The record-union., 1896-10-31


ton It was a sensible measure, and
would have passed Congress and re-
ceived the sanction Of the President
The only difference between the meas
ure and the one subsequently introduced
by the consent Of the railroads and the
representatives Of the Miners Associa-
ton related to the nature Of the author
ity possessed by the Commissioners to
be appointed.
The first bill provided that they
should not have absolute and conclusive
powers relating to the classification OF
lands, but should make examination
and qualify themselves to testify as to
their mineral character In all contests
This would have left the administration
Of the landed interests Of the Govern
ment In the hands of the Land Depart
ment; but the hereinbefore mentioned
attorneys possessed Of homeopathic In
telligence, concluded that the outlines
Of the Idaho Montana Act were good
enough for them. The railroads con-
sented to the substitution Of the amend
ed bill, and it was this agreed measure
which failed to receive the sanction OF
bill the Government would have paid
the expenses of the classification of the
lands now borne by the railroads them
selves. Under that measure, the COM
loy, ho I7S
cf the Government and travelling on
railroad passes would have been able
to perform the miracle performed In
Icaho and Montana of examining a
thousand acres an hour. Under that
measure, Slip-sh work would have re-
suited in a far more speedy adjustment
Of the land grant to the Central Pa
cific Railroad Company in California
any of these things were inimical to the
interests of the railroad is simply a
feeble minded mistake, and all the er-
rors under this head grow out of the
want of intelligence of the matters and
things concerning which legislation was
sought. The Examiner knows moth
ing whatever of the subject worth
knowing. 1t can say nothing on the
subject worth saying. and if it knew
the extent to which its lack Of informa-
ton has been used for the pur-
pose of prompting this legislation in the
interest of speedy adjustment Of the
railroad land grants. it would suffer
the deepest sense Of humiliation, If 1t
is possible to it to have a conscious
feeling of shame.
The whole subject Is one Of very
small Importance to the land grant rail-
roads in California So far as the grant
to the California and Oregon is con-
cerned, from Roseville to the State line,
every acre of land lost in the granted
limits is indemnified from the indemnity
limits, and as mineral land is usually
valueleSs it was actually the gamer
by the loss, through the exercise Of its
indemnity right. AS to the lands of the
Central Pacific, between Sacramento
and the State line, the entire grant is
just closing its adjustment. The Cen
trail Pacific Railroad Company cannot
by any possibility lose 5000 acres
California by any amount Of questions
relating to mineral lands. The Central
Pacific did not ask that this legislation
should be passed and did not resist it.
To- 20 he
cause it was a measure which had op-
Grated distinctively in favor Of the ad-
justment of the grants. The railroads
had everything to gain and nothing
In very truth it may be characterized
as fair measure of speedy adjustment,
and that 1t was an anti-railroad meas
IRE is simply a n1onstrous, grotesque
Misrepresentation.
In putting these statements forth we
are fully conscious of the responsibility
V kich rests upon us to establish them,
and we are still more completely conf
dent of our perfect ability to do so.
We wait with interest contradiction
from any source. The Examiner" is
not barred. The Executive Committee
Of the State Miners Association are in
vited to tell their story, and those who
r. presented them Immediately in the
formulation of the measure are invited
to deal with the whole subject as broad
ly and as frankly as it is dealt with
here. If the Examiner will present
this matter to Mr.. Reed along with its
many other instructions to him, as to
the duty Of the nation toward the in
terests Of California, 1t will be perform
ing a service to the State Miners Asso-
citation. and for once in it's wild career
will be dealing in statements which ac-
cord with the underlying facts.
THE LOCAL LEGISLATURE.