed of 31 members also was elected.

Seventh content is cut off but the title reads:

Rod McWilliam Heads Musicians Union

Eighth content reads:

Collins, Flaying Samish Article, Urges Strong Law

            Speaker of the Assembly Sam L. Collins today demanded the enactment of the strongest law in the country to control lobbying.

            In an address at the opening of the special session, he charged there were many inaccuracies and falsehoods in the Collier’s magazine article of several months ago in which liquor lobbyist Arthur Samish was described as the secret boss of California.

Damnable Indictment

            “No matter what anyone says to the contrary,” declared Collins, “or no matter what one’s views may be concerning the accuracy of this article, it stands as a damnable indictment of every member of the assembly and the senate. Possessing as it does not iota of truth as to the control of Mr. Samish, it nevertheless demands forceful and immediate action by this body to enact the strongest law existing on any federal or state government statue concerning the control of lobbying.”

            The speaker said he wrote the editors of Collier’s in August:

            “Your statement Mr. Samish gave the speakership of the assembly to Sam Collins is an absolute false statement.”

No Obligation

            Collins added in the letter he discussed the speakership with Samish at no time and at no time has he felt he was obligated to him for the position.

            He described the Collier’s reference to him as reprehensible and pointed out Samish has appeared before a legislative committee to deny in detail every portion of the article.

            “For a statement to appear in a responsible paper or periodical ‘Article Samish has more power than the governor’ in connection with legislation is to preposterous to even be considered by anyone,” continued the speaker.

Glaring Error

            Collins called attention to what he called one glaring inaccuracy in the article.

            He said the story charged the assembly public morals committee, dominated by Samish, voted to a man for a 1949 bill to legalize bookmaking in California.

            “This bill actually never was before the public morals committee,” Collins said.

            The bill, which was approved by the committee on revenue and taxation, subsequently was defeated on the floor of the lower house.

            The speaker expressed confidence in Governor Earl Warren and agrees with him on the necessity of a special session.

Business Aides Necessary

            In conclusion, Collins declared:

            It is needless for me to say to you that business representatives are not only desirable in order to properly inform committees and members of the attitude of the various affected parties-or to remind you that a lobbyist is one who represents the interests contrary to your views, while the business representatives represent your views and that’s the reason you don’t call him a lobbyist.

            Knowing all these things our task is even grater to prevent the undesirable from influencing legislation unlawfully and yet permit the desirable fee and unhampered representation and the right of petition to their legislative body in a lawful manner true to the time honored tradition of this great commonwealth.

Ninth content is a continuation of another newspaper clipping that is not shown, this content reads:

$1,800 is stolen in Series of Crime

(Continued from Page 1)

…by the owner of the firm, Ray J. DeHaven.

            According to the detectives, the thieves entered the building through an unlocked rear door and jimmied open a bolted door on the inside to get to the main part of the store. They attacked a 1,000 pound old style safe with a 16 pound sledgehammer found on the premises and succeeded in knocking the dial off the strongbox but failed to get the door open.

            The prowlers fled with $20 from the cash register.

Café is looted

            Thomas Renos, operator of the Elite Café, 3408 Third Street, reported $305.69 was stolen from his establishment Saturday night by a burglar who unhinged a rear door and smashed open a bolted door to get to the main part of the café.

            The entry was made from same alley from which the safecrackers broke into the nearby Snyder’s Emporium the night before. The police are checking possible latent fingerprints to determine whether the safecracking and burglaries are linked.

            Renos told the police he had closed the café Saturday night and slept in an upstairs room but heard no suspicious noise during the night.

$6 is Stolen

            The theft of $6 in small change from the Drew Drop Inn, 612 ½ Capitol Avenue, was reported to the police by the proprietor, Gus Holmes, who said a burglar entered the place last night by tearing a screen on a kitchen window. The money was taken from a cash register.

            The police said the Christian Art and Book Center store at 1420 J Street was looted of $10 in cash and $19 worth of pens and religious jewelry. Thieves entered the shop during the weekend by pulling off a board from a rear wall.

            A radio and $8.60 in cash were stolen from the room of Caustellar Hays at 1934 ½ Second Street. Entry was gained through a rear window.

            Dena Norm of Jackson, Amador County, complained a wallet with $17 in cash, three boxes of rifle ammunition and a flash light were stolen from the from the glove compartment of his car. The auto was parked on K between Ninth and Tenth Streets.

            Joseph Sypnicki of 1423 Nineteenth Street said $15 worth of tools and a tool chest were taken Saturday from the trunk of his automobile, parked in front of his home.

Robbery is reported

            K. Sahashi, who lives off an alley between Capitol Avenue and N Street between Third and Fourth, reported two men knocked him down at Third and N Streets Saturday night and took his wallet, containing $20 in cash. He was treated in the police emergency hospital.

            A seven foot Christmas tree was reported by F. Richard Smith of 2111 O Street to have been taken from his front porch Saturday night. He valued the tree, a silver fir, at $7.

Thief Steals Paint Spraying Equipment

            Carl Kelsey of 1701 Seventh Avenue reported to the police a thief stole paint spraying equipment valued at $120 from his unattended truck parked in the 700 blocked of O Street during the weekend.

Tenth content reads:

County Sells $432,000 in School Bonds

            The board of supervisors today sold school bonds worth $432,000.

            North Sacramento School District bonds totaling $390,000 went to the American Trust Company. The firm bid from 2 to 3¼ percent. The issues will expire between now and 1974. The net cost to the district will be $126,085. Higher rates were asked in bids from the Bank of America, Schwabacher & Company and William R. Staats Company.

            Dean Witter & Company bought Fair Oaks School District issue bonds worth $42,000. The interest rates range from 2½ to 2¾ percent and the cost to the district is $13,370. The last of the bonds will expire in 1971.

            The district will use the money to improve school facilities and to qualify for the state aid as impoverished districts under the $250,000,000 school bond issue approved at the November election.

Freeport Boulevard Plan is Opposed

            The chamber of commerce asked the board to help with drainage problems so the state will widen Freeport Boulevard. This met with opposition from Supervisor T. Luke Conrad, who represents the south area.

            John O. Bronson of the chamber’s highway committee said engineer Fred J. Grumm, deputy state high way engineer, told him the state would widen the boulevard to four lanes from the city limits to the municipal airport if the county would take care of drainage.

            “We’re not going to put in a lot of pipe,” Conrad told him. “Everybody else wants us to do the same thing and if we do it for one we have to do it for all.”

            Bronson said he did not know just what work the county would have to do and asked the board to have a study made.

            County Executive Charles W. Deterding said the problem of high water and clogged drainage ditches south of Sacramento is acute. He agreed to make a detailed study of the situation with County Engineer Arthur L. Kiefer and to report back on what can be done about the chamber’s request.

Protest on Church Permit is Overruled

            The supervisors overruled a protest against a planning commission decision approving a building permit for the construction of a United Brethren in Christ Church at Lilly and Grand Avenues in east Del Paso Heights.

            They gave the permit to Rev. Ralph F. Knauf of Woodland, Yolo County, as the commissioners recommended. Bert T. Wakefield of 1851 Grand Avenue, East Del Paso Heights, contended granting the permit would make traffic hazards in the area worse.

$16,500 Claim over Property is Denied

            A $16,500 claim against the county by Fong Yee Shee of 1804 W Street was denied.

            Mrs. Fong claimed she was damage when the county took over property she and her husband, Walter Fong, own next to the North Twelfth Street Market. According to her complaint, she was not consulted.

This page displays 4 newspaper clipping.

The first newspaper clipping reads:

Tulare, California, Advance-Register

Monday, August 7, 1950

AFFAIRS OF STATE

By Earl G. Waters

            (While Earl Waters is on vacation “Affairs of State” is being written by prominent Californians.)

By Arthur A. Ohnimus

State Assembly Clerk

            SACRAMENTO (WNS)-Pursuant to the provisions of the constitution of the state, the 1951 session of the California legislature will convene Monday, Jan 8.

            This will be one of the most important sessions in the history of the law making body.

            For the first time in the history of California the sessions of the legislature will be restricted as to time in which legislation may be enacted.  The regular session will be limited to 120 days and the budget session, meeting in the even numbered years, must complete its work within 30 days.

            During the regular session in the odd-numbered years there will be no limit on the subjects which may be considered, but during the budget session in the even numbered years only the budget bill for the succeeding fiscal year, revenue acts necessary therefor, the approval or rejection of charters and charter amendments of cities, counties, and cities and counties, and acts necessary to provide for the expenses of the session may be considered.

            During the past sessions, due to the tremendous increase in population in California and the many exacting and complex problems which have been considered by the legislature, the sessions have exceeded 120 days in length.

            The capitol annex, which will provide offices and committee rooms for the members of the legislature, will greatly facilitate and expedite the work of the session. The members of the legislature have been greatly handicapped in the past years by inadequate quarters and a great loss of time has resulted from this condition.

            The capitol annex, which will be a six story building, is the first addition which has been made to the historic capitol since it was completed in 1874. The architecture of the new addition will be similar to that of the capitol and will make a most pleasing addition to the beautiful capitol grounds.

            The governor and his staff, the controller’s office, the legislative counsel, the department of finance and the legislative auditor will have offices in the new annex.

            An up-to-date telephone exchange will be installed which will care for all of the local calls, as well as incoming calls on a most efficient basis, and a  United States sub-postoffice station will also be included in the annex which will greatly expedite the legislative work.

The second newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping which is not shown. This newspaper clipping reads:

Capitol is readied for 1949 Legislature

(Continued from Page 1)

…Orange County are expected Saturday. They are slated to be reelected president pro tem of the senate and speaker of the assembly, respectively, and will be needed to help out in the routine preparations.

            One sad duty falls upon the legislature on the opening day-the adoption of a concurrent resolution paying tribute to Assemblyman John C. Lyons of Los Angeles County who died recently from a heart attack.

Reception will be First Social Event

            The first social event of the 1949 legislative season will be a reception Monday from 4 to 6 PM in the Mirror Room in the Hotel Sacramento for the wives of newly elected Democratic legislators.

            Ruth Dodds, vice chairman of the Democratic State Central Committee, and Presiding Justice Annette Abbott Adams of the third district court of appeal will head the receiving line.

Most of Legislators are housed for Session

            Mrs. Grace Conlin, head of the housing division of the Sacramento Chamber of Commerce, said today most of the requests from state legislators looking for housing during the 1949 session have been filled.

            Mrs. Conlin said she expects more request, however, after the February legislative recess.

            Light for studying and reading should be free from glare, harsh shadows and contrasts between darkens and bright light.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Legislature is convened for 56^th Session

By Herbert L. Phillips

            Governor Earl Warren called upon the fifty sixth regular state legislature, which convened here at noon today, to make its session “a new milestone in California progress.”

            “The legislators are meeting,” Warren said, “as representatives of a people who are conscious of the disruptions, the distortions, the congestions and the sorrows of three long years of war.”

            In his biennial message, delivered to the senate and assembly in joint session this afternoon, the governor declared the people have a right to expect of him and the lawmakers “the foresight to so plan that our war produced aggravations do not take permanent root.

            “They expect us to start now cutting away the handicaps to social and economic progress in the days of peace to come.”

House Elect Leaders

            The governor’s address, outlining one of the most varied and extensive programs offered the legislature in some years, came immediately following the organization of the two houses in which Republican Charles W. Lyon of Los Angeles County was reelected assembly speaker and GOP Senator Jerrold L. Seawell of Placer County was chosen for another term as upper house president pro tempore.

            Lieutenant Governor Frederick F. Houser called the senate to order, while the assembly was opened by Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus.

            Assemblyman Thomas A. Maloney, Republican of San Francisco, was selected as speaker pro tempore and Ohnimus and Wilkie Ogg  were reelected chief clerk and sergeant at arms, respectively of the lower house. Dr. Torrance Phelps, pastor of the Pioneer Congregational Church, was chosen as the assembly chaplain.

            Speaker Lyon urged that appropriations for state departments be allocated in such a manner as to permit the personnel board to allow salaries to state employees commensurate with those paid in private industry. He also expressed himself as in favor of Governor Warren’s proposal that the state’s tax structure be maintained at the present reduced rates.

Lyon Proposes Salary Change

            In the senate, Seawell will serve as chairman of the rules committee which selects all the upper house committees. The other members are Senators Charles Brown of Inyo County and Charles H. Deuel of Butte County, Democrats, and Harold J. Powers of Modoc County and Byrl R. Salsman of Santa Clara County, Republicans.

            The senate reelected Joseph Beek, on leave of absence from the armed forces, and Joseph Nolan chief clerk and sergeant at arms, respectively, and chose Rev. Clarence Kircher of the Westminster Presbyterian Church as chaplain.

First Bills are Passed

            Shortly after the senate completed its organization, the firs bills were introduced and passed swiftly. SB1, by Seawell and others, proposes $5,000 appropriation to finance the mileage expenses of the legislators, and SB2 would appropriate $60,000 to pay legislators’ expenses at the rate of $10 a day. Both bills went to the assembly.

            A concurrent resolution introduced by Senator Jack B. Tenney of Los Angeles, proposing a $10,000 appropriation for the continuation of Tenney’s un-American or “Little Dies” committee activities, was referred to the rules committee.

            Governor Warren came out strongly for a compulsory state health insurance program despite Los Angeles press reports that the California Medical Association has turned down his proposal.

Opposes Tax Changes

            He expressed himself firmly against any changes in the state’s general tax rates, reduced at his request in 1943, despite a current drive by the League of California cities and the County Supervisors Association of California to have the rates restored to their former higher levels to finance state subsidies for postwar local building projects.

            While he did not discuss additional state subsidies to the local governments as such, Governor Warren reviewed past legislative earmarking of surplus funds for the state’s own postwar construction program, told of other surplus treasury millions and then said:

            “Many plans have been submitted for the use of this surplus. Most of them are for desirable purposes, but the question is: Are they for essential purposes?....

            “Unless every dollar of our present income is spent prudently, we soon will be operating on a deficit as we did for 10 consecutive years prior to the war….

Proposes Unemployment Fund

            “After financing our current governmental requirements and a postwar reconstruction and reemployment program, it is my hope that we can freeze the remainder of our surplus in this and the next biennium for a ‘rainy day’…I, therefore, suggest to you that, after…

(Continued on Page 4, Column 6) *this page is not shown.

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

Los Angeles Evening Herald & Express

Thursday, December 16, 1948

Cal. Law Makers

Capitol Ready for New Session

By Associated Press

            SACRAMENTO, Dec 16-Sacramento’s capitol halls, assembly rooms and hotels will be talk-filled and smoke-filled anew Jan 6 when the Legislature convenes again.

            The sitting may last into June as did the last general session in 1947, which considered 4318 bills and made 1577 of them laws.

            Both the Senate and Assembly will being their business-as provided in the constitution-at noon. The Upper House gavel calling the 40 senators to order will be in the hand of Lieutenant Governor Goodwin J. Knight. At the other end of the corridor the 80 members of the Lower House will be tapped to order by Assembly Clerk Arthur Ohnimus.

            Unless there are more changes before Jan. 3 there will be only one vacant desk on the chamber floors. It will be that of Assemblyman John C. Lyons, Los Angeles. He died last Friday.

Long Term Solons

            The legislator with the longest record will be Senator Bradford S. Crittenden, Stockton. He has served for 14 straight terms since 1921. Senator Ralph E. Swing, San Diego, has been in the Upper House for 13 unbroken terms since 1923.

            The dean of the lower House will be Sam L. Heisinger, Fresno. He has served 12 terms, beginning in 1921, having been supplanted for only a single term. Assemblyman Thomas A. Maloney, San Francisco, has also been here for 12 terms, although part of them were served in the Senate.

            The only brother team, composed of Assemblymen Clayton A. Dills, Gardena, and Ralph C. Dills, Compton, remains intact. Assemblywoman Kathryn T. Neihouse, San Diego, will again be the only lady lawmaker.

Pioneer Gone

            The legislature’s greatest void will be that left by the death of Senator Herbert W. Slater, Santa Rosa. He was elected senator in 1910 and served 19 consecutive terms before dying after the close of the 1947 session.

            The senators will meet in a remodeled chamber. Workmen are still busy on it, but they promise to be finished in time. The job is costing $215,000 and includes new heating, lighting and air conditioning systems.

            (The assembly chamber was remodeled after the 1947 session at a cost of $515,000-including a new voting and lighting system, air conditioning and desk microphones.)

            After introducing the majority of the bills during January, the legislators will go home-as required by the Constitution-for February. This will enable them to see constituents and determine their stand on pending legislation.

            It will also provide needed time for printers and clerks to finish the voluminous paper work.

Apologizes, Anyway

            HOUSTON, Texas, Dec 16-(U.P.)-A young hold up man pocketed $110 from the cash register in a store. Then he ripped the telephone receiver from the ** “I hate to do this, he ** to the clerk, “but I’ve ** ** wife.

This page shows 12 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Recorder

Nov 17

City Mourns Loss of Mrs. Grace Ohnimus

            Last rites for Grace D. Ohnimus, pioneer Californian and mother of Arthur A. Ohnimus, member of District Attorney Brady’s staff and former chief clerk of the State Legislature, were held Monday afternoon from the Parnassus Masonic Temple.

            The passing of Mrs. Ohnimus ends the career of a colorful figure-that of an actress, civic and business leader and also prominent in local political circles two scores years ago. She could be rightfully called the “Lady of the Lake” because for more than thirty years she had managed the picturesque boat house at Stowe Lake in Golden Gate Park.

            In her younger days as an actress she played in the cast with many prominent actors and actresses, including the late Henry Miller.

            Mrs. Ohnimus was the widow of Louis J. Ohnimus, at one time San Francisco fire commissioner and also prominent in political circles. He died in the early 1900’s.

            Besides her son, Arthur, she is survived by a daughter, Mrs. Jane Carr, and sisters, Mrs. George W. Kneass, Belle and Ida Pierce.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Lots of Work in Store for Legislators

Special to the Chronicle

            SACRAMENTO, May 30-Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus of the Assembly estimates that the lawmakers will have to put in a nine hour day, exclusive of committee sessions, and grind out 50 bills daily if the current session is to end before the last to June.

            The two houses of the Legislature usually pass about 50 percent of the measures introduced. But both houses have a long way to go before they dispose of the remainder of the 5000 measures that were placed on the files.

            Governor Warren already has signed into law 478 statutes passed at this session. None are major measures.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Chief Clerk Describes Legislature’s Work

            Arthur A. Ohnimus, veteran chief clerk of the state assembly, described the operation of the legislature in a talk before the Northern California Peace Officers Association.

            Approximately 100 law enforcement officials from all parts of Superior California at attended the luncheon meeting yesterday in the Players’ restaurant. Deputy District Attorney John G. Hauck of Sutter president, presided.

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

Ohnimus Gets Raise

            Arthur Ohnimus chief clerk of the Assembly was anonymous about his own position when he obtained pay raises for his assistants, but he was not overlooked. Assemblyman Edwin (R-Los Angeles) sponsored a resolution giving Ohnimus a $5 a day pay hike.

Fifth newspaper clipping is partially ripped off so the top part is missing. It reads:

            Retaining the existing route of Route 1 and straightening the highway, enlarging it to four lanes outside and between state park boundaries, construction of sidings or turnouts and parking areas within state park boundaries.

Senators Asks Change of Water Control

            Senator Dale Williams (D) of Lassen County has introduced SB 943, which would transfer state administration of water resources to the department of natural resources.

            Williams said the measure is a spot bill which he does not intend to use unless legislation previously introduced for a state department of water resources bogs down.

Assembly Clerk Skips Self in Plea for Pay Raises, Then Gets One

            The assembly has given a $5 a day raise to its chief clerk, Arthur Ohnimus.

            And he did not even ask for it.

            The other day Ohnimus was successful in obtaining a raise for his assistants but he neglected to speak for himself.

            Assemblyman Thomas Erwin (R) of Los Angeles County, chairman of the lower house rules committee, came forward and sponsored a resolution necessary to give Ohnimus and increase.

Sixth newspaper clipping reads:

Wheeler Seeks Assembly Job

November 25, 1932

Midtown News

            With the assurance that he has the personal support of some of the newly elected members of the California Assembly, William Murray Wheeler yesterday announced that he may bring to the Southland the chief clerkship of the assembly. Democrats as well as Republicans have pledged their support to Wheeler.

            Unless the chief clerkship of the Assembly, as well as secretary of the senate is “already tied up in the bag.” Wheeler believes he has a fighting chance to get the appointment because Los Angeles County is represented in the legislative body by 30 of the 80 assemblymen.

            Another factor in Wheeler’s favor is that considerable experience is necessary to capably handle the important job. Wheeler has served acceptably for four years in the House of Representatives in Nebraska as an elected officer and four more years as secretary of the Senate of Nebraska.

            Wheeler, now residing at 934 North Oxford in the midtown district, has been a resident of Los Angeles for nine years.  He is a member of the University Club of Los Angeles.

Seventh newspaper clipping reads:

An image is shown of 3 women sitting together in a room which might be a living room. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

            The camera snaps a happy threesome at the Robin Hood meeting in the Moreland Drive home of Mrs. H. B. Fredericks (left). With her are Mrs. Leroy Kayser and Mrs. Frank Viles. The chapter’s book review-tea will be the first event to raise funds in Alameda for the Children’s Home Society work in this area. (Time-Star photo)

Eighth newspaper clipping reads:

Assembly Clerk Skips Self in Plea for Pay Raises, Then Gets One

            The assembly has given a $5, a day raise to its chief clerk, Arthur Ohnimus.

            And he did not even ask for it.

            The other day Ohnimus was successful in obtaining a raise for his assistants but he neglected to speak for himself.

            Assemblyman Thomas Erwin (R) of Los Angeles County, chairman of the lower house rules committee, came forward and sponsored a resolution necessary to give Ohnimus and increase.

Ninth newspaper clipping reads:

Assembly Pays Tribute to State Law Abide

            The state assembly today instructed its secretary, Arthur Ohnimus, to send a message of “good cheer” to Jess Hession, assistant attorney general, who is confined in the Sutter Hospital.

            Hession suffered a mild stroke last Thursday but is reported by his physician today to be showing improvement. The physician said Hession probably will be in the hospital a week or more.

Tenth newspaper clipping reads:

Assembly’s Longtime Officials Return

            Veteran officials of the state assembly were returned to office without opposition including Thomas A. Maloney (R) of San Francisco as speaker pro tempore.

            Arthur Ohnimus was reelected assembly clerk. The lower house members returned Geraldine Hadsell to the position of minute clerk and Wilkie Ogg was renamed sergeant at arms.

            William C. Pearson, pastor of St. Pauls Episcopal Church, was selected chaplain to deliver the prayer each day at the start of assembly proceedings.

Eleventh newspaper clipping reads:

            EXAMINER BUREAU, SACRAMENTO, July 30-The California Assembly Interim Committee on Legislative Procedure and Reduction of Legislative Expense can have as long a name as it wishes.

It hoped, anyway

            It also can shuffle off to Buffalo (as it did), spend $5,000, and hope to get $5,000 more for “expenses” (which it didn’t).

            It can (and did) publish a 112 page report on its findings which recommended among other things the use of fewer paperclips by assemblymen. (The interim committee even criticized interim committees.)

Economy Too Costly

            But last minute minutes of the last Legislature, revealed by Chief Clerk Arthur Ohnimus of the Assembly today, indicated one thing the committee lost out on. That was its request for additional printing of a “final report” largely duplicating its “preliminary report” at an estimated cost of $500.

            Speaker Walter Little ruled out the last request as a “too expensive…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

Twelfth newspaper is a continuation of another newspaper clipping it reads:

…though he puts in much time during interims without pay.

            AT THE SAME time, Assemblyman Maloney presented to the committee an exhaustive report on the Collier Act by the legislative counsel, a document which ran to eight pages of single spaced type describing what the duties of the clerk were under the law and its other provisions.

            Assemblyman Doyle, a committee member, predicated that cost of printing under the act might run to a “million dollars” and asked “Does this silly bill justify it?”

