Glass. Eli4 Rnnk Pl4'S\./'7 Congressional Career —OF THE— (PHOTOGRAPDED BY' TAKER.) HoN.H. F.PAGE A SKETCH. 4 SAN FRANCISCO: Fraucis, Valentine & Co., Trinters, Designers and Engravers, 517 Clay St. 1880. CONGRESSIONAL CAREER OF THE ^^^ HON. H: F. PAGE," REPRESENTATIVE OF THE SECOND DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA RE-NOMINATED FOR A FIFTH TERM. JL SKZETCKC. BY C. C. WILLIAMS, SAN FRANCISCO : FliANcns, Valektine & Co., Printers, 517 Clay Strekt. 1880. ^ 6" CONGRESSIONAL CAKEEE OP H. P. PAGE. CHAPTER I. EARLY LIFE. Horace Francis Page was born in Orleans county, New York, October 20th, 1833. His ancestors for generations back have been reckoned anaonsf the steady and industrious tillers of the soil in the Empire State. Brought up with Puritanic ]-igor, his early education was of the most practical nature, and principally acquired at the neighboring country school. The spirit of the coming man was foresliadowed in the boy, A will- ingness to defend his opinions, and an unflinching allegiance to what he considered right, were characteristics of his earliest childhood. The death of his mother, when he was quite j-oung, left liis training in the hands of an affectionate, yet strict and careful, father who impressed upon his 3'oung mind lessons of industry and uprightness, which have marked his after life. His boyhood was spent in the fields and on the hills of inspiring scenery. The old homestead, the property of the family for generations, is described as situated in one of the pleasantest spots in western New York, fruitful and picturesque. The scenes familiar to his boyish imagination lett their cherished imprint upon his memory. Of his father, who is still alive, he always speaks in the most endearing terms, and never tails to visit him after each session of Congress. These short vacations, after his arduous and contining labors during the session, are refreshing rests. He enjoys the simplicity of country life. Being early taught self-reliance, which, coupled with the natu- ral energ\*of his character, led him, like many anotheryonng man, to the Golden (State ; expecting and realizing in it a wider field of activity than his native State offered him. Mr. Page arrived in California at the age of twenty, and af- ter a very successlul venture in operating a saw-naill near Col- fax, and an after experience in mining, he moved to Placerville, there, in time, building up a large livery-stable. To further extend his business, he bought and built a net-work of stage lines, connectiniT the principal towns of El Dorado, Placer and Sacramento counties. He was always an enterprising and suc- cessful business man, which, in connection with his integrity and fidelity to public trusts, explain, in part, his wonderful suc- cess! as a public servant. After a few years' residence in Pla- cerville, he married Miss Jane Watters, an accomplished lady and worthy helpmate, whose affability causes her society to be courted in Washington, where she so truly represents the sin- cerity and courage of California women. Mr. Page was led to take a lively interest in politics by his enthusiastic and ardent temperament, keenly alive to deficiencies in public officers and his quick eye to detect irreguliirities. He would make no compromises with opposing parties, and was always a straight Republican of the strictest principles. His activity in politics consisted in faithful work tor his party ; and his efficient meas- ures bespoke the wonderful managing power which has distin- guished his Congressional career. , Being nominated for the (State Senate, he was drawn further into political strife. Al- though the defeat of any KepubHcan was a foregone conclu- sion, he was selected as the strongest candidate to oppose the overpowering majority. Demagogism was the furtherest from his nature ; and that he vvas never considered an office seeker, his tirst nomination for Congress amply illustrates. NOMINATED FOR CONGRESS. Mr. Pao-e's intimate friends saw and understood his worth, and by much urging obtained his consent to become a candi- date for Congress. His ability and energy were Httle known outside of his county, atid to go betore a convention with such names as Judge Porter, Judge Cavis, and Judge Tuttle, contesting for a nomination- seemed almost a hopeless adven- ture ; but it was done, and he was the choice of the conven- tion. His nomination was a surprise to the most iniluential newspaper in the district, The Sacramento Daily Union, which had supposed the nomination of its candidate, Judge Porter, assured. The Democrats and Independents, the latter an otf- shoot, mainly from the Republican party, backed by the Daily Union, united upon a candidate against Mr. Page, with full confidence and a determination worthy of a better cause, to defeat him. A most vindictive and bitter crusade was waged by these two parties. An eftbrt was made ♦) make him unpopular, by forcing liim to answer several questions. His prompt and decisive replies made for him many votes. At a joint-discussion between Mr. Page and Mr. Coggins, his oppo- nent, at Grass Valley, October 25th, 1872, the following-ques- tions were asked by Mr. Coggins, and answered by Mr. Page : HOW HE KEEPS PLEDGES. Ques. 1 — Will you vote for a law requiring the Central Pacific Railroad Company and the Union Pacific Railroad Company to pay the interest on their Government bonds ? Ans. — I will vote for any law that compels the Railroad Company to fulfill the obligations they are under to the Government of the United States. In Congress, Mr. Page voted to instruct the United States Attorney General to commence suit to recover the five per cent., due from those companies. Qu6s. 2 — Will you vote for a law reducing the rates of fare and freight on the Union Pacific and Central Pacific roads under the reserved authority of Congress for enforcing such redaction ? Ans. — If there is such reserved authority, and it can be done under the law of Congress, I will vote for such a law willingly and gladly. Ques. 3 — Will you vote for a law inflicting heavy penalties on the above-named Railroad Companies for discriminating against one shipper and in favor of another, and against one locality and in favor of another in the transmission of freight ? Ans. — I am opposed to any Railroad Company or any persons hav- ing the carrying trade or the control of it, discriminating in favor of individuals or localities. Could any law be framed by Congress to compel them to make their rates ot freights and fares uniform, I should consider it my duty as a representative of the people to vote for such a law. Mr. Page voted for the McOrary bill, which covers all the points in questions 2 and 3, a reduction of fares and freights, no discrimination between localities, and heavy penalty for a. violation of the law. Ques. 4 — Will you vote for a subsidy of Government lands for the construction of a railroad to connect Placerville with Shingle Springs ? Ans. — Now, wait, I will tell yoy ttie reason why. I own a stage line from Placerville to Shingle Springs, and if such a road is built it will shut off my stage line. Tlie building of the road will cost me from $7,000 to $10,000, and I do not want the railroad. But the people of ElDorado county desire the railroad, and I witli others subscribed money to aid in the construction of the road. I interposed