The San Francisco call., 1905-01-25
Senator BelShaW Leads
] Party Whose cry
/ : Is "ReCede.'~ !
Warm Time Promised
Before the Question
Is Decided.

B. SACRAMENTO Jan. 24.-Warm
times are ahead The fight in the Sem
ate for and against the recession OF
the Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa
Big Tree Grove has developed into
political combat with Senator j. b.
Curtin, Democrat, leader Of the anti
recession forces. Opposed to him on
the floor are several of the influential
Republican members or the upper
House, led by Belshaw of Antioch.
. Belshaw's forces have the. unqualified
support of the State administration
and the moral backing of the Federal
, Government, fact made clear py
President Roosevelt in his last message
to Congress, in which he said that
Yosemite should be included in the
great park system of the United States.
The desires of the Federal Govern
ment, however, are not weighing heav-
fly in the fight. Sentiment. though 1t
Is still rallied at by the opponents OF
the bill, has been abandoned and closer
attention is being paid to the prac-
tical theory of Trade" a legislative
scheme that has inflicted more bills
upon the people than all the genius of
oratory. Lined up with Curtin are
Senators Wolfe of San Francisco, Sell
wage of Eureka, Shortridge of San
Jose and Ralston of Melones. There
are others, of course, but these are the
orators of the opposition. And they
. all have bills before the Senate that
must come before the Assembly, where,
1t Is said, the majority stands for re-
cession.
Frowns that come from those Sena-
tors that are known to enjoy the con-
fidence of the chief executive of the
. State often follow the scoring of a
point by the anti re-cessionists. But
they are hammering ahead just the
same, regardless of consequences to
come and if these consequences do fall
upon them there will be a busy hour
In Sacramento.
. IF they try to force u.s." said one
of the anti re-cessionists tonight, I'VE
will leave page in Sacramentos his
tory that will stand out above them
J all. The riots OF st. Petersburg won't
] be- circumstance to the row We'll
kick up
BELSHAW FAVORs BILL.
!. Senator Belshaw was the first to
! address the Senate on behalf of re-
cession. He said in part:
: California docs not own the valley. and mere
ly holds 1t as trustee of the national Govern
ment Hence the question of sentiment that
has been raised here is eliminated.
What has California done for the valley?
In forty years 1t has expended but little over
$400. 000. or $4,000 year and the fact stands
to-day that it will take 100000 to put the
roads in proper condition A bill before this
! house now which provides for the appropria-
! uon OF 100000 for the construction of hotel
|, All Of these things are needed but the fact
stands that California at this time is not in
a position to expend these large sums The
Government is able and will expend these sums
II the divided Jurisdiction existing is wiped
away and the Government is given full title.
+ we have park of our own, the Big Basin,
and 1t needs all the money California can spare
4 Tor park purposes. Let US permit the improve
ment OF the valley. There is but one way: re-
GeQe II TO the Government of the United
Z Senator Ralston followed Belshaw,
! speaking against recession. He said
that while the claim had been made