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping. Words that are cut off or unreadable will be replaced by two asterisks.

First newspaper clipping reads:

First column:

Monday, August 7, 1950

Evening Outlook, Santa Monica, California

Affairs of State

            Editor’s note: While Mr. Waters is on vacation “Affairs of State” is being written by prominent Californians. Today’s column is by Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the California Assembly for the past 24 years.

By Arthur A. Ohnimus

            SACRAMENTO-Pursuant to the provisions of the Constitution of this state, the 1951 session of the California Legislature will convene on Monday, January 8. This will be one of the most important sessions in the history of the law making body.

            For the first time in the history of California, the sessions of the Legislature will be restricted as to time in which legislation may be enacted. The regular session will be limited to 120 days, and the budget session, meeting in the even numbered years, must complete its work within 30 days.

Limit Explained

            During the regular session in the odd-numbered years there will be no limit on the subjects which may be considered, but during the budget session in the even numbered years only the budget bill for the succeeding fiscal year, revenue acts necessary therefor, the approval or rejection of charters and charter amendments of cities, counties, and cities and counties, and acts necessary to provide for the expenses of the session may be considered.

*The bottom of this column is cut off.

Second Column:

The capitol annex, which will provide offices and committee rooms for the members of the legislature, will greatly facilitate and expedite the work of the session. The members of the legislature have been greatly handicapped in the past years by inadequate quarters and a great loss of time has resulted from this condition.

Annex to Help

            The capitol annex, which will be a six story building, is the first addition which has been made to the historic capitol since it was completed in 1874. The architecture of the new addition will be similar to that of the capitol and will make a most pleasing addition to the beautiful capitol grounds.

            The governor and his staff, the controller’s office, the legislative counsel, the department of finance and the legislative auditor will have offices in the new annex.

Phone Exchange

            An up-to-date telephone exchange will be installed which will care for all of the local calls, as well as incoming calls on a most efficient basis, and a  United States sub-postoffice station will also be included in the annex which will greatly expedite the legislative work.

            The 1951 Legislature will be confronted with…*the rest of this column is cut off.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

The San Francisco Chronicle

March 28, 1947

Some More Spring Showers in the Offing

            Today’s forecast by the Weather Man (subject to change without notice, of course) is for occasional showers, steady temperatures and moderate southerly winds.

            Likewise, says he, for Northern California.

            He finally hit it on his third try for yesterday’s prediction and forecast some rain which began arriving about 4 a.m.

            By the day’s end, .12 of an inch had fallen on the city, bringing the seasonal total to 11.58 inches, as against a normal of 19.07. The sprinkles were general over San Mateo, Alameda and Marin County as well.

            Today’s forecast includes light intermittent snows above the 7000-foot level in the Sierras.

            Meantime, Sacramento reported State Highway 38 on the west short of Lake Tahoe has been reopened. It was closed November 20 by a snow blockade between Meek’s Bay and Richardson.

The State Legislature

Assembly Votes to Kill Increase in Gas Tax; Hot Cargo Ban Approved

First column:

Oil Firms Win another Round in Road Fight

By Earl C. Behrens

Political Editor, The Chronicle

            SACRAMENTO, March 27-The Assembly late today gave the oil companies a temporary victory again in the fight over the big highway program bill by voting out the 2 cent a gallon gas tax increase approved by the Senate.

            The vote was 47 to 30 to sustain the Revenue and Taxation Committee which had cut the gas tax boost out of the Senate bill.  The boost would have provided an estimated $50,000,000 annually in additional highway funds.

            The action of the Assembly preceded a noisy, unruly and disorderly quick adjournment of the session until tomorrow.

            Three San Francisco members, Blosser, Brady and O’Day, were among those who voted in support of the Revenue and taxation Committee’s action to “cut out the heart of the bill” as it proponents said.

            Five San Franciscans, Berry George D. Collins Jr., Gaffney, Malloney and Wollenberg, voted against the amendment which kicks out the principal revenue feature of the highway program bill.

Some Disagreement

            When the session was suddenly adjourned, there was disagreement as to whether the Revenue and Taxation Committee amendments had or had not been written into the Senate bill.

            Speaker Sam L. Collins, supported by Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus, held the amendments were not yet adopted. GOP Floor Leader Randal Dickey contended the amendments were in the bill. Legislative Counsel Fred Wood was called into decided the argument tomorrow, it appears certain a fuss will be stirred up over the question.

            The supporters of the bill contend the amendments are not yet in the bill because of a parliamentary failure.

            If the amendments are held to have been put into the bill, then a reconsideration move by Assemblyman Julian Beck, San Fernando, will come up.

Boost Still Pending

            Although the oil companies won the first test there were indications that many Assemblymen ultimately might favor some sort of a gas tax boost before the bill is finally acted upon.

            Assemblyman Richard McCollister, Mill Valley, indicated the feeling of some of those who were against the 2 cent tax when he declared during debate that “I’m not going to leave Sacramento without having some sort of highway program.” However, in supporting the committee’s amendments, McCollister followed the oil companies’ line of argument against Senate Bill No. 5. He proposed the Assembly put itself in a “trading” position by refusing to accept the bill as passed in the upper house.

            The opponents of the highway program bill lost the first skirmish when the Assembly voted 43 to 28 to sit as a committee of the whole so that experts on both sides of the bill controversy might be present inside the assembly rail to aid in answering questions of members. However, none of the experts were called upon for testimony.

            Assemblyman Ralph C. Dills, Compton, who led the fight against committee of the whole said this was a move which “permits proponents only on the floor since the opponents, of course, will not be on the floor.”

*The rest of this column is cut off.

Second column:

Senate Group Votes to Keep Curb on Boycott

Special to The Chronicle

            SACRAMENTO, March 27-The Senate Labor Committee by a vote of 5 to 1 today recommended the Legislature make permanent California’s hot cargo and second boycott law.

            The action was taken following a three-hour hearing before a crowd which filled the Senate chambers.

            Organized labor representative opposed the bill making permanent the law outlawing hot cargo practices and secondary boycotts.

            The bill given a “do pass” recommendation was proposed by the farmers and supported by industry as well as many small dairymen merchants and others.

            The wartime act was passed by the 1941 Legislature, vetoed by Governor Olson, passed over his veto and then submitted to a referendum by labor forces in 1942. The voters by a big margin approved the act at the 1942 general election. A test of its constitutionality is now awaiting a State Supreme Court decision.

For and Against

            Senators Judah, Dillinger, Hulse, Weybret and Williams voted to recommend making the law permanent and Senator Carter voted in opposition.

            Practices of hot cargo and secondary boycotts are extensions of a primary strike into areas not originally affected.

            The bill is expected to be passed by the Senate by a comfortable margin. Then it is likely to be bogged down in the Assembly Industrial Relations Committee, when the labor forces hold the margin of votes.

            Backers of the bill expect to put it out of the committee by 41 Assembly votes and pass the measures. Labor spokesmen admit the likely hood the Assembly will approve the bill.

            Senator George J. Hatfield, Merced County, who handled the measure, said it covered both employee and employers. He declared that practices of hot cargo and secondary boycotts caused a disruption in agriculture, industry, and business and threw person out of work who were in no direct way connected with the primary strike or law dispute. He presented witnesses show that in many cases, employers were satisfied with their employment, but were forced into idleness by the practices banned for the duration of the war.

Labor’s Protest

            C.J. Haggerty, AFL State secretary, and Mervyn Rathborn, ** State secretary, questioned the constitutionally of the law, declared strangled labor organizations, ** class legislation and was an attempt to prevent workers from containing better conditions and wage from employers.

            Frank C. MacDonald, State Building and Construction County president, surprised such old-** and rocked-ribbed conservatives Senators Gordon, Rich, Hulse and Watson, who are co-authors of the bill, by declaring it “conforms Russian communistic law.”

            Ray D. Williamson, representing the California Highway Driven Council, an AFL Teamsters’ organization; Charles Scully, AFL attorney, and Martin Ludwig, CIO of Workers’ Union, urged defeat of the bill.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Lobbyist Law in Effect, Move on for a Substitute

Special to The Chronicle

            SACRAMENTO, March 22-As California’s new lobbyist-control law became effective today, moves were started to repeal it and to substitute a new act.

            At a hastily assembled meeting the Assembly Governmental Efficiency Committee gave a “do pass” recommendation to a bill which would set up an eight-member “legislative advocates board” of Senators and Assemblymen to handle the issuance of credentials to the lobbyists.

            Legislative advocates would have to file reports of their employment or employments in seeking to influence passage or defeat of legislation, the total amount of their expenditures but not their salaries or considerable other detail under the law effective today.

            Assemblyman John L. E. Collier (Rep-Los Angeles), author of the present lobbyist regulation act, said the new proposal would take all “the teeth” out of his law.

            The bill, which was sent out of the Assembly Committee, was drawn by a joint Senate-Assembly Committee, headed by Assemblyman Tom Erwin (Rep-Puente).

            Erwin said the bill would clarify ambiguities in the Collier law and was stronger in many respects than the present law. Collier disagreed.

            The new act went into effect amid considerable confusion.

            There were no application blanks on hand in the Assembly for the lobbyists. Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus said there was nothing in the act which said he was to get the blanks printed.

            Secretary Joseph Beek of the Senate, however, had blanks ready. He finally loaned some to the Assembly.

            By noontime, less than a dozen lobbyists had registered.

            Missing from the list were the names of Arthur H. Samish, liquor lobbyist and central figure in the controversy over lobbyist regulation, or any of his employees.

            Frank X. Flynn and William Jasper, who have been watching legislative proceedings in the absence of Samish, who is in the East, were not among the registrants.

            Meanwhile the Assembly Rules Committee further delayed consideration of the Collier resolution to bar Samish and his employees from obtaining lobbyist credentials. The group voted 9 to 3 to postpone action until the Government Efficiency Committee finishes with Samish.

            Unless the resolution-voted last December but effective only during that special session-is voted out of the rules committee, Samish will be free to lobby in the Legislature again.

First Lobbyists to Sign are McLain Men

            SACRAMENTO, March 22 (AP)- The first two lobbyists to sign up today under the new control law are representatives of Los Angeles pension promoter George H. McLain.

            They are A. Oliver Johnson and Ray Howell, San Francisco. They registered with the Senate Clerk and said they are employed by the California Institute of Social Welfare.

            Neither noted the amount of money he is paid for salary or expenses, however.  In the space following “allowance for expenses” each wrote the word, “varies.”

Child Care Bill Sent to Floor of Assembly

Special to The Chronicle

            SACRAMENTO, March 22-The Assembly Committee on Education tonight recommended passage of a bill continuing State support for child care centers after June 30, 1950.

            Under the present law, State aid to the centers will be discontinued after June 30 and the cost of operation would be up to the local school districts.

            The bill is identical to one enacted at the 1949 session.

            It now goes to the floor of the Assembly for a vote.

            Meanwhile, the Committee on Constitutional Amendments sent a proposal for a $1,000,000,000 public works bond issue to the Assembly floor without recommendation. The bond issue would be submitted at the November general elections should it be approved by the Legislature.

            Sponsors of the measure declared it was designed to relieve unemployment.

Authors’ Aid Dies

            NEW YORK, March 22 (AP)-Miss Kathleen V. Oehler, 87, for many years editorial assistant to several leading authors, died today. She worked with Writers William Sydney Porter (O. Henry), Richard Harding Davis, Charles Hanson Towne, and F. Scott Fitzgerald.

A partially cut off advertisement is shown at the bottom that reads:

Fly TWA Constellations

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This page displays 3 newspaper clipping.

The first newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping that is not shown. This newspaper clipping reads:

Page A6                                                                                  THE SACRAMENTO BEE

Friday, September 29, 1961

Politics

Winton Admits Loss of Votes in Speaker Race

Continued from Page 1

…simply stay away from tomorrow’s caucus. The bulk of Winton’s support had been expected to come from GOP members in combination with anti Unruh Democrats.

No Committees

            Both Winton and Unruh declared they have made no committee chairmanship commitments or sought help outside the legislature to win votes. Winton said he has seen “no indication” of lobby interference in the contest.

            Terming himself a political “amateur” matched against a “professional,” Winton said he will count noses tonight and tomorrow morning before deciding whether to release any of his supporters from hard and fast ballot commitments.

Unruh Calls Session

            Unruh called a conference of his supporters for tomorrow morning before the assembly caucus convenes.

            Unruh, ways and means committee chairman, and Winton, majority party whip, have been contending for vote pledges more than three months, even before the legislature adjourned its general session in June.

Bee is Left Out

            Left or more less on the sidelines in this political power struggle was Speaker Pro Tempore Carlos Bee of Alameda County who ordinarily would succeed Brown as acting speaker until the legislature convenes in budget session next February 5^th.

            The assembly in the final days before adjournment, however, adopted a unique rules change resolution, providing for an interim caucus to fill the powerful post of speaker if as we anticipated, Speaker Brown should retire.

            Another resolution provided that veteran Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus, not Speaker Pro Tempore Bee, should preside over the unusual election proceedings.

            Ohnimus will open the vote meeting in the assembly chamber tomorrow noon under a caucus call issued by the rules committee.

            Eligible to participate-Brown missing-will be 79 members, 46 Democrats and 33 Republicans.

            Ohnimus said he does not intend to authorize proxy voting unless ordered by the house to do so.

            The battle for the interim speakership amounted to a test of who shall have it on a regular basis in next year’s session.

GOPers Have Influences

            The minority Republicans were in position to influence the outcome but not to control it.

            Supporters of Assemblyman Unruh hoped for his election last June when there was some talk that Speaker Brown might retire immediately. The speaker declined to do so in advance of actual appointment to judiciary.

            More than 50 promised votes were claimed by the Unruhites during the June maneuverings. They maintained today the Winton drive for backing since then has made no substantial dent in their strength.

Brown is Neutral

            Governor Brown recently announced he would not take sides in the Unruh-Winton rivalry. He said both candidates were his personal friends and supporters of his administration.

            The assembly speakership, with direct power over appointment of lower house committees and assignment of bills to them, is regarded by many as the most politically influential post in the legislature. Retired Speaker Brady has held the position since the session of 1959.

An image is shown in this newspaper clipping of a comic character by the name of Senator McBumble. Above him there are texts that read:

Sen. McBumble Says:

Political Primer

Before you start countin’ your blessings, always be sure, you’ve counted your votes!

Second newspaper clipping reads:

New Legislature Opens; Faces Disputed Issues

By Herbert L. Phillips

            Faced with such controversial issues as highway financing, public health insurance, taxation and water resources development, the 1947 California Legislature convened here at noon today and Republican Governor Ear Warren began his second four year administration.

Powers is Senate Leader

            As organization of the two legislative houses took precedence over the Warren inauguration, Republican Senator Harold J. Powers of Modoc County was elected president pro tempore of the upper house. He succeeds Jerrold L. Seawell of Placer County, who retired from the legislature to become a member of the state board of equalization.

            The senate settled its organization questions in caucus, with Senator T. H. DeLap of Contra Costa County the only other reported bidder for president pro tempore.

Collins Wins Speakership

            Meantime, in the assembly, Republican Assemblyman Sam L. Collins of Orange County was elected speaker on a roll call of 51 votes against 24 for Republican C. Don Field of Los Angeles County. Field gained a 24 to 19 edge over Collins in a Republican caucus but a large number of Democrats voting with Collins on the floor gave him the victory. He succeeds Charles W. Lyon, speaker at the last session but no longer in the legislature.

            Speaker Collins expressed hope that “this session will be known as one of the progress and accomplishment.”

            Assemblyman Field congratulated Collins and pledged support to him after the roll call.

Senate Rules Committee

            The powerful senate rules committee, which appoints all other committee and assigns bills, will consist this season of Senators Powers, chairman; Charles H. Deuel, Democrat of Butte Count; George J. Hatfield, Republican of Merced County; Byrl Salsman, Republican of Santa Clara County, and Charles Brown, Democrat of Inyo County.

            Other officers of the senate; Joseph Beek, secretary; Joseph Nolan, sergeant at arms; John F. Lea, minute clerk, and Rev. William C. Pearson, pastor of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Sacramento, chaplain.

Maloney Wins Post

            Republican Assemblyman Thomas A. Maloney of San Francisco was reelected speaker pro tempore of the lower house and Arthur A. Ohnimus and Wilkie Ogg were chosen again as chief clerk and sergeant at arms, respectively.

            The assembly elected Geraldine Hadsell as minute clerk and Rev. Raymond Renwald of the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, also superintendent of Catholic parochial schools in Sacramento, as chaplain.

            A resolution was adopted for adjournment of the first day’s session in tribute to the memory of the late Assemblyman John B. Pelletier of Los Angeles County, who died last month.

Democrats are Deadlocked

            A Democratic caucus today failed to choose a minority floor leader. An earlier party meeting last night deadlocked between Assemblyman Ernest Debs and Julian Beck, both of Los Angeles County.

            With the GOP outnumbering the Democrats 48 to 31 in the lower house, Assembly Democrats decided in caucus last night not to put up a speakership candidate, leaving individuals free to vote as they pleased. A proposal by Democratic State Chairman James Roosevelt that a Democrat be placed in nomination, at least preliminarily as a party gesture, got nowhere. With a GOP speaker, contended Roosevelt, that party must assume responsibility for assembly legislative results.

            Roosevelt also urged a change in assembly rules under which standing committees would be appointed strictly on the basis of party representation, with the members chosen by party caucuses as in congress. Democratic Assemblyman George D. Collins, Jr., of San Francisco announced he will offer such a plan, as he did unsuccessfully last session.

Inauguration Ceremony

            As the senate was opened by Senator Herbert W. Slater, Sonoma…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Sac Bee 12-4-46

Sacramento, California

Ruling is Made on Assembly Speaker Voting

By Herbert L. Phillips

            With the death of Assemblyman John B. Pelletier of Los Angeles County, the speaker of the 1947 assembly can be elected by a majority of 40 votes and could be chosen on a legal and highly improbably minimum of 21.

            Arthur A. Ohnimus, veteran chief clerk of the lower legislative house and, incidentally, a deputy attorney general, today revealed he has obtained a legal ruling on speakership vote requirements from the legislative counsel bureau.

            The post-election death of Pelletier reduces the new assembly to 79 members-48 Republicans and 31 Democrats. When a full assembly of 80 members is present and voting, 41 votes are needed to choose a speaker.

Majority of those Present

            “We believe,” the counsel bureau told Ohnimus, “that a vote of the majority of e members present and voting, a quorum being present, is sufficient to elect a speaker.”

            A quorum of the 79 assemblymen eligible to convene on next January 6^th would be 40 and a majority of that would be 21. With a hot speakership battle underway, however, it is assumed the entire body will be on hand for the opening roll call and a majority of 40 necessary to decide the issue.

            The three principal speakership candidates, all Republicans are Assemblyman Sam L. Collins of Orange County, C. Don Field of Los Angeles County and Albert C. Wollenberg of San Francisco.

Two Rulings on Selection

            Until a speaker is chosen, Ohnimus, as chief clerk of the last session, will be the presiding officer. And, as such, he has armed himself with two legal opinions on the situation. The legislative counsel bureau wrote him one last January and a second as recently as September 23^rd.

            The Government Code says the speaker and other officers of the assembly shall be elected by “a majority of the duly elected and qualified members.” The counsel bureau questioned the validity of this, however, in view of a constitutional provision that each legislative house “shall determine the rule of its proceedings.”

            The rulings cite the following from Paul Mason’s Manual of Legislative Procedure:

            “When in an election a quorum is present and a candidate receives a majority of the votes cast, although a majority of the entire body fails to vote, the election is valid.”

            Thus, if other seats than that of the last Assemblyman Pelletier were empty at the opening of the 1947 session, the assembly could proceed to an election of officers, it was held, provided a quorum of 40 were present.

Precedent Has Been Set

            It will not be the first-time officers of the assembly have been selected by fewer than a 41 majority vote from the 80 lower house districts.

            Frank F. Merriam (later governor) of Los Angeles County won the assembly speakership in 1925 over Isaac Jones of San Bernardino County on a roll call of 40 to 39.

            And in 1939, Hugh P. Donnelly (now senator) of Stanislaus County became assembly speaker pro tempore on a vote of 40 against 39 on his opponent.

            Chief Clerk Ohnimus takes the position that, after he raps the gavel January 6^th, the assembly can proceed to business if a quorum of 40 is on deck. It can elect a speaker immediately, if it wishes; recess temporarily if there are absences, or muster the whole available membership by call of the house.

            While ruling on election of assembly officers by a majority of those present, the legislative counsel bureau held there can be no election by plurality if more than two candidates are contesting a position.

Collins Backer Claims Votes

            Assemblyman Richard H. McCollister of Marin County, a supporter of Collins for speaker, claimed the other day there were 41 votes pledged to the Orange County candidate. That included Pelletier, whose death still left Collins with 40, by McCollister’s calculation, or enough to be elected. Backers of other speakership candidacies maintain these claims are extravagant.

            The legislative counsel bureau’s opinion on assembly election officers holds good, of course, as to election requirements in the upper legislative house as well.

            State attorneys emphasized though, it takes full majority of the elected membership to pass a bill-41 votes in the assembly; 21 in the senate.

An image is shown in this newspaper clipping of a comic character by the name of Senator McBumble. He is shown sitting on a chair, dressed nicely with a cigar in his hands. Above him there are texts that read:

Sen. McBumble Says:

“Wonder what ever happened to that ‘written’ candidate them communists put up for governor against Warren?
 

This page displays 4 newspaper clipping.

The first newspaper clipping reads:

Legislature Speakership Fight Opened

Organization Gives Politicians Food for Gossip; Merriam Keeping Hands Off Contest

By William H. Jordan

            Organization of the State Legislature for the biennial session opening on January 7 is giving California politicians food for gossip.

            As the situation stands at this writing, a wide-open fight for the Assembly speakership is on in southern California between Assemblyman Edward Craig of Brea and Charles W. Lyon of Los Angeles, with Assemblyman Thomas A. Maloney of San Francisco watching for a break because of the southern split. Incidentally, Assemblyman E. V. Latham of Long Beach and C. C. Cottrell also have an eye on developments in the speakership contest.

Backing for Craig

            Ingall W. Bull, leader of the Association of Southern California Republican County Central Committees, is putting that organization between Craig, according to one report.

            Organization of the Assembly with a Speaker friendly to Governor Merriam rests with the lineup in which there is a Republican enrollment of forty-two members of the eighty, a narrow margin.

            In the Democratic field, James J. Boyle of Los Angeles and William Mosley Jones of Monte Bello, an out and out Sinclair man, are casting about on the possibility the breaks might give the Democrats control of the lower house.

            Lieutenant Governor-elect George J. Hatfield  will, when seated, assume command of the situation in  the Senate as its presiding officer and will name all standing and special committees for the upper house.

Ohnimus Called Safe

            A bit of a contest is on there for the honorary post of president pro tempore, with Senator William P. Rich of Marysville, a close friend of Governor Merriam, Senator Will R. Sharkey of Martinez and Senator Jerrold L. Seawell of Roseville mentioned as aspirants.

            It appears Arthur A. Ohnimus, for many years chief clerk of the Assembly, will be returned to that position. Ohnimus has been free entirely from partisanship in administration of a peculiarly difficult post.

            Joseph Beek is likely to be re…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Unanimous Vote Reelects Lincoln Assembly Speaker

            The state assembly today reelected Assemblyman L. H. Lincoln (R) of Alameda County as speaker and renamed Assemblyman Thomas A. Maloney (R) of San Francisco as speaker pro tempore.

            Arthur A. Ohnimus was renamed chief clerk and Geoffrey Cook was reelected minute clerk. The Rev. William C.  Pearson was selected as chaplain to say the prayer ta the opening of each day’s proceedings.

            Tony Beard was unanimously elected sergeant at arms to succeed Wilkie Ogg who died last fall.

            Assemblyman Maloney, who nominated Beard, said he has the knowledge and experience needed for the job. Beard, a former star football player, has served in previous sessions as a legislative attaché.

Today’s Chuckle:

Waiter: “How would you like your rice?”

Spinster: “Thrown at me, preferably.”