no objection, but signed a petition asking the time to be extended to the 1st of January, 1878, and then the resolution goes into effect to ask Congress to restore the lands to the Government of the United States. Instead c4' voting a subsidy, Mr. Page introduced and se- cured the passage of a bill to forfeit to the Government all the land previously' granted to this road, which the Sacrdmento 'Union — Mr. Coggins' mouth-piece at that time — of Oct. 25th, 1872, said was not worth less than $3,200,000, and which, say they, Stanford & Co. would get for an outla}' of less than §(375,- 000, the cost of building fifteen miles of road, from tJhingle Springs to Placerville. Ques. 5 — Will you vote for the bill known as Sargent's timber bill or any other containing similar provisions ? Ans — I have not examined Sargent's timber bill, but I will vote for a law for the sale of the tiaiber lands. As I said before, I am in favor of selling the tiinber lands and opposed to allow- ing them to remain as they are, because I believe that every man 6 that desires to cut a stick of timber on the public lands should not be deemed a tre.s.spasser, but should be permitted to obtain title to a portion of the timber lands. Mr. Page introduced and secured its passage through the House, of a timber bill, which had it become a law would have given general satisfaction to the people interested in the manufacture of lumber, and would have added greatly to the prosperity of the State. In the'E'orty-tifth Congress, he succeeded in having passed ^ bill that covered all the points of the Sargent's timber bill, thus fulfilling this pledge. On the 9th of May, 1878, Mr. Page said, in a speech, on this bill: << It is well understood by the House, that some law must be passed to relieve the people of the Territories of the United States from the operations of the Act of 1831, which makes it a misde- meanor for any person to tresspass upon the public land of the United States. Legislation is recommended by the Conmiis- sionerof the General Land Office and by the Secretary of the In- terior, and it is demanded by the people that Congress should pass some law, by which they shall have the right to obtain some timber from the public lands." ELECTED. The campaign was a trying ordeal for Mr. Page. Unused to the vitnpeiation of opposing newspapers and the abuse so freely heaped upon a candidate, his patience was sorely tested, especially by groundless accusations made by the revengeful Uimn vvhich" let loose its war dogs. They were squarely met and driven from the field. He stood the campaign to the entire satisfaction of his party, and proved the correctness of his friends' opinion of him. their faith was justified by a decisive victory. (See appendix). CHAPTER H. ♦ FIRST TERM IN CONCJRESS. A new member enters Congress with something of the feeling that possesses the incoming freshman at college. Elated by his election and disirous of making his mark, he is confident of being able to accomplish almost anything. The native modesty of Mr. Page freed him from this boastful spirit, and made him a practical working member trom the first. He had been elevated from a seat on a stage coach to a seat in Congress, proving himself an honor to both positions. When we consider that he began in Cor'gress without any previous training in legislative halls, not having come up from the State Senate'or Assembly, what he accomplished in his first term receives additional luster. It was said at the close of his first term in the House of Representatives, that his success in introducino; and having passed wholesome laws which were of lasting benefit to the people had been equaled by no member of Congress, young or old, before elected from this State. He was appointed on two important standing committees of the House, Post Ofiice and Post Roads and Mines and Mining, for each of which he was eminently fitted. During his first term, he introduced forty bills and eight resolution. Of the former twelve passed the House and ten became laws; many of the others failing in the Senate. A brief review of some of the most important bills introduced, and measures advocated by Mr. Page, shows him to have been an active and influential member who did honor to his district; who saved his State hundreds of thousands of dollars and the nation millions of dollars. THREE MILLIONS SAVED. Mr. Page, at an early day of the first session, introduced a bill to pre'vent what is called " straw bail," given by bidders who seek to obtain contracts for the carrying of the U. S. mails. The bill was referred to the Committee on Post Offices and Post Roads, of which he was a member. For a time it appeared that the bill had found its last sleej^in the hands of the Committee, for the mail contractor's ring was opposed to its passage, and used every strategy to prevent a favorable report by the Committee. Four of the eleven members of the Committee were in sympathy with Mr. Page, and urged a report; many of the others sympathized with the ring. The bill lay in the hands of the Committee more than three months, before it could be brought to a hearing, and when finally reported, two of the most important sections were re- jected. After an unsuccessful attempt to restore those two sections, Mr. P^ge allowed it to pass the House without them, but followed it to the Senate, where he posted his friends who were favorable to the original bill ; had the re- jected sections restored and the bill passed by the Senate and sent back to the House, which dissented from the Senate amendment. A committee of conference was appointed by the two Houses, which finally recommended the passage ot the bill as it came from the Senate; and after a continued op- position for more than four months, Mr. Page had the pleasure of seeing the work of his own mind and hands become a law, to the great chagrin of those who had opposed the passage of the bill. Postmaster-General Jewell published a statement showing that this law saved the Government, as compared with the previous four years, expenditures of over $3,000,000, with an increase of over 5,000 miles of mail service, in the 8 three Pacific States and eie;ht Territories. [^Covq. Globe, 1st session 43(1 Con^., pages 2080, 3049, 3050, 3051, also P. M. General's report 1875] Mr. Page introduced a successful bill postponing the election of representatives to Congress from this Sfate, from a special to the general election, which saved the people of this State more than $200,000, as shown by a resolution of the State Legislature. \ Congressional Globe, 1st session 43d Congress, page 4278.] RAILROAD ANTAGONISM. A bill to forfeit to the United States the land granted to the Placerville and Folsom Railroad Company was one of the first bills introduced by Mr. Page. The bill was referred to the Committee on Public Lands, who examined it carefully, re- ported it back to the House and recommended that it pass. On motion of Mr. Page, after much skirmishing among mem- bers of the House, in which Mr. Page had to measure swords with Congressman B. F. Butler, the champion of railroad sub- sidy in the House, the rules were suspended and the bill passed. It subsequently passed the Senate and was signed by the President. ^Cong. Globe, 43d Congress, 1st session, pages 373, 930, 2921, 3206.] Also a bill to forfeit lands which had been granted to