Los Angeles daily herald., 1876-04-22
THE BANQUET.
A Merited Tribute To the Los Angeles
Delegation.

congratulations to our Senatorial anC
Assembly representatives in substan.
tai form last evening in a banquet
1t was spread 10y the St Charles hotel
and proved one of the finest efforts
ever put forth by THAT popular cara
vansary. Abount one hundred invi-
tations had been sent out, and nearly
that number of guests were present
around the banquet boards The ut.
most harmony and good will was ap-
parent ON every hand, and there
seemed an evident desire to eschew
partisan influences and prejudices.
The meeting was called to order by
Gov. Downey, who stated that the oc-
casion was brought about for the pur-
pose of doing honor to our representa-
tives. Politics or religion were not
involved in the movement. The love
of praise is one of the strongest attri-
butes of our nature. He hoped that
nothing would be said of politics; if
so, it must be a tdpsiS tinguae.
Governor Downey gave the first
regular toast as "Our Invited
Guests" The response given by
General J. r. Mcconnell. If he
should indulge his inclinations he
would speak in favor of DR.. Bush and
his Immediate colleague, Fred. Lam
bourn. Both men deserved the sim
cere praise of the people of Los Ange
les. So far as concerned DR.. Bush he
could not speak from personal expert
ence, but so far as public reputation
went he was considered a hard working
honest and devoted Senator. OF
Mr.. Lambourn he could speak from
personal knowledge, as they sat side
by side the Winter through. On two
points only had they differed.
MIR. LambOurn was the Chair
man of the Committee on Ag-
riculture. 1t is to him that we are in
debted that many unpleasant laws
were not passed. He was Chairman
of the Committee on Boundaries, and
was the one obstacle to dividing Los
Angeles county. He belonged to the
Committee on Public Buildings, and
caused the investigation of Napa In
sane Asylum frauds. AS to himself,
General Mcconnell stated that his one
object in going to Sacramento was to
pass the Constitutional Convention
bill. That bill failed, but it was MAIN
ly the fault of the press, which did not
support him properly. The loss of
that measure would be regretted by
the people of California for the next
twenty-five years. The speaker then
went into details in describing the de-
feat of the Constitutional Convention
bill. The main thing to be explained
was his conduct in reference to the
Freights and Fares bill. On that
question he was prepared to defend
| himself from A to lizard. He had
studied the bill and knew every word
in it. The speaker explained fully
the workings of the Archer bill, and
pronounced it the most odious, viii
famous and unfair proposition ever
made. The proposed Irrigation,
School Bond, Court House, Board of
Public Works and other Bills were
then ably discussed. The General
spoke to some length and was fire.
quently applauded.
Governor Doxney made some very
pertinent remarks concerning the
vacillating and unjust course of the
Council and the fortunate remedy
which presented itself in the creation
of the Board of Public Works. His
remarks were witty throughout and
were received with uproariOus ap.
plause.
The second toast was "Our Rail-
roads-what they are doing for u.s."
Response by Gen. Baldwin. The
| k,I oaf; oaI
thoughts on the railroad situation,
claiming that railroads had dene ev-
erything for our city. He concluded
by proposing a toast to the speedy
completion of the Southern Pacific
Railroad across the continent, which
was drank with applause.
"Los Angeles"-thel loveliest city of
the Plain" was the next toast pro-
posed and the response was made by
Mr.. Jno. d. Bicknell. The speaker
promised great things in the future for
the city of Los Angeles under her pres
ent support and municipal control and
her railroads. He proclaimed his be-
lief in the unanimous action of our
citizens for our public good. Mr.. Bick-
nell's speech was to the point and we'll
received throughout.
The fourth toast read by the Chair
man, was "Our Agricultural resour-
ces." Response by Hon. f. Lambourn.
Mr. Lambourn placed the agricultural
interests of our State at a point OF i'm.
portance greater than the gold of Cal
ifornia in her palmiest days.
Fifth toast: "Hard money" Re-
sponse by Gov. John G. DOwney. The
Governors remarks were brief but
logical and humorous. He took the
square and fair platform of hard money
which had been advocated by his par
ty and by himself from childhood.
Gold is our standard of value but any
people in this world who can pay sill
yer are a mighty good people. The
American people are the most cOnser-
vvtive on the face of the earth, but if
aroused they are tigers. They willre-
turn to specie payment, The place of
greenbacks will be supplied by silver,
and the Government Indebtedness will
gradually be owned by ourselves.
The toast of our "Public Schools"
was responded to by Senator Bush.
He covered his surprise at being called
upon for this toast by humorous sally
upon the Chairman. He had peculiar
ideas upon education. He believed
that the State owes a good common
school education to every child.
The State pays five million dol
lars annually for public instruc-
ton. The college and Normal School
figure largely in this bill of expense.
He believed that the State should no
more De required to educate teachers
than lawyers or doctors or members
of any other profession. The speaker
thought that we would finally return
| % Grot III N nj nj N adnnatinnal T.