The record-union., 1896-08-30
MINERAL LANDS BILL.
Congressman JOhnSOn'S Course Com
mended by the Miners.
]. G. Maguire's Criticisms Are
Shown to be Without
Foundation.
(From the Grass Valley Tidings.)

| In his speech in Grass Valley on the
10Th inst. j. G.. Mcguire cast aspersions
| upon the course pursued by Grove l..
Johnson in relation to the mineral lands
till, with the clear purpose of preju-
dlclng the miners against our Congress
man. He misrepresented the facts, as
the correspondence published herewith
! Will show. Mr.. Mcguire stated that
When the bill was returned to the House,
| after being amended by the Senate, it
was, upon motion of Mr.. Johnson, re-
ferred to the Committee on Public
Lands Mcguire insinuated, if he did
not directly state, that this was done by
| Johnson, knowing that in so doing he
would rob the bill of it's privileges, and
! thereafter it could not be considered eX-
| Cept by unanimous consent. Mr.. Ma
| Suire's attention is called to the accom-
panying letter from Thomas c.. McRea,
Congressman from Arkansas, one of the
House Committee on Public Lands. Mr..
McRae says the Senate amendment
could not be considered except by unan-
inous consent, and that the bill was not
! privileged in the House. There are other
statements in Mr.. McRea's letter which
! show how broadly j. G.. ,daguire mis-
| represented the position of his fellow
| Congressman upon this matter.
In addition to the letter of Congress
man McRae, We give place to resolu-
tions passed by the State Miners Asso-
citation commencing the course of one
! and all of California's Congressional
delegation on matters pertaining to the
mining industry. The association
| watched each individual member of the
| delegation, and if either had proven re-
creant to the cause, the association
would have known it, and that member
would not have received commendation.
Congressman Johnson's course in re-
! lation to the furtherance of mining leg
| islation is not open to criticism He not
only pushed their interests to the front,
but by his influential personality he did
more than his share in securing favor
able legislation.
| Following are the letters and resolu-
tions:
| CONGRESSMAN MREA'S LETTER.
PRESCOTT Ark.
Hon. Grove L. Johnson, NJ c., Wash
| ington, d. C.-Dear Sir: Your letter of
recent date has been received There
certainly can be no doubt about you and
other members of the California delega-
| llOu WOIhinS LOT InS SdllIOI-
lila mineral lands bill.
| In view of the do-nothing policy
adopted by those who directed the busi-
ness Of the House, I was surprised that
you got it through the House at ALL The
Senate amendment under the House
rules could not be considered when the
bill was returned to the House, except
| by unanimous consent, so the bill and
| amendment were referred to the Com
mittee on Public Lands. You and other
members of your delegation came
promptly before the committee. But as
the bill was not privileged in the House,
and would not be reached in the regu-
lar order on the calendar, it could only
| be reached by unanimous consent, or by
a special rule from the Committee on
! Rules, or by suspension of the rules
| which involved recognition by the
Speaker. 1t is known to all that for the
| last part of the session Mr.. KEN OBJ
! jected to all requests for unanimous
consent, and it is understood the Speak
er refused the friends of the bill the spe-
cia1 rule of recognition. Of course ]
know nothing of the opposition of the
Speaker but know that the status OF
the bill was such that it was impossible
for you and other friends of the meas
ure to do more than you did without his
aid and help. Yours truly,
THOS. c. McREA,
OF Committee on Public Lands.
RESOLUTIONS BY THE MINERS
ASSOCIATION.
Be it resolved, That this association
unreservedly gives its unstinted praise
to our Senators and Representatives
who, without regard to party, at the
same session of Congress, stood Shout
der to shoulder for the legitimate de-
mands of the miner. For the first time
since the agitation Of our rights began
have we found a delegation at Wash
| ington united in an unqualified support
| of measures which we deem of meal
culable Importance, not simply to oul
mining regions, but to the State and ma
ton, and we trust that when Congress
reconvenes at the short session we shall
again find our Congressional delega-
ton arrayed in a solid phalanx, Loyalty
fighting for such further necessary RENE.
dial legislation as has been unavoidably
deferred. And be it further
Resolved, That a copy of these reso-
lutions be sent by the Secretary of this
association to each of our Senators anC
Representative in the National Con
gress.
Attest: JULIAN SONNTAG,
Secretary California Miners Associa.
ton.
AN ETY nTNNrTA