Arizona weekly citizen., 1883-03-11

EXIT PAGE-TEBT LAST ssARL OF A CUR.
 Page, of California, IS one of those
 miscarriages in politics which now and then come to the surface, whose acts no party should be held responsible for, as they are not such as reputable men can
 afford to defend. He has held the posi- .tion of member of Congress for the Oakland district for years, against the
 will of the best people. He has done
 this, not by any ability he possessed, for
 there are scores of abler men in his
 district, but because of his success in
 securing large appropriations for Oak
 lands so called "haroor" which has
 caused the citizens of that town and Alameda county to give him large
 maiorities at the polls. He is what is
 known as machine politician" and he
 has worked "the machine" for all there
 was in it. Contractors of the govern ment works constructing the hsrbor
 were supposed to sec to it that every man in their employ voted for Page, and when the votes came to be counted It was invariably found that they had proved true to the man whose medal they wote."
 We are not advised ss to the exact amount of money which has gone into the so called Oakland hsrbor," but it cannot be less than a million dollars, and the beginning Of the end IS not in sight.
 If there was any good reason for this large expenditure of money; If there was any immediate or even remote prospect of the country ever receiving any ade- quate return for it, it might be over looked; but there is not. The commerce of Oakland does amount to something, but nearly all the business is done at Long-wharf, which vas built by the Central Pacific Railroad Company with out cost to the government, and which Is Rbundantly ample to accommodate all the traffic that town is ever likely to have. The Central and Southern Paci- fc railways, control all lines of transpor- tstion to the interior from that town, and in all probability will continue to do so, even after the so called "Oak and harbOr" shall have had another million of dollars expended in dredging mud out of the estuary, to be rehlled by the sedimentary overflow of the Sacramento river and from local causes. The Long wharf of the railroad companies above referred to, reach out into deep water, where there is no need of dredging con- stantly to render 1t possible for vessels to make landing, as is the case in the estuary or so-cslled Oakland hsrbor."
 Pages activity in securing sppropris- tions to his own pet hsrbor, together with his long lease of life in Congress from the results of that labor, brought him into prominence as a candidate for chairman of the Committee on Con- merce, to which he was chosen and has served during the past two years, and to Page smore than any other man are we indebted for the passage of the ints- nous "RIver and Harbor bilI' of last year So shameful bill ss that could not be overlooked even by Oakland peo- pie, who recognized the fraud when It came 10 be extended all over the coun- try, and enough good men went back on Mir. Page to elect a reputable man, though Democrat, in his stead To Page and such men We owe all of our political mIstortunes of 1882, and the de- livery of the House of Representation to Democrats. Yet this blatant dems- gogue has the cheek to deliver himself of parting sDarl at the President and | Se ecretary Lincoln because they had the honesty and stamina to step in and at tempt Co save something from the gIgan- tic river and Larbor swindls. Exit | Page. We shall no more hear your un- iutored voice in tue halls of Congress. You can now return to your old home ID the foot hills at Plscerville, aud if not too far gone you might engage in the of fruit growing which would bs honorable at least.