The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-14
SENA TOR PERKINS
HOME AGAIN,
He Would Accept Another
Term in the United
States Senate.
THE WORK OF CONGRESS
What Was Accomplished for
California During the
Long Session.
THE MINERAL LAND BILL.
Failure to Pass the Measure in the
House Due to Speaker
Reed.
THE MINERAL LAND BILL.

George G. Perkins, United States Sena-
tor from California, arrived home yester-
day morning. He came straight from
Washington without stopping on the road
to talk tariff or silver and will now enjoy
8 season of rest from public duty and give
some attention to his business affairs. His
health is not in the slightest impaired by
the active work and long hours of the
session. He seemed a trifle lighter in
avoirdupois than usual, but his eye was
clear and his complexion good. Old time
cordially was observed in the greeting
which he extended to CALL reporter at
steamship Office on Market street yester-
day afternoon.
When the plain, simple question was
put to him by the scribe, "Well. Governor,
are you candidate for reelection to the
Senate" he bIushed Washington blush
and smiled. Quickly recovering his pres
ence of mind he responded: That de-
ponds whether l am acceptable to the
people of California. have yet some
time to serve in tho Senate but l do not
think 1t would be unbecOming to say that
If | could be sent to the Senate, as | was
before, perfectly untrammeled and free 10
do the best in my power for the State,
would be pleased to go again. Bat really
ness affairs and have not had time to give
the subject you speak of much attention.
81 appreciate the fact that the Southern
and New England Senators derive much
OF their siren tn in Congress because they
are returned time and again and become
familiar with the duties devoIving upon
them. l am now chairman of the Fish
cries Committee and second on the Com
mlttee on Naval Affairs. In two years l
should be chairman of the Naval Commit
tee. For the first time in twenty years the
Pacific Coast has member on the Appro-
priations Committee. l was able by rea-
son OF belonging to that committee to &C
complish some good for California.
But the people of California, - contin-
ued the Senator, "have honored me so
often that do not want to push myself
forward for future honors. Surely, would
appreciate the honor of reelection"
"What caused the failure to pass the
mineral land bill ?" was the next question.
THAT is long story but to state the
matter frankly l must say that the re-
sponsibility for the failure rests with
Speaker heeu. 40 think THAT he pre-
sentative Loud is to blame. He did all
that he could TO pass the bill IN the House,
but he was disappointed. l know how
hard a fight we had in the Senate. In the
first place the Secretary of the Interior
was opposed to the measure, and we had
to overcome that opposition. As fur
Their complication the Senators from the
Pacific Coast were not united on the prop
osition. l cannot go into details to ex-
plain how we passed the bill in the SEN
ate, but we passed it, and we used every
effort to get Speaker Reed to help it
through the House.
What did Congress in its six and one
half months Of continuous session do for
the country in general and California in
Particular
"a great deal OF work has been imposed
on members though the results may not
be so satisfactory 10 many people as they
would wish. | have not been absent from
my seat even for a day, and department,
committee and other duties have served to
increase the daily hours OF work to four
teen or fifteen. The entire delegation
from California has been constantly labor
ing for the interests of the State, and if
not so much as desirable has been accom-
pllshed 1t certainly is not the fault of it's
representatives.. | do not think that any
delegation from any State has ever worked
more tremendously or earnestly than has
that of California, and it was because of
this that we secured as much as we did.
"a great deal was expected from this
Congress because it was, and still is,
claimed to be Republican. 1t is not, how
ever. The House OF Representatives is in
control OF that party, but the Senate is
not. There are ninety members of the
Upper House, and only forty-four Repub-
licans, less than majority. The Popu-
list members have, upon all political and
financial questions, voted with the Demo-
Gratis, giving to that party and its policy
the control of affairs. In consequence,
from Republican pointof view, no legis.
lation that will be of any real benefit to
to the country was possible.
''This state of things in the Senate made
it evident to the Republicans In the House
~ IL
of providing for the financial necessities
of the Government on Republican lines.
The reports OF the heads of departments
OF receipt and expenditure showed that
the expenses exceeded the revenues by
$50,0000 600 or $60,000,000 a year and that
something should be done at once to Sc
cure a larger revenue. The House Com
mittee on Ways and Means applied itself
to the solution of the problem and worked
continuously until bill was completed.
1t held sessions through the Christmas
holidays-a thing which had not been
done before since war times. The Ger.
tainty that the preponderance of Demo-
cratic ideas in the Senate would prevent
the passage of a tariff bill based on Re-
publican principles compelled the com
mittee to recommend the Wilson-Gorman
BILL with horizontal increase OF 10 per
cent in rates and containing q duty on
wool. But this bill was defeated in the
Senate by the Democratic and Populist
votes.
I'm the meanwhile speculation in gold
had exhausted the gold reserve in the
treasury, and the President and Secretary
of the Treasury issued $150.0O0,0O0 of
bonds, making the total bond issue 1862,
100000 thus far during President Cleve-
lands administration. If the same COM
binations continue that LED to the with
drawaI OF gold on former occasions there
will be another bond issue before Con-
gress meets in December. 1t seems to me
that every one who has given attention to
the financial question must see in this sit
uation enough to arouse his anxiety for
the future
"The Democratic administration sought
to divert public attention from the fin
ancial difficulties in which its policy has
plunged the country by making prom
inent questions involving foreign powers.
The Venezuelan dispute with England
was made the subject OF a special mes
sage, and Congress, not to be outdone in
iingoism, voted 100000 for commission
to examine and report upon the British
claim. Next the Armenian atrocities
were taken up, and then Caba was made
the chief topic for consideration, OF all
Of which bo ,1IIhfi0 hoe haan ful1U in.