Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-08-31
COAST COMMERCE.
Second Days Session of the
Commercial Conference.
COMMITTEE REPORTS ADOPTED
Congress Urged to do Something fol-
the Trade Interests of the
Pacific Coast.

Associated Press Dispatches to the HERALD !
SAN FRANcIsoo, August S0.-The
question of representation was raised at
the session of the Commercial conference
today and after long discussion mo-
tion, made by II. q. Osborne, of Los An
geles, that each delegation to the confer
ence be allowed to vote separately, was
adopted. The committee having in
charge the report presented yesterday on
the encouragement of maritime com.
merce reported an amendment, striking
out all reference to free ships and insert
ing clause providing for the establish.
ment OF permanent Bureau of Naviga.
ton and urging Congress to provide for
the payment of bounty to all builders
of vessels to be engaged in foreign trade.
A long debate followed, and the report,
as thus amended with an ultimate propo-
sition suggesting the adoption Of the
French bounty system was unanimously
adopted.
The report favoring Pacific ocean
cable was also adopted.
Defenses, presented yesterday, was sub
mitted, with resolutions urging Congress
to put all the harbors and rivers Of the
Pacific Coast, viz. Puget Sound, Colum-
bia river, Coos bay, Yaquina bay, Hum
boldt, San Francisco, Sen Pedro and San
Diego harbors, in a thorough condition oi
defense; also favoring a proposition to
keep the Mare island navy yard in full
nv NJ all +;r,oo ond 70 10 h,
lish an additional navy yard on the
tions were adopted.
The report favoring the construction Of
the Nicaragua canal WAS adopted.
The next subject under consideration
was railroad traffic. The committee ap-
pointed to obtain the views of Chairman
Cooley, of the Interstate Com.
Chairman Cooley stated that the custom
of allowing the transit of bonded cars
into foreign territory WAS permitted by
the Treasury Department, and not su.
thorized by statute. He agreed that
there was an inequality in the policy
which places American railroads at a
disadvantage in competition with Can
adian roads, which, while prohibiting
the carrying of merchandise between
American ports by sea by foreign vessels
allowed the transportation Of goods by
rail between domestic cities by a railway
outside of the jurisdiction of the United
States.
The committee appointed to consider
the application of the Interstate Com
merce law to the carrying trade of the
Canadian