the Stockton and Copperopolis Railroad, This bill took the same course as the one above, and was signed by the President on the 15th day of June, 1874. [Gong. Globe, 1st session 43d Congress, pp. 1526, 3708, 4596.] These bills were followed by a resolution looking to the forfeiture of the lands granted to the Atlantic and Pacific railroad, which, if such legislation had been obtained, would have restored millions of acres of fertile lauds, withheld from pre-emption and homestead settlement, by, a bankrupt and and apparently defunct railroad company. It was not the fault of Mr. Page that this bill did not become a law. [Cong. Globe, 1st session 43d Cong., page 766.] We find him opposing the extension ot the I^oi-thern Pacific i^nd the Texas Pacific railroad land grants; and in fact against all subsidy schemes brought before the 43d Congress, just as he told the people he would do, before he was elected. ^ On an examination of the Congressional records we find his vote recorded in favor of instructing the U. S. Attorney General to commence suit against the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific Railroad Company to collect five per cent, net profits after the completion of that road; also voting to compel railroads which have subsidy granted in lands, to take out patents, that such lands may be subjected to State taxation. lie voted for a bill to regulate inter-state commerce, known as the McCrary bill, introduced by G. AV. McCrary, a Repre- sentative tVom Iowa, The bill provided, among otlier things, that persons engaged in this commerce (raih-oads) should be prohibited from making iinreaf-onable or extortionate charges ; and that they should be piohibited from unjust discrimination in the niatter of charges. This bill provided for the appoint- ment of Commissi||ners who were given power to establish the rate of fares and freights — a measure recently adopted in this State by the new Constitution. Heavy p'enalties were provided for a violation of the law, the burden of proof resting on the company to show that their charges were not unreasonable. In the Forty-fifth Congress, Mr. Page ably seconded Con- gressman Reagan in support of his railroad bill, whose objects were conscisely stated as follows: 1st. It provides that freight rates and facilities shall be made equal to all shippers. 2d, To this end it provides that rebates and drawbacks shall not be allowed in any case. 3d. It provides that the gross amount of charges shall not be fjreater for a shorter than for a longer distance, on the same line of transportation, 4th. It provides against combinations by individuals or companies to defeat the objects of this bill. 5th. It requires schedules of the rates of freight and charges to be posted up, so that all shippers may know the rates they are re. quired to pay. 6th, Where rates are fixed for local commerce within a Slate, the State rates are required to be posted up, and the transportation companies are forbidden to charge more per ton, per mile, for inter- State freight than they charge for^tate ffeight. 7th. Provisions are made in this bill for its efficient enforcement in the Courts. 8th. It specifies severe penalties for violation of the act, and des. ignates the procedure for recovery of damage. 9th. It provides that |^the bill shall not apply to quantities of merchandise less than a car. load, when carried by railroad,, or less than a ton, when carried by other means of conveyance ; that Gov- ernment freight may be earned for less rates than are accorded to the general public, and that this bill should not refer to merchan- dise carried for charitable purposes. SETTLERS ON RAILROAD LAND, In furtherance of justice to the settlers on railroad lands — which had been restored to the Government — who had paid $2.50 per acre, Mr. Page introduced the following bill, which became a law on the 3d day of March, 1875 : " That where any actual settler who siiall have paid for any land situated within the limit of any grant of lands by Congress to aid in the construction of any railroad, the price of such land being fixed by law at double-nainimum rates, and such lands having been forfeited to the United States for failure to build such railroad, such 10 person or persons shall have the right to locate, on any unoccupied lands, an awount equal to the original entry, without further cost, except such fees as are now provided by hiw in pre-emption cases ; provided, thai where such location is upon double-minimum lands, one. half the amount only shall be taken." This bill is of i^reat benefit to those who had in orood faitb paid a double price for their hinds. This was the last bill signed by the President, and that only four minutes before the gavel fell and the 43d Congress adjourned sine die. To the energ}' and watchfulness of Mr. Page alone are the settlers on forfeited railroad lands indebted for this law, which now gives tliem two acres for one. On the Salary bill, we find Mr. Page's vote in accordance with all his actions while in Congress, and in accord witb the views he enunciated while before the people for their suffrages. He voted on every occasion to reduce the pay of members of Congress, and that to his own detriment of niore than $3,000. This amount would have been legally due him, for bis salary had been establis.hed by a prior Congress, yet we find liini voting to reduce the salary from $7,500 to 1^5,000 per annum, which became a law while he had fifteen months- to serve. Again, we find him in favor of abolishing the mileage paid to members of Congress, and when he found that bill could not pass, he voted' to reduce such mileage to actual traveling ex- penses, tliis time to his own detriment of more than $800 each session. [Cong. Globe, 1st session 43d Cong., pages 283, 3093.] FIRST ANTI-CHINESE RESOLUTION. Ever mindful of the Asiatic curse resting upon Cali- fornia, at the first opport\]nity and within a few weeks after his arrival in Washington, Mr. Page introduced the following res- olution, which laid the foundation for the Coolie bill and was the first decisive move in Congress to bring this evil to the at- tention of the wiiole nation : Resolved, That the Committee on Foreign Affairs he, and is hereby instructed to report to this House at tlie earliest practical moment, if expedient, a concurrent resolution advising an opening of negotiations by the President of the United States with the Em- peror of China, witfi a view to such modihcation of Articles oth and 6th of the existing treaty between tlie two nations as to check or altogether prevent Chinese in.migration to tlie United States. Mr. Page discovered that the revised statutes of the IT. S. al- lowed Chinese to become citizens, by naturalization, the same as immigrants from Europe. This error was corrected through liis exertions, and Coolies are now prohibited from becoming citizens and voters. RE-ELECTED. The Congressional Record shows that ]Mr. Page never 11 absented himself from the House while it was in session, on leave of absence or otherwise. He always voted when the yeas and nays were called on every important bill. He did not dodge votes, but worked with indefatigable will and prepared himself to vote intelligently and conscientiously ; therefore his mistakes were few, all of judgment and not of will. His con- stituents were niQ|pe than satisfied with his