The record-union., 1892-05-12
ATTORNEY GENERAL HART.
What He Saw and Learned While in
the East.
California'S Demand for Lieu Lands,
and Her War Claims - The
Presidential Outlook.

office by a RECoRD-UNIoN representative,
and in response to questions asked re-
garding the result of his visit, he said /:
II left here on the 18th of April for
Washington to argue a case before the
Secretary of the Interior, involving the
question as to whether or not California
was entitled TO lieu school lands in place
Of Sections 10 and SO, swamp lands.
The Swamp Land Act was passed
September 2S, 1850, and constituted
a grant IN pFeS5nti, then convey
ing to the State the swamp lands Tor The
purpose of reclamation and internal inn
provement. The school land grant to
California was passed March ), 1858, and
being a later law than the Swamp Land
Act, it could not operate upon Sections IL
and 36, swamp; hence, under the Act OF
February %, 1891, we claim the State is
entitled 10 lieu lands.
This case was argued before the
Secretary of the Interior by myself
and others on April 2Sth, and | believe
the State will be successful. Ii so Cali
fornia will realize some 200, 600 acres more
school land, which will increase the
permanent school fund over a quarter OF
a million dollars.
California is the only State which,
under the law, is entitled to such lieu
lands, as in other States of the Union the
school grant took place before the swamp
land grant; hence the question before the
Secretary was different in relation to
| California than as to any other State. II
was deemed necessary by myself and
Surveyor-General Reichert that we
should be present at the hearing before
the Secretary OF the Interior
General Hart said he also made an
argument before the Commissioner Of the
General Land Office, as to the right of the
State Of California to select double mineral
lands under the Act Of February Il, 1891.
He also Went to New York to confer with
gard to the settlement of the railroad
taxes involved in the suits brought by
him against the railroad companies since
he took Office.
HARRISON Is POPULAR.
i General Hart says he remained in
Washington two weeks, and talked with
many prominent members OF both parties
in reference to the political situation.
From all he could gather he has little
cratic nominee and Harrison the Repub-
lican nominee.
"Of course" said General Hart, ''there
are many Republicans who would rather
see some other candidate than Harrison.
The difficulty, however, is that each one
suggested is untried, while Mr.. Harrison
has made one of the best Presidents we
ever hau. Inc party, therefore, KNOWS
he is honest and capable, and has every
reason to trust him.
california has every reason to be
thankful to Harrison for his approval of
the recent Chinese Exclusion Act. The
people of California have no idea of and
cannot comprehend the great exertions
made by delegations and persons in COM
munication to cause the President to
veto the bill. While delegations were
waiting to see him on that subject he
was signing the bill.
ELAINE A SECOND WEBSTER.
81 had the pleasure of hearing Mr..
Blaine make his argument before the
Senate committee against granting the
right for the laying OF the French cable.
His argument was able and strong, and
he appeared to be in good health. His
masterly manner in handling the uues-
ton then under consideration, from a
diplomatic and legal standpoint, so far as
this country IS concerned, convinced me
that Blaine, like Webster, was too great
man to become President
THE HILL-CLEyELAND FIGHT.
81 talked with many Democrats in
New York, and was convinced that the
friends of Hill will never permit Cleveland
TO carry the State of New York for the
Presidency, and that it will be the old fight
over again. Ii Hill should get the nomi-
nation, it behooves the Republicans of
New York to watch carefully or their
candidate will be counted out.
OUR QUARRELING CoNGREsSMEN,
''If the California representatives in
Congress would stand together there
would be no doubt of a reasonable appro-
priation for necessary improvements to
enable hydraulic mining to be again re-
sumed. Mr.. Geary is a bright man and
an able worker, and his political friends
ought to reason with him upon this SUBJ
ject. With his help the appropriation
can be obtained.
congressman Loud and Cutting are
doing good work, and Bowers is a brick.
Senator FELTON, is doing great work for
the State, and if it had not been for his
untiring efforts the new Chinese Ex-
clusion Act would not have passed the
Senate. In fact, he is always on hand
and found in his place every day."
THE SILVER QUESTION.
Referring to the silver question, General
Hart said he talked with great MANY
public men with reference thereto. II
am confident he said, that a free
coinage bill cannot be passed by the
present Congress, the great objection be-
ing that it is unknown how much silver
foreign countries would dump into the
United States in the event of the passage
Of such bill. This uncertainty makes
many friend of the miners hesitate be-
fore casting his vote in favor of such n
scheme.
What think ought to be done on the
silver question is this: Let there be free
coinage (eSs mint cost charges) of all
silver produced in the United States, or
issue silver certificates for the same, and
charge an import duty upon all foreign
silver coin and bullion brought into the
United States, which import duty should
be the difference between the market
value of silver in London and the coin
value in the United States, thus COM
pelling all foreign countries to settle all
balances of trade with this country in
gold"
There are many reasons why this
course should be pursued. 1t is kepub-
hcan in principle, and in my judgment
Will be the groundwork of the final stand
which will be taken by the Republican
party upon this question. The miners
are satisfied with it, and many high Re-
publican officials look upon it favorably.n
OTHER MATTERS.
The general talk in Washington indi-
Gates an early adjournment of CONGRESS.
Matters look very favorable for the pas
sage by this Congress of the bill paving
to California her war claims against the
Government, which amount TO 81. 400. 600
Senator Stanford returned before 7
left Washington. / saw him in his seal
in the Senate, but did not have an oppor-
tunity of speaking to him. He was look
ing quite well, and is generally spoken of