The morning call., 1892-03-01
TAX ON HYDRAULIC MINING.
The Proposition FaVoFably Received by the
Delegates in Washington.
CAMlNETTPS BILL IS TO Be AMENDED.
Chances Improved for an Appropriation From
Congress Investigation Of the Debris
Question By Government Officials.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

telegram from j. III. Neff, announcing that
the Executive Committee of Miners, at
meeting held in San Francisco to-day, had
decided to recommend the incorporation of
a section in Representative Caminetti's bill
imposing tax of 3 per cent Of the gross
output from the hydraulic mines. The dele
gates were much giatified at receiving this
intelligence and declare that it will
now be comparatively an easy matter
TO secure favorable action by Congress
Messrs. Luttrell and HoDson in statement
to The CALL correspondent tonight esti-
mated that the output from the mines
would approximate S355. 100000 and the
amount derived from the imposition of the
tax of 3 per cent would therefore be over
S1O,000,000. 1t is proposed that the Debris
Commission. provided for in Caminetti's
bill, which was agreed upon on Saturday
night by the river and mining delegates
now In Washington, shall levy and collect
this per cent tax ON the gross output of
the mines. the amount to be turned over by
the commission to the Government to be ex-
pended under the direction of the Secretary
or War in improving the river channels
and In erecting restraining and imp0unding
work in California rs an auxiliary TO the
Improvements made by the regular Govern
ment appropriations.
The Tax Generally Approved.
The idea of levying this tax on miners
was conceived by Hobson, and lie naturally
feels elated that the miners ndorse the
scheme. Mr. Luttrell says that both Cali
fornia Senators, nearly all the California
Representatives In Congress, and the river
and mining delegates mere have all along
been OF the opinion that ii the miners would
agree to the imposition of tax upon their
gross output Congress might view the mat
ter IN a more favorable light and take some
lnf in
the House to-day and was referred TO the
Committee on Mines and Mining. Cami-
netti is Chairman of the subcommittee on
hydraulic mining, and meeting of this
subcommittee Will probably be held to-
morrow night to consider the Caminetti bill.
Representative McKenna received word
that this was the last day upon which the
River and Harbor Committee would grant
hearings, aud accordingly appeared before
the committee to urge the Improvement of
the river channels Of California. and eSpe
cially of the Sacramento, San Joaquin and
their tributaries. He was before the COM
mittee for long time and made an ex-
haustive argument. He covered about the
same points gone over by Mr.. Devlin, Mr..
Ohleyer and others several weeks ago.
The Power of Congress.
While Chairman Blanchard could see the
proprlety of governmental appropriation
for the removal of debris and other obstruc-
tions now in the channels of the rivers. he
was doubtful whether it wonld lie within
the function of the Government to apprO-
pirate money for impounding debris in the
canyons OF the streams 10 prevent its reach
ing the navigable channels of the rivers,
and especially was he doubtful as to the
right OF Congress to appropriate money to
build dams and other engineering works, in
order that the debris might be deposited by
the miners. Messrs. Luttrell, Hobson,
Searles and Caminetti called upon Sec
retary ef War Eikins to-day and
had long talk over the matters
pertaining TO the Improvement Of California
rivers and the resumption of hydraulic
mining Mr.. LuttrelI and the Secretary
are old-time friends and the latter was very
willing and anxious TO hear all that the
CalifOrnians had to say on the subject,
although he professed to have fair
knowledge Of these matters himself, having
given thems some attention. MIR. Luttrell
says that the Secretary expressed himself
as heart and soul in favor of Congress doing
something 10 revive California's once
fiouriShing Industry Of hydraulic mining, il
1t can be done without injury to the navi-
CATION OF the rivers aad of the farm lands
situated along them. They also visited
Chief of Engineers Casey and laid before
him copy of Caminetti's bill.
No Favorable Action Expected.
Although the California delegates profess
to feel confident of favorable action by
Congress the best informed persons here
will not belieye that this Democratic Con-
greSs, with its obiectOr Holman and other
men of his stamp. will ever consent to ap-
proprating an amount aggregating 81, ,50O,-
600 for any such purpose. A good many
representatives. in Congress seem to be of
Chairman Banchard's opinion that while
the improvement in the river channels as
they now exist is proper enough it is not
within their rightful function to spend
money for the erection OF impounding and
restraining dams in order that the miners
may deposit their debris. They call this
species Of "class legislation" and affect to
look at 1t as sort of bounty to the miners.
Inasmuch as the Democratic majority in
the House is striving by all means to make
record for economy TO be used as cam
paign issue as contrast to the So-called
billi0n-dollar Congress. it must he confessed
that there Is little or no chance for action
by Congress which would do so much to
revive the fiourishing condition of things in
California that existed before the mining
men were enjoined.
The Gold Reserve Available.
At the instance of Representative Dock
cry OF Missouri, the House to-day adopted
resolution directing the Committee on
Judiciary to inquire into and report to the
House as to the right of the Secretary of
the Treasury TO use the 500, 600. 600 gold re-
ton is held by the Democrats to be of the
utmost Importance. They say IL the gold
reserve should be held not to be available
for current expenditures, it simply means
tho that 6o the Fifty second Congress has $780,.
OO0,0C0 less to draw upon in the mat
ter of appropriations than has generally
been understood. The Democrats saw in
that case their declaration that the country
Is confronted by deficit as a result of the
appropriations of the Fifty-frst Congress
viii be Justified. They will argue that all
the protection of the Mckinley bill has bean
unable to save the pubic treasury from the
verge Of bankruptcy. and point. in contrast,
to the generous surplus that existed at the
close Of Cleveland's administration.
In the Pension Office investigation to-day
young Raum was called TO the stand He
said Secretary Noble and Assistant Secre-
tary Bussey declined to allow him 10 make
any defense to the charges.
The Behring Sea Treaty.
Negotiations between United States and
Great Britain looking to the submission to
arbitration of the controversy between the
countries in regard to the Behring Sea seal
fisheries, reached a favorable conclusion to-
day. Pauncefote, the British Minister,
signed to-day the treaty of arbitration on
behalf of Great Britain. He said he was
| fully authorized by Lord Salisbury to take
| this action. Blaine signed the document in
behalf of this Government, aud the matter
| is consummated, SO far as the diplomatic
| part OF the business is concerned. The
| treaty Is still subject, however. to the action
| Of the British Parliament and the United
| States Senate. The exact terms of the treaty
| cannot now be stated, but it is known the
| Board of Arbitration will consist of seven
| persons-twO representing the United
| States, two representing Great Britain Zone
| of whom is to be Canadian), and one each
| representing the neutral Governments of
| France, Sweden and Italy.
Free Bagging Bill.
The report Of Turner of Georgia, from
| the Ways and Means Committee, in favor
| of the bill admitting free cotton bagging.
bagcna and T tss vii, r. iS hoi;srad rapo,.eu s
| tect the farmers and laborers engaged in the
production of cotton against the corners