Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-02-21
THE BIGGs DEBRIS BILL.

When the dispatches first announced the
intention of Congressman Biggs to intro
duce bill for an investigation of the de-
bris question by special Commission, the
REcoRD-UNIoN at once pointed out the
uselessness of any such step, and the in
jury 1t would prove to the country. Since
then we have seen nothing advanced in
favor of the measure that induces us to
modify that judgment. The bill we be-
lieve to be absolutely dangerous, though
certainly not so intended by Mr.. Biggs.
The authorities of Yuba and Suffer coun-
| ties have prepared, and are circulating. a
protest against the bill that is clear and
concise, and covers the whole ground The
| fact that the debris question, in all its
phases, has been thoroughly investigated
| by the Courts, Federal and State, and that
| their judgments are concurrent IN the mat
ter, ought to set at rest any doubts con-
| corning the facts. There is absolutely
nothing new to be said upon the question.
no new testimony to be adduced, and not
solitary fact to be presented into which the
Federal, State and private engineers have
not long ago extensively inquired. The
appointment Of a Commission would have
but one virtue-it would enable some of
the much-talked-of surplus to be expended
In meeting the cost of reporting testimony,
of f-auaI- o,,l r IL n
and all the incidents of such inquiry. 1t
would be a most unwise policy to set up
the proposed Commission, not to say
cruelty to reopen the question, and thus
revive even faint hopes in the hydraulic
mining regions of some possible adjust
ment under which the hydraulic process
might be resumed in quarters where its
previous prosecution resulted in damage to
the rivers and low lands While the in
quiry would thus stimulate expectation
that can never be realized, it would. on
the other hand, depress valley interests
because of the fear that some experiments
might be entered upon by the Government
that would put the whole matter of de-
stroying the rivers and low lands by the
results of acknowledgment sea again. The
people of the valley have reason to fear
any reopening of this question in view of
the bitterness of their experience in the
last seventeen or eighteen years. Renewal
of an agitation that puts two large divis-
ions of the country at industrial antag-
onism can result only in harm to both. 1t
will entail upon them heavy costs, and
strike down the hopes of men of advanced
years who have been so long engaged in
building homes upon the river valley
lands. The point is well taken that the
Biggs bill invokes the action OF the Gov
eminent in the interest of a private bust
ness. Back of the bill must lie the hope
that resumption of hydraulic mining may
be permitted. But moments considera-
ton will show how delusive that expecta-
ton is, for the Courts of the land have
declared that where the prosecution of the
industry works an irreparable injury to
innocent parties below the mines, it is a
public nuisance and can be abated by
judicial order. The Federal Government
has not, therefore, the right to authorize
any experiments that would bring that
judgment into contempt. At least, it
would be the hight of unwisdom to do
anything likely to disturb, even in antici-
patton, the deliberate judgment of Courts
before which the issues have been tried.
1t would be an exceeding poor policy for
the hydraulic mining sections which have
just begun to recover from the depression
consequent upon the cessation of that in
dustry. Anything tending to lead them
to entertain hopes of returning to the old
order of things must retard, if not kill of,
the new energy devoted to the develop
ment of other resources and the building
up Of communities upon more stable
basis. There is, in all the river section,
entertained towards the people of the
hydraulic mining regions no bitterness of
feeling, no luminosity. They must not con-
strue the protest of Yuba and Suffer to be
enmity. On the contrary, we believe it is
the natural and reasonable outcome of the
situation, and that the opposition to the
bill is for the best interests Of the whole
State.