course in Congress ; and the Republican party re-nominated him by a unanimous voice and re-elected him by an increased majority. CHAPTER m. UNION SPEECH. Mr. Page's second term in Congress was distinguished by increased activity. During the previous term he had gained a thorough knowledge of parliamentary law. and a familiarity with the business of the House. He widened his field of oper- ations and is found taking part in discussions on a great variety of subjects. He had gained a reputation as a keen observer, wbo let nothing pass unobserved, yet one who never wasted time with trivial objections. Being a man of deeds rather than words, he always commanded the attention of the House when he rose to speak. Perhaps his greatest eflbrt during this term was a speech delivered when the House was in a committee of the whole on the state of the Union, in July, 1876. The Democrats, it will be remembered, were dillydallying for po- litical purposes. Mr. Page arraigned the Democratic party, in the most forcible language, before the bar of public opinion, and charged that party with blocking the wheels of govern- ment. In this, speech he made use of the following words : «' Leading gentlemen upon the other side, audaciously scouting the idea that this is a nation, find an eager following in the carry- ing out of a preconcerted plan to abolish the Republican parly in the North as effectually as the white league does its work in abol- ishing negro suffrage at the South. Democratic orators, who to gain place and power, are only too eager to join hands with our deluded Southern brethren to block the wheels of legislation, by preposter- ous and worse than senseUiss, aye, ignominious effect at bringmg every department of the public service to a standstill upon the very verge of bankruptcy." To the Democratic cry of reform he said : <'Theycla(m to be reformers. They are men who took the back pay in the Forty-second Congress. Their chairman of the Appropriation Committee, who is now so clamorous for the reduc- tion of salaries of members of this House and the poorly-paid labor- ing man cf the government, was a member of that Congress, who 12 not only voted for and took his l)ack pay, but here on this floor de- clared, not three years ago, that the pay of members of this House shonhl be not less than ten thousand dollars per annum. The Speaker of this House was a member of the Thirty-ninth Congress who voted for and took back pay, and kept it." In answer to their boasted, retrenchment, Mr. Page showed, by statistics, that they had not reduced taxatron a dolhir; that the burden of taxation rested as heavily' npotrthe people as before; and the Democrats, he declared, had never ofiered nor sought any legislation to relieve the people. UNION SOLDIERS. Speaking of the wholesale discharge of crippled Union sol-- diers employed in and about the National Capitol and supply- ing their places with Confederate soldiers, Mr. Page, said : «< The gentleman from Illinois [Mr. Fort] oflfered a resolution, in substance, that the House should retain in its service as door-keep- ers, messengers, eto., such Union soliliers as had lost a limb in their country's service ; and when I met the scores of these one legged and one-armed soldiers of the Union hobbling out of the Capitol and moving down Pennsylvania avenue, and I saw their places sup- plied by Confederate soldiers, among them one wlio had stood guard at the death-line at Andersonville, and shot down without mercy the brave but emaciated and starving soldiers of the Repub- lic ; when I remembered that all the Democrats on this floor voted against this humane resolution, retaining these patriotic soldiers in their places, I felt as though all their profession of loyalty were hollow and empty pretences." Mr. Page closed this effective speech by giving a list of over a hundred and forty Southern claims which the loyal peo- ple of the country were asked to pay. • While the election was pending in California the preceding year, Mr. Page was attacked by every Democratic newspaper and every Democratic stump orator in his district, for having voted in favor of the bill equalizing the bounty of soldiers who served during the late war for the Union. ^Yhen the same subject came up in the Forty-fourth Congress, having been de- feated in the previous session, the Democrats saw the impoli- tic if not tlie inhumanity, of their treatment of the soldiers, and voted for its adoption, as did Mr. Page on botli occasions. He, thorefere, had the satisfaction of seeing his course vindi- cated by his oiiponents, and was glad that the Democratic side of the House would at last unite with the Republicans in car- rying the bill, thus doing justice to the soldiers who fought so gallantly in defence of our country. PROTECTION OF PUBLIC LAND. A bill over which Mr. Page spent much time and labor, was to limit the extent of land that can be included within the 13 limits ol an incorporated town, or selected as the site of a city or town. The bill was framed to correct abuses in Utah, where cities were incorporated with an area of from twenty to forty square miles, thus holding valuable land in large quanti- ties from pre-emption and homestead. Over seven hundred and fifty square miles of land were held in the Territory ot Utah in this manner. The bill passed the House and Senate, was signed by the President, becoming a Law the 3d of March, 1877, the last day of Gen. Grant's second term. INDIANS. On Indian affairs Mr. Page voted against the proposition to transfer the ofHce of Indian affairs from the Interior Depart- ment to the War Department, and was a co-worker with Gen. Garfield in its defeat. Mr. Page had a spirited controversy with several members of the House; Congressman Kasson, of Iowa, more particularly, over the bill to open to exploration and settlement that portion'of the country north of the North Platte River and east of the summit of the Big Horn Moun- tain, in the Territory of Wyoming, known as the Black Hills region. Mr. Page maintained that the true intent of the treaty of April 29th, 1868, with the Sioux Indians was not to prevent the white men from traveling over, exploring or settling upon any portion of the Territory of Wyoming, not included within the boundaries of the permanent reservation established by the treaty. Events have since conclusively shown that had this policy been pursued, much of the Indian troubles in that local- ity would have been avoided. IN DEFENCE OF CALIFORNIA. Jealous at all times of the good name of California, Mr. Page has more than once been called upon to defend her from vandal attacks. In February, 1876, Congressman Keeley, of Pennsylvania, made a comparison between California and East- ern States, to the disparagement of this State, which brought Mr. Page to his feet, exclaiming : " Sir, all other things being equal, the development of the East- ern States before that of California is according to the regular and established order of things. The star of empire in its westward way lights up the whole track. It leaves no dark spot beliind ; even the arid desert and rugged mountains kindle under its beams. Those States nearest the centre of population are tirst developed, while those less accessible have to wait for the coining of the tide." In this speech he displayed a knowledge of his State, in its various resources and products, its condition, growth and his- tory, which showed an astonishing familiarity with his constit- uents and their wants. They realized his worth and again re- elected him to Congress by an overwhelming majority. 