Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-02-23
TEE TRUTH OF THE MATER.


pretense of public spirit, and have as
serted that the right course to pursue was
to let the Drainage Act be repealed, and
to get some legislative action taken against
hydraulic mining, are in no sense the
friends of this community, but are in fact,
consciously or ignorantly, playing lrto the
hands of the interest they affect to be op-
posed to.
The only test that can be applied in
case of this kind consists in an examina.
tion Of the practical utility of the measures
proposed, and of the practicabiiity of car
rying them into effect. The public must
realize clearly that merely to get up at the
end of the legislative session and declaim
against hydraulic mining, is not to stop it.
The only good that can be done at the
present iuncture will be done through
deliberate survey of the whole situation,
and a correct estimate of the difficulties in
the way of remedial action. The RECORD
UNION has from the first distrusted the
proposals to sacrifice the debris bill on the
pretense that it might be possible TO procure
the stoppage of hydraulic mining, and it has
distrusted these proposals for the sufficient
reason that it has been thoroughly in
formed as to the disposition of the Legis-
lature to do nothing in the premises. The
accuracy of our provision has now been
proved in the most conclusive way. a
committee of citizens adopted concur
rent resolution directing the Attorney
General to commence suit against the
hydraulic miners. They took this resolu-
ton to the Capitol, and lobbied for it them
selves, and what was the result? Simply
that both the Senate and Assembly refused
to allow the resolution to be introduced.
Senator Hill has asserted that the Senate
was ready to adopt bill to stop hydraulic
mining. Does the Senate vote on the
concurrent resolution on Monday bear out
his statement? The resolution actually
| received eight votes less than were cast in
favor Of the repeal of the Drainage Act,
and that fact indicates the true nature of
the situation.
The truth is as we have repeatedly stated,
namely that there is no disposition or in
tention on the part of the Legislature to
interfere with hydraulic mining in any
way. The RECORD UNION is not the friend
of hydraulic mining, but it is the friend Of
the people of the Sacramento valley, and it
has set its face against all movements cal
culated to deprive this community of pro-
lection and relief. 1t has seen that no &C.
ton against hydraulic mining would be
taken by this Legislature, and it has seen
that the enemies of the debris bill were
perfectly willing to cajole its friends to
their own ruin by persuading them that if
they ceased to oppose the repeal of that
law they might possibly be able to procure
the stoppage of hydraulic mining. Our
first and constant purpose has been to OBJ
tain justice and protection for the farmers
and inhabitants generally of this valley.
We have seen through the hypocritical and
dishonest resolutions of the anti-debris
faction, and we have resolutely refused to
be hoodwinked by them. We knew that
all they sought was the repeal of the debris
bill, and that if they could accomplish tina!
they would deliberately abandon this val.
ley to destruction, and realizing this we
have insisted that whatever other propo-
sitions were made, the first necessity was
to prevent the repeal of the debris bill.
And when we examine the actions OF
those who, at this late day, have SO sud-
denly assumed an activity previously I'M
known to them, we perceive that the real
object of their agitation is rot to procure
legislative action against hydraulic mining,
but to force the people of this valley to
embark upon sea of litigation. Take
for example the concurrent resolution
sought to be introduced the other day.
Had that been adopted it would have
simply raised the question of the right Of
the Attorney. General to institute such
suits, and this initial question would IN
doubtedly have been carried to the Su.
preme Court of the United States, and
would have probably remained undecided
for years. A proposition which involve:
the barbarous policy of taxing portion Of
the community for the means whereby
the State is to attack their livelihood, is GER
tainly not one which could be determined
on the spur of the moment. As to tbs
general propositions OF the keen scented
litigation hunters who have raised this
agitation, it is only necessary to point out
that if the debris bill was repealed, ant
nothing was done by the Legislature tt
stop hydraulic mining, the people would
be left without any avenue of relief bu
the Courts. The public can judge from
this how much public spirit has entered
into the action of the pretended foes o
hydraulic mining.
These persons are hypocritically endeav
oring to hide the traces OF their own greet
and selfish cunning by bringing charges o
insincerity against those who have born
the heat and brunt of the battle for tn
farmers, and who from first to last hav,
been animated by determination to de
fend and protect the agricultural inter
ests and the urban interests of the valley
1t is therefore necessary to tear the masl
from these impostors, and to expose then
for what they are. They are not friend
of the people. They are not enemies o
hydraulic mining. They do not desire t.
save Sacramento or this valley. Wha
they do desire is to plunge the communit,
into endless litigation, to the end that the,
themselves may obtain fat fees, and may
as Judge Beatty said the other night, ge
the opportunity of going to Washington
full of buster, and coming back with thei
tails between their legs.
We do not propose to put up with any
false representations or charges from sucl
men, nor do we intend to allow them t.
hoodwink the public. Their place is no
with the friends of the people. It is with
those prejudiced and narrow-minded legis
lative malignants who are striving to de