The San Francisco call., 1896-01-26
INTERESTS THE COAST.
New Bill for the Classification
Of Mineral Lands in
California.
San Diego People Working for a
Military Reservation at
That Port.

WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 25.-Tirey
L. Ford of San Francisco, representing the
California Miners Association, said to a
CALL correspondent tonight that he had
prepared new bill for the classification
of mineral lands in California, and that
Representative Grove Johnson will pre-
sent it in the House on Monday. 1t is
the measure drafted by the legislative
committee of the California Miners AS
sociation and is known as "the committee
bill, and is practically the same act that
now applies to Idaho and Montana.
Mr.. Ford is considering whether it will
be best to provide board of three CON-
missioners for each of the nine land dis
tricts or whether two or more districts
may be combined, SO that no more than
four or five boards will be necessary. The
objection to nine boards would be that the
$40 per diem for travelling and other ex-
penses of the twenty-seven commissioners
would swell the total expenses to a con-
siderable sum, and this is an economically
inclined Congress. 1t would require an ap-
preparation of 100000 per annum to pay
the salaries and expenses OF the twenty
seven commissioners, and, apprehensive
that this might endanger the passage OF
the bill, Mr.. Ford is considering the ad-
visibility OF providing for only four boards
or as many as there are under the Idaho
Montana act.
The Secretary of the Interior has sent an
estimate of $4,000 to Congress TO pay the
salaries and expenses of the Idaho and
Montana boards, and this amount would
prabably be sufficient to classify California
lands. The bill, as originally drafted by
q a lNyn of1rv1 1vroft So
Miners Association, only made provision
for one board (of three commissioners,
but 1t is thought that three men would
not be sufficient force. 1t would take
them too long to complete the work
Mr.. Ford will communicate with mem
berS OF the miners committee in Cali
fornia and ask which bill they wish him to
urge, the one already introduced by John
son or one drawn on the lines above sug-
gested. Mr.. Ford has talked with nearly
all the members of the California delega-
ton and thinks they will be united in
support of all the bills prepared by the
Miners Association. He believes that the
California people are practically united in
favor of such legislation.
"There is no trouble at the other end of
the line (California)," he said. land / hone
that our delegation IN Congress will work
together IN harmony. / do not anticinate
there Will be much trouble in passing the
mineral lands classification bill, but il will
require hard work, united and determined,
on the part of our Congressional delesation
to induce Congress to pass our mining
Dill, which appropriates over million
dollars. Speaker Reed has already an
nounced that strict economy in public ex-
pendlturesi is to be the rule, and / find manv
Congressman echoing his sentiments. for
he is the king bee of the House,
San Diego people are urging the estab.
msnment OF military reservation there.
They have been sending in letters and ne.
titlons since Congress met, and this morn
ing comm munications were received BY each
California Senator and Representative ex.
planning the need of Notifications and re.
minding them that the site given to the
Government by the citizens was yet un-
occupied.
Senator Perkins, in reply to the Cham
Der OF Commerce to-day, had this to saw:
Il am fully aware that all you saw is
true, and that port of such Importance
and with the prospect OF such an