The herald., 1893-08-02
SENATOR PERKINS VIEWS.
The New Senator shows How He Stands
on Legal Questions.

The New Senator shows How He Stands
ON Legal Questions.
The Examiner: You have asked me
for my views on the outlook for the
coming session. A representative of the
people in the United States senate
should not be bound by iron-clad con-
victions, fettered to specific theories or
demands from which he can neither re-
cede nor advance. He is the member of
national jury, and his duty ia largely
that of any juror. He is expected to
demand the fullest information on all
matters that will require his ballot and
to decide according to his best Judgment
OF truth and merit. II
The interests of his own state, on the
other hand, must be an influence with
this juror-a strong factor in the evil
dence submitted-but SUCH interests can
be rightfully determined by no narrow
conception Of what is best for the given
locality. The state is always part OF
the nation; the states representative is
member of the Dational body and his
obligations are not merely to the con-
stituency from which he is chosen.
Regarding in that way the work
WhiOl uun Dccu ucSlSuCQ W lhV, uioAo
no promises; I commit myself to no
other policy than to act according to
my best judgment. Yet have opinions
and am free to express them.
The silver question will undoubtedly
be the first important matter submitted
to congress, to be brought up by the
proposed repeal of the Sherman law.
may say in broad terms that on the
silver question 1 am in favor of BIZ
metallism.
Monetary legislation is a national
problem. 1t should be 80 solved, with
out undue consideration of the inter-
national aepect that makes it lean one
way or of the state benefits that make
it lean the other way. I believe that
the double standard is the best means
Of representing valces in this country,
There is no danger OF putting too much
silver in circulation, and l would like
to see four or five millions of the silver
dollars now in our vaults put out and
used as subsidiary coin.
No rightful means OF developing Cal
ifornia and the Pacific coast should be
neglected in congress. The construc-
ton OF the Nicaragua canal is of vast
importance to us and should be urged
at every opportunity.
Within our state are natural water
ways that should be adequately opened
up to navigation, particularly the SacYa-
mento, the San Joaquin and the Feather
rivers. The large revenues that we pay
to the federal government should be re-
turned, to fair degree, in such means
OF reaching the great natural wealth of
this land.
Lighthouses should mark the Califor-
mia coast sufficiently to protect the ves-
sells in the carrying trade. And among
the demands which California may just
ly make is the erection of suitable
postoffice building in San Francisco.
The regulation Of hydraulic mining
concerns largely the wealth of this por-
tion of the country, believe that there
should be no restriction where mining
can be carried on without positive in
jury TO other industries of equal import
ance. Even tie smaller interests of a
farmer must be protected, however.
when the mine owners encroach upon
his rights without giving just compensa-
tdon. r, a-i4
believe that United States senator's
should be chosen by popular vote. That
is the way 1 want to reach the senate if
I ever 60 there again. The same right
that the people have in all oth.- eleo'
tions should not be denied thvm in the
choice of Representatives TO the upper
honsA OF cons-ass. - .-ssi
Such are my views, in brief, concern
ing some of the leading topics in which
O California senator might be- e& pected
to have special interest, but1 nlaks no
declaration of future action end dispeak
of nothing about which am.notiready
to learn. GEORGE @. PERKINS.