Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-09-03
The CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING.
The Anti. Debris Association appeared |

Thursday evening. DR.. Rogers, of Marys-
vile, was the chief spokesman for the
committee, and presented the case on be.
half of the valley interest with commend
able candor and conspicuous ability. Other
speakers on behalf of the injured district
made earnest and strong appeals to the
reason and Judgment of the meeting.
This presentation of the case before the
representatives of the great commercial
interests of the State cannot fail in the
accomplishment OF good to all sections con-
cerned. The most significant feature
of the meeting, however, was the fact that
the mining interest was also represented in
the meeting, and the committee appointed
to visit the injured section will also visit
the mining region, and thus both sections
interested in the debris controversy viii
receive due consideration, Another sig
nifcant feature of the occasion was the
speech of Congressman Berry. That gen.
tleman actually had the temerity to declare
that there were equities ON both sides Of
this controversy that the stoppage of
hydraulic mining would destroy the prop
erty of the miners; that the miners
were a part of the speakers con-
stituency and citizens of the Republic
For saying no more than this the RECORD
UNION has been charged with having
forgotten its duty to the people, and
with having advocated the implied sur
render of the valleys, bays, rivers and
"cities to the unrestrained use of the n.y.
"draulic in terest." Mr.. Berry also de-
clared that the miners and farmers should
Join hands and have the case settled at
once by the Courts. There is the highest
wisdom in this advice. The representa-
ton of the mining interest present in the
meeting accepted Mr.. Berry's proposition
at once. Appeal to the Courts has been
had for the purpose of ascertaining the
legal rights of the parties to this contro-
versy. We have all along contehded that
the determination of single suit will do
this as effectually as any number of suits
could. If the Courts declare it to be
unlawful to use the streams as easements
for tailings from mining operations
then such use ceases. If the Courts de-
clare such right of use to belong to the
miners, then other than legal remedies
must be applied for the protection of the
valleys. In short all parties to this con.
troversy are equally amenable to the law
and equally entitled to its protection.
Mr.. Berry's proposition is no doubt made
in good faith. To every candid mind
the suggestion will appear reasonable
and judicious. But Mr.. Berry's proposition
has not the merit of originality. When
the Board of Supervisors of this county by
covert and hidden methods sought to bring
action against numerous miners, this paper
opposed multiplicity of suits, declaring
that the legal principles inyolvei could be
decided by single action as well as by a
score of suits raising the same issue. We
suggested then that the 50, 600 proposed to
be given to Mr.. Cadwalader as a retaining
fee should be paid over to Marysville to
urge the action brought by that city to a
judicial conclusion. Imbecile malignity,
controlled and directed by cunning
greed, attempted to raise a cry of
"treachery to the valley" The pre-
vailing unanimity of sentiment favor
ing the adjustment of this great issue
afforded most propitious occasion to coin
that sentiment into pocket change. "This
sis no longer question of law, it is con-
L" test of popular opinion in contendlng
sections, those gain hunters said. a
movement along the whole line" was
proposed. Twenty, even fifty suits, were
proposed, with their attendant twenty or
fifty fat fees for each. This county was
to have been embarked upon an endless sea
of litigation. Ward politicians were sud-
denly converted into expert civil engineers
and proceeded to qualify themselves as
witnesses. serving the county for the modest
sum of Sl4 a day. A bankrupt treasury
was to be still further buried in
bankruptcy by letting loose the cor
morants of the law with all the attend
ant bills of costs for scientific explora-
tions, engineering witnesses, y" multi
plicity of suits and cumulative fees. For
opposing this constituencies, extravagant
prodigality we have offended that prov
incial sentiment which thinks
:" The rustic cackle Of its burg
The murmur OF the world"
The unmistakable object of the proposed
raid on the pockets of the taxpayers was to
intensity local prejudices and create local
hostilities. Public sentiment was to CO.
cree the Courts so that their judgments
should be overawed. We owe nothing to
single section, but everything to the
commonwealth. Mr.. Berry's proposition
moves on the same broad plane. What
ever the legal rights of the parties
to this controversy are, let them be
determined at once. Multiplicity of
actions and costly litigation eau only re-
dound to the benefit of the lawyers and in
fiict untold injuries upon both the farming
and mining sections, by delaying the final
and adequate solution of the questions in
volved. Both sections are suffering injury
by delay the valleys by the suspension of
remedial measures, and the mining section
by the stoppage of work. Litigation hav-
ing been resorted to, nothing effective will
be done by either party until conclusions
at law have been fully tried. Mr.. Berry s
suggestion is practicable, sensible and op-
perfume. 1t will be opposed only by those
who are selfish enough to prefer their pri-
vate interests to public good, and foolish
enough to suppose that their real motives
will not be understood and exposed.