14 CHAPTER IV. ANTI-CHINESE RECORD. To gain restrictive legislation against Chinese immigfation has been Mr. Page's constant effort ever since his election to Congress. From the time he first entered Congress when there were not a dozen members in accord with him, until the present time, he Kas labored with unequaled zeal ; urging the imi:)ortance of this subject upon the attention of Congress. There has hardly been a session of Congress since his election, that ho has not introduced an anti-Chinese resohition or bill. At first they did not succeed ; he realized that Eastern members needed honest information on the subject, and made it a personal matter with such members, persuading and con- vincing them of the evil of Chinese immigration, as Congressman Hazelton, of VVisconsin, in his speech delivered at 8an Francisco a year since, gave ample proof, declaring publicly that he and several other Congressmen to his knowl- edge were converts of Mr. Page's. After introducing resolutions, repeatedly to no purpose, because they had to be modified to suit Eastern philanthropic notions, he realized that he must be patient while public sentiment was growing in the East. Ho was, however, so thoroughly imbued with the importance of restrictive legislation on Chinese im- migration to Californians, irrespective of party, condition or rank, that it was ever present in his mind. Without losing courage, against the most appalling opposition, he labored building np public opinion, and succeeded in haviui; the Chinese excluded from the privilege of naturalization. Facing iiis op- ponents with patient yet determined countenance his earnest- ness won attention. It began to be thought, after his sincere and dispassionate appeal for relief in 1875, that the subject of Chinese immigration must be of weighty importance to so thoroughly eidist the services of the able California Ctuigress man. "On' the 10th of February of the above year, Mr. Page presented an anti-Chinese pctitiim from the laborers of California, and urged that it be headed in the following forcible language : ANTl-CriINESl5 SPEKCH. '• I am aware that the sentiment of the country, attracted by the tinsel and ji^litter of wealth, is fast K^wing inimical to the laboring classes. That sentiment is fed and inflamed here. Enormous sub- sidies are granted. Great corporations, monstrous moneyed mono, polies, are built up, which are utterly absorbed in the desire for j;:aln. The power already envelopes the land. Their minions swarm everywhere. They knock and clamor at the doors of the Capitol, impeding and perverting the legislation of the country. 15 And amid their confusion the peaceful, patient, and earnest de' Tuands of free labor, like the voices of the night, grow fainter and fainter, and I believe the time is fast approaching when they will be entirely hushed within these walls ; when the pampered sons of Wealth, unmindful of honest, toiling manhood, will alone occupy seats upon this floor. The signs of the times point unerringly to this result. The excessive and daily increasing expense of living at the national capital, tfie grand displays made here by the mil- lionaire, his princely style of living, his magnificent establishments and georgeous entertainments, and, above all, the homage that wealth everywhere receives, admonishes tiiose of moderate means how futile will be their attempts to gain place, position, or power here. Sir, I make no apology for what I say in behalf of the working- men of the country. Sprung myself directly from the loins of toil, associated with it from the earliest moment of my life until the present time, bound up in it by the endearing tie of a parent who at the very summit of life tills the soil that gives him bread, it Will not be wondered that I make their cause my own. * * * The petitioners are largely composed of the early emigrants to California and their children. They were alltired thence l>y your promise of the public domain. It is true it was a glittering prize, but they must traverse hundreds and thousands of miles ol unset- tled, wild, and dangerous country to reach it. ToU otfered them no convoy of safety. Your laws afforded them no protection. Yet these stout-hearted people, gathering up all they had, with their Wives and children, staked everything upon the venture. The way was perilous. The arid, inhospitable, and apparently boundless plain, strewn with the bleaching bones of their fellows gone before, Wild beasts howling upon their track, and hostile savages confront- ing them, warned them of danger and death in every form. But nothing daunted by the perils of the desert, or beast, or savage, they pressed bravely on -to the end. Their destination saw them commence life anew. They began again upon the bed-rock of human existence. Their means spent or lost, they had no resort except the labor of their hands, and to that they betook themselves. In their new home your laws barely shadowed, they did not protect them. They were compelled to protect them- selves. Yet amid all these adverse circumstances they neither murmured or complained^ but worked hopefully, cheerfully on, and made a home for themselves and their children. They have estab- lished and maintained that relation to capital which gives happi- ness, contentment and prosperity to all. From anarchy and confu, sion they have wrought out a well-ordered and exemplary society and poured untold millions of treasure into your cotters. Their patience and industry, wisdom and virtue, entitle them to the high- est rank of honor ; for they are not only the founders, but also the builders of a most magnificent State. And noW> while their voice may yet be heard on this floor, they appeal to you for protection. This deadly Chinese blight seems to have marked them out for de- struction. It is true, they ask it for the frugal meal and humble cot, but it is asked in the name of that elevated, dignified and enobled ■ « 16 labor which is the bulwark of American liberty. Will you with- hold it ? I charge you, no. * * * =i. * Thus, IMr. Speaker, in what has Ijeen heretofore and now said, I have attempted to place before the House the incalculable evils of Chinese imniigration, to show its alarming extent, its withering effects on the morals of society, its degrading and destructive in- fluence on American labor, the decided and unequivocal views of the people of California condemning it, and the decisions of the Courts, showing that the State is unabl^ to protect itself, and that in Congress alone lies the power to remedy it. l^ut wh>- dwell longer upon a subject so disgusting, so revolting, that it must shock the moral sensibilities of every one who has list- ened to or will read the evidence submitted to the House to-day ? I hope, sir, that it will have the effect to place a dividing line be- tween vice and virtue; that it will send the brazen harlot who openly flaunts her wickeilness in the faces of our wives and daugh. ters back to her native country, and teach the trafficers in human beings that in this land of ours, where virtue is respected and hon- est toil appreciated, we will no longer submit