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Senate and Assembly Sit Under Different Colorings

Special to The News

            SACRAMENTO, Jan 8-Nobody recalls why, but the Assembly chamber in the State Capitol is green in walls, drapes and carpets, and the Senate chamber red. You can be sure the color scheme has nothing to do with political belief, though Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the Assembly likes to hint that the soft green of those walls and the green drapes, dark as a Victorian parlor, may relate to the tender inexperience of novice assemblymen. Senators are supposed to be wiser. Anyway, they are elected for four years, instead of two.

            Both chambers have an appearance of freshness, despite their 60 years as cradles for California law. They were redecorated a few years back by a WPA project and nicely touched up gilt scrolls and Latin script facing each house in large gold admonition. (Copies of the Constitution given each member carry a convenient translation.)

            “It is the duty of legislators to make just laws,” it just states in the Assembly-though not in those words. Lincoln, in a tall oil painting, stands beneath.

            “It is the duty of a senator to guard like liberty of the common wealth,” is the other admonition, with Washington frowning below.

            Since it must seat 8- Assemblymen, that chamber is about 20 feet longer than the 75-foot by 56-foot Senate, which has lovely old mahogany desks for 40 members. Soundproofing has been set into the lofty ceilings, second-story balconies were cut down to extend only across the back-that is where you sit, Mr. Mrs. Citizen, when you want to watch your Government in process.

            Time was when noisy informality ruled the Assembly. Anybody and his dog might wander among the bills and pillars. Wives kept an eye on husbands by sitting beside them plying knitting needles, or maybe handed over the baby while they went out to shop. As for persons interested in persuading the assemblyman how to vote-they had hardly any problem at all as they breathed down the neck of the people’s representative.
            Today, however, the pillars and brass rail curving at the back of the chamber mark a dividing line beyond which no nonmember may step, except the press, which has desks on either side beneath the tall windows. Representatives of special interests may get inside the doors, but never onto the floor.

            Mr. Ohnimus, who runs things in and out many administrations, is a San Francisco lawyer and looks like one. He came for his first Capitol job as committee clerk back in 1915 at the same time another fellow named Earl Warren showed up as a committee clerk. Off-session times he acts as a deputy attorney general in the criminal division. Stenographers and secretaries of the Assembly are under his direction and all the clerical staff on which the Assembly may spend $300 a day, but no more. So is the editing of the daily history, daily file of bills and daily journal under his care.

            Joseph A. Beek, secretary of the Senate, is a rugged, wiry sort with the beset pair of sea legs in the Capitol. He has keen sailor eyes and a line of interests that leads him to remark when considering the 36½-foot walls of the Senate chamber:

            “It’s just about big enough to hold my little cruiser!”

            That isn’t an idle reference. He is on shore leave from the Army Transport Service, where he wears captain’s stripes. Despite 32 years service with the Senate, he has kept his native Maine inheritance of sea blood. His three sons each took a yacht into a race at the age of 6, the eldest is taking a submarine into battle these days and the second enrolls today in the California Maritime Academy, Vallejo.

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

Levey Wins Speakership by 41-39 Vote

Kline Given Pro Tem Post; Breed Again Heads State Senate

By Earl C. Behrens

            Chronicle Bureau, Sacramento, Jan 5-Without a vote to spare Speaker Edgar C. Levey of San Francisco was reelected presiding officer of the lower house here this afternoon over Assemblyman Walter J. Little of Santa Monica, thus terminating a bitter contest for that office when the State Legislature convened for its forty-ninth session.

            The vote was: Levey 41, the bare majority necessary for a choice; Little, 39.

Contest Features Opening Session of Legislature

            The contest was the feature of the opening session of the Legislature, which tomorrow will meet in joint session to witness the inauguration of Governor-elect Rolph and Lieutenant Governor-elect Merriam.

            Election of Speaker Levey was the culmination of a wearisome contest which was waged hotly for several days and in which the Governor-elect declined to take sides, although some of his lieutenants were lined up for Little.

Bachelor Assemblyman Assures Levey’s Election

            When Assemblyman Milton M. Golden, bachelor member from Hollywood, gave his vote to Levey, the election of the San Francisco man for the third time was assured. But one other man, the present Governor Young, has ever been Speaker of the California Assembly for three terms.

            When the roll was called on the speakership, the doubtful votes of Assemblyman Biggar, Mendocino County; Frazier, Gridley; Honnold, Escondido, and one or two others were found to have swung to Levey.

Kline Defeats Jewett for Speaker Pro Tem, 47-33

            Assemblyman Chester M. Kline, Riverside County, was elected, forty-seven to thirty-three, over Assemblyman Augustus F. Jewett, Hanford, as speaker pro tem of the assembly. Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus, San Francisco, was unopposed for reelection. Louis F. Erb, San Francisco, was named minute clerk without opposition.

            Arthur Ferguson, Sacramento was elected sergeant-at-arms over former Assemblyman Fred B. Noyes of Yuba City and G. A. Scannell, San Francisco. C. Wm. Booth of Sacramento was made assistant secretary of the assembly and Rev. Lawrence Wilson, Sacramento Congregational minister, was named chaplain of the lower house.

            While the assembly was quarrelling over the various official positions, the Senators on the other side of the Capitol proceeded with…

(Continued on Page 4, Col 3) *the rest of this newspaper clipping is not shown.

This page displays 2 newspaper clipping. Words that are cut off or can’t be read will be replaced by two asterisks.

First newspaper clipping reads:

LOVE MIXED

Elopement, Badger Game

Two Wives, Couple of Husbands Play Chief Roles in Martial Snarls that Cause Legal Headaches

            TRYING TO UNRAVEL the Byers-Armstrong matrimonial foursome gave Municipal Judge Lazarus and the District Attorney’s office a headache yesterday.

            Statutory charges were dismissed against Albert Armstrong and pretty Mrs. Betty Byers, arrested here Saturday as elopers from Yakima, Wash.

            But Mrs. Byers will have to appear in court today on a juvenile delinquency charge, growing out of the fact she brought her 8-year-old son with her on a trip south, while both she and her husband face investigation on suspicion of having victimized Armstrong in a badger game.

            And Armstrong, because police found a pistol in the California street apartment he and Mrs. Byers turned into a love nest, but answer Saturday to a charge of violating the gun law.

            “This case,” said Judge Lazarus, in bewilderment as complications piled up, “is a nut for a Philadelphia lawyer to crack.”

-“It’s a-it’s a monumental mixt up!” exploded Assistant District Attorney Ohnimus.

Badger Game Charged

            “It’s a badger game, pure and simple.” Asserted Victor Wells, retained as counsel or Armstrong by his wife, Clara, who followed the elopers here Wednesday, forgave her mate and charged Mrs. Byers and Mrs. Byers’ husband, William, with having conspired to gain control of Armstrong’s savings.

            Byers and his wife assert the elopement was honest-to-goodness and that the touching scene in court a few days ago, in which Byers “forgave” his wife after ostensibly trailing the pair here, was on the ** ** up.

Theft Citation Issued

            But Mrs. Armstrong, who with her husband operates a Yakima hotel, has obtained a grand theft citation against Byers in connection with a joint bank account Armstrong is said to have opened here for himself and Mrs. Byers.

An image is shown in this newspaper clipping of Mr. and Mrs. William Byers. Underneath the image has a description it reads: She ‘Eloped,’ He Has Forgiven Her

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Legislature’s New Schedule is Lauded by Lawmakers

            This is a report on Proposition 9: what it did and how it’s working. Approved by the voters last November, it eliminated the split legislative session that had been in effect for 48 years. Since 1911, the lawmakers had come to Sacramento, loaded the hoppers with bills for 30 days and then gone home for 30 days to study the measures before returning and battling them out.

            Many felt the system had outlived its usefulness. The volume of legislation had grown too great.

            Proposition 9 eliminated the recess and the 30-day limitation on introducing bills and set up a 166-calendar day session. The current Legislature limited bill introduction to the first 120 days.

            WITH THE session half over, here’s what the lawmakers have to say about the way Proposition 9 is working out:

            “Wonderful,” said Assemblyman John L. E. Collier (R-Los Angeles). “It’s saving time, expense, printing and debating time on the Assembly floor.”

            “Fine,” said Sen. Paul L. Byrne (R-Chico). “With this system, we’re giving a lot more consideration to legislation. There have been 50 percent less bills in my own case.

            “This gives me time to actually read all the bills and weed out the stinkers.”

            IN OTHER YEARS, when the lawmakers often tossed in “skeleton bills” to beat the 30 day headline, they simply changed the skeleton bills to suit their purpose later on.

            After the 30-day recess they were only allowed to introduce two bills each. The skeleton bills were the insurance.

            Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the Assembly, said, “I don’t think there have been any skeleton bills introduced this year. There certainly isn’t any need for them.”

            Sen. Hugh M. Burns, (D-Fresno), the Senate’s president pro tem, is delighted with the new set-up.

            “WE’RE MOVING at a more leisurely pace but it’s all to the good,” Burns said. “We are eliminating about a third of the bills. They’re more carefully drawn and many are passing without any amendments at all. This is very unusual but it indicates better prepared legislation.”

            Some of the legislators aren’t so enthusiastic. A few, like Sen. Edwin J. Regan (D-Weaverville), think they may be heading for a log jam at the end of the session.

            Assemblyman Jesse M. Unruh (D-Los Angeles), chairman of the Assembly Ways and Means Committee, said the new session has piled a heavy burden on his committee.

            “BUT GENERALLY speaking, I like it fine,” he said. “More major legislation has passed the Assembly early than at any time I can remember. And I think we’ll have an easier time with the budget next time around.”

            Some of the heaviest problems have fallen on the people who assist the legislators.

            Legislative Analyst A. Alan Post said, “They’re finding out more about their bills now before they introduce them. We’re about 2 ½ times as busy as we were in 1957.”

            Legislative Counsel Ralph Kleps, responsible for furnishing digests of each bill, said “The volume is heavy but it’s leveled off in the past six weeks to about 100 bills a day. We can keep up with that easily,” said Kleps. “Why, in 1957, we sometimes got 500 or 600 in a day.”

            The 14 men who work in the Capitol Bill Room have no doubts at all as to what type session they prefer.

            “We’ve got about 3600 less bills now than we did at this time a year ago,” said Hank Schaefer, bill room employee.

            “And we’ve finally got rid of these skeleton bills. What a headache they were to keep track of.

            “Why, in ’57 one bill started out in connection with mules and ended up with olives.”

Political False-Claim Bill Signed by Brown

            Governor Brown has signed a bill prohibiting a political candidate from falsely representing that he has the support of the opposing party.

            The bill by Assemblyman William Biddick Jr. (D-Stockton), permits candidates or party members to seek an injunction in court against a candidate who falsely represents himself.

            The bill would permit a candidate to claim support from a committee or group of voters from the rival party if his own name is used in the name of the group.

The Sacramento Union

Sunday, March 29, 1959

Advertisement

Reno-Tahoe Dateline

An image is shown here of a man with leaves and mountains as the background.

By Mark Curtis

            WINNER OF KCRA’s Fabulous Treasure of $7,000 in prizes was out of a job. Not even enough to pay taxes on the bounty. His name was Lord, but that won’t make any difference to the Bureau of Internal Revenue… Anyone need a supply of orchestra arrangements for $200.00? The guy who stole Bill Rase’s orchestration phoned him to offer them back for that price. Bill said no…When Russ Hall, Harrah’s entertainment director, told George Burns the red carpet would be out for his nitery debut at Harrah’s on May 4, George replied, “I know. But what about May 5^th?” The veteran comic claims he’s got butterflies like any new act…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping. Words that are cut off or unreadable will be replaced by two asterisks.

First newspaper clipping reads:

LA Daily News 3/27/1950

State legislators unhappy over multiple problems

By Leslie E. Claypool

(Daily news Political Editor)

            SACRAMENTO, March 27-(Special)-A Legislature can be and often is very unhappy.

            This is one of those days when the Legislature is unhappy. It had enough troubles, what the primary election approaching, when zowie, the race track thing came up.

            Most of the solons think maybe they should do something but, what? The lawyers among them believe that no action of any kind should be taken until the opinion of the Court of Appeals holding racing illegal is received and studied. Others hold that even then nothing should be done until the Supreme Court makes the final guess. After that, if laws need mending, there’ll be time enough to do it.

            Gov. Earl Warren is taking no part in the conversation. His is a wait-see attitude. Assembly Speaker Sam L. Collins, R., Fullerton, on the other hand, is the hasty hearty type.

            “I think this is as important as slot machines,” said Sam. “The governor could broaden the call for the special session to permit enactment of the necessary legislation if he wants to.”

            Sen. Ralph Swing, R., San Bernardino, who is known as a pro-race track man in the upper house, thinks it’s all a misunderstanding and that maybe a hearing in the appeals court is indicated.

            The tobacco tax matter has made for unhappiness also. Legislators heard about a press conference with Dr. Alexander J. Stoddard, superintendent of schools in Los Angeles, called the other day to condemn the tax proposal. He is reported here as having said it would cost Los Angeles $12,000,000 and is for that and other reasons bad.

            Robert McKay, assistant secretary of the California Teachers’ association, who is one of those who are unhappy, says that Stoddard should have found out the facts of tax life before popping off.

            “Actually, it will mean $4,000,000 more for Los Angeles,” said McKay. “Stoddard hasn’t been here long enough to know the score.”

            Copies of the Stoddard statements are on their way to Sacramento, it is understood. Maybe he was misquoted.

            Arthur A. Ohnimus, who has been chief clerk of the Assembly for 23 years, caused more tears to flow, figuratively speaking, when he tossed in his resignation today, effective forthwith. His reason was that the new Collier lobby law (by Assemblyman John L. E. (Bud) Collier, R., Los Angeles), has dumped so much registration work on him he can’t handle it and his regular job, too.

            “I filed a statement some time ago warning the Assembly of this,” said Ohnimus, “but nothing was done.”

            The Rules committee of which Randal F. Dickey, R., Alameda, is chairman, huddled and is coming up, reportedly, with a plan to give Ohnimus a deputy. Meanwhile, the Erwin lobbying bill (by Thomas M. Erwin, R., Puente), is on the fire and may become a law even if Governor Warren vetoes it.

            This bill would put registration in to the secretary of state’s office and put control of lobbying under an eight-man board consisting of four senators and four assemblymen. That clause worries some of the solons a little because they think they would have to take too much heat.

            The affair Evans-meaning the attack on Assemblyman John W. Evans, R., Los Angeles-also went to the GOP wailing wall. Evans was denounced in a resolution adopted by the California Republican assembly, an unofficial organization that has no official regulation to the California Assembly-the lower house of the legislature.

            Key man in the Republican assembly to denounce Evans was M. Philip Davis, Los Angeles attorney and former assemblyman, who said Evans is “a disgrace to the Republican party.”

            Evan’s first retort was unprintable but later he composed himself and said:

            “Assemblyman Earl Stanley, R., Balboa, chairman of the GOP caucus, said:

            “Assemblyman Evans has not been convicted of anything. I see no reason why we should take any action here.” Several other Republicans said the same. Democrats said:

            “Evans was elected the last time as a Republicans, not for the Democrats.”

            Child care centers also were causing unhappiness. The conferees on the budget put them in that document at a reduced cost of $3,000,000 plus to run the centers to mid-February 1951. Democrats, and sundry visitors from Los Angeles, say this is a political trick to get the issue past the primary.

            Finally there is relief, which is causing no end of heartaches and heartburn. A report came up that phony dodgers were circulated in Kern County saying that workers were needed for crops in Orange County. Hundreds of unemployed migratory workers went there from Kern County and found no jobs. However, some people were able to say that it lessened the need for relief in Kern County, where it has been critical. Now, what can legislation do about that when such a scurvy trick is already banned by law? You guess.

            Assemblyman Randal F. Dickey, majority floor leader and Rules committee chairman, is exceedingly unhappy about a report publicized by this writer that some newsmen had found it impossible to reach him out of hours through his secretary and that his writer was a - - and a series of asterisks for doing it, all of which led to the conclusion that Dickey had placed some unwarranted construction on it.

            See what we mean by a Legislature to be unhappy?

Check Classified Ads

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Legislature Sets Up Groups to Study Postwar Problems

By Herbert L. Phillips

      After spending a session of 124 days on California’s governmental problems, the legislature is about to appoint no fewer than 42 special interim committee to continue the quest for solutions during the coming two years.

The interim committee setup, approved by the legislature which finally adjourned Monday night, was available for analysis today-eight joint senate-assembly organizations, 14 senate committees and 20 assembly groups.

Main Subjects

Outstanding among the things to be investigated were three subjects on which the 1945 session was unable to reach any final settlement-prepaid health insurance, highway financing and the state-local government subsidy issue.

As lavishly financed as any, the joint committee on highway problems will have $100,000 to spend in trying to find out what the state’s postwar road building plan should be and how the money to pay for it should be raised.

Various road programs were presented during the legislative session, including an elaborate scheme for limited access highways or so called metropolitan freeways. They fell by the wayside, for the most part with the exception of a $12,000,000 appropriation for county roads to win for California, on a matching basis, $15,000,000 in expected federal aid.

Gas Tax Boost Failed

One of the factors in the failure of most of the highway plans was the defeat of the financing proposal to boost the 3 cents a gallon gasoline tax to 4 ½ cents. The oil lobby and others of like mind managed to convince the lawmakers this was not the year to hike the state levy on motor fuel.

So, when it became evident rival points of view on the gasoline tax and urban-rural disagreements on types of road improvement were practically certain to stalemate any definite state commitment during the session, Senator Rolph Collier of Siskiyou County dropped a gasoline tax increase bill of his own and trotted out the committee investigation substitute which was adopted.

The proposed taxation study like-wise will bring into special committee focus an issue on which the legislature postponed a final decision.

Warren Opposed

City-county groups came to the legislature last January determined to have $100,000,000 in state surplus funds earmarked strictly for construction subsidies for the local governments.

            Governor Earl Warren was against this. He was just as concerned with having surplus cash laid away for state postwar purposes.

            The Warren administration feels it won this fight, and some of the city-county people will tell you that they did. It was, in fact, a compromise in which the Warren tax program was allowed to go through with the understanding the conclusive verdict on allocation of post war public works money, so far as the state and her political subdivisions are concerned, should be postponed until some further date.

Fund Set Aside

            So $90,000,000 was set aside in a new fund out of which the legislature-probably at a special session after the war-can make appropriations for either state or local construction uses.

            Now Assemblyman Walter J. Fourt of Ventura County, author of the governor’s tax bill and backer of the administration’s stand against increased subsidies to the cities and counties, is the leader of a group which will conduct a special committee study of state and local revenues-with particular reference to the knotty subsidy issue.

            And the senate will have a similar committee. The sponsor of the upper house inquiry is Senator Ben Hulse of Imperial County, chief proponent of the local subsidy point of view during the session.

            State fiscal officers consider these studies of the utmost importance in arriving at the state’s future policy. Subsidies have reached a level already, they point out, where the local governments will be getting 61 cents out of every $1 in the 1945-47 state budget.

Health Insurance

            Both houses have authorized committees to study the wisdom, feasibility and costs of prepaid health and hospital insurance, after turning down all legislation on that subject offered this year by the Warren administration, by the Congress of Industrial Organizations and other interested agencies.

            Here again the possibility of special session action later on presents itself, since the assembly study-proposed by Assemblyman J. G. Crichton of Fresno County-is to be completed no later than July 1, 1946.

            Without saying precisely what he has in mind, Governor Warren told the lawmakers, as they prepared to head for home, that he expects he will have to call them back to Sacramento before their terms end, perhaps after an interval of six months or so.

Committees

            The legislature’s 42 interim committees have been directed to go to work on the follow subjects:

            Joint committees (8)-Capitol remodeling, 1950 state centennial and proposed world’s fair, insurance regulation, highways, water resources, agriculture, Pacific relations and investigation of un-American activities.

            Senate committees (14)-Governmental reorganization, tax structure, postwar planning, fish hatcheries and game preserves, local government agencies, health insurance, beach erosion, harbors, training schools for boys and girls, forestry, veterans affairs, fish and game, Japanese resettlement, problems of the mentally deficient.

            Assembly committees (20)-Transportation and commerce, health insurance, elections mining, judicial procedure, dogs for the blind, state-federal cooperation with reference to oil and oil products, crime prevention and correction, exhibitions and fairs, public morals, military affairs, state and local taxation, postwar rehabilitation, public education, interstate cooperation, governmental efficiency and economy, insurance, conversation and planning, forest fire prevention, investigation of old age pension promotions.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

A Good Legislator Gives Full Time to his Work

            It is impossible to spend even one day in the legislature and escape the conviction that the really conscientious member who tries to keep up with what is going on has a man-sized job to perform.

            The road a bill must travel from the time it is introduced until it returns to the floor for final action-if it ever does- is a long one. Frequently bills merge from committees bearing little resemblance to their original form.

            Besides the committees, there are other way stations where the meaning of a proposed measure may be completely reversed by the addition or subtraction of a harmless appearing word or two.

            To keep track of these bills so the legislator may vote upon them intelligently requires continual research and watchfulness.

            Many legislators vote scores of times during session upon matters concerning which they know little. They find the strain of keeping informed too great in a day requiring fifty to seventy-five roll calls.

            The conscientious member, however, is a familiar with every matter upon which is vote is required because he gives each measure ample study and deliberation.

            It is fortunate both houses always have a number of such members. Without them many bills inimical to the best interests of the people would be slipped through the legislative hoppers. They serve as sentinels guarding against attacks of the predatory interests.

            It also is pertinent to note that despite the thirst for patronage credited to legislators they are wise enough to keep men of sound judgment and experience in the key positions.

            Such persons as Arthur Ohnimus chief clerk of the assembly; Joseph Beek, secretary of the senate, and Fred B. Wood, legislative counsel, and the efficient staffs working under their direction could not be replaced without serious impairment to the legislative machinery. Without their deft handling ** legislative mill would be ** to mobile in the hands ** ** old boy.

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First newspaper clipping reads:

Select Jurors in Still Case

            It appeared this morning that selection of jurors in the case against Roy Vincent, charged with possession of an unlicensed still, might drag into a second day, as only 17 of 110 prospective jurors were questioned during the morning session in superior court today.

            The two attorneys, Herbert C. Grundell, prosecutor, and W. T. Shipsey, attorney for the defendant, each exercised peremptory challenges twice, disbarring four persons, and one individual was excused for cause.

            Each side has the privilege of exercising eight more peremptory.

            With Grundell today was Arthur A. Ohnimus, deputy attorney general, from Sacramento, who is here at the request of Grundell to aid him in the prosecution.

            Prospects of a lengthy trial appeared imminent, and the situation brought a ripple of laughter through the courtroom when one prospective juror, questioned as to whether her home duties would influence her to make a quick verdict, stated that she had made arrangements for her children to be cared for for two weeks.

            Another chuckle swept the courtroom when another juror, questioned as to whether or not the fact that Vincent had worked in the district attorney’s office for a time would influence her to render a verdict against the defendant, stated that it would not, but “he should have known better.”

            Court was adjourned at noon until 1:30 when questioning was slated to continue.

            Vincent was arrested in October when M. F. Hussey, liquor control officer with the Slate Board of Equalization and Sheriff Murray Hathway and his deputies found a 100-gallon whiskey still in the Pozo hills.

            Vincent asserted that the still had been “planted.”

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Sacramento Bee

An image is shown of Joseph A. Beek (left) and Arthur A. Ohnimus (right) is shown. A description is underneath the image it reads:

            Joseph A. Beek, left, secretary of the state senate, and Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the assembly, called the roll today to open the 1953 session of the legislature. Bee Photos.

Joint Session Hears Aims of Governor

By Herbert L. Phillips

            Governor Earl Warren today called upon the legislature to provide for the steadily increasing governmental needs of a California which he said has grown into “a different state” in the last two years.

            He presented a program emphasizing highway expansions, water resources, public health, institutional building and humanitarianism to the legislature’s twenty second session in his 10 years as governor.

