Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-03-21
California Interests I'm WASH
inRaOn.

WASHINGTON, d. c., March IL, 1886.
EDIToR HERALD:-Nearly half OF
the session has passed away and but
very few of the seven thousand bills
introduced have become laws. The an
tagonism which has developed itself in
the Senate against the policy Of the
administration, however well it may
subserve partisan purposes, has inter
fered very seriously with the public
business of both Senate and House.
Nothing directly affecting the interests
Of Southern California has yet come TO
your correspondents notice. Still there
are many proposed notifications of the
tariff, whicfiNbear directly on the wine
and fruit brandy interests, under con.
sideration by the Committee on Ways
and Means of the House. There are
upwards of forty bills before that COM
mittee, all looking in that direction. 1t
will be many weeks yet before they are
reported to the House. The last report
Of Mr.. Wetmore, the Chief Viticultural
officer of California, has been Of the
greatest possible value to this commit
tee in their consideration of all meas
ures touching upon the wine and brandy
interests Of California. 1t is referred to
constantly, as a standard authority.
Mr.. Wetmore's recent visit to Washing
| ton on behalf OF California wine grow
ers has been productive OF an immense
amount of good and his interviews with
Re sresentatives and representations to
the committee, have given them dis
position to encourage vine and fruit
culture by every means in their power.
There is no doubt that, before the sea
son is over, many of the restrictions
which are now so burdensome to our
wine growers will be removed. 1t
would be difficult to find more indus
trious and faithful member than our
Representative. Colonel H. HI. Mark
ham, who is constantly looking out
for Los Angeles and Southern
California interests. He is q mem
ber Of the Committee on Rivers
aud Harbors to which has been referred
the bill introduced by him for the con-
| tinuance OF the work at Wilmington. A
liberal appropriation will be made to
carry on the work. Mr.. Markham is
determined to get as large amount as he
can, and il he succeeds in keeping the
appropriation up to that of past years
he viii have done remarkably, when it
is considered that he is in the minority
of fiercely economical assembly. He
is also striving hard for an appropriation
to make a photographic survey of San
Luis Obispo harbor, preliminary to the
building Of a breakwater there. The
construction Of Government building
at Los Angeles will likely become law.
Mr.. Markham has pushed it through the
Committee on Public Buildings, and it
has been accepted favorably. 1t is on
the calendar and will be reached very
shortly sl5o,00o is the amount set
apart.
The bill establishing United
States Court for the Southern District
Of California mas encountered little OPP
position in the House. 1t has been sent
in with favorable report, and is now
on the calendar awaiting its turn for
final action. 1t will undoubtedly pass
the house, but Mr.. Markham is not
very hopeful of success in the Senate.
he fears tina. proposition to give the
President an opportunity to appoint to
life position Judicial officer. who will,
in all probability, be of Democratic
leanings, NO matter how urgent the
necessity of the creation Of the Court,
will not find much favor in Repub-
lican Senate.
The silver question is the prevailing
topic Of the hour. A committee OF
New York bankers lately addressed a
strong personal letter to Mr.. Markham
in an endeavor TO shake his faith on this
all important matter, but he remains
staunch and firm--a silver man of the
strongest fibre.
The only member of Congress besides
Col. Markham, representing Spanish
| American constituency, is Hon. Antonio
Joseph, the delegate from New Mexico,
who is true hDo del pals. He is one
of the most industrious men in the
House, and for devotion to the interests
Of his section cannot be surpassed. He
has presented upwards of rs bills for
compensation to citizens of New Mexico
for depredations committed on their
property by Indians. While there is
little chance of these bills passing, he
will endeavor to have them brought
within the jurisdiction of the Court OF
Claims, so that the people may obtain a
standing in the courts, and hence some
prospect of getting their rights.
Perhaps the most important measure
in connection with New Mexico, that
has been introduced in Congress for
many years and certainly one of the
most vital interest to her land system is
the bill introduced by Senator Joseph,
entitled "A bill to provide for ascer-
tanning and settling private land claims
in the Territories of New Mexico and
Arizona and Colorado" It.is identical
except in few minor matters, with the
act Of Congress Of March Sd, 1851. The
act establishing commissioner to settle
the land claims in Califoruia-which
operated in the main very successfully
to bring about an equitable settlement OF
the over Sl3 land cases in Northern and
Southern California. The condition of
land titles in New Mexico, even since
the oession-has been most daplorable
and the government has been greatly ro-
miss in it's duty towards the holders Of
grants derived from Spanish and Mexi.
can sources. Under the treaty Of Qua.
| dalupe Hidnlgo, 'sthe Mexicans in the
Territory were admitted to enjoy all the
rights Of citizens of the United States
and grants Of land made by Spain