to their infamous practices ; that, while we are willing to put forth a helping hand, we insist that a common respect for our Government demands of China, if she insists on sending here none but the lowest and most depraved of her subjects, that thoy shall obey our laws and have a decent respect for our customs and the rules of society. We have long enough been her cess-pool. * * ■ * * Finally, Mr. Speaker, I leave this question witn the House, be- lieving that justice, sometimes slow, l)ut sure, will be done, and that the cause of these complaints will be removed, and in its place will be heard the grateful acclamations of a long-suffering people ; that then, through the Golden Gate and across the (;ontinent will come a race of people to settle among us who will plant the vine, cultivate the soil, and add something to the substantial wealth of the country. And then, from the north, where Mount Shasta rears her snowy peaks, to the south, where the orange.tree perpetually blooms, from the east, where 'the Sierra Nevadas, clad in their prie.'itly robes, stand sentinel to guard our homes, to the west, where the amber waters of the Pacific leave her golden sands, a half million people with one acclaim will hail the day of their deliverance." ANTI-CIIINESK EVIDENCli:. The evidence submitted with this petition consisted, in part, of sworn statements from Kevs. Ira M. Condit, Otis Gibson and R. Z. Simmons, all missionaries, each of whom had spent years in China, and understood the Chinese language, showing the immoral and illegal practices of the Chinese in tliis State. Kach gentlenuvn swore to the existence of the " Heip Yee Tong Society," and its systematic traftic in women for lewd pur- poses. They translated bills-of-sale in which women were the chattel, in violation to the free institutions of this country. Mr. Page introduced the testimony of K. Korwiu Piotrow^ski, 17 Commissioner of Immigration, corroborating the evidence and showing that a large majority of the Chinese women brought to this country were slaves. Mr. Page maintained that, al- though they did come here voluntarily, on'e person could not induce another to voluntarily do an milawful act without being both within the penalty of the law; therefore, the Chinese Government allows its subjects to commit the double crime of prostitution and slavery in violation of our laws, and in conflict with the existing treaty between this Government and author- ities of China. FIFTEEN PASSENGER BILL, In the last session of the Forty-fifth Congress, the Fifteen Passenger Bill was introduced by Congressman Willis, of Ken- tucky. Mr. Page gave to it all his energy and ability. He was one of three members of the House who were allotted time for its discussion on the 29th of January, 1879. His speech on that occasion was worthy of -the man and the sub- ject. After an introduction in which he disclaimed holding harsh or exceptional views on the Chinese question, and ex- pressed his sympathy with every measure having as its object the welfare of the country and the peace and prosperity ot its citizens, he said : '« A statement of facts will appropriately precede the discussion of the bill under eonsidetation by the House. San Francisco is the entrepot of Oriental commerce and immigration. One hundred and fifty thousand Chinese have come to California — one-sixth of the population of the State. Of this number, all but about four thous- and females, are adults ; and the females, with a few honorable exceptions, are held in slavery Ijy their own people for the basest purposes. Of the six hundred million dollars of taxable property in California, only one and a half million dollars is owned by the Chinese, upon which they pay less than ten thousand dollars annual taxes. A population of one-sixth of that of the State paying less than one four-hundredth part of the revenue required to support the government ; their annual contribution to the revenue of the State being less by twelve thousand dollars than the cost yearly to our people of supporting the Chinese criminals in the State. It is estimated that the criminal classes, among them rate as seven to one, and this fact, when considered in connection with the total absence of domestic restraint among the Chinese, and their thor- ough un-American ideas of morals and government, suggest dangers to society and public virtue and order that demand imme- diate attention. With demands restricted to their simple animal needs, freed from the cost of domestic life and the burden of gov- ernment, they have been placed upon vantage-ground as competi- tors with American laborers, and have succeeded in obtaining ex- clusive control of certain industries in California. They construct the railroads and other works of improvement. They occupy the fields of placer mining and agriculture ; fill the places of domestic 18 servants ; and have absorbed the work and business of manufactur- ing in certain interests. The effect of their presence and influence has been to exclude and retard desirable ininiigration from Europe and the States east of the Mississippi river ; to produce great dis- tress among American laborers ; to inspire a profound irritation and discontent among the citizens of all classes ; and to create finally among us an alarming apprehension of the still greater dangers that threaten to spring from this source." Speaking more particularlv of the bill under consideration, he said : «' We propose to act in good faith with the government and people of China, and to recognize scrupulously any right acquired under the treaty and exercised according to law. But at the same time, moved by a love for our institutions and a sense of justice to the people of our own State and the States of the Unioti, we propose to initiate effective measures to correct an existing evil of great magnitude, and to avert a danger threatening imminent and most disastrous results to the Pacific'States immediately, and the wliole country ultimately." In reply to the objection that the sentiment of the bill waS exceptional, and not in accord with the established policy of the Government on the subject of imniigration, he showed that the restrictions proposed to be placed upon the Chinese aliens who have cursed (California by their advent were in ac- cordance with the discriminations against them in the natural- ization and coolie laws, and recognized in the treaty itself. Therefore the measure advocated cn^uld not be opposed to the policy of the Government, or in violation of the provisions of the existing treaty between the two countries. In another part of the speech, he said : "I deny that this land is an asylum for that class, who seek our shores for the mere purpose of curiosity or trade ; with no appreci- ation of our institutions; who refuse to adopt our .ustoms, to con- form to our habits ; who are not devoted to the cause of liberty or equality ; who come here simply for tiie purpose of temporary profit, or are brought here as coolies by companies formed in China under contract for servile labor; who refuse to assimilate with us, and who are unfitted by education, habits, religious superstition, and hy their inborn prejudices to assume any of the duties that society im- pose on the citizen. All other countries have shown their appreci- ation of our institutions l>y accepting in good faith the generous invitation we have extended to their citizens or suljects. Some of the best citizens of other countries have come here for the purpose of making it their home. We need them and invite them to come into our midst. Now, sir, this alien element not only substitutes and excludes — to the measure of its volume — the class of American and foreign emigration we seek, but by the settled aversion to these Jiliens inspired by their servile condition, their filthy habits, and their personal debasement generally, and by the cheapness of th^ir labor, under the monopolistic agencies that control it, Ameri. 