Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-08-05
HEARsTs WORK UNDoNE.

The entire Sacramento valley has cause
to rejoice. The clauses which George
Hearst managed to have eliminated from
the river and harbor bill concerning the
salvation of the Sacramento river and its
tributaries have been restored, and the bill
has been agreed to by both houses of Con-
gress. This is fitting rebuke to and
timely yaledictory for Hearst. His chief
act in his brief and inglorious career was
the emasculation of the bill, SO far as it re-
lated to valley interests in California BY
a partisan appeal and a deceptive state
ment, he managed TO call uniformed
votes enough to his side to defeat that por-
ton of the bill that was especially essen
tial to river integrity. In the meantime
there was being dug beneath his feet, by
his own friends, mine that was fired very
shortly after he haG so misrepresented the
people of the State upon the question re-
ferred to. 1t blew him out of political
waters and reduced his influence in the
Senate to zero. This gave the friends of
the rivers their opportunity. Senators
we're correctly informed regarding the con-
dition Of the streams aud the deplorable
state of their navigable channels. Con-
gresham Markham, being of the House
conference committee, was enabled to
make clear to the vision of our Eastern
friends what terrible menace overhangs
the navigable streams of California, enc
mating from artificial sources, and the
pressing need there is for the application
of immediate and radical remedies Mr..
Markham's presence on the conference
committee was exceedingly fortunate for
California II enabled Representative
Joseph McKenna, of this Congressional
District, to renew his labors for the cause
Of the valley under especially favorable
conditions He and Mr. Markham had
the support of the entire California dele
cation in both houses, excepting only
Hearst and Henley. 1t is barely possible
that there are people who will conclude
that this was case parallel with that of
the eleven stubborn Jurors, but the masses
Of thinkers will agree that the Hearst mi
nority was so insignificant as to indicate
that the six others of Californias repre-
sentatives in Senate and House were right,
and the one dissenter, and the one non
commitalist, wrong. For his gallant de-
Tense of valley interests, his untiring per-
severance and his fearlessness, the people
of the valleys will remember Joseph Nc
Kenna with lasting gratitude, in no wise,
however, Understanding the efficient aid
and the steadfast support of the other
members of the California delegation who
labored with him. The reversal of Mr..
Hearsts work by the Senate ought to be
especially gratifying as it is compliment
tary to Senator Stanford, who stood so
steadily by the bill in its original integ-
rity in the Senate 1t amounts to Il YER
dict that he was right in all the views he
took regarding the measure, and that his
colleague was wrong. Fortunately for
California, the ability to further harm ma
terial interests is no longer Mr.. Hearsts,
thanks to his Excellency, Governor Stone
man. Now that the Federal Government
has by express provision put the seal of its
legislative condemnation upon the destruc-
tive influences that have been, and are,
rapidly reducing the Sacramento and Fea-
Their rivers to the grade Of non-navigable
streams, it is 10 be hoped that the people
of the mountains viii cease to resist the
inevitable, and turn the energy and vigor
and courage that has made them what
they are, n people of exhaustless resource,
indomitable bravery and unparalleled per-
severance, to the development of all the
possibilities of their regions that may be
attained without entailing ruin upon their
neighbors of lower geographical levels.
The idea that the mountain populations
must prosecute hydraulic mining or aban-
don the country is simply absurd They
have as yet not begun to test the capabili-
ties of their section. When they do they
viii, we sincerely believe, discover how
little they are, of any necessity, really de-
pendent upon hydraulic methods in their
search for the chief of precious metals.