            Fully 25 percent of his message to a joint meeting of the newly convened senate and assembly was devoted to highways and his contention that $1,000,000,000 in new revenue will be required over a 10 year period to wipe out the state’s…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

Legislative Summary

            Legislature opens 120 days session as Warren begins eleventh year as governor.

            Political spotlight centers on assembly speakership fight.

            Warren says $1,000,000,000 in new money is needed for highways.

            Governor urges state aid for permanently disabled, better facilities for seniles and mental detectives, broadened unemployment insurance coverage, economic equality program, enlarged highway patrol and new state department of water.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Little Wins Support of San Joaquin Body

By William H. Jordan

            Election of Assemblyman Walter J. Little as Speaker of the Assembly appears to be certain.

            The Santa Monica legislator yesterday was announced as the choice of the San Joaquin Valley Legislative Association, which also presented the name of Assemblyman F. C. Clowdsley of Stockton for Speaker pro tempore. This may lead to a scrap for that honor, because a number of members seek the place. Among them are Assemblymen William B. Hornblower and Ray Williamson of San Francisco and Percy G. West of Sacramento.

            Little has at least ten pledged members more than the necessary forty-one for a choice.

            It appears there will be no contest over the Speakership, a post which carries with it not only the responsibility of presiding over the House, but the appointment of the large number of standing committees. These exercise a powerful influence in the handling of legislation.

            Assemblyman C. Ray Robinson, re-elected from Merced, has been chosen president of the San Joaquin Valley Association, succeeding Assemblyman Lucius Powers Jr. of Fresno. Assemblyman-elect Ford Chatters of Lindsay is the new secretary.

            Robinson was a strong supporter of Little two years ago in a ** contest for the speakership, which was won by Edgar C. Levey of San Francisco, for the third successive term. 

            Levey was re-elected this year from the Twenty-eighth district unopposed. While has made no public statement, it is considered most unlikely that he will be a candidate to succeed himself. It is understood Levey is to sponsor important legislation which will require his attention on the floor of the Assembly and in important committee work.

            Organization of the legislature includes the selection of the Assembly chief clerk, a post filled with much satisfaction to the body for several years by Arthur A. Ohnimus of San Francisco.

            In the Senate it is understood there will be likewise no opposition to the reappointment of Joseph A. Bekk of Balboa as secretary and Joseph F. Nolan of Los Angeles as sergeant-at-arms.

            Assembly-elect Thomas A. Maloney has consented to handle legislation which will aid the State in checking the influx of indigent.

            Peter J. Haggerty, chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee, and an active leader in the presidential campaign, is being pressed by his friends to become a candidate for the post of United States Immigration Commissioner at this post under the new federal administration. The position has been held for years by John D. Nagle.

The fourth newspaper clipping is ripped around all corners, only showing the part concerning Arthur Ohnimus which reads:

            Arthur Ohnimus, chief clerk of the assembly for 27 years, reports this is the first time in his experience the state budget has been introduced in the first week of a general session of the legislature. Governor Earl Warren had the $1,016,883,002 document ready by Thursday.

            Ohnimus is amazed at the speed of the bill introductions, too. During the first week 758 bills were in the hopper, compared to 192 measures in the first week two years ago.

This page displays 2 newspaper clipping.

The first newspaper clipping reads:

Los Angeles, California, Saturday Morning, November 18, 1944

History of California Constitution Printed

Free Copies Available to Those Who Will Write to State Deputy Arthur Ohnimus in Sacramento

By M. F. (Pop) Small

            SACRAMENTO, November 17 (UP)-I can’t quite make up my mind whether I should go in for book reviewing or charge advertising rates in this column.

            A few months ago, I told you that State Printer George H. Moore would send you a beautiful brochure on Sutter’s Fort for the small sum of two bits, and that for a dollar you could have a copy of a volume describing your State Capitol, profusely illustrated.

            George reports that ** ** brought him in a tidy piece of business, and he adds that both books are still available.

Copies “For Free”

            And now I am able to call your attention to a publication which you can have for free.

            It’s a history of the Constitution of California. The Legislature appropriate money to have 10,000 copies printed because it wants the people to become better acquainted with their state government.

            Its contents include a complete text of the constitution, and of the Constitution of the United States, the Act for the Admission of California into the Union, the Declaration of Independence, and similar historical material.

Prepared by Attorney

            The work was prepared by Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the Assembly since 1923.

            Ohnimus is an authority on the subject, and tells me that only one state constitution in the country is wordier than California’s.

            The California constitution uses up 222 pages of Ohnimus’ book, while the United States constitution is covered in 25 pages, including the 21 amendments.

            But the constitution of the state of Colorado hotels the record, setting forth as it does such detailed matters as how the portraits of its governors shall be hung in the state capitol.

            The California document is wordy enough, and is enlarged every time there is a general election in the state. The voters added eight sections to it on Nov 7.

            As for the portraits of our governors, this is left to the legislature, a course which appears to have been sufficiently effective.

            At least, the lobby of the main floor of the State Capitol is lined with pictures that include very chief executive of the state down to Culbert L. Olson.

Portrait, Cost $500

            The legislature appropriated $1,500 in 1937 to preserve for posterity the faces and figures of Clement Calhoun Young, James Rolph Jr. and Frank Finley Merriam.

            Each picture costs about $500, including the artist’s fee and a gilded frame. What it may cost the taxpayers for the time their principal officer sits still while the painter struggles with his oils and temperas is not figured in.

            Governor Young and Governor Merriam would not give the time, and Governor Rolph died before the matter was brought to his attention. The three pictures were paint from photographs.

Olson “handsomest”

            Eventually, of course, the legislature will get around to providing the money for a painting of Governor Olson, who was regarded as one of the handsomest chief executives California ever had.

            But to get back to the book by Arthur Ohnimus. The state government wants you to have a copy provided you will make good use of it. Ohnimus reports, that a lot of requests have been received from school children as a result of the certification he sent to teachers.

            To get your copy, address your request to Arthur A. Ohnimus, State Office Building No. 1, Sacramento 14, California.

            Between sessions of the Assembly, Ohnimus is a deputy attorney general. He was appointed last year after serving for nearly a quarter of a century under former District Attorney…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Stresses Need for Aid in Housing

Legislature is Reorganized Quickly

Special to The Chronicle

            SACRAMENTO, Jan 7-Reorganization of both the Senate and the Assembly for the special session were affected quickly when the Legislature convened today.

            In the Assembly the reported left wing movement to unseat Republican Speaker Charles W. Lyon fizzled out and no opposing candidate was presented to oppose him. Instead, 10 of the 38 Democrats registered a “not” vote against Lyon’s selection. They were: Assemblyman Anderson, Beck, Bennett, George H. Collins, Dekker, Hawkins, Massion, Robertson, Rosenthal, and Dunn.

            Reelected also were Republican Speaker Pro Tem Thomas A. Maloney, San Francisco; Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk, and Wilkie Ogg, Sacramento, sergeant-at-arms.

            The Senate, which is presided over by Lieutenant Governor Fred F. Houser, renamed without opposition Senator Jerrold L. Seawell as president pro tem; Joseph A. Beek as secretary and Joseph F. Nolan as sergeant-at-arms.

            Other officers who handle the detail work of the two houses also were named in each House.

This page displays 5 newspaper clipping.

The first newspaper clipping reads:

Sacramento Bee

California, Tuesday, January 4, 1955

INAUGURAL

Here is a general view as Governor Goodwin J. Knight addressed the joint session of the state senate and assembly. Knight’s family is seated in front of him. Bee Photo.

An image is shown of the state senate and assembly gathered together, with Governor Knight addressing them.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

News Sends U.N.O Call by Wireless

            The California legislature’s last minute appeal to the General Assembly of the United Nations to select a San Francisco headquarters site, which appeared to be blocked in transmission by the strike of Western Union in New York, went through on time late yesterday.

            The full text of the Legislature’s resolution was sent by The News, via the facilities of Press Wireless, direct from San Francisco to the London offices of United Press. United Press has been requested to deliver the text to the General Assembly.

            The resolution was passed unanimously by the Legislature this week and the clerk of the Assembly, Arthur Ohnimus, told to forward it to U.N.O. by today, the Assembly’s convening date. However, the Sacramento bureau of Western Union was unable to accept the message for transmission because of the New York strike.

            At this point The New stepped into the breach, thus insuring fuller consideration by the General Assembly of California’s hope that San Francisco, the birthplace of the United Nations, might also become its dwelling place. Mr. Ohnimus said he would airmail the document.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Midtown News

Wheeler Says Clerkship Should go to Southland

            Declaring that the chief clerkship of the Assembly has long been held in the northern part of the state, William Murray Wheeler today stated that he will be an aspirant to candidate for the position, subject to the wishes of the Assembly, Wheeler, at the same time, predicted that Walter J. Little, of Santa Monica, would be the next speaker of the Assembly as the Republicans will have a two-thirds majority.

            Wheeler, now residing at 934 Oxford in the midtown district, has been a resident of Los Angeles for nine years and a life long Republican. He is a member of the Cornell University Club of Los Angeles, Wheeler is a farm-born and raised in New York state, is a former newspaperman and printer. He served acceptably for four years in the House of Representatives in Nebraska as an elected officer and four more years as secretary of the Senate of Nebraska.

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

“Economy” Bill Too Costly to be printed by State

            For reasons of legislative economy, the interim assembly committee to promote legislative economy will not be permitted to print its final report.

            After investigating legislative conditions throughout the nation at some little expense, the committee came in just before the gavel fell on the recent session with a request to have its full report, recommendations, findings and proposals-112 pages of them-printed at state expense.

            Assembly officers estimated today the cost would be at least $500.

            Speaker Walter J. Little turned down the request, characterizing it as “too expensive economy.”

Fifth newspaper clipping reads”

            Assembly Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus today had Assemblyman William Rumford of Alameda County to thank for not having a hoarse voice.

            Other members were inclined to let Ohnimus read the entire previous day’s journal. As Ohnimus droned on and on Assemblyman Rumford’s sympathy finally got the better of him and he made the necessary motion that the reading of the previous day’s journal be dispensed with.

            Ohnimus breathed a sigh of relief. He would have been reading all day if someone had not come to his rescue. Ordinarily Speaker Sam L. Collins arbitrarily selects one of the members to make the motion to suspend the reading of the journal.

This page displays 5 newspaper clipping. Words that are unreadable will be replaced by two asterisks.

The first newspaper clipping is partially cut off in the picture. However the last sentence of the clipping reads:

            Atty. Gen. Robert W. Kenny had assigned deputy Arthur A. Ohnimus to assist and act as counsel for Ritchie at the meeting, but according to the latest information, Ohnimus is just along for the ride and will serve strictly as an observer.

Second newspaper clipping is cut off for the left column, however the right column reads:

…assemblyman John Evans will be probed, that he will be strictly and observer. This was not entirely to the satisfaction of Ritchie who has requested counsel

            The new controversy will be thrown into the lap of Harold Sawallisch, morals committee chairman, when he arrives this morning.

            Cal Eaton and Babe McCoy of the Olympic, and Bill Smith, assistant to Ritchie, have been subpoenaed to appear at the hearing. Also in line to be served is Snowy Baker of the Grand street sock center. 

Third newspaper clipping is far too cut off to determine out what the content states.

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

Morals group clears Roth in fight hearing

By Johnny Allen

            Abe Roth, California’s most publicized referee, and a good one, too, was handed the “duke” over Assemblyman John Evans yesterday by the public morals committee of the state assembly after a boring five hour verbal battle in the State building.

            After listening to Roth, ex-commissioner Everett Sanders and chief boxing inspector Willie Ritchie, chairman Harold F. Sawallisch, reflecting the views of the morals committee, apologetically informed Roth that nothing was revealed at the hearing that would reflect on Roth’s integrity or decisions in the Carlos Malacara-Jerry Moore and Ernie Rios Watson Jones bouts last year.

            With the complete exoneration of Roth, judges Jack MacDonald and Reggie Gillmore, who aided in the Malacara-Movie fight, and other persons involved, Assemblyman Evans’ investigation of Roth came to an abrupt end.

            However, the morals committee will continue the meeting this morning when the contents of Ritchie’s recent letter to the commission will be discussed. The letter has six specific charges by Ritchie pertaining to conditions in California boxing today.

            Following yesterday’s meeting it was the consensus of opinion that nothing explosive will come out of the investigation after all, and that boxing in California isn’t as “dirty, stinking and filthy” as Ritchie wants the morals committee to believe.

            Most of the time was wasted in yesterday’s meeting on why Malacara was paid after the fight.

            It seems Ritchie, after reading several rules to the assemblage in regards to “fake fights,” recommended to commissioners Everett Sanders and Anthony Entenza after the fight that Malacara’s purse should be held up and that he be barred for life in California.

            However, it turned out that while both Sanders and Entenza agreed with Ritchie, nobody in formed matchmaker Charley MacDonald to hold up Malacara’s purse and, as a result, Malacara got his money and hightailed it for home.

            Ritchie said he only could recommend the purse be held up, and that only the commissioners had the power to stop payment.

            When the commission failed to pin the blame on any single person as to why Malacara was paid, Roth was called to testify.

            Roth, in answering direct questions from Assemblyman Evans, admitted he was warned before the Malacara-Moore fight that the odds had switched to Moore’s favor…to be on the lookout for some monkey business…and that it was known all over the stadium that Moore would win.

            In detail the, Roth related how he handled the bout, why he made Malacara get up in the second round instead of giving him a court, and why he voted in favor of the Mexico boxer.

            “I was satisfied Moore was making his best fight, but it wasn’t enough to beat Malacara,” Roth said.

            Roth, in answer to Assemblyman Tom Maloney’s question, said he felt he lived up to the rules concerning a fighter taking a “dive.”

            And, the committee felt so, too.

            The Rios-Jones fight turned out to be an explanation by Roth of the Australian point system.

            Roth, who had Rios ahead 56-64 in points, but even in rounds, felt that a draw was the best verdict he could have rendered, as he does not split points.

            Evans’ beef with Roth was that if two points separated the boxers, then one should have been awarded the decision.

            Evans said that he was investigating the aforementioned fights to better the fight game, and that there was no implication of collusion on the part of any persons connected with the probe.

The fifth newspaper clipping title and first paragraph is cut off. Starting from the second paragraph it reads:

            A few minutes before the end Ritchie, chief boxing inspector of the State Athletic Commission, had asked for a recess.

            “I want a rest,” said Ritchie. “I can’t go on. I can’t remember some of these things you ask me about.”

            “You remember isolated cases in the newspapers six years ago,” thundered Chairman Harold Sawallisch, who experienced difficulty all day in attempting to wring a simple “yes” or “no” answer from the witness.

Postponement Sought

            Assemblyman Tom Maloney of San Francisco took cognizance of Ritchie’s physical exhaustion and confusion and asked for a postponement of the hearing but he was overruled by the other three members of the committee-Sam Collins, J. C. Crichton and Sawallisch. The adjournment **.

            At the noon recess Collins said he had seen nothing sufficiently material in Ritchie’s charges to warrant any further hearing and that he considered his time wasted.

            At one time during the morning session Collins shouted that he was a “damn fool for ever coming to the hearing.” He made the statement after Ritchie insisted the Assemblyman admit he was in error over some trivial matter.

Changes to be Made

            When Sawallisch adjourned the meeting he said that “as far as the committee is concerned, the Ritchie accusations about alleged misconduct in the boxing game were, in the main, unsupported by the concrete evidence warranting further hearing or investigation.”

            Sawallisch added, however, that the committee intends to recommend legislation to correct certain phases of the boxing law.

            The Ritchie charges that “boxing is a dirty, stinking, filthy business” in this State were taken up one by one, and at the conclusion Sawallisch asked the veteran inspector if he still believed what he said or was a bit confused when he made the statement.

            Ritchie again refused to answer “yes” or “no,” and insisted that he would submit the charges through counsel.

            Sawallisch said he could send them to him in a letter.

Trifles Cited

            Ritchie attempted to cite instances where boxers were offered bribes, but he admitted that the cases occurred in 1939-before legislation was enacted making it a felony.

            The inspector also dragged up the trivial matters concerning referees’ scorecards, particularly one on which Abe Roth was charged with having made a change in his 11-point system.

            It developed through the testimony of former Boxing Commissioner Everett Sanders that the 11-point system had not been adopted as official at the time of the fight in question-Donnie Maes vs. Manuel Ortiz in December of 1941-and a change didn’t make any difference anyway.

            Ritchie also charged that Roth had been reversed by the commission in the Jimmy Garrison-Toby Vigil fight, but again he was proved wrong, and he apologized.

Up to the Police

            As to the charges that there is ** gambling at the fight clubs…*the rest of the newspaper clipping is cut off.

This page shows a newspaper clipping, it reads:

Capitol Buzzes with Preparations for Legislation

By Richard Rodda

            Activity in the State Capitol was being shifted into high gear today in preparation for the opening of the state legislature next Monday

            Painters, electricians and carpenters already have done considerable work in touching up the green carpeted assembly chambers and the red decorated senate chamber.

            Attaches were on the job arranging desks and chairs and getting papers and documents in order for the lawmakers.

Opening at Noon

            The 1951 session, limited to 120 calendar days under the terms of a 1948 constitutional amendment, will open at noon January 8^th.

            State agencies dealing directly with the legislature, such as the secretary of state, legislative counsel bureau, printing plant, and department of finance, where synchronizing their work.

            It will be Secretary of State Frank M. Jordan’s duty to swear in new legislators and certify they were elected.

            State Printer Paul Gallagher announced the presses and personnel are ready to handle rush orders in getting out the bills and legislative reports.

Marks Time

            Albert N. Knapp, supervisor of the legislative bill room, is marking time in anticipation of long hours of work to serve the lawmakers and the public. It is his job to have all the bills cataloged in numerical order so they can be distributed with speed.

            Another office with expanded responsibilities is that of the legislative counsel bureau. Ralph N. Kleps, legislative counsel, and his staff of lawyers will spend many hours drafting bills, amendments and legal opinions.

            Sergeant at arms Joseph Nolan in the senate and Wilkie Ogg in the assembly will be on the job all week directing last minute preparations.

Leaders Expected

            Leaders of both houses, President Pro Tem Harold J. Powers of the senate and Speaker Sam L. Collins of the assembly, are expected to arrive early this week.

            Resolutions involving the mechanics of opening the session are being prepared by Secretary Joseph Beek of the senate and Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus in the lower house.

            Activity in the governor’s office also steps up as the session approaches. Secretaries, clerks and stenographers will find more work to do in preparing the bills for the governor’s legislative program.

            Governor Earl Warren himself…*the bottom of this newspaper clipping is folded and cannot be read.

To the right of the story there are 4 images shown.

First image (top left) shows a woman arranging the names on a very long board that is hung up. Above the image is a description that reads:

PREPARATIONS: Sophie Joseph, legislative secretary, helps get the state assembly chambers ready for the session beginning next Monday. She is removing the names of Charles M. Weber, former San Joaquin County assemblyman defeated for reelection, and Samuel W. Yorty, former Los Angeles County assemblyman now in congress, from the automatic vote register in the assembly chambers.

Second image (top right) shows a woman surrounded by bound copies of legislative journals and getting them ready to be mailed out. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

            BOOK MOVING-Mrs. Mary Gaines, legislative bill room secretary, helps get the bound copies of 1950 legislative journals ready for mailing to lawmakers to make space for new measures filed in the bill room.

Third image (bottom left) shows two men on support beams in order to install microphone system in the senate chambers. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

            SOUND SYSTEM-Robert Long, top, and James Smith, lower, are erecting scaffolding in the senate chambers to install a new microphone system for use during the 1951 session.

Fourth image (bottom right) shows two men are cleaning out old measures and replacing them with bills introduced in 1951 session. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

            CLEANUP-Old measures introduced at previous sessions are cleaned out of the stacks in the legislative bill room by Thomas Farrell, front, senior legislative clerk, and Donald Lehtola, legislative clerk. The old measures will be replaced by bills introduced at the 1951 session. Bee Photos.

This page displays 4 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Lobby Task Irks Clerk of Assembly

Ohnimus Quits Job, then Reconsiders on Promise of Help

By Chester G. Hanson

Time Staff Representatives

            SACRAMENTO, March 27 The new lobby regulation law was on the verge of causing Arthur Ohnimus, chief clerk of the Assembly, to resign.

            Ohnimus, in fact, tendered his resignation to the Speaker, but was prevailed on to withdraw it until the legislators could “take steps.”

            Reason for the resignation was that Ohnimus was sure he couldn’t be in two places at once holding down two jobs at the same time. In addition to his duties as chief clerk, Ohnimus was designated in the new Collier Lobby Control Law, which went into effect several days ago, as the one with whom the lobbyists who appear before Assembly committees must register.

Foresees Difficulty

            Ohnimus foresaw difficulties in trying to be chief clerk of the Assembly and rid herd on the lobbyists, but he went ahead and registered them, leaving his secretary, Mary Smith, to handle the desk work of chief clerk while the Assembly was in session. Other attaches on the big desk of the Assembly-minute clerk, journal clerk, etc.-work under the chief clerk also.

            When the Rules Committee heard of the resignation of Ohnimus they held a meeting and talked it over with him. The chief clerk had plenty to name as obstacles to doing the two jobs. He didn’t want to be held responsible for the lobby registration job and be chief clerk also.

            The committee was quite sympathetic with him. Ohnimus wouldn’t draw up a form for lobbyists to fill out in making their registration statements, such as name, address, amount of salary, for whom work, etc., etc. Might do it wrong. Wouldn’t even attempt to tell the applicant what the law was other than he had to register if he wanted to lobby. The committee, particularly Assemblyman Randall Dickey, agreed on that one. They might get themselves in a position of giving the wrong advice or some such. Risky business.

Would Provide Aides

            The committee, which is noted for its aptness in finding “ways and means” on everything else, was very meticulous about this one.

            It was finally agreed to have the legislative counsel draw up a bill that would give Ohnimus as chief clerk the right to appoint at least two top assistants who would take over the job of registering the lobbyists.

            Ohnimus has a regular job as Deputy Attorney General in the criminal division. He takes a leave of absence, as do several other legislative attaches who hold regular State jobs, and works for the Legislature when it is in session.

            The Erwin lobby bill, which may pass and supplant the Collier bill, took the spotlight tonight before the Senate Rules Committee for a hearing, the measure having passed the Assembly.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Sacramento, California

Assembly Passes Bills to Bolster Lobby Control

            The assembly has passed and sent to the senate a series of measures affecting lobbying activities.

            The bills sponsored by Assemblyman John L. E. Collier of Los Angeles County, are designed to amend the Collier Lobby Control Act to make it clearer and more workable without weakening its strong features.

            The assembly action gives the senate a choice of accepting the Collier Act amendments or passing an entirely new lobby control bill as embodied in AB 74, Erwin. AB 74 would repeal the Collier Act.

Set for Hearing

            The Erwin bill previously was passed by the lower house and has been set for a hearing before the senate rules committee Monday morning. Collier said he believes the committee will consider his bills at the same time.

            Governor Earl Warren has announced his opposition to the Erwin bill and has recommended to the legislature that the Collier Act, enacted at the special session in November, be strengthened.

Collier Provisions

            The Collier bills would:

            AB 43-Transfer the registration of lobbyists and the filing of required financial statements to the secretary of state’s office. The present law requires the filings with the secretary of the senate and the clerk in the assembly.

            AB 103-Would require lobbyists who employ legislative attaches or other state employee to so register the fact under oath and list the amount of pay.

            AB 105-Would make it illegal for any person to accept a fee for lobbying on a contingency legislation would be passed or defeated.

            AB 106-Instead of requiring the filing of reports of detailed expenditures of all money spent for lobbying, this would change the law to require such statements when expenses are above $10. The provisions till would remain requiring the listing of the expenditures, however, in monthly financial statements. The bill also would exclude the Christian Science faith from provisions of the act. Collier agreed to have the measure amended in the senate to exempt other religions also.

Additions to Law

            Collier said most of the amendments he is advocating are in the Erwin bill. He added, however, these provisions are added to the present law without weakening it.

