CHAPTER XVII. Preamble. Senators requested to enact. Protection of pension tion. Assembly Joint Resolution No. 1, relative to requesting our Con- WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States has pending Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That our Senators in Congress be instructed and our Representatives be requested to use every effort within their power to have enacted the measure now pending, or such other law as will insure to the Mexican veterans that recognition among the pensioners of the country that will be commensurate with their patriotic services. Resolved, That viewing as we do with fear and alarm the appropria- criminal manner with which the moneys appropriated for pension purposes have been paid to fraudulent claimants during the past few years, thereby depriving the soldiers of the country of their meager but just compensation, we therefore call upon and earnestly request our Senators and Representatives in Congress to aid in the enactment of such measures as will protect the pension appropriation to the exclusive use and benefit of those for whom it is designed by the laws the soldiers of the Republic. Resolved, The Governor of the State be requested to forward to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress a copy of these resolutions. Preamble. CHAPTER XVIII. Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 52, relative to requiring the State Board of Examiners to examine into the claim of Esther H. Dennis, the widow, and the other heirs of William E. Dennis, deceased, and to report thereon to the Legislature at its next session. [Adopted March 7, 1883.] WHEREAS, It appears from the petition of Esther H. Dennis, that she, together with the other heirs of the late William E. Dennis, claims to have sustained damage by the action of the State, and to be justly entitled to compensation therefor; and whereas, it is too late in the session for the same to be now investigated; requested to Resolved, That the State Board of Examiners be requested Examiners to examine into such claim, and to report thereon to the investigate. Legislature at its next session, in order that such action may be had thereon as may be deemed just and proper. CHAPTER XIX. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 15, relative to requesting our Representatives and instructing our Senators in Congress to use their best efforts toward securing the promotion of Lieutenant W. I. Reed, U. S. A. [Adopted March 8, 1883.] ment of Resolved by the Senate, the Assembly concurring, That our AppointSenators be instructed and our Representatives in Congress w. I. Reed. requested to use their best efforts to procure the appointment of First Lieutenant W. I. Reed as Captain and Assistant Quartermaster in the Army of the United States, to the first vacancy that shall occur. Resolved, That his Excellency the Governor of California be requested to forward a copy of these resolutions to each of our Senators and Representatives in Congress. CHAPTER XX. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 21, relative to requesting the Secretary of the Interior to quiet the disputed titles to the land included in the El Sobrante Grant, in Contra Costa County. [Adopted March 8, 1883.] WHEREAS, Certain parties assert a title under a pretended Mexican grant called the "Sobrante" to about ninety thousand acres of land near the Bay of San Francisco, and extending from the vicinity of Martinez on the north to the vicinity of Haywards on the south; and whereas, the greater part of said lands are occupied by bona fide settlers who have lived thereon and improved the same for many years, with the expectation of acquiring their titles under the homestead and preemption laws; and whereas, this immense land claim has, for the past twenty-five years, seriously retarded the growth and prosperity of Contra Costa and Alameda Counties, and has been a constant source of annoyance, expense, and hardship to the large number of settlers upon said lands; and whereas, for nearly five years there has been pending before the Department of the Interior a contest between the "Sobrante " claimants and the settlers, as to the survey thereof, which is still undecided; therefore, be it Secretary of examine. Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assemrequested to bly concurring, That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby respectfully requested to give to said case his early and personal attention and to decide the question of the location and extent of said "Sobrante" at as early a day as possible, and thereby relieve the settlers from further doubt and suspense regarding their land titles. Resolved further, That the Secretary of State is hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of the Interior and also to each of the Representatives in Congress from this State, and that the latter be requested to use all honorable means to protect the rights of the said settlers as against the claims of those professing to hold the Mexican grant title thereto. Preamble. CHAPTER XXI. Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 29, relative to instructing our Senators and requesting our Members in the Congress of the United States to urge the passage of laws for the promotion and protection of the viticultural industries of the State of California and other States of the Union. [Adopted March 15, 1883.] WHEREAS, It is the highest duty of the General Government to assist and guide the people in the establishment and perfection of those new and useful industries for the development of which the natural resources of the several sections of our country are best adapted; and whereas, through the encouragement of the General Government, which has exempted from internal revenue taxation the production of pure and natural wine, and through the concentrated efforts and intelligence of representative viticulturists of this State, organized and aided by State Legislature, a large body of our citizens, representing the wealth, industry, intelligence, and best moral forces of our people in all parts of this State, have engaged in viticul tural pursuits, which, if their energies be properly directed by means of competent instruction, and if their properties be protected from destruction, will vastly enlarge the field of honest and healthful labor and the material prosperity and independence of the whole people; and whereas, these new industries have been heretofore unknown to the most of all our people now engaging in them, and require, during the present generation, careful development with the aid of instruction from skilled, experienced, and conscientious specialists in the many branches of viticulture and viniculture; and whereas, the General Government now derives a large part of its revenue from the taxation of grape spirits and is thereby also specially interested in the promotion and protection of this source of revenue; the Federal be returned Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate A portion of concurring, That our Senators and Representatives in Con- revenue to gress be requested to urge the passage of legislation necessary to the States. to accomplish the following objects: First-A law providing that ten per cent of all moneys collected by the General Government from internal revenue taxation on spirits produced from fruit of any kind, be paid over to the several States in which said spirits are produced, in proportion to the quantities produced therein; provided, the Legislature of said States shall, by law, appropriate the funds so received for the promotion and protection of viticultural and horticultural purposes in proportion to the relative production of spirits in each State, whether from grapes or other fruits. spirits Second-Encouragement for the improvement and perfec- A rebate for tion of all spirits intended for consumption as beverages, or remaining for medicinal purposes, by allowing them to remain in bond in bond. at least five years, and granting for each year they remain in bond, not exceeding five years, a rebate of the tax on the same of ten per cent. grape spirits tifying wines. Third-That wine makers be allowed to use pure grape Exemption spirits in all necessary fortifications of pure wine without tax on paying tax on the spirits so used; provided, the wines so forti- used for forfied do not in any case exceed twenty-one per cent in alcoholic strength; and provided, also, that this privilege be extended only to the use of pure grape spirits added to wines in which no ingredient is used, either in fermentation, or subsequent compounding, that has not been directly produced from grapes. leakages. Fourth-That permission be granted to fill packages of To replenish brandy, in bond, that have shrunk, or leaked, before removing the same, so as to show full value of stamps-shrunken packages to be filled from those already in bond. Duty on Fifth-That the duty on raisins be retained as at present. raisins. Sixth-That the duty on so called cherry juice should be Duty on in accordance with its alcoholic strength, based on the duty cherry juice. on spirits. wines. Seventh-That the duty on wines should be in accordance Duty on with their alcoholic strength, the unit of measurement being spirits at proof; provided, that no wine be admitted at less rate of duty than at present. CHAPTER XXII. Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 43, in relation to the law now introduced in Congress for the relief of the settlers on the Moquelumos Grant in this State. [Adopted March 15, 1883.] WHEREAS, Hon. J. T. Farley, United States Senator for Cali- Preamble. fornia, has introduced a bill for the relief of settlers in what is known as the Moquelumos land grant in this State, which authorizes them to acquire their lands under the Urging the passage of a settler's relief bill. preemption and homestead laws, and receive patents therefor; therefore, be it Resolved by the Assembly, the Senate concurring, That we indorse the action of our Senator in introducing said bill, and we respectfully request our Senators and Representatives in Congress to use all honest endeavors to insure its enactment into a law. Be it further Resolved, That the Governor of California be and he is hereby requested to transmit a copy of these resolutions to the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States and to each of our Senators and members of Congress. Distribution of Constitu CHAPTER XXIII. Senate Concurrent Resolution No. 19, relative to supplying the members of the late Constitutional Convention with copies of the debates of that body, which are now lying in the office of the Secretary of State. [Adopted March 15, 1883.] Resolved by the Senate, the Assembly concurring: Whereas, tional Con- there are about one thousand copies of the debates of the Constitutional Convention in the Secretary of State's office, which are unsalable; vention Debates. Resolved, That each member of the Constitutional Convention of eighteen hundred and seventy-eight and eighteen hundred and seventy-nine be authorized to demand and receive from the Secretary of State one copy of said debates. |