The San Francisco call., 1895-11-18
He Is Inclined to Criticize the
Present Government of
the Islands.
JOHNSON ON "0LD sTAGERs.'
Preparing to Fight to Secure Con-
greSsional PlumS for New
Members.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Nov. 1.-THE
third California member of Congress TO
arrive in Washington is Hon. Samuel u.
HiIborn of Oakland who, accompanied by
his wife and daughter, Miss Grace, regis
tered at Willard's Hotel. Mr.. Rllborn
left San Francisco two weeks ago, but
stopped at several places en- route.
1t is Mr.. Hilhorn's ambition to serve on
the Public Buildings and Grounds Com
mittee. so he can get an appropriation Tor
Oakland's new public building. 1t is said
that Mr.. Hilborn will take active interest
in Haw allan affairs when that subject is
broached in the House, as it will be un-
doubtedly. Though he has given no re-
cent public expression of his views, it is
remembered that upon his return from the
islands this summer he was inclined to
the opinion that the time was not yet ripe
for annexation, and he had some criticism
to make upon the Dole government.
Hon. Grove l.. Johnson of Sacramento,
with his wife and daughter, Miss Mabel, is
comfortably quartered at the Hotel Coch-
rane. Mr.. Bray, son of the ex-senator,
from Sacramento, is also with him and
will act as his secretary.
Grove l.. Johnson's reputation as man
of pre-eminent ability precedes him and
his friends and admirers expect him to
render conspicuous service to California.
Mr.. Johnson is not pleased with the man.
ner of the "old stagers" in Congress, be-
cause, he declared, they divided all the
plums before newcomers got there. The
bination" had its clerk, sergeant-at-
nl,
lain already ''slated," and California may,
as usual, be left out in the cold. The
conspirators, he said, were also trying to
gobble up all the choice committee posi-
tons. The newcomers" must not intrude
themselves was the pronunciamentoo of this
band of conspirators. The fresh members
were like new boys at school-they must
keep in the background or be hazed.
Mr.. Johnson said there was no sense III
this; that it was snoDbish. The Fifty
third Congress was over with. This was
new deal, and each member should be
recognized according to merit. Precedence
should not govern committee assignments.
Mr.. Johnso n promises that in the represen-
tation In the congressional caucus he will
not be mealy mouthed in denouncing this
way of monopolizing all the good things by
a ring or com bination of old members, and
if he can get dozen good men to stand
with him he will make a pretty lively
fight against the "ring." He has not
picked out any committee position for
himself, and therefore will not be disap-
pointed if he does not fare we'll. 1t is his
ambition, however, to secure an additional
appropriation for the Stockton public
building. Seventy-ive thousand dollars
has already been appropriated. Twenty
thousand was paid for the lot and $1,000 for
incidental expenses, leaving $4,000. This
amount is entirely inadequate, Mr.. John
son says. 1t will construct very cheap
and inferior building.
81 do not believe in being too modest,
said Mr.. Johnson to CALL correspondent,
land l will ask for S250,000 more. / may
only get half this, and perhaps much less,
but will proceed on the plan of the cheap
clothing merchant who asks two prices
for coat"
Mr.. Johnson will also introduce bill
providing for the appointment of a board
of United States engineers to examine and
report on the necessity for further i'm
provement of the California waterways
tuC Cdn dIiu edIn6T
rivers in particular. Ii lalge appropria-
ton be secured for dredging. snagging and
for restraining works, hydraulic mining
can be carried on without hindrance to
the farmers.
Major Heuer has reported that he has
something over $150,00O unexpended and
and available and he declines to ask for
more. and as the War Department always
acts upon the recommendation of its en-
gineers in the field, there is little prospect
of Congress appropriating more money,
unless new board of engineers can be
appointed and induced to make a favor
able recommendation to Secretary La
mont and to Congress.
Both Johnson and Barham speak well
of Mr.. Caminetti's hydraulic mining bill
and compliment the ex-Representative for
his good work in getting it passed.
When asked about silver, Mr.. Johnson
said:
Every man of us is pledged to vote for
free coinage, though 1 am somewhat
doubtful about anything being accom-
pIished in this Congress. 1t would be
useless, perhaps, to pass free coinage
bill, for Grover would veto it. Still that
would not deter US from making hard
fight"
vVT-n