            Governor Warren changed the Erwin measure was written for the lobbyists.

            The assembly also has passed AB 124, Dickey, which would appropriate $10,000 for the hiring of additional help for assembly clerk Arthur Ohnimus, who is responsible for lobbyist registration in the lower house.

Withdraws Resignation

            Ohnimus earlier this week submitted his resignation because of the additional duties imposed upon him by the Collier Act but he later withdrew his resignation when the plan was worked out to provide him additional help.

            The bill which would transfer the registration duties to the secretary of state could not take effect until 90 days after adjournment of the special session. AB 124 is being pressed as an urgency measure, to take effect immediately upon the signature of the governor.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Warren in Open Fight on Erwin Lobby Bill

By Carl Greenberg

Los Angeles Examiner Political Editor

            EXAMINER BUREAU, SACRAMENTO, March 27-Governor Earl Warren tonight openly battled the Erwin Lobby Control bill by sending his executive secretary, James H. Oakley, before a Senate committee to oppose the measure.

            Hearings on proposed legislation rarely are marked by appearance of a spokesman for the Governor.

            The Upper House rules committee postponed action on the measure, already passed by the Assembly.

            Oakley charged the Erwin bill, repealing the Collier Lobby Act, would wipe out virtually all important controls over lobbyists now in force by substituting weaker provisions.

            Tonight’s development topped new confusion that surrounded the Collier Act when Assembly Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus whose job it is to register lobbyists under the law, quit his post earlier today.

            The lower house officer, whose action was looked upon as protest again the “ambiguous” legislation, has been chief clerk for 23 years.

            He submitted his resignation to take effect today, but the Assembly recessed without acting on it and ordered its rules committee to try solving the problem.

            The Collier Act, Ohnimus declared, imposes so many duties on him that he cannot continue in his office.

            Later, Ohnimus, temporarily withdrawing his resignation, testified before the rules committee that he doesn’t know whose responsibility it is to enforce the act and the he can’t do his chief clerk’s job and register lobbyists at the same time.

            Besides, the Collier Act imposes duties on him the year ‘round, he said, even though his Chief Clerk post dies when the Legislature adjourns.

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

            SACRAMENTO-The Chief Clerk of the State Assembly asked to resign today asserting the Collier Anti-Lobbying act gave him too much work to do. Clerk Arthur Ohnimus submitted the resignation as an attempt was resumed in the Legislature to repeal the Collier Act and substitute what opponents call a softer set of regulations.

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Both Houses Pass Erwin Lobby Bill

By Richard Rodda

Predicts Adjournment

            Assembly Floor Leader Randal F. Dickey of Alameda County announced today it may be possible to adjourn the special session of the legislature late tomorrow night or Friday morning.

Legislative Summary

            Tobacco-tax school aid bill faces critical hearing in senate finance committee.

            Erwin lobby bill is passed and sent to governor.

            Senate appoints committee to study proposed constitutional amendment to legalize gambling.

            Assembly passes bill to facilitate transfer of Arden Elementary School District.

            Interim committees are granted additional $51,000 by assembly.

            The compromise Erwin lobby control bill, AB 74, was passed in both houses of the legislature today and sent to Governor Earl Warren.

            The measure, amended by a free conference committee to settle assembly-senate differences, was approved 32 to 2 in the senate and 60 to 5 in the assembly.

Donnelly Fights Bill

            Senator Hugh P. Donnelly of Stanislaus County fought the bill to the last, saying it does not go far enough to curb the sinister influences of lobbyists. The other senate dissenter in the final roll call was Senator Bradford Crittenden of San Joaquin County.

            In the assembly the no votes were cast by Assemblymen Arthur A. Coats, Jr., of Sutter County, John E. Moss, Jr., of Sacramento County, Harlan Hagen of Kern County, Lloyd Lowrey of Yolo County and George D. Collins, Jr., of San Francisco.

            Senator Jesse M. Mayo of Calaveras County and Assemblyman Robert D. Kirkwood of Santa Clara County, who handled the measure in their respective houses, denied it would weaken the lobby regulations.

            Yesterday the senate voted 34 to 1 to approve the compromise bill but had to take a new roll call this morning to correct technical errors discovered in the final draft.

            The assembly rejected senate amendments to another lobby bill AB 103, Collier, which would have established five man legislative boards in the assembly and the senate to administer the lobby regulations. The assembly action sent this bill to free conference.

Explains Bill

            Senator Mayo explained the major changes put into the Erwin bill by the committee as follows:

1. Under the rules of each house someone other than the chief clerk of the assembly or secretary of the senate could be designated to handle the registration of lobbyists. (Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the assembly, has protested the extra work under the lobby law is unreasonable).
2. Lobbyists would be permitted to file quarterly financial reports instead of monthly reports when the legislature is not in session.
3. Registered lobbyists would be required to reveal the names of any persons to whom they promise or pay a part of their lobbying fees.
4. In listing their expenses, lobbyists would be relieved of the necessity of disclosing personal costs for lodging, travel or office help.
5. The language relating to misdemeanor punishment for violations of the law would be clarified.
6. The law would be known as the Erwin Act of 1950.

Not Repeal

            Mayo made it clear the revised bill would not repeal the Collier Act which was put on the books at the December special session. He said it would strengthen this law.

            However, the Erwin bill as it started out in the assembly would have repealed most of the Collier law and substituted new regulations. Governor Earl Warren vigorously….

(Continued on page 4, column 1) *the rest of this newspaper clipping will continue in newspaper clipping 2.

Second newspaper clipping is a continuation of the first newspaper clipping it reads:

Compromise Bill on Lobby Control Goes to Warren

(Continued from Page 1)

…opposed the bill at this time. Subsequently it was redrafted by the senate rules committee and then by the conference committee.

            Mayo told the senate that the conference report had been gone over by James Oakley, executive secretary to the governor, who found no serious objection to it.

            Serving with Senator Mayo on the conference committee were Senators Edwin J. Regan of Trinity County, Hugh M. Burns of Fresno County and Assemblymen Thomas Erwin and Augustus Hawkins of Los Angeles County and Robert Kirkwood of Santa Clara County.

Fight Against Interim Committee Funds Loses

            The assembly has granted an additional $51,000 to interim committees over the opposition of many assemblymen.

            The unsuccessful fight to stop the appropriations was led by Assemblymen Robert Kirkwood of Santa Clara County, L. Stewart Hinckley of San Bernardino County and Laughlin Waters of Los Angeles County.

            Interim committees, Kirkwood said, were granted more money than ever before at the last session of the legislature and “now they are coming back for more.”

            Hinckley termed the request for added funds as “running a good thing into the ground” while Assemblyman Waters asserted it was not shown there is a real need for the money or that it would be wisely invested.

            The largest amount-$12,500-went to Los Angeles County Assemblyman Vernon Kilpatrick’s committee on crime and corrections. Granted $15,000 originally, the committee reported its funds had dwindled to $102.65.

            Other appropriations were:

            Committee on public morals, $5,000. It has $5,990.15 left of an original appropriation of $10,000.

            Committee on conservation, planning and public works, $7,500. It has $9,409.12 left of an original appropriation of $10,000.

            Committee on public health, $7,000. It has $12,342.62 left of an original appropriation of $20,000.

            Committee on traffic control. Remaining of an original appropriation of $5,000 is $1,767.46.

            Committee on soil conservation, $10,000. Of an original appropriation of $20,000, the committee has $9,355.97 remaining.

            Committee on public education, $4,000. The group originally had $12,000, remaining is $8,005.53.

Senate Backs Alaska, Hawaii Statehood

            The senate adopted and sent to the assembly for concurrence SJR 7, O’Gara, which would ask congress to approve statehood for the territories of Alaska and Hawaii.

Assembly Adjourns in Respect to Late FDR

            The assembly adjourned in respect to the memory of the late President Franklin D. Roosevelt who died five years ago today.

            The action was taken at the request of Assembly Democratic Minority Leader Julian Beck of Los Angeles County.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Confusion Reigns over Enforcing Lobby Act

Officials in Dark on Enforcement

By R. W. Jimerson

Examiner Political Editor

            EXAMINER BUREAU, SACRAMENTO, March 19-Small scale preparations for enforcement of the Collier Act to regulate lobbying, which goes into effect Wednesday, were being completed in senate and assembly today.

            With all indications pointing to enactment of a complete new lobby control bill during the current session, neither Senate Secretary Joseph A. Beek nor Assembly Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus have made any elaborate plans.

            Beek has prepared a printed form on which lobbyists will register. Ohnimus, who recently protested that he was too busy to handle the details connected with enforcing the Collier bill in the lower house, said he would provide a filing cabinet in which to place statements when received, but didn’t intend to go much farther than that unless the bill is clarified. He has not prepared any forms.

Views Differ-

            Some of the lobbyists left for their homes this week end and announced they would not come back until an “understandable” bill had been enacted. This small group, including a few well known legislative representatives with years of service to their credit, professed utter inability to interpret the Collier bill’s provisions.

            The majority of the lobbyists will attempt to comply with the bill, registering and submitting data as to their employers, their compensation, their expense accounts.

            All have sought guidance from their legal advisers. Opinions are reported sharply divided as to what the bill means. The prevalent complaint is the Collier bill is patterned after the Federal lobby control statute, which has been repeatedly challenged as ambiguous and unenforceable.

Data Asked-

            Beek’s registration form calls for the following data:

            Name of lobbyist, his business address, name and address of his employer, date employed, duration of employment, compensation, by whom compensation is to be paid, allowance for expenses, and specification of “purpose for which expense allowance” is provided.

            When itemized reports of expenditures come due (they must be reported monthly) Beek said, he would accept them in whatever form submitted by the lobbyists, lacking definite instructions.

            Ohnimus, a lawyer, said he would accept registration statements and expense filings in any form, and check them only as to names, addresses, dates, and proper acknowledgements. Anything further is a matter for action by the House, Ohnimus holds. He said the act makes no provision for notarization by him, nor for enforcement if violations are disclosed.

More Bills-

            “I am simply a ministerial and clerical officer,” Ohnimus asserted. “If some lobbyist fails to register or report, I don’t know what I will do. Under a broad interpretation, I assume I could call it to the attention of the district attorney.”

            A sheaf of amendments to the Collier Act, and several new lobby bills, are awaiting legislative action. Committee hearings will open next week. The major fight is expected to be on the completely new proposal sponsored by Assemblyman Tom Erwin, chairman of the joint interim committee on lobbying.

This page displays 4 newspaper clipping.

The first newspaper clipping reads:

Legislature Ends Session, Okehs Warren Measures

By Herbert L. Phillips

            With Governor Earl Warren announcing he intends to call them back to Sacramento, perhaps in six months, California’s legislators reached a 56 ½ hour overdue adjournment of its 1945 session at 11:30 o’clock last night and today headed home after one of the four longest lawmaking meetings in the state’s history.

            Last night, before the final gavels dropped, the legislators completed action on the postwar unemployment relief program (AB 2057, Johnson), the urban redevelopment and slum clearance measure (AB 1531, Stewart) and other remaining issues of the Republican administration’s program.

Boosts Big Salaries

            In its closing hours, the legislature went in for a wholesale boosting of the salaries of more than 20 elective and appointive state officials to levels equaling or exceeding the $10,000 a year paid Governor Warren.

            The senate refused, however to raise the pay of State Liquor Administrator George M.  Stout of his staff of board of equalization liquor agents on the ground they are civil servants and ought to have their paycheck adjustments handled like those of other civil service workers, by the state personnel board.

            “In six months or later,” Governor Warren said in a farewell address to the lawmakers, “I probably will want a special session to do some things vital to the future of our state. I hope you will give me the benefit of your advice. I think it will be necessary to call you back before your terms are up.

            “There were rumors that I was going to call you into special session at the end of this session. Don’t worry! I am just as glad to see you go home as you are to get away.”

Unemployment Relief

            The relief bill provides that state aid to the unemployed, if it becomes necessary after the war, shall be administered through the several county governments but under strict supervision by the state social welfare departments as to statewide standards, minimum and maximum relief allowances and uniform eligibility rules.

            In addition to that and the urban redevelopment proposal, the senate and assembly also wound up final favorable action on state regulation of private hospitals (AB 601, Lyon) and establishment of university courses in industrial relations (AB 391, Davis), both urged by the governor.

            The legislature refused, at the last minute, to pass along to the voters ACA 16, Johnson, a Strayer educational report proposal to revamp the state board of education into a 10 member body, appointed by the governor for 10 year staggered terms, subject to senate con…

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Second newspaper clipping reads:

Quiz Fails to Bare Evidence

By Morton Moss

            Recommendations for legislation and suggestions to the State Athletic Commission were promised yesterday by the public morals committee before it adjourned its two-day boxing inquiry on an anti-climactic note with “no concrete evidence presented” to substantiate Willie Ritchie’s fake fight charges.

            Harold Sawallisch, chairman of the committee, announced the Assembly body will continue its probe at San Francisco in about three weeks. He said, following the hearing, which again consumed four hours, that Ritchie was privileged to be at the Northern quiz if he so desired.

            Arthur Ohnimus, acting as Attorney General Robert Kenny’s general observer, refused to comment explicitly on his intended report to Kenny. However, the implication was clear when he replied, “Look at what the committee decided.”

            Ritchie, protesting at intervals that he had been unable to assembly property his material without expected counsel, produced little of relevancy following 1939 when the law made bribery in sports a felony.

            Affidavits, confession and reports involving Mike Belloise, Nick Peters and others were waved aside by the committee as immaterial because the alleged actions occurred prior to passage of the new law. A Belloise affidavit alleged he had been offered $1000 at the point of a gun to “throw” a fight to Peters by a Harry Thall.

            The chief inspector, visibly affected by the strain, then read from notes taken by Commission Clerk Mrs. Sue Kurtz of a purported revelation made by Manager Sam Lampe to Ritchie January 18, 1944.

            According to the clerk’s notes, Lampe stated he had been proffered a $5000 bribe in a Los Angeles restaurant for Slugger White to “throw” his bout with John Thomas. Lampe, allegedly, named a gambler called Ross as the briber. But Mrs. Kurtz was uncertain whether she had got the name correctly. White thrashed Thomas last year. The notes also reported Lampe as saying another fighter of his, Billy Morris, was approached by a gambler to “throw” his contest with Jimmy Garrison, October 15, 1943, at the Legion Stadium. Morrison decision Garrison. The gambler, Lampe was reported to have said, was the same one who approached Carlos Malacara to “dive” for Jerry Moore last December.

            Roth, absolved Thursday in Assemblyman John Evans’ charges, was cleared yesterday of irregularities charged by Ritchie in the Manuel Ortiz-Donnie Maes combat November 7, 1941, in the Legion and the Billy Soose-Ceferino Garcia mix at Gilmore Field September 15, 1941.

            Chairman Jules Covey, complimented on the conscientiousness of the commission, agreed to a request by Senator Thomas Maloney of the committee that he consult with the chief of police here to minimize the gambling evil.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Silhouette

An image is shown of Harold F. Lewright

            Although only 48 years old, Harold F. Lewright is counted an old timer at Lake Tahoe, where he is numbered the second oldest resident in point of time. Only Harry Comstock has had a home on the lake longer than Lewright.

            Lewright, assistant chief clerk of the Assembly and in between sessions and employee of the administrative section of the State Department of Justice, was born in Placerville, but was brought to Sacramento at the age of 6 for schooling. He attended the McKinley School at Eighth and G Streets and went to high school in Oakland.

            HIS INTEREST, in Lake Tahoe comes naturally, for his parents were the owners of The Grove resort. His present summer home adjoins property once belonging to Mark Twain, and he owns two of the original deeds conveying the property to the noted author. In Sacramento the Lewrights live at 703 Eighth Streets.

            Mrs. Lewright is the former Josephine Schoenbachler of Sacramento. They were married 28 years ago. Although a native of Placerville, Lewright comes of an old Sacramento family. His grandfather, Joe Palmeter, operated a carriage painting business at 11^th and O streets before the days of the automobile.

            LEWRIGHT, has been with the Legislature since 1939, being appointed when Charles W. Lyon, later speaker of the Assembly, held the position of floor leader. Lyon, incidentally, is reported to have his eyes on the floor leadership should he win his current campaign for re-election.

            Prior to his work for the Assembly and Department of Justice, Lewright was manager of the Charles M. Reedy shoe store at 906 K Street. In his job as assistant chief clerk he has charge of the Assembly desk, where he receives all bills introduced, follows them up to see that they get to the proper committees and filed with the Secretary of State. He might be termed an expediter of the Assembly’s work.

            Lewright is an outdoor man, fond of hunting, golf, and horseback riding. He is a member of the Footprinters and one of the charter members of the Sacramento Chapter of DeMolay.

Sacramento Union, Sunday, 3/19/1950

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

L.A. Times 1/26/47

Sacramento Mailsack

By Chester G. Hanson

            SACRAMENTO, Jan 26-Dear Editor: This time I think I will do one of my little personality numbers. My cast is larger than usual but these actors are very interesting people, the kind that newspapermen always meet, they say.

            But here we are now, on the stage-the great lobby of the Hotel Senator with its glass roof. It is Saturday night. Not as many of the legislators, lobbyists and wives are here as during the week because the Northern California boys have run off to their homes for the weekend.

Door Helps Out

            Before I unwind this scroll of characters, I must tell you about the revolving door at the entrance of this lobby, where I met Miss Helen MacGregor, Gov. Warren’s private secretary, for the first time this session. I had just been thinking that morning I had not seen her yet.

            You know, she is an attorney, a graduate of the University of California in the ‘20’s and has been with Warren since when he was District Attorney of Alameda County. And so I am going around with this door to get into the hotel when I suddenly notice it’s Miss MacGregor in the next compartment, going out. I motion to her, “hello, and wait for me.” So she’s outside and I am in.

            I take another whirl to go out. Just then she gets into this dizzy door and we go around again. She’s in and I’m out. “Hey. Wait in there,” I motion, and I hit the door again. She jumps in and goes out, and again I’m inside the hotel.

Funny but True

            Well, finally I get out and she stays out. She and her lady friend all but collapse laughing. The Keystone Coppers had nothing on us. To think a thing like that can go on without any planning at all.

            Well, who is in this lobby tonight? One of the most interesting tete-a-tetes is over on the lounge near that revolving door where Carl Greenberg, a Los Angeles newspaperman, is chatting with a man. He saw the man last night in the lobby, took a second look, went over and addressed him. Sure enough, it was his boyhood friend whom he had played with when he lived in Boston. He had not seen him in many years. His friend is a traveling salesman and is in Sacramento on business.

            The folks sit in the lobby and chat, in groups or in pairs, or just alone off in the corner by a floor lamp reading the paper. Earl (Squire) Behrens of the San Francisco Chronicle, dean of the press corps, is fond of the latter evening pastime. But tonight he is chatting in a chair alongside Joe Nolan, sergeant at arms of the Senate.

They All Meet

            I first met Joe in Los Angeles years ago when as a deputy sheriff he was bringing back from New Mexico a lad charged with murder-a former classmate of mine at college. Mrs. Nolan is across the lobby in a chair holding the baby that Assemblyman and Mrs. Ernest Debs have adopted. Mrs. Debs is in the coffee shop off the corridor, having her dinner.  

            Assemblyman and Mrs. William Rosenthal, also of Los Angeles, have an adopted baby, too. Sen. Ben Hulse, of El Centro, one of the rugged stalwarts of the Senate, is over leaning up against the pillar. He’s just out of bed with an attack of the flu. Mrs. Hulse, with the pretty colors on her collar and coat, is on the lounge chatting with Mrs. Brown, wife of Sen. Charles Brown of Shoshone, on the doorstep to Death Valley, and Mrs. Jimmerson, wife of Royal Wade Jimmerson, correspondent for the San Francisco Examiner; Jim is over there talking with Dr. Celestine Sullivan; representing the Bank of America, a lobbyist of parts, as it were.

Still Another Group

            In a group arrayed on and around another lounge are Assemblyman John Collier, Eagle Rock; Assemblyman Ernest Geddes, Pomona (Mrs. Geddes is over there talking to Mrs. Sullivan,) and Assemblyman and Mrs. William Grant of Long Beach.

            Just now stepping off the elevator are Sen. And Mrs. Ralph Swing of San Bernardino, accompanied by the former veteran legislator and Speaker, Charles W. Lyon and Mrs. Nancy Lyon. Lyon now represents the Associated General Contractors. The two couples head for the dining room, with the dinner-dance and orchestra. And there is Art Ohnimus, chief clerk of the Assembly and his wife, dancing in there.

            Mrs. Ethel Brockelbank, Los Angeles, Assembly history clerk, and Miss Lillian Slater, Santa Rosa, Assembly assistant minute clerk, are seated across the lobby talking; into the lobby came Assemblyman Carl Fletcher and Mrs. Fletcher of Long Beach, having been out to dinner with Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Haggerty, San Francisco. The latter is secretary of the State A.F.L., and Fletcher is editor of the Long Beach Labor Journal.

            Mr. Monroe Butler, representing some of the independent oil groups, comes in. Here come Mr. and Mrs. Jack Chelew. He represents the Merchants and Manufactures Association, Allen Davis, of the Southern California Automobile Club. Sen. Oliver Carter of Redding, who goes around in the chill winds outside with no topcoat, not vest and hands in his pants pockets, also comes in from the street. And Ray Kahl, Niland, former sergeant at arms, is over there looking at the scene over.

Survey the Scene

            For the visitors this week we had from Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, Mrs. Genevieve Daugherty, of the 59^th Assembly District and Pro America, and Mrs. Anges Richmond, executive secretary of the Beverly Hills Republican Club-and were they intrigued over the Legislature. Also, Jean Haley, Long Beach, and Mrs. And Mrs. R. C. Jaeger of Huntington Park.

            Over this scene presides Mr. Frank Sebastian, president and general manager of the Senator Hotel. Remember Sebastian in L.A.; in his evening clothes and wavy gray hair he looks like an ambassador or something-and I hope he has a room for Kyle Palmer when he comes up here or he will look like something else.

            From your reporter,

C.G.H.

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CHAPTER_____

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 40-Relative to the creation of the Joint Legislative Committee on Legislative Reference Library.

            Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, As follows:

1. The Joint Legislative Committee on Legislative Reference Library is hereby created and authorized and directed to ascertain, study and analyze all facts relating to the maintenance and improvement of a reference library in the Capitol for use of legislators, the cataloguing and indexing of legislative publications, and the furnishing of library assistance to the Legislature, including but not limited to the operation, effect, administration, enforcement and needed revision of any and all laws in any way bearing upon or relating to the subject of this resolution, and to report thereon to the Legislature, including in the reports its recommendations for appropriate legislation.
2. The committee shall consist of three Members of the Senate appointed by the Committee on Rules thereof, and three Members of the Assembly appointed by the Speaker thereof. Vacancies occurring in the membership of the committee shall be filled by the appointing power.
3. The committee is a continuing body and is authorized to act both during and between sessions of the Legislature.
4. The committee and its members shall have and exercise all of the rights, duties and powers conferred upon investigating committees and their members by the provisions of the Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly as they are adopted and amended from time to time at this session, which provisions are incorporated herein and made applicable to this committee and its members.
5. The committee has the following additional powers and duties:

1. To select a chairman and a vice chairman from its membership.
2. To contract with such other agencies, public or private, as it deems necessary for the rendition and affording of such services, facilities, studies and reports to the committee as will best assist it to carry out the purposes for which it is created.

1. To report its findings and recommendations to the Legislature and to the people from time to time and at any time.

-3-

1. To do any and all other things necessary or convenient to enable it fully and adequately to exercise its powers, perform its duties, and accomplish the objects and purposes of this resolution.
2. To supervise the maintenance of the Legislative Reference Library in the State Capitol, including the collection and cataloguing of committee reports and the collection, cataloguing and indexing of legislative publications.
3. To assist members in the performance of their legislative duties to the extent that the staff and faculties of the committee permit.

1. The sum of seventeen thousand five hundred dollars ($17,500) or so much thereof as may be necessary is hereby made available from the Contingent Funds of the Senate and Assembly for the expenses of the committee and its members and for any charges, expenses or claims it may incur under this resolution, to be paid from the said contingent funds equally and disbursed, after certification by the chairman of the committee, upon warrants drawn by the State Controller upon the State Treasurer.

