Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1874-06-17
PRATT.

The Senate OF the United States gain
cd new lustre yesterday. One Of the
statesmen Of the period has been
heard from. This distinguished light Is
Senator Pratt Of Indiana. Not the
''great North American traveller" but,
until recently, plain and obscure Pratt,
from Hoosierdom. His light should no
longer be hidden under a bushel, He
should be known by the whole country.
and especially by the miners OF Califor-
MIA and Neveda. w have heretofore not
cd the fact that this illustrious corn-fed
statesman had recently interested him.
self in mining legislation; that he had
introduced a bill into the Senate. (by
Sutro's request) compelling all owner
OF claims from which $1,000 gross rulas
Of minerals had been extracted to prove
up title and patent their claims
within six or twelve months
from the passage OF the law.
This he did ON the 9TH inst. The bill
was referred to the Committee on Public
Lands instead Of the Committee on
Mines and Mining. where 1t properly
belongs. Pratt is q member OF the
former committee. So also is Senator
Stewart Of this State. Yesterday the
bill came up before the committee for
consideration. Mr.. Stewart. rs was to
be expected. took strong grounds against
its passage, and in reply to sutro's ar
gument insisted that to compel strue-
CLING miners, under penalty Of forfeit
ure Of their claims, to incur the heavy
expense Of surveys and attorneys fees
requisite TO obtaining patents before
they could ascertain the value Of their
mines would BE- r~uinous, and inasmhch
as this committee had reported a bill
making all agricultural lands absolutely
free to settlers, the proposed legislation
affecting miners would be- inyidious and
unjust. Then ii was that the talents Of
the illustrious Pratt came into requi-
sition. Then il was that the fairness,
m~agnanimity and sense Of justice latent
in his Hoosierian bosom dubbed forth
and oyeriowed the committee-room.
Mr.. Sutro had made his argument in
favor Of the bill. Save by a member
o. the committee nothing had been said
against him. The miners were unrcp-
resented by counsel. They had no lob
byists to speak for them. And now Mr..
Pratt-friend Of the horny-handed del
yer, etc., ETC.. arose. He made a mo
tion-that arguments be heard upon the
side Of the minersg No. no; we are
mistaken. He moved that the commit
tee close Ne ~dry,oneni without further
hearing OF anybody who oPposoi the bW.
Fair minded. generous Pratt! Typical
statesman Of the present day! No SUI
Tunnel stock could influence such u
man. He stands out in bold relief, in
telligent. noble, albeit perhaps stern.
The prisoner has been indicted; the evil
dence for the prosecution submitted;
the prosecutor made his argument; the
defense is ready to begin. Then 1t is
that Senator Pratt Of Indiana. towers.
e The case is closed" says this learned
legislator. this impartial arbiter. The
dignity Of the Senate and Of this COM
mittec cannot suffer the defense to have
a hearing. Nobody who opposes Mr..
Sutro shall BE- allowed to speak. Thus
this majestic Senator doth yindicate the
majesty Of the State he represents.
Thus are the wheels Of the car on which
.vpv,cs justice made 10 run smoothly.
Excellent Pratt! Soon may thy monu-
ment be builded.