19 can population from the East, North and South is deterred frona coming among us." The concluding paragraph was in the following words : <' We advocate the proposed bill, finally, in the interest of the workinginen of our own section and of our whole land, becaui-e the limitation to the introduction of this dabased element is not only necessary to their immediate protection in many localities, but the measure involves a principle of law and equality which it may be needful to invoke hereafter in behalf of the men upon whose honest toil the prosperity and advancement of the country so largely depend." These random quotations give no idea of the speech. It was logical and convincing. Mr. Page had the saristaction of seeino; the bill pass both House and Senate, but unfortunately the Democratic members could not be prevailed upon, by Mr. Page and others, to forego treaty abrogating amendments, which caused its veto. CHAPTER V. THE SETTLERS FRIEND. Whenever land questions have been considered b^ Con- gress, Mr. Page has stood by the settlers, seeing that they were treated with impartial justice. His devotion to, and labors on land questions have been second only to his efforts on the Chi- nese .question. He has introduced over fifty land bills of gen- eral character, not to mention individual bills of relief, diirino- his service in Congress. These bills have been for the protec- tion of settlers ; for the prevention of trespassing upon pub- lic lands; for the guarding of [lublic timber from pluiuler ; and to compel railroads to disgorge land granted them by the Government, and which they had forfeited by non-fnlfillmeut of their promises and agreements. Thousands of settlers have had ottcasion to thank Mr. Page for what he has done for them. When written to for relief, by some secluded farmer, of wliotn he probably never heard, he has not pursued the dignilied course often practiced by other representatives, that is, to write a note to the proper department and then wait the pleasure of the clerk to answer or not as he feels disposed. Mr. Page has made it his duty to attend to the case at once, going in person, and many a poor man's claim against the Government has been obtained without delay, to the great satisfaction and profit of the applicant. An instance out of hundreds of similar cases will be related to illustrate Mr. Page's promptness in atteiidino- to the wants of his constituents, irrespective of their political affiliations. An applicant for Government land, livinir near 20 Clinton, Amador county, had experienced considerable trouble in'getting a patent. There was a difficulty somewhere, and years elapsed, and he found himself as far from securing a title, apparently, as he was at the outset, lie was a Democrat, and voted against Mr. Page at the previous election. At last some one suggested the propriety of writing concerning the affair to Mr. Page, who was then in AVashingtou. The applicant did so. Mr. Page went to work, found the trouble and rectified it, and in a very short time the applicant was in possession of his patent. The man, ignorant of the indomitable spirit and energy of the Congressman from his district, was so astonished at the alacrity displayed in the transaction of the business, that he became an ardent supporter of Mr. Page. A Democratic news- paper, published in Tuolumne county, being forced to admit the valuable service rendered the settlers of Tuolumne county by Mr. Page, tried to depreciate his labors by saying that he em- ployed a secretary to do the work of hunting up the claims and evidence. The newspaper thereby, unintentionally, in- creased the obligation under which its patrons were placed, by showing that the tax upon Mr. Page's time in this particular was so great as to compel him to employ assistance, at his own expense, to meet the demands made upon him by his constitu- ents. A review of the beneticial bill on this land subject, which he has introduced, to leave unmeutioned the bills he has advocated, would expand this pamphlet to an undesirable size. You have only to ask your neighbor, and he will give you au instance of Mr. Page's labors in this direction. THE miners' friend. A practical miner himsell, he understands their wants, and having been a member of the committee on " Mines and Min- ing '' a greater part of the time since he has been in Congress, he has been able to render incalcuable assistance to the thou- sands of miners scattered along the hillsides and delving in the gulches of California mountains. During his first term in Congress, he set liimselt squarely against partial legiilation, especiiily a bill in favor of Bonanza kings. His expoaition of the iSutro tunnel management is a matter of history. Being a resident of one of the richest mining counties in this {State, force of circumstances would Jiaturally make him in sympathy with the develojiment of the mining interests of the iState, were he notj^as he is, in liearty accord with the miners; especi- ally those who depend upon ilie work of their own hands to develop their mines. JNoticing that contested claims were sometimes held in the courts for years, meantime the contest- ing party had to continue his annual work on the claim, Mr. Page introduced a bill for their relief, which failed of becoming a law through no fault of his. 21 He introduced a bill several years since, relating to Placer mining lands, and obtained a favorable report from the Com- mittee on Mines and Mining to whom it had been referred. This bill, had it become a law, would have been of incalcul- able benefit to the people residing in the mining portion of the State. The bill provided that the price of placer mineral lands should be reduced from !!?2.50 to $1.25 per acre; that the miner and agriculturist could unite and make joint entries to the extent ot 160 acres ; that testimony might be taken before a county clerk or notary public in the county vi^here the land might be situated, thus avoiding a resort to the courts, and obviate in most cases the expense of attending at the land office with witnesses, which would be a saving of a large amount of expense: hundreds, and in some instances thousands of dollars. He ]jas assisted the prospector, and striven to make his life of hardship and privation as remunerative as possible. LABORING CLASSES. To the laboring men Mr. Page has been a steadfast and faithful triend. Springing from their ranks himself, having been identified with them and their interests all his life as a farmer, lumberman, miner and stage driver, his experience of their difficulties and appreciation of their needs has made him ever ready to listen to their honest appeals, and he votes for every measure to elevate the common laborer. His course on the "Eight Hour