-4-

(A line shown here for the signature of the Speaker of the Assembly)

Speaker of the Assembly

(A line shown here for the signature of the President of the Senate)

President of the Senate

Attest:

(A line shown here for the signature of the Secretary of State)

Secretary of State

Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 40

Adopted in Assembly February 5, 1959

(A line shown here for the signature of the Chief Clerk of the Assembly)

Chief Clerk of the Assembly

Adopted in Senate February 3, 1949

(A line shown here for the signature of the Secretary of State)

Secretary of State

This resolution was received by the Secretary of State this

_____date of__________, 1959 at ____ o’clock____m.

(A line shown here for the signature of the Assistant Secretary of State)

Assistant Secretary of State

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping.

First newspaper clipping:

3 images are shown here. A description of the image is shown underneath the image, it reads:

            FIRST WITNESSES-These are the four witnesses who testified today as the taking of testimony in the trial of Assemblyman John W. Evans on four bribery charges started here. Low left is Frank Fat, Sacramento restaurant man, and on the lower right is Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the assembly. In the top photo are Roy Hann, a teller in the state treasurer’s office, right, and John A. Ledward, assistant manager of the Hotel Sacramento. Ohnimus told of bills Evans introduced and the others testified regarding checks from the Citizens Committee for Old Age Pensions he is said to have cashed. Story on page 1.

Bee Photo

Second newspaper clipping:

An image of the Sacramento Bee logo is shown.

Vol. 186-No. 30,218

Prosecutor Outlines Case Against Evans

Pictures on page 2.

            District Attorney J. Francis O’Shea told a superior court jury today he will prove Assemblyman John W. Evans was so much under the control of George H. McLain he introduced an assembly bill when the pension promoter told him to, even though it had been declared unconstitutional.  

            He made the statement in his opening remarks to the jury of six men and six women chosen late yesterday to try the legislator on four bribery charges which resulted from payments he accepted from McLain. Later, the first four prosecution witnesses testified and the case was recessed until Monday.

O’Shea Outlines Case

            After outlining the manner in which Evans was placed on the payroll of McLain’s Citizens Committee on Old Age Pensions for $75 a week just prior to the 1949 legislative session, O’Shea declared:

            “We shall prove that on one occasion Evans asked the legislative counsel bureau to draw up a bill and later the draft of the proposed law was returned to him with a letter stating that in the bureau’s opinion the proposed law was unconstitutional, arbitrary and capricious. Evans transmitted the bill to the state department of social welfare with the bureau’s letter and one of his own stating he would do nothing further on the matter until he received a reply.

            “The letters and the bill then were transmitted to Mr. McLain. Mr. McLain sent the bill back with a note saying:

            “‘Have Johnny introduce it anyway.’”

            “Thereafter Evans did introduce the bill.”

            O’Shea told the jurors he is confident they will convict Evans on all four counts when all the evidence is in.

Testify About Bills

            Today’s witnesses testified regarding bills Evans introduced during the 1949 session and identified four of the CCOAP checks he cashed in Sacramento.

            The first witness called by O’Shea and his chief deputy, Elvin F. Sheehy, was Arthur A. Ohnimus…

Continued on page 8, column 5 *the continuation of this newspaper clipping is shown in newspaper clipping 3.

Newspaper clipping 3 is a continuation of the second newspaper clipping it reads:

Friday, July 28, 1950

Prosecutor Outlines Case Against Evans

Continued from page 1

veteran chief clerk of the assembly. He stated the Los Angeles assemblyman introduced 114 bills in 1949 and identified copies of seven which the prosecution plans to use as exhibits.

            Defense attorney John L. Brannely lost out for the time being in an attempt to draw from Ohnimus statements regarding Evans’ reputation as a backer of pension legislation. The defense claims Evans consistently has backed pension measures during his 12 years in the legislature and therefore could not have been influenced by McLain. When Brannely asked Ohnimus about the matter O’Shea objected and Superior Judge Raymond T. Coughlin ruled the question out.

            Brannely then announced he will call Ohnimus as a defense witness next Thursday.

Other Witnesses

            The others who testified are Frank Fat, local restaurant proprietor, John A. Ledward, assistant manager of the Hotel Sacramento, and Roy Hann, a teller in the state treasurer’s office.

            Fat and Hann each cashed one of the checks involved and two were cashed in the hotel.

            Brannely drew from Fat and Hann statements that the checks were cashed openly and not in secret as though a briber were involved. Ledward did not cash any checks personally.

            A crowd of about 60 persons, most of them elderly, took all of the available seats in the courtroom and a few persons stood in the aisles.

            O’Shea told the jurors Evans was placed on the CCOAP payroll on an order from McLain to a bookkeeper at a 1948 Christmas party staged by employees of the pension group in Los Angeles. Evans and McLain were there. The bookkeeper, he said, wrote the first check and put the assemblyman on the organization payroll for $75 a week.

            The payments, the prosecutor declared, continued until two weeks before the 1949 legislature adjourned in July.

Bills Introduced

            “Certain bills in which Mr. McLain was interested, chiefly dealing with social welfare, were introduced by Evans after the payments began,” O’Shea declared.

            “We also shall prove to you that Mr. Evans, when questioned about the reason the checks were given to him, told contradictory and conflicting stories.”

            The selection of the jury and two alternates took two days.

Eight Witnesses

            O’Shea intends to call eight witnesses in all. These are the others in the order in which they are to be called: Mrs. Margaret Ferris of Pasadena, a former McLain employee, whose testimony regarding the payments when she appeared before the senate interim committee on social welfare started the case; Michael J. Fitzgerald, who followed Mrs. Ferris as bookkeeper for McLain’s Citizens Committee for Old Age Pensions; Jack Cartwright, once an aide to Mrs. Myrtle Williams when she was state director of social welfare, and Chester G. Hanson, a political writer for the Los Angeles Times. They have been subpoenaed for Monday. O’Shea expects to finish his case by noon Tuesday.

            Brannely said he will call 15 or 20 witnesses including McLain. Mrs. Williams may be one of the defense witnesses.

McLain Also Indicated

            McLain also was indicted. His case is being held up pending a decision by the third district court of appeal on his claim to…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is not shown.

This page displays 5 newspaper clippings and a card.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Solons Try to Hide Special Session Fees

Legislators Collect Mileage by using Camouflage

Trickery Fails to Work

Assemblyman Bruce Stannard Upsets ‘Apple Cart’

            A legislative “hidden ball play” by which members at the July tax session quietly voted themselves mileage under the guise of “general expenses” was exposed yesterday.

            “And they left the budget $30,000,000 out of balance,” commented Finance Director Rolland Vandegrift when informed of the disclosure.

            Scruples of Assemblyman Bruce R. Stannard of San Diego against accepting his check started skeletons spilling pell-mell out of legislative closets. Refusing to cash his check for $57.30, Stannard sent a “how come?” message to Sacramento.

            Investigation showed that one of the last acts of the assembly was to pass an appropriation for $5,244 for “general expenses.”

Sends Mileage

            Fred J. Desch, assistant chief clerk of the house, drew the money and sent each member his personal check for mileage at 10 cents a mile between legislators’ homes and Sacramento.

            A similar appropriation for $2,868 was passed by the senate, apparently for the same purpose. Secretary Joseph A. Beek said no mileage checks had been sent to upper house members. Capitol wiseacres…

(Continued on page 10, column 4) *the continuation of this newspaper clipping is shown in newspaper clipping 2.

Second newspaper clipping is a continuation of the first newspaper clipping it reads:

Assembly Fails to Hide Mileage

Legislators Collect Fees by Using Camouflage

(Continued from Page One)

…guessed that in view of the assembly blow-up none would be sent.

            After Assemblyman Stannard’s conscience bared the mileage deal, state financial officials hurriedly joined a chorus to the effect that “officially” they knew nothing about it.

            “I had no reason to inquire into the assembly appropriation for general expense,” said Controller Ray L. Riley, whose office must approve all money drawn from the treasury.

Desch Silent

            “It looked just like any other appropriation for legislative expenses.

            “But I’ll say this. Mileage receipts from members will not be suitable accounting for that money.”

            Finance Director Vandegrift said it wasn’t any of his business.

            Officials skirted the question of illegal use of state money. They privately held that if vouchers for the $5,244 are presented as salary for Desch, it will not be possible to question legality of the assembly’s action.

            Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the assembly, said “Proper vouchers will be deposited with proper state officials.”

            Desch said nothing.

General Expense

            When the payless July session opened, legislators put their heads together and discussed balancing their own budgets with a mileage appropriation while working on the state’s revenue millions.

            Having drawn all their pay and mileage in the first 100 days of the session, members bumped into constitutional difficulties. There was no provision for either pay for mileage after the 100 days.

            Fearing public criticism, legislators appeared to have dropped the mileage plan. Then they slipped through “general expense” appropriations on the understanding clerks would turn over mileage checks to members.

Craig Author of Bill

            Authored by Assemblyman Edward Craig of Brea, the assembly resolution appropriated $5,244 “for the pay of officers, clerks and other employees of the assembly and for the preparation and arranging of bills, books and other records subsequent to adjournment of the legislature.”

            By the legislative device of “moving the previous roll call” on an uncontested measure the vote showed 72 to 0 for the Craig resolution.

            State financial procedure on legislative expenses is to draw blanket sums from the treasury in favor of chief attaches of the two houses. They must subsequently account to the controller for use of the money.

Wasn’t Here

            With his check, Assemblyman Stannard received a letter from Desch explaining that this was ‘pursuant to the understanding that this money would be paid to you.”

            Stannard couldn’t recall any understanding. He found he was recorded as voting for the appropriation, but said he wasn’t in Sacramento during the last hours of the session when the mileage measure slipped through.

            “I wrote to Desch asking him about the clerk, but so far have received no reply,” Stannard said in San Diego.

            “I feel I had a moral right to be paid mileage, but I certainly do not want payment made under subterfuge.

            “I do not wish under any circumstance to be put in a position of receiving expense money, which had been denied legally, as a result of an appropriation made to the assembly clerk.”

Third newspaper clipping reads:

The Sacramento Bee, Thursday, August 10, 1933

“Hidden Appropriation” for State Solon Pay Revealed

            Will Rogers told California legislators they were “receiving what they were worth” when they got nothing at the July session, but apparently they fooled him and everybody else just before adjournment by making a “hidden” appropriation of money to pay their mileage expenses back home.

            Assemblyman Bruce R. Stannard of San Diego let the cat out of the bag by announcing a mileage check for $57.30 has been sent him, and refuses to accept it because he “does not want payment made under a subterfuge.”

To “Pay Employees.”

            Legislative records show that in the closing hours of the session, the assembly appropriated $5,244 “for the pay of officers, clerks and other employees of the assembly.” Assemblyman Edward Craig, Orange County, presented the resolution. A senate resolution appropriated $2,868 for similar general expenses.

            Stannard is quoted as declaring his mileage check was sent him by Fred Desch, assistant clerk of the assembly. The legislator is demanding an explanation on the ground that no mileage allowances as such, were voted.

Desch is Silent

            Desch refuses to comment on the incident or on reports that he has sent out mileage checks to the rest of the assembly. Chief Clerk Arthur Ohnimus of the assembly says:

            “The resolution speaks for itself. Receipts covering the $5,244 will be filed in due time with the state controller.”

            The controller’s office indicates it will not accept receipts covering legislators’ “mileage.”

            Senate attaches report no mileage checks have been sent out to upper house members.

May be Questioned

            And there’s the situation, with the possibility that the payments-the one Stannard objects to, at least-may be legally questioned.

            “I do not wish under any circumstances,” declares Stannard, “to be put in a position of receiving expense money which has been legally denied, as a result of any appropriation made to assembly clerks.”

Fourth newspaper clipping reads:

Solons Fail to Ask for Mileage Expense Money

            SACRAMENTO, Aug 9 (U.P.)-No money was appropriated during the midsummer session of the 50^th legislature for legislators’ mileage expenses, Arthur Ohnimus, assembly chief clerk, said today.

            Ohnimus declined to comment on the statement of Assemblyman Bruce Stannard, San Diego, that he had received a mileage check of $57.30 from Fred Desch, assistant chief clerk of the assembly. Nor would he say whether mileage checks were sent to other assemblymen.

Fifth newspaper clipping reads:

June 28, 1949]                                     Assembly Journal                                            5149

Resolutions

            The following resolution was offered:

            By Messrs. Morris, Sam L. Collins, Dickey, Geddes and Hollibaugh:

House Resolutions No. 293

                        Relating to Mr. Arthur A. Ohnimus, Chief Clerk of the Assembly

            WHEREAS, Mr. Arthur A. Ohnimus has faithfully and efficiently served the Assembly from 1915 to the present time, beginning as an attaché from 1915 to 1921, then as Minute Clerk from 1921 to 1923, and finally as Chief Clerk continuously from 1923 to the present time expecting the years 1937 to 1940; and

            WHEREAS, During this long period Mr. Ohnimus had devoted his able services impartially to all the Members of the Assembly; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Ohnimus became of his long and distinguished career as the chief aide of the Assembly has become an integral and necessary part of the Assembly; and

            WHEREAS, Mr. Ohnimus has come to represent the Assembly of the State of California both to the members thereof and to many others; and

            WHEREAS, The Assembly desires to publicly proclaim that Arthur A. Ohnimus is so regarded by its members; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, That Arthur A. Ohnimus, Chief Clerk of the Assembly, is recognized as a part of the Assembly, and the Members of the Assembly request that all state officers and agencies extend appropriate consideration and courtesies to him.

A card is shown that verifies that Arthur A. Ohnimus is of the assembly, it reads:

State of California

Sacramento January 11, 1943

            This is to certify that ARTHUR A. OHNIMUS

Chief Clerk

is of the

Assembly

Fifty Fifth Session

of the State of California representing the 

(A line is shown to state the district) Assembly District

(Signature of the Secretary of State is shown. The signature is unreadable)

Secretary of State

This page displays 2 newspaper clipping. Words that are unreadable will be replaced by two asterisks.

First newspaper clipping reads:

Jan 4, 1936

Los Angeles Times

Economy Step Taken by Assembly Committee on Rules

An image is shown of 4 men gathering around looking at documents that are spread across the table. Underneath the image is a description that reads:

            To save money the State Assembly Committee on Rules yesterday recommended that printing of legislative bills be reduced to a minimum. Printing bills have been running high. Shown seated, left to right are Assemblymen Roy Nielson, Charles Lyon and Joseph Gilmore; standing, Fred Desch and Arthur Ohnimus, clerks.

Times Photo

Legislature to Cut Cost

Economy Move in Printing of Bills Outlined here by Committee

            Recommendation for a vast reduction in the printing of legislative bills will be made to the next Legislature by the standing Assembly Committee on Rules and Regulations in an economy move.

            Such was a decision arrived at yesterday at a meeting in the California State Building at which it was declared that the printing of the bills is one of the major expense items of the Assembly.

Agreement Reached

            Committee members were in agreement that only a sufficient number of bills should be printed to meet the needs of legislators.

            Requirements of individuals should be supplied by the Secretary o. f State, it was declared, with members of the group citing the practices of other States.  

            Under the present system there is a possibility of duplication at considerable cost, I was declared, with conferees pointing to the printing of codes by various departments, as well as by the Legislature.

Rules Analyzed

            Rules of Assembly procedure were analyzed and compared with similar regulations of other States by Fred Desch, minute clerk of the Assembly, and Arthur A. Ohnimus, Assembly clerk, who suggested numerous deletions and changes.

            Charles W. Lyon of Los Angeles is chairman of the group. Other members are Roy Nielsen of Sacramento and Joseph Gil more of San Francisco.

Second newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping which is not shown. This newspaper clipping reads:

Speaker

Legislature Faces Water, Tax Problems

Only Fight in Sight is Over Selection of Speaker Pro Tem of Session

(Continued from Page 1, Col 6)

…lower house, and Assemblyman Jerome B. Schofield of Huntington Park has arisen up to joust with Byrne for the position.

            Speaker Levey of the Assembly is the first San Francisco legislator to rule over the lower house in more than twenty years, United States Commissioner Arthur Fisk being the last one from the bay city to hold that honor, prior to Levey’s election in 1927. Chief Clerk Arthur A. Ohnimus will be re-elected as soon as he calls the Assembly to order and the organization of that body beings and most of the clerical positions in both houses will be filled by old timers.

New Senate President

            In the Senate, a new presiding officer, Lieutenant-Governor H. L. Carnahan, successor to Buron Fitts, will preside, while Secretary Joseph A. Beek will be on hand again as will Sergeant-at-Arms Joseph F. Nolan.

            Governor Young’s message, a report more than 100 pages in length, will be presented to the legislators tomorrow and on Tuesday the Governor will hand over to the Legislature his biennial budget message and financial recommendations. The 1929-31 budget will total approximately $245,000,000, according to estimate made by members of the Governor’s official family.

            The Governor hopes to have the law makers out of the Capitol within two weeks, but most of the veterans believe that it will require a longer time before all of the bills which they plan on introducing will be presented.

            Hearings on the Governor’s taxation bills which are designed to put into effect the taxation amendment approved by the voters last November will begin in both houses next week, according to the present program. Emergency legislation must be adopted by the Legislature during the next few weeks to put into force the 4 percent bank and business corporation taxes and the new tax on intangible securities. The new taxation laws must be in effect for the March assessment period.

Much Handshaking

            Although the usual bustle around the Capitol which generally marks the Sabbath preceding the opening of the Legislature was missing today, there will be plenty of conferences on tomorrow. Even the Governor’s office was closed today, an unusual occurrence since much handshaking by the incoming legislators around the chief executive’s offices prior to the beginning of the session.

            There were numerous caucuses and meetings going on, however, in the hotels. The present session and its outcomes will have a direct bearing upon the gubernatorial race next year, and the seasoned politicians like former Sheriff Thomas F. Finn of San Francisco, Alexander McCabe, former Insurance Commissioner; M. F. Kelly of Oakland, Jack McGilvray, chairman of the Industrial Accident Commission during the Richardson administration, and many others, were on hand to witness the opening session.

Caution to be Rule

            It is admitted in political circles that the present session with its taxation program, which may seek to entirely change the existing taxation laws of California and other important matters, will furnish much which must bear careful handling by the administration leaders.

            The matter of the selection of committee in the two houses and the floor leadership was being ** by the legislators ** ** here today. No word…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is cut off.

This page displays 7 newspaper clipping. Words that are unreadable will be replaced by two asterisks.

The first newspaper clipping reads:

Hurley and Smith Deny Statements of Herb Doctors

Alameda Officials Advised Attempt Made to Extort Money from Politicians for Defeat of Pending Narcotic Legislation; Two ** Involved

            Allegations that extortion was attempted in connection with pending legislation relative to bills affecting the sale and use of herbs by practitioners were made known last night in Oakland when District Attorney Earl Warren and Chief of Police James T. Drew announced that Senator Edgar S. Hurley and Assemblyman Edward Smith will be questioned today in this city.

Second newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping that is not shown, this newspaper clipping reads:

…Charlie Oliva, Fred Hawes, Paul Scharrenberg, Arthur Samish and newspaperman.

Hornblower Denounces Bill

            Hornblower asked to be allowed to make a statement in which he denied he was in any way employed by Chinese interests and said in behalf of his colleagues that they went to hear what the Chinese had to say about the Smith bill. He denounced the bill and promised to do so again when it came up for passage.

            A number of outcomes of the investigation are possible, least in the list of which are impeachment or indictment. The belief that Wilkinson and Ohnimus will be tarred in the report is held by those who consider the affair from political angles. Wilkinson’s glib recital failed to impress the committee, although no credible testimony is at hand showing that he received or offered money.

            Another possibility is that the Chinese will be accused of framing the story to kill the Smith bill. A third is that the committee will seek to minimize the affair and declare it a creation of the newspapers.

Third newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping that is not shown, this newspaper clipping reads:

Cinch Probes Battle over Findings

Continued from Page Three

…secured Hood’s appointment to this job through political influence.

            He also said that Hood had paid all of their office rent in Oakland for the last two years, and that on occasions when Smith had appeared in court for Hood in narcotic cases he had been paid regular legal fees by the latter.

Political Debt Paying

            These statements were brought out by Assemblyman Sidney Graves, chairman of the committee, who demanded of Smith:

            “If the present administration has been paying off any political debts to members of the Legislature, we want to know it.”

            Smith was one of the administration supporters in the budget fight in Sacramento two years ago. He denied, however, that his administration connection had been of value in getting Hood his appointment.

            The investigation was given further political significance by an effort on the ** ** to associate the name of former Senator Frank Garr, an ** opponent in Oakland, ** the raising of money among the ** ** bay Chinese.

Carr is mentioned

            Smith said his ** that he was to be offered a large amount of money for the suppression of the herb bill came indirectly from Jack Kelly, a political associate of Carr.

            “I met Dan **, assistant sergeant at arms of the Assembly, on the street in Oakland,” said Smith.

            “He said Kelly has told him my bill was the ‘best bill up in Sacramento, and that if I didn’t come home rich I would be a sucker.”

            Smith said that it was this statement he was referring to when he later told Arthur Ohnimus, chief clerk of the Assembly, that he (Smith) “could get $5,000 for laying off the herb bill.”

Ohnimus’ Visit

            Recounting Ohnimus’ visit to his home in Oakland on February 12, Smith admitted to the committee that he had misinterpreted Ohnimus’ conversation, regarding the bill as being an offer of money.

            “The first thing I did when I came back to Sacramento after the recess was to go to Ohnimus and apologize,” he said.

“Possible Bribe”

            Asked by Assemblyman T. M. Wright of the committee whether he at present regarded Ohnimus’ conversation about the bill as an offer of money, however, he said:

            “Possibly.”

            This left the committee in doubt and Ohnimus was recalled to the witness stand. He repeated his previous denial that he had gone to Smith with any offer of money.

Fourth newspaper clipping is partially cut off. The title, subtitle and the first paragraph is unreadable due to it being cut off. The rest of this newspaper clipping reads:

            Henderson said a representative of his office will be in attendance at all hearings at the state capitol.

            Sidney T. Graves, chairman of the committee, yesterday subpoenaed nine person to be questioned in connection with charges of extortion and bribery surround the Smith bills relating to the use and sale of herbs for medical purposes.

            The following were named in subpoenas issued by Graves:

            Dr. Fong Wan, Oakland herb practitioner, who is said to have made charges of extortion to the Alameda County authorities; T. Wah Hing, Sacramento herb dealer; Y. T. Dang, secretary of the Chinese protective association; Lee See, Fong Y. San, Dr. Y. L. Chan, other Chinese herbalists; former Assemblyman William Brackett, Oakland; J. E. Hood Oakland attorney, and Charles Wilkinson, assembly sergeant at arms.

Ohnimus Invited

            Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the assembly, who was previously questioned, was invited to appear before the committee.

            District Attorney Earl Warren of Alameda County and Police Chief Drew of Oakland were asked also to appear to testify and provide the committee with a transcript of any testimony taken in their investigation.

            The charges which involve Assemblyman Eddie Smith, Senator Edgar Hurley and Arthur Ohnimus and Charles Wilkinson, chief clerk and sergeant at arms of the assembly, respectively, will be investigated indirectly by the senate as well as the assembly.

            This decision was reached when a resolution introduced by Senator Phil Sing of San Bernardino, calling for the appointment of a committee of seven members to investigate the activities of the lobbyists was adopted. The resolution grants the committee permission to appropriate $500 from the continent fund to carry on investigations of bills if the committee deems such a course advisable.

Plot Admitted

            An admission that the “double crossed” former Assemblyman William Brackett in a plot whereby he was to pay Brackett a large sum of…

(Continued on page two, col two) *the rest of this newspaper clipping is not shown.