Bill," last June, should convince any laboring man of his sincerity. The bill was to stop evasions of the then existing law, which declared eight hours a day's work for all laborers, workmen and mechanics employed by the Government. It provided that they should be paid a full day's wages for eight hours' work, while before they had been paid, in certain departments, on the basis of ten hours per day. The bill directed all heads of departtnents, officers and agents of the Government to enforce this law. In advocacy of this bill Mr. .Page said: <' I believe that eight hours' labor is sufficient for a day's work. Those who get up here and call a demagogue the man who stands up for the law, the man who occasionally speaks upon tnis floor and says a few words in behalf of men who labor for their support, those very inen will sit here for months and listen to discussion in favor of the rich and of the favored classes without saying a word in opposition. Yet, when a man speaks a word here in favor of his own kind, of the laboring classes of the country, he is de- nounced as demagogue." He has never given the laboring class a pledge which he has not fulfilled. It would be impossible to particularize bills in which Mr. Page's aim has been to assist them, for his 22 whole legislative career has been in their interest. All that he has done on the Cliinese question has been in their favor. All the laud legislation he has obtained has been in relation to them. All appropiations for public improvement he has secured have benetited them, not only indirectly but directly by giving them employment. All his oj)position to railroads and other monopolies have been in defense of the lalioring class. All the financial measures which he has advocated have been to give them an honest dollar which should buy the most possible in the market. All revenue bills for which he has voted have been to lessen their taxes. All election measures he has favored have been to preverit fraud and thereby make the poor man's ballot as it should be, his weapon of defense. The laboring class should cast an honest vote for their honest champion in Congress. OAKLAND HARBOR. The two hundred thousand dollar appropriation for the im- provement of Oakland harbor which Mr. Page obtained dur- ing his first term in Congress, was but to begin this inesti- mable improvement, whieli has been carried on ever since as rapidly as possible. . Much delay has been occasioned by the Central Pacific Railroad, which with characteristic greed and monumental cheek laid claim to the bed of the estuary and demanded damage if the work was prosecuted. Through the efforts of Mr. Page, the Attorney-General of the United States has very recently rendered an opinion, in which he says : "The estuary in question is a navigable estuary, through which the tide ebbs and flows, and the training walls of the work are below liigh-water uiarlv. Jt is not net-essary, therefore, to consider whether or not the soil of the beach between high and low water marlv, or the bed ot the estuary, belongs to any private persons." And in regard to damage asked by the railroad company the opinion goes on to say : <' The title to the land which the United States proposes to use for the purpose of structure for the improvement of the harbor be- low high-water mark is derived from the State. I>ut the State itself does not possess any riglit either by virtue of its sovereignty or its ownership, which could in any way control the rigiit of the United States, conferred by the Constitution, to regulate commerce. This right includes the right to regulate navigation, and hence to regulate and improve navigable waters ; and this it may do by the erection of sueh structures as it deems necessary for the purpose, no matter what the effect may be upon the subordinate rights of the owners of the soil covered hy such navigable waters. The bed of the estuary in question being the bed of a navigable stream or sheet of water, to the use of the harbor made by which training- 23 walls and other structures are essential, they Hiay be used as ap- propriately as culverts, drains or embankments may be for purpose of the construction and proper enjoyment of a public road." Guided by this opinion, the Secretary of War has instructed the Chief Engineer to proceed with the work. The appropri- ations which have been held back on account of the railroad's claim are declared available. One hundred and forty thou- sand dollars are ready witli which to prosecute the improve- ments; and nearly a half million dollars has been appropriated and will be ready as required. This harbor improvement has made possible the ferry which is running in opposition to the railroad ferry. farmers' friend. The farmers of the valley counties are more interested than is the City of Oakland in this great improvement, as it will save the wheat growers nearly two dollars per ton tribute levied by toll gatherers along the wharves of San Francisco. The appropriation of twenty-five thousand dollars for the improvement of the San Joaquin River obtained by Mr. Page, during the session of Congress just closed, was secured against the most determined opposition. The appropriation was blocked by the neglect of an assistant engineer of the United States to report on the condition of the San Joaquin River; Mr. Page at last secured the report. No Congressman, with less persistency than Mr. Page has, could have gotten the appropriation. This improvement is but another effort to give the wheat growers, of the San Joaquin Yalley in this case, a communication with deep water uncontrolled by the Railroad Company. It is not only the firmer who can realize the benefit of snch improvements, but its effect must be felt throughout the State, U is the farmer, however, who will realize the burden lifted from his shoulders when, through comp)etition, he escapes toll gatherers who size his pile. CHAPTER VI. OAKLAND RECEPTION. Although, having served one term more than any other Representative ever elected from this State, there was but one opinion this Fall as to the propriety and necessity of returning Mr. Page to Congress for a fifth term; so, while in Washing- ton, attending to the business of his constituents, he was writ- ten to to know if he would be a candidate again, and replied : "If my constituents want ray services again they can nominate me, but I will make no effort to secure the nomination." He 24 returned to this State nearly a month after the convention met which nominated him as their standard bearer for the fifth time, and was everywhere met with the most cordial greetings and hearty approval. His reception in Oakland was conspicu- ously unreserved. The citizens outdid themselves in showing honor to their Congressman. Broadway was lined with people at an early hour, patiently waiting for his arrival. The pro- cession escorting the welcomed guest was the largest ever congregated on such an occasion in Oakland. Political lines seemed to be forgotten in a spontaneous desire to give Mr. Page a reception worthy of his deeds in Congress. The streets and windows were crowded when the procession arrived. Bonfires were lighted along the line of march ; private resi- dences were illuminated, and a continuous discharge of fire- works kept up. Colored lights threw their weird glare upou the long. line of torch-lights win