Fifth newspaper clipping has two columns; the first paragraph of the left column is partially cut off. Starting from the second paragraph it reads:

            After reciting the conflicting testimony given by Assemblyman Smith and the chief clerk of the Assembly, Arthur Ohnimus, with reference to the latter’s visit to Smith’s room in Oakland on February 11 or 12, the report says:

            “It is impossible for the committee to reconcile the differences in the two statements given by Ohnimus and Smith, nor can they be reconciled.

            “There is sufficient in the testimony concerning the actions of the two elective officers of the house, the chief clerk and the sergeant at arms, to call attention to their unwarranted action concerning the defeat of this measure.

            “The activities are calculated to bring, and have brought, upon the house the odium in the public mind that its members are disregardful of their own conduct and of the conduct of their officers.”

Sixth newspaper clipping is shown at the corner of the page with more half of the content being cut off, so it’s unreadable.

Seventh newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping that is not shown. This newspaper clipping is shown with two columns, however the second column on the right is partially cut off so it’s unreadable. The first column on the left is fully shown it reads:

Prosecutor Says Assistant will follow Evidence

(continued from page one)

…money if the former legislator would use his influence to quash a proposed bill against Chinese herb doctors in the state legislature, was made to District Attorney Warren in Oakland yesterday by Fong Wan, one of the doctors in question.

            In a conference yesterday in Fong Wan’s office between the doctor, the district attorney and Brackett, the doctor said, according to the district attorney, that Brackett had approached him on the proposition, and he had notified the authorities as soon as possible thereafter. A dictaphone was thereupon fitted up in the room where the money was to be passed.

Brackett “TIPPED”

            Before the date set for this transaction, however, Fong Wan notified Brackett that the authorities had knowledge of the plot, and Brackett therefore did not show up to receive the money.

            After this conference a further conference was begun in the office of District Attorney Warren. In addition to the others named, this second conference was attended by Mrs. Brackett, whose connection with the case has not been explained by the authorities. Brackett resigned yesterday as the custodian of the Civic Auditorium. He went to Chief of Police Drew immediately thereafter and requested to be taken before the district attorney.

            He was accommodated by the chief of police and went into conference with District Attorney Warren. The result of the conference was not made known.

Power Granted

            The assembly investigating committee yesterday was voted $1000 for preliminary expenses and was vested with the authority to subpoena witnesses. This power was declared necessary before the committee could commence the probe of charges which involve legislators and attaches.

            Lieutenant Governor C. C. Young announced the appointment of Senator Swing as chairman of the senate probe committee, declaring the other six members of the committee will be appointed by him Monday morning.

            The adoption of the Swing resolution in the senate was the subject of a stormy session before it finally was accepted. Senator Hurley was instrumental in conducting the battle against adoption of the resolution. He flayed the “yellow press” should submit “their lying stories to a special committee to be passed upon before they were printed.”

Press Flayed

            “If this procedure is adopted by…*the continuation is on the next column which is cut off and unreadable.

Charles Lyons, London Tailor, 1214-20 Market and 300-2 Kearny, S.F.

OET                                                    1029                                                    OKE

Left Column

Oetke George, shoefitter, r. 316 Ivy Av

Oettl Louis, proptr New Prescott House, 604-60 Fourth

Oetzel Charles, wines and liquors, 244 Sutter

Oetzel John, pressman Upton Bros., r. 477 Jessie

Oetzman Petronella, widow, r. 33 Beideman

Oeverndeik Frederick, expressman, r. 129 Olive Av

Offenbach Frederick, foreman Fisher Packing Co., r. 53 Clementina

Offenberger Conrad, r. 3 Kohler P1

Offenbauser Frederick N., tailor Block & George, r. 6 Virginia P1

Offer Charles, cigarmaker, r. 1309 Geary

Offermann Fred, r. 735 Brannan

Offermann George, marine engineer, r. SE cor Filbert and Mason

Offermann Henry, bartender Goetjen & Muller, r. 201 Mission

Offermann Julius. Plasterer, r. 205 ½ Fourteenth

Offermann Otto (Dalldorf & Offermann) r. 232 Mission

Offermann William, groceries and liquors, NW cor Tenth and Folsom, r. 1402 ½ Folsom.

Official Railway Hand Book, Thomas A. Graham and W. V. Bryan publishers, 23 First

OFFICE SPECIALITY MANUFACTURING

CO., Charles Slemin Jr. manager, manufacturers and furniture for offices, 609 Market.

Offord Mary, widow, r. 133 Clara, rear

Oftedahl Ole T., laborer, r. 114 Natoma

Ogborn Marshall E., vice-president and manager The Richards Drug Co., 509-511 Market. r. 2019 Webster

Ogburn Robert H., carpenter, r. 501 Ash Av

Ogden Charles A., asst chemist State Mining Bureau, r. The Renton

Oge William L., secretary and treasurer The J. Dewing Co., 813 Market, r. San Rafael

Ogilvie James R., teacher music, 330 Sutter, r. 1440 Vallejo

Ogilvie John, stonecutter, r. 14 Parker Av

Ogilvie Robert, r. 417 Broderick

Ogilvie William M., carpet cutter W. & J. Sloane & Co., r. 1010 Jones

Ogle Frederick, clerk Henry Sutliff, r. 2425 Gough Ogle John, carpenter, r. 2533 Misison

Oglesby James, dissolver U. S. Mint, r. 1018 Pine

Ogren Olof, cabinetmaker A. Frei, r. 433 ½ Clementina

Ogston William, r. 1418 Grove

Ohe Albert, clerk Katherine Henshen, r. 1505 ½ Steiner

Ohe D., knife cleaner Handy & Gray

Ohe Rudolph, cigar packer H. Plagemann & Co, and (Ohe & Bischoff) r. 1505 Steiner

Ohe & Bischoff (Rudolph OHe and Henry Bischoff) groceries and liquors, NW cor Sacramento and Scott

Ohelrich Charles, salesman Stewart & Buckley, r. 820 Pacific

Ohland John, with Young & Helfrisch, r. 809 Geary

Ohland John Mrs. Fancy goods. 129 Eleventh

Ohland John A., conductor Market St. RR., r. 121 Eleventh

Ohlandt Henry (N. Ohlandt & Co.) r. W s Potrero Av Twenty-fourth

OHLANDT N. & Co. (Nicholas and Henry Ohlandt and John A. Buck) manufacturers animal and willow charcoal and neats foot oil, E s Indiana bet Nevada and Yolo

The Acme of Perfection

MARIE ANTOINETTE

10 Cent Havana Cigar

Sold by First-class Dealers.

Man, Sadler & Co., Importers, S. F., Cal.

9 to 15 Beale Street

Right Column:

W. & J. Sloane & Co.

Special Designs in

 Furniture

641 to 647 Market Street.

Ohlandt Nicholas (N. Ohlandt & Co.) and president Chicago Brewing Co., 1420 Pine, r. N s Sonoma nr Potrero Av

Ohlemutz Jacob, butcher, 1404 Dupont, r. 627 Green

Ohlen Edward, manager Mercantile Lunch, 213-215 Pine, r. 1534 Clay

Ohlen Thomas E., bookkeeper, r. 1594 Clay

Ohlendorff Henry, butcher, r. S s Teneriffle nr Tom bigbee

Ohlendorff John, conductor Turk St. R., r. 1316 Fillmore

Ohlert. See Oehlert

Ohling Edward, ship joiner P. M. SS. Co.

Ohlmeier Carl, fruits, etc., 831 Market

Ohlsen Charles, r. 738 Minna

Ohlsen John, foreman Union Iron Works, r. 1716 Tennessee

Ohlsen Louis (Olsen & Hay) r. 984 Folsom

Ohlsen Mary, domestic 516 Twenty-third

Ohlsen Nels, laborer, r. 13 Sierra

Ohlsen & Hay (Louis Ohlsen and John Hay) second hand furniture, 984 Folsom

Ohlson George, formean starch room La Grande Launddry, r. 212 Thirteenth

Ohlson Hannah, domestic 2422 Clay

Ohlson Hannah Mrs., r. 24 Thirteenth

Ohlson John, bartender Petersen & Lundberg, r. 328 Fifth

OHLSON LOUIS W, cooper, water, casks, coal and ballast tubs, 239 Steuart, r. Oakland

Ohlson Sophia, domestic 2220 Webster

Ohlson. See Ohlsen, Olson and Olsson

Ohlsson B. O., bookkeeper W. Davis & Son, r. 1011 Polk

Ohlsson Uno, with Henry Lund & Co., r. 1011 Polk

Ohm Augusta H., r. 1217 Bush

Ohm Charles H., watchmaker, r. 623 Harrison

Ohm Charles L., r., 1231 Howard

Ohm Frederick A., shoemaker, 430 Folsom

Ohm Louis, steward stmr State of California, r. 747 Harrison

Ohm Rudolph A., r. 211 ½ Geary

Ohm William F., clerk, r. 747 Harrison

Ohman Andrew W., carpet layer Ackerman & Strauss

Ohman Gustav, restaurant, 17 Washington, r. 606 Howard

Ohmann Albert, teamster Hogan & Burns, r. 1612 Dolores

Ohmeis Frederick E., clerk Tillmann & Bendel, r. Willow Av

Ohmeis George Mrs., widow, r. 8 Williow Av

Ohmen William H., machine works, 107 Fremont, r. 42 Grove

Ohner John B., clerk Antone Scholle, r. 300 Turk

Ohnimus Henry, fireman S. P. Col., r. 212 Fifteenth

Ohnimus John, sign painter, r. 212 Fifteenth

Ohnimus Louis, cabinet maker, r. 212 Fifteenth

Ohnimus Louis J., superintendent Woodward’s Gardens, r. 1159 Stevenson

Ohnstein Oscar, restaurant, 249 Fourth

Ohse Lizzie C., widow, r. 2428 Sacrmaento

Ohsfeldt C. A., r. 8 Kissling

Otyazian Davis, tailor, 769 Market

Ojea Peter, seaman, r. 453 Tehama

Ojeda J. I. Mrs., widow, r. 925 ½ Mission

O. K. Saloon The Original, Fred Staude proprietor, 123 Front

Oke William S., liquor saloon, 119 Fifth

Okell Charles H., lieutenant Underwriters Fire Patrol, r. 651 Folsom

Okell Charles J. (Okell, Donnell & Co.) r. Cosmos Club

Okell, Donnell & Co. ( Charles Okell and A. C. Donnell) general insurance agents, 411 California

STARBIRD & GOLDSTONE

Wholesale and Retail Dealers in Building Lumber. Sugar Pine and Redwood for Foreign Shipment. 101 MARKET ST.      

Ross Bros.

31-37 Kearny, Occupying Entire Building

Styles in Children’s Hats Excel.

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping.

The first newspaper clipping reads:

S.F. Democrats Study Convention Delegate List

By Earl C. Behrens

            Efforts were started yesterday to smooth out difficulties which threatened in Democratic ranks over the manner in which a pro-Roosevelt third term delegation is to be chosen.

            Objections have arisen to a plan of Governor Olson’s friends to have the California delegation to the coming Democratic national convention, nominally instructed for Olson but in reality a Roosevelt group.

            Democratic leaders are divided on the procedure in which a pro-Roosevelt delegation should be placed on the May 7 presidential primary ballot.

            Recently, the Governor said it was undecided whether the California Roosevelt delegation in which he is interested should be pledged to him or instructed openly for President Roosevelt.

Malone on Fence

            Democratic County Chairman William M. Malone said yesterday he had not made up his mind what sort of a delegation program should be followed. Malone is aligned with the McAdoo wing of the Democrats.

            Under the California law, a Roosevelt delegation could be pledged outright to the President without any commitment from him at this time relative to his third time.

            Candidates for delegates to the coming national conventions must file their nomination papers between March 4 and March 28.

            Reports are current that Senator Sheridan Downey is willing to go on a delegation nominally instructed for Olson, even though it is a pro-Roosevelt group. But Downey will not be bound to vote for Roosevelt for a third term if he is on such a delegation.

Conference Called

             Last night, a group of Democrats were called together at local State headquarters to discuss the delegation plans. The majority of those invited were Olson supporters.

            Among them were Senator Jack Shelley, who was understood to be speaking with authority from the Governor; Harry See, Democratic State Committee secretary; Assemblymen O’Day, Gilmore, Collins and Gallagher; Mike Costello, Edward P. Murphy, attorney from the Toll Bridge Authority; Leo A. Cunningham; Chauncey Tramutolo; U.S. Attorney Hennessy; Larry Barrett, State Highway Commission chairman; Paul Madden, head of the ** ** division; Mrs. C. C…. *The rest of this story is not shown.

Behrens’ Gossip

Assembly Fund Shrinks

            A mess over the expenditure of contingent funds of the Assembly during the past year was glossed over by the Lower House just before it recessed Sunday.

            But members of the Assembly took precautions to see that more care will be used in spending the $1500 set aside for clerical work during the 11 week recess.

            Before the Legislature adjourned in 1939, the Assembly assigned $17,000 for future expenditures. But Chief Clerk Jack Carl Greenberg, Los Angeles Democrat, kept himself and quite a number of others busy for months doing odd jobs. The bill was paid by the Assembly. In fact, Greenberg kept himself on the pay roll for months past the time it has been customary for the chief clerk to be on the rolls.

            He checked off the pay roll just in time to report back to the Assembly when the session reconvened January 29. This enabled him to collect mileage from Los Angeles to Sacramento and return.  

            When the Assembly rules committee got around to recommending a recess appropriation for the Chief Clerk, it was discovered that the $17,000 had been nicked $6000 or $7000 largely for deserving Democrats.

            Several relatives of a Los Angeles Democratic Assemblyman were found to have been on the pay roll. Some of the others who had been carried on the contingent fund pay off list are said to have been devoting themselves principally to Democratic party affairs.

            Representatives of 9 of the 11 counties in the First Congressional District, meeting at Ukiah, have indorsed the candidacy of Paul G. Jasper, Fortuna editor and former member of the State Highway Commission, as a candidate for the Republican nomination for Congress. All other prospective candidates were urged to keep the field clear for Jasper’s candidacy.

            The Joint Legislative Committee on Unemployment, Relief, SRA Administration and kindred subjects will hold its first meeting Tuesday at Los Angeles. Seventeen members constitute the committee. Eight are members of the Assembly and seven represent the State Senate.

            Committee sections will study various phases of the problems to be investigated by the legislators. A detailed report will be made to the Legislature when it reconvenes, May 13.

            Mrs. G. W. Iverson will complete her fourteenth year as president of the Alameda unit of G.O.P. women this week. She is to preside at the election and installation of officers Thursday afternoon when the Alameda group of the California Council of Republican Women name a new slate for the year.

            The meeting will be held at 1:30 p.m., Garden chapel, 1707 Alameda Avenue, corner of Grand Street. Mrs. Jessie Williamson will install the new officers. The meeting will be open to the public.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

            Whether it will be the hottest in history is open to conjecture, but veteran observers appear agreed that the 1949 session of the Legislature, which reconvenes tomorrow will be the longest. Those who believe it will be the most hectic point to the wide variety of issues and to be the 1950 elections, but others insist that the areas of conflict are constantly narrowing and that in some instances what were at first thought to be grounds for all-out battles are disintegrating to a point where they may not even emerge from committee. As to the length of the session, the Knave who had been inclined to favor June 27 as an adjournment date-defers to Arthur Ohnimus, chief clerk of the Assembly who picks June 25. Whereas the Knave took a snap guess, Ohnimus demonstrates his choice of sine die adjournment with some lightning calculations on paper. Give or take two days, it’s still a record, and if the Legislature is able to drop the gavel 112 days hence it has a man-sized job cut out for it. As Ohnimus figures it, bills will have to pass at a rate of two dozen a day to make his mark and, since the opening weeks are slow, that means long and arduous hours toward the end. The slow start is natural because committees have to send down bills before a sizable file can be built up, and no appropriation bills can be passed until after the budget is enacted. But while things may appear to drag on the floor, the Ways and Means Committee will be going at it hot and heavy. That committee, headed by Assemblyman Marvin Sherwin, of Piedmont, has put in 12 to 14-hour days throughout the recess and as this was written had completed approximately two-thirds of its work on the billion dollar state budget. The committee, the Knave hears, has done one of the most thorough jobs in years and various conflicts which at first appeared crucial have been ironed-out around sub-committee tables. The one-third remaining, however, represents items which sub-committees referred to the committee as a whole as having a bearing on legislative policy-and that’s where the rub will come. Final decisions on the budget will, naturally, condition the length and intensity of the tax battle and several other major controversies. When the oratory will end and those decisions be chalked up in roll calls was anybody’s guess as this was written. As a matter of fact, even such experts as Ohnimus concede that a sound wager as to the adjournment date can’t be made until the budget is out of the way. But they’re inclined to give odds on anything under the third week in June.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Mrs. Warren has Completed List of Guests for May 24^th Tea

            Mrs. Earl E. Warren has invited more than 300 Sacramento club women, wives of legislators, state officials and others, to be her guests at a tea on May 24^th in the governor’s mansion. Mrs. Frederick F. Houser and Mrs. Ed Fletcher will assist Mrs. Warren with pouring duties.

            Those in the receiving line will be: Mesdames James McBride, Jonathan Hollibaugh, Sam Collins, Charles G. Johnson, Jerrold Seawell, Tom Erwin and Frank Mixter.

            The list of guests who have been invited are: Mesdames Frederick F. Houser, George M. Biggar, Arthur H. Breed, Jr., Charles Brown, Hugh M. Burns, Oliver J. Carter, Randolph Collier, Bradford S. Crittenden, R. R. Cunningham, T. H. DeLap, Earl Desmond, Charles Deuel, H. E. Dillinger, Nelson Dilworth, Hugh Donnelly, Jesse Dorsey, Ed Fletcher, Frank Gordon, George Hatfield, Chris Jespersen, H. R. Judah, Thomas H. Kuchel, Ben Hulse, Jesse Mayo, James McBride, Thomas McCormack, Frank Mixter, Harry Parkman, Harold Powers, Irwin Quinn, W. P. Rich, Byrl Salsman, Jerrold Seawell, John Shelley, Louis Sutton, Clarence Ward, Fred Weybret.

            Mesdames Don Allen, Serene Anderson, Ralph Beal, Julian Beck, Elwyn Bennett, William Berry, Philip Boyd, Bernard Brady, Ralph Brown, Montivel Burke, Everett Burkhalter, Michael Burns, George Butters, Harrison Call, Edward Carey, George Clarke, Sam Collins, J. G. Crichton, Ernest Crowley, M. Philip Davis, Ernest Debs, Albert Dekker, Paul Denny, Randal Dickey, Clayton Dills, Ralph Dills, Thomas Doyle, Francis Dunn, Jr., Fred Emlay, Thomas Erwin, C. Don Field, Carl Fletcher, Walter Fourt, Edward Gaffney, Chester Gannon, Ernest Geddes, Charles Guthrie, August Hawkins, S. L. Heisinger, Jonathan Hollibaugh, Gardiner Johnson, Vernon Kilpatrick, T. Fenton Knight.

            Mesdames Frederick Kraft, Jacob Leonard Charles Lyon, John Lyons, Thomas Maloney, Richard McCollister, Lester McMillian Lorne Middough, Raup Miller, Kathryn Niehouse, Edward O’Day, R. Fred Price William Rosenthal, Harold Sawallisch, Bernard Sheridan, Marvin Sherwin, Dwight Stephenson, Albert I. Stewart, Charles Stream, John Thompson, James Thorp, Allen Thurman, Frank Waters, Clyde Watson, Thomas Werdel, Albert Wollenberg, Frank M. Jordan, harry B. Riley, Charles G. Johnson, Robert W. Kenny, James H. Quinn, Walter Dexter, A. A. Brock, Archibald Tinning, Paul Scharrenberg, John F. Dalton, Joe R. Yockers, Walter Koetitz, Rena Brewster, Dora Heffner, Maynard Garrison, Benjamin Corlett, Edwin Daugherty, Hubert Scudder, Frank Mortimer, Thomas J. Riordan.

            Mesdames Victor Hansen, Warren T. Hannum, Joseph R. Knowland, Charles Wollenberg, Wilton Halverson, Charles Purcell, Gordon Garland, Frank Shay, Vandyce Hamren, Karl Holton, James Oakley, Jess Hession, George Moore, Charles Stone, Fred Wood, James Phillips, A. R. Gallaway, Jr., Richard McGee, E. Raymond Cato, Jr. C. Garrison, Charles Walker, Frederick Scatena, Eve Adams, William Boucher, Charles A. Carma, Clarence A. Kircher, H. J. Leatherman, Paul Lagergren, George B. Sanford, Fred C. Spring, Thomas H. Tedford, W. W. Workman.

            Mesdames Arnold R. Waybur, Joseph Beek, Joseph Nolan, Wilkie Ogg, Arthur Ohnimus, Perry Taft, James R. Gordon, Frank Agnew, Evangeline Baker, Charles P. Bayer, Floyd Booe, Raymond L. Brennan, Elber Bromley, Monroe Butler, Bart Cavanaugh, Donald W. Cleary, Bruce Clews, Ted Craig, J. Allen Davis, Fred Desch, Jack Doran, Charles E. Gibbs, Clarence Gilmore, Frank Glass, L. B. Groezinger, C. J. Haggerty, A. J. Kennedy, J. R. Klawans, Jay H. Kugler, O. V. McCracken, Hulda McGinn, William Neal, Roy Nielson, John Pettis.

            Mesdames Lloyd Phillips, Norris Poulsen, Ben H. Read, Kent Redwine, A. R. Schottky, James Sims, Charles Stevens, George Stout, Geoffrey Davis, Ray Eberhard, Ed Carty, Reginald Moss, Homer Stearns, Thomas Meagher, Floyd Walker, J. B. Cook, Don Thomas, Belle Weakley, Augustin Donovan, Arthur Smith, Y. C. Woo, Jerry Lewis, James Warren, Jessie Williamson, Calvin Chapman, Pearl Baker, A. I. Smith, W. A. Wells, Lloyd Lapham, Herbert L. Phillips, Robert C. Weakley, Walter P. Jones, Charles J. Lilley, Earl C. Behrens, Royal Jimerson, Chester Hanson, Carl Greenberg, Earle R. Edmiston, Peggy Ferris, Betty Arcega, Clara Guthrie.

            Mesdames Leo O. Ricketts, Royal Miller, Ethel Plank, John Hassler, Homer Buckley, Richard Graves, Burdette Daniels, B. E. Jessee, P. D. Bevil, W. B. Rider, Max Stern, Helen Matlock, William F. Knowland, W. T. Sweigert, Verna Scoggins, Beach Vasey, James Welsh, George C. Pardee, James N. Gillette, Sr., James N. Gillette, Jr., Friend W. Richardson, C. C. Young, James Rolph, Jr., Frank F. Merriam, T. V. Soong, Loring Jordan and Eva Wheeler.

            Misses: Eudora Crittenden, Eileen Desmond, Georgia Crowley, Mabel Gillis, Estelle E. Phillips, Mary Ellen Leary, Betty Green, Margaret Ralston, Claudia Nettles, Berniece Batterton, Cecil Mosbacher, Helen R. MacGregor and Ethel Fairbairn.

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping. Words that are unreadable will be replaced by two asterisks.

The first newspaper clipping reads:

The Sacramento Bee

A Good Legislator Gives Full Time to his Work

            It is impossible to spend even one day in the legislature and escape the conviction that the really conscientious member who tries to keep up with what is going on has a man-sized job to perform.

            The road a bill must travel from the time it is introduced until it returns to the floor for final action-if it ever does-is a long one. Frequently bills emerge from communities bearing little resemblance to their original form.

            Besides the committees, there are other way stations where the meaning of a proposed measure may be completely reversed by the addition or subtraction of a harmless appearing word or two.

            To keep track of these bills so the legislator may vote upon them intelligently requires continual research and watchfulness.

            Many legislators vote scores of ** during a session upon matters concerning which they know little. They find the strain of keeping informed too great in a day requiring fifty to seventy-five roll calls.

            The conscientious member, however, is familiar with every matter upon which his vote is required because he gives each measure ample ** and deliberation.

            ** is fortunate both houses always have a number of such members. Without them many bills inimical to the best interests of the people would be slipped through the legislative hoppers. They serve as sentinels guarding against attacks of the predatory interests.

            It also is pertinent to note that despite the thirst for patronage credited to legislators they are wise enough to keep men of sound judgment and experience in the key positions.

            Such persons as Arthur Ohnimus chief clerk of the assembly; Joseph Beek, secretary of the senate, and Fred B. Wood, legislative counsel, and the efficient staffs working under their direction could not be replaced without serious impairment to the legislative machinery. Without their deft handling the legislative mill would be like an automobile in the hands of a 6 year old boy.

Second newspaper clipping reads:

Watchman Finds Kenny to be Smooth Politico

By the Watchman

            Prowling around the Attorney General’s office via remote control, the Watchman confirms again his conclusion that the genial Bob Kenny is one of the smoothest politicos in the State. We will fulminate on this at length some time, but for the nonce we wish to remark that Kenny puts on an air of naivete-but it is only an air. Fact is that he is a political wolf who can work a flock of Republican sheep over any time he wants to, seemingly.

            But that is another story. For the time being we will pitch him in another role. He is one who practices what he preaches as to smart politics in his own party-the Democratic. Oh, didn’t you know that Bob was a Democrat? The other night Kenny told the Hollywood Democratic Club that over-the-back-fence neighborhood rows had and would hurt the party. Good advice for any party.

Both are Diplomats

            There was a time when, in 1942 in the Democratic primary, Attorney Carl Kegley and State Senator Kenny sought the endorsement of the Democratic County Central Committee when both were candidates for the nomination for Attorney General. Kenny got it, but Kegley charged in open meeting that Kenny secured it through misrepresentation of his floor leader and that the endorsement was “bought.” In October, however, Kegley issued a statement urging all to support “my friend Bob Kenny, as eminently qualified.”

            It has just been disclosed that Kegley has been appointed Deputy Attorney General by Kenny, working out of the Los Angeles office. They are both diplomats!

            Now indications are that Political Wolf Kenny may be planning a raid on the legislative sheep. He not only has appointed Chief Clerk of the Assembly, able Arthur Ohnimus, to the post of Deputy Attorney General, but he has, it is disclosed, given Chief Sergeant-at-Arms of the Assembly Willkie Ogg of Sacramento a job as confidential investigator for the Attorney General.  

            (Ogg is at present reported to be working over one of the San Joaquin Valley cities because of Army complaints about naughty girls.)

            Ohnimus had been for years a Deputy City Attorney of San Francisco. Kenny has precedent for hiring attaches of the Legislature for his staff. Other departments or boards have their people on the attaches’ roles.

Mattoon Still Here

            Concluding the prowl on the Attorney General’s beat, we find that, contrary to earlier reports, Everett Mattoon, former chief of the Los Angeles office, has not been transferred to the San Francisco-Sacramento area. He is currently working in the Los Angeles office, having recovered from a siege of the flue. His wife has been ill also. Kenny said that Mattoon, specializing in the alien land law, will work all over the State.

            As to the possibility of his becoming a candidate for the nomination for United States Senator, Kenny laughed and said: “No, I’m no Messiah!”

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Daily News, Los Angeles

Monday, Jan 5, 1953

Calif. Session will be Hectic

By Leslie E. Claypool

(Daily News Political Editor)

            SACRAMENTO, Jan 5-“It will be a stinker.”

            That was the estimate placed by an old-time local journalist on the 1953 session of the California Legislature which was getting under way here today.

            We say “was getting under way” because Legislatures, especially those in California, do not get under way in a minute. In the first place they do not go into session until noon on the opening day and it will long after you have had your first cocktail before they wrap it up for the night.

            The state constitution, aping the federal constitution, requires the noontide huddle and no one seems to know quite why. Best guess is that it dates from the time in the last century when old Joe Doakes, the farmer, who got himself elected to the state lawmaking body, hitched up his team on the morning of the first day and drove a fur piece to the capitol. He and the missus liked to have Sunday night at home and he had chores to do Monday morning. As it took him several hours to reach Sacramento the deal didn’t start until noon. If the boys in Southern California had to take longer to get here, so what. They didn’t count anyhow. They sometimes don’t now.

            One of the first things the solons faced this morning when they got here was the nice, new Levering oath which you will all voted for last November. This new oath of office is in the constitution. Its author is Harold Levering, R., Bel Air and it replaces the oath that has been in the basic document since 1879 without causing any troubles. In addition to promising to be a true and faithful public servant and to support the constitution the new oath says:

            “And I do further swear (or affirm) that I do not advocate, nor am I a member of any party or organization, political or otherwise, that now advocates the over throw of the government of the United States or of the state of California by force or violence or other unlawful means; that within the five years immediately preceding the taking of this oath (or affirmation) I have not been a member of any party or organization, political or otherwise, that advocated the overthrow of the government of the United States or the state of California by force or violence or other unlawful means except as follows ----.” If there are no exceptions the oath taker must so state.

            It is claimed here that a five year limit was placed in the oath so that certain members would not be embarrassed for there’s talk that once upon a time one or two of them joined some things.

            Speaker fights may come and go but there is one thing that remains unchanged and this is pleasing to most of the members and to the press. That is the top clerical personnel. Arthur Ohnimus, an attorney, who works for the California Department of Justice, takes a leave of absence each session to serve as chief clerk of the Assembly. He started this is 1923. He is a registered Republican but he never works at it here. He opens each session and turns it over to the new speaker when he is chosen. The chaplain at the last previous session always says the prayer and this time it was the Rev. Raymond Graber, of a local Protestant church. The job rotates among the various faiths.

            Another old timer who is a part of the fixtures is Wilkie Ogg, sergeant-at-arms. He also works for the Department of Justice and started taking leaves to work for the Assembly 30 years ago. Wilkie is a nice, quiet guy but he can be the toughest man in town if someone makes it necessary. He is about the only man on earth who can arrest and assemblyman for anything short of a felony. Ogg was in show business before he went to work for the state and his avocation is playing the pipe organ for lodges.

            The third veteran employee who is on the job is a Negro named Domingo Correia, who is now an assistant sergeant-at-arms, promoted from page. The Assembly leans on the speaker; the speaker leans on Ohnimus; Ohnimus leans on Ogg and Ogg leans on Correia and Correia doesn’t lean. ** as low man on the totem pole he leans on himself. But, let this be said: you can insult any of the foregoing and get away with it, but if you offend Domingo you are in the doghouse with everybody for a long time.

            Over on the Senate side the beginning was marked with sadness because the upper House observed by resolution the recent death of Mrs. Avilla Knight, wife of Gov. Goodwin J. Knight, who was beloved by everyone here. The Senate also took note, by resolution, of the death of former Sens. Bradford S. Crittenden, Stockton, and Jerrold Seawell, who was a member of the State Board of Equalization at the time of his death.   

            Chief Clerk Ohnimus estimated today that more than 5000 bills and resolutions introduced at the 1951 session would be offered this time and that only a relatively  few of them would originate with the members. Most of them will be wished upon the members by eager beavers on the outside, including but by no means limited to lobbyists.

            The reason some of the old timers think this session will be a “stinker” is because there are signs that special interest are trekking this way to lay claim to everything from the capitol dome to a second mortgage on the governor’s mansion. The working tools these gypsies are bringing with them include the hatchet and the chisel.

            My next contribution to letters will tell you more of this. Wait around.

*An portrait of Claypool is also shown in this newspaper clipping.  

This page displays 3 newspaper clipping and a certification.

The first newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping that is now shown, this newspaper clipping reads:

Wednesday, March 22, 1950

Substitutes is Urged as Lobbyist Act Goes into Effect

(Continued from page 1)

...lobbyists has been employed to support or oppose, will become public records.

Passed at Special Session

            The Collier Act was passed at the special session of the legislature just before the Christmas holidays when, on the heels of the national publicity given Arthur H. Samish, California’s boss liquor lobbyist, Governor Warren called upon the legislature to set up effective legal controls against lobbying evils.

            Warren advocated a decidedly stronger measure than the one ultimately enacted, but the administration proposal was sidetracked.

Warren Aim

            One thing Warren wants in any revision of the Collier Act is a provision prohibiting state officials, including lawyer-legislators, from pleading causes for private hire before state boards, commissions or departments.

            He also urges a proviso for compulsory public disclosure of political contributions made by individuals or organizations hiring professional lobbyists.

Three Introduced Substitute

            The projected substitute for the Collier Act, AB 74, was introduced a few days ago by Assemblymen Erwin and Augustus F. Hawkins, also of Los Angeles County, and Robert C. Kirkwood of Santa Clara County. It is an outgrowth of the lobbying survey conducted recently by a joint committee headed by Erwin.

            The other committee members were Senator Edwin J. Regan of Trinity County, J. Howard Williams of Tulare County and Jesse M. Mayo of Calaveras County. Senator Mayo did not sign the majority report.

Collier Defends Law

            Assemblyman Collier contends his measure is sound and progressive, so far as it goes, and contains federal provisions which have been criticized only on the ground they ought to be more far reaching in their regulatory requirements.

            Obviously referring to the recent national magazine articles about Samish Collier said he is convinced the statute bearing his name “is a long step in the direction of preventing any person ever rising to the heights again, where he can proclaim that he is the ‘secret boss of California’.”

            Assemblyman Erwin contends, however, that his new bill is a stronger and more workable measure than the Collier Act.

Point of Difference

            One of the chief points of difference is the provision in the Erwin bill for the administration of lobby controls by a new state legislative advocates board. This board, strictly bipartisan, would consist of four senators and four assemblymen.

            Lobbyists would be granted permits by this board, instead of by the assembly clerk and senate secretary as the Collier Act requires. The applications for lobby cards would be filed with the secretary of state.

            The board would have the right to issue and revoke lobbyists credentials and would be vested with broad investigative powers.

Course of Conduct

            The bill undertakes to prescribe a course of conduct for licensed lobbyists, including a prohibition against any person accepting employment on a contingent fee basis-on a promise, in short, of a certain compensation if a bill is passed or defeated by the legislature, or is signed or vetoed by the governor.

            Sworn monthly reports of expenditures would be required of all lobbyists.

            Neither the Erwin bill nor the Collier Act provisions contain the material on private practice by state officials before state agencies, etc., which Governor Warren proposed last December and still is urging.

Dubious Over Proposal

            Although he said yesterday he had not had a chance to study the Erwin bill in its final form, the governor appeared dubious over the proposal for a small lobby regulatory board. He expressed the opinion this would be an unwise delegation of the authority and responsibility which the two legislative houses now have over the conduct of lawmaking sessions.

            Warren said an early draft of proposed special session legislation on the subject seemed to him to provide chiefly for “getting rid of the Collier Act.”

            The Erwin committee’s report insists the Collier Act “cannot be…*the continuation of this newspaper clipping is not shown.

Second newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping which is not shown, this clipping reads:

“Lobbying means Samish to some folks,” Sapphire, my secretary, says, “But the longer you look at the picture, the more you realize it has something to it besides ‘ART’!”

A comic image is shown below the above text, of a woman and a parrot. The parrot has an air bubble to symbolize him speaking and he says: Don’t Tell Pop! There are also hearts around the parrot.

…clarified or strengthened without a complete rewriting.”

Wants Work Transferred

            Whatever is done, Assembly Chief Clerk Ohnimus makes point he and the senate secretary cannot be left regularly in charge of lobbyist licensing, financial reports, etc., since they are not fulltime state officials. He has recommended this regulatory job, however it ultimately is set up, be transferred to some permanent state agency before the special session adjourns.

Third newspaper clipping reads:

Brothers Freed

Contra Costa Gazette* Oct. 28, 1944

Provence Trio Held Not Guilty in Riot Death of Scavenger

            The Provence brothers, who twice stood superior court trial for a St. Valentine’s Day Riot in which they participated under the clotheslines of a Richmond War Housing area, walked out of Superior Judge A. F. Bray’s courtroom late yesterday as free men.

            *The next paragraph is partially cut off and unreadable.

            Bailiff Hercules Logan threatened to clear the half-emptied courtroom when handclapping greeted the first announcement of the verdict after the four-day trial.

            The right-hand section of the courtroom had earlier been cleared of Negro spectators, who left for their Richmond homes at the suggestion of William Brown, head of the United Negroes of America.

Jurors Thanked

            The Provences-Claude, Albert and Carl-rejoined their families for the first time, after thanking members of the trial jury. Wives, children and collateral relatives had filled the left section of the courtroom since the beginning of the trial.

            The three brothers, two of whom are shipyard workers and the third, Claude, a Sutter County farmer, were charged with the death of Homer Turner 41 year old, 300 pound Richmond garbage truck driver. Turner dropped dead during a furious battle with three stakes, knives, bumper irons and rocks, which grew out of an automobile mishap.

Negro Draws Knife

            Testimony, introduced without variations during hearings before the grand jury, the riot trial and finally the murder trial, indicated that Turner backed his garbage truck into the Provence car while making a turn in a Richmond Street intersection, and then challenged them with a knife when they voiced protest.

            The two brothers in the Provence car went for reinforcements and returned to confront Turner in the war housing unit areaway. In the battle which ensued, Turner used a knife which sent one of the brothers to a hospital, and the Provence brothers used tire irons and wrenches. Turner died during the melee.

            Murder charges against the white brothers, filed by Police Captain George Bengley, were thrown out when the Grand Jury indicated the five surviving combatants for inciting to riot. At the trial last April all five were acquitted.

Defended by Hoey

            Subsequently, a murder complaint was signed by Mrs. Eura Lee Ennis, Turner’s sister, and a warrant for the arrest of the Provence brothers were signed by Police Judge Leo G. Marcollo.

            The case was prosecuted by Deputy Attorney Generals Jess Hession and Arthur Ohnimus, with Deputy District Attorney Art Alstrom as an aide. Former District Attorney James P. Hoey conducted the defense.

Certification card reads:

Arthur A. Ohnimus signature is shown sideways on the card.

State of California

Office of the

Secretary of State

This is to certify that

Arthur A. Ohnimus

Whose signature is inscribed hereon is

Deputy Attorney General

Signature of the Secretary of State is shown here.

1944

This page displays 2 newspaper clipping. Words that are unreadable will be replaced by two asterisks.

The first newspaper clipping is a continuation of another newspaper clipping which is not shown. This newspaper clipping reads:

The Sacramento Bee, Thursday, March 28, 1950

Warren Asserts Bill Would Void Lobbyist Curbs

(Continued from Page 1)

…to Sacramento only once during a legislative session.”

Expenditure Statements

            The Erwin bill requires monthly expenditure statements from registered lobbyists, Oakley continued, but only in lump sums, with no itemizing. Oakley said “the crux of the Collier Act “”is its requirement for sworn reports on “intake”-on the salaries, contributions, etc., a lobbyists receives.

            “That isn’t in AB 4,” the governor’s representative declared. “I think the most effective thing the Collier Act does is put on public record those things which have been so much criticized throughout the land.”

Erwin Criticizes Act

            On the other hand, Los Angeles County Assemblyman Thomas M. Erwin, chief author of AB 74 and lobby study committee chairman, charged the Collier Act is ambiguous, contradictory, confusing and probably unenforceable as a penal statute.

            The joint study committee concluded, Erwin said, to draft a workable measure directed primarily at the regulation of persons “professionally engaged” in lobbying, and not to cover those who, while perhaps incidentally interested in the fate of legislative issues, are not professional advocates. 

            Erwin warmly defended a proposal in his bill to set up a bipartisan regulatory board consisting of four senators and four assemblymen which would license lobbyists and be vested with broad powers of investigation and suspension or revocation of credentials. The Collier Act, patterned after federal law, calls for registration with the senate secretary and chief clerk of the assembly.

            “Lack of an adequate enforcement agency,” Erwin said, “is the difficulty with most (lobby regulatory) acts in the United States.”

            Senator Hugh P. Donnelly of Stanislaus County opposed setting up a board of legislators to pass on the fitness of legislative lobbyists. It would lead, he warned, to a charge those chosen for the board “had the support of members of the third house.”

More is Defended

            Both Assemblyman Erwin and Assemblyman Robert C. Kirkwood of Santa Clara County, a coauthor of AB 74, spoke in favor of the sections of their bill calling for total sum reports on lobbyist spending rather than detailed statements. The inclusion of salaries, expenses, etc., off lobbyists, the contended, would tend to paint a false picture of expenditures to influence the course of legislation.

            Kirkwood expressed the view it is not necessary to know what salaries are paid legislative advocates unless it can be shown this serves some public purpose. He said some date of that type “could be misused.” Kirkwood’s overall conclusion was that AB 74, in its standards for lobby representatives, would “result in better representation over the years” than can be expected under the Collier Act.

Collier Argues for Act

            Assemblyman John L. E. Collier of Los Angeles County, author of the December lobby control law which bears his name, argued that any changes in the program ought to be made through amendments to the new statute rather than by repealing it and offering substitute legislation.

            Collier said he is willing to incorporate in his act any portions of the Erwin bill which are desirable. He pointed out he has a bill, for instance, to shift lobby fiscal reports to the secretary of state’s office (which AB 74 also would use) but said he has been unable to get the measure out of assembly committee.

            Nobody appeared in opposition to the Collier Act when it was enacted last December, its author asserted, but now, though it only went into full operation last week, it is being attacked vigorously.

            Collier claimed his, statute requires fiscal accounting by organizations formed for the primary purpose of influencing legislation, but the Erwin bill does not.

            “When you take out that fundamental part of the act,” he said, “you’ve taken out the whole act.”

Speculate on Veto

            The hearing did not touch on Capitol conjecture of the last several days that AB 74, which has been speeded half way through the legislature since last Wednesday, may be heading for a Warren veto, if it passes the senate, and an ultimate floor battle on the question of overriding the gubernatorial disapproval. But Oakley’s appearance before the senate committeemen added fuel to the speculation.

            Senate President Pro Tempore Harold J. Powers of Modoc County, rules committee chairman, indicated he was not satisfied the registration of lobbyists out to be taken out of the hands of the senate secretary and assembly chief clerk.

            Among the amendments adopted by the committee was one by Senator Edwin J. Regan of Trinity County (handling AB 74 in the upper house) which would authorize the proposed regulatory board to deny lobby licenses to persons unable to prove records of good moral character.

Move is Made to Giver Chief Clerk Help

            Assembly Majority Floor Leader Randal F. Dickey of Alameda County today proposed legislation which would authorize the chief clerk of the lower house to employ clerical help necessary to carry out the lobby registration regulations in the Collier Act.

            Enactment of the bill would dissuade Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the assembly for 23 years, from quitting.

            Ohnimus submitted his resignation yesterday, saying he cannot handle his regular duties and act as registrar of lobbyists, too. He pointed out, also, the duties imposed by the Collier Act requires year round work and his employment expires when the legislature adjourns.

            The rules committee, of which Dickey is chairman, hurriedly had a bill drawn up to provide Ohnimus with necessary additional help and sent it to the assembly floor with a do pass recommendation.

            The bill has an urgency clause which would make it effective immediately after passage of the legislature and signed into law by the governor.

*A comic is shown in this newspaper clipping of a comic named Senator McBumble. It shows Senator McBumble sitting on a chair smoking a cigar with a parrot next to him speaking. The parrot says: What’s free about a free conference pop?  And above the comic it reads:

Senator McBumble Says:

Campaign Couplets

The hopes of the democrats sure would be soarin’, expectin’ for one little obstacle;-Warren!

Second newspaper clipping reads:

The Sacramento Bee, Monday, March 27, 1950

Senate Group Will Take up Lobby Measure Tonight

By Herbert L. Phillips

            The question whether the state legislature shall dump a lobby law repealer on Governor Earl Warren’s desk-wiping out the new Collier Act and substituting the controversial Erin Assembly bill-today was up to the senate, and more immediately the senate rules committee.

            The upper house rules committee set a hearing for 8 o’clock tonight on AB 74, Erwin, Hawkins and Kirkwood, which contemplates an entirely revised program for the registration and regulation of professional legislative lobbyists.

Corridors Buzz

            Capitol corridors buzzed with conjectures over whether the Erwin measure, if passed by the senate, would be vetoed by Governor Warren and then made the subject of a renewed legislative drive for a two thirds vote to override gubernatorial disapproval.

            Despite the fact that Collier Act (of the December special session) became effective only last Wednesday, the rival Erwin bill was taken up in assembly committee for the first time that same day and rushed through to final lower house passage before the weekend recess.

Authors Differ

            Assemblyman Thomas M. Erwin of Los Angeles County, chairman of a joint interim committee which has been studying lobby activities, insisted his proposal is more effective and workable than the Collier Act which he ** ** ** hastily enacted, ** ** enforceable.

            Charges the new ** ** ** weakened materially by ** ** bill came from Assemblyman L. E. Collins, also of Los Angeles County. Collier claimed ** ** ** which bears his ** ** have strengthening ** rather than hurried legislative elimination before it has had any chance to operate.

Warren for Collier Bill

            Governor Warren has placed himself on record in favor of retaining the Collier Act and amending it to give the statue greater strength and workability.

            Assemblyman Collier enlivened speculation on the issue with a forecast Governor Warren will veto the Erwin bill if it ever reaches him.

            There has been pressure on Warren, Collier said, to sign the bill or go wanting for campaign funds this year. Nonetheless, the legislator predicted the governor will withhold is signature.

            Collier added backers of the Erwin legislation have told him they can muster enough votes to override a veto. That would take a two thirds majority in each house.

            Critics of the repeal program-distinctly a minority in assembly debate of the issue-declared the Erwin bill is much less stringent than the Collier Act in requirements for sown reports by lobbyists on their expenditures to influence legislation.

Chief Clerk Quits

            Arthur A. Ohnimus, chief clerk of the assembly for 23 years, submitted his resignation, effective today, on the ground he cannot, in his part time position, carry out the provisions of the Collier Act for the registration of lobbyists and the handling of their periodic reports on lobbying expenditures.

            The assembly did not accept the resignation. Speaker Sam L. Collins announced he has dissuaded Ohnimus from quitting immediately. The lower house rules committee subsequently ordered the preparation of a bill creating the post of assistant chief clerk to administer the lobbyist licensing program.

            Ohnimus said he will withdraw his resignation if a legal way is found to provide him with a deputy who can take over the lobby law administration, of if the duties are transferred to some permanent state department. If he quits, he said, it will be with “sincere regrets.”

            Legislators pointed out that regardless of whether this session passes the Erwin bill or retains the Collier Act in amended form, the assembly chief clerk and the senate secretary will have to continue administering the lobby program at least until new enactments go into effect 90 days after legislative adjournment.

Collier will Act

            Assemblyman Collier served notice he will move this week to withdraw from the committee on governmental efficiency and economy four bills of his designed to strengthen the Collier Act and to shift the administration of it to the secretary of state’s office. Collier said thus far he has had no success in getting the committee to send his bills to the floor for consideration.

Differences

            These differences between the December statute and the new bill were noted in discussions during the weekend:

            COLLIER ACT-Requires licensed lobbyists to make monthly sworn public statements account in detail for all contributions received in excess of $20 and all expenditures in excess of $10, showing from whom money was received (including lobby salaries) and to whom money was paid.

            ERWIN BILL-Would require licensed lobbyists to file monthly sworn public statements setting forth the total, rather than the details, of expenditures in their activities as legislative advocates. No report would be necessary on expenditures for “personal sustenance, travel, lodging, office expenses, and purely clerical assistance.”

            COLLIER ACT-Requires lobbyists to file their applications for licenses and their sworn fiscal reports with the secretary of the senate and the chief clerk of the assembly. An amendment has been proposed to shift administration to the secretary of state’s office.

            ERWIN BILL-Registration applications would be filed with the secretary of state. Licenses would…*the rest of this newspaper clipping is not shown.

*A comic is shown in this newspaper clipping of a comic named Senator McBumble. It shows Senator McBumble sweating and talking with a parrot. The parrot says: Well, who asked You to be a senator, pop?  And above the comic it reads:

Senator McBumble Says:

Personally I don’t enjoy these session where ev’ry single vote in Sacramento may soon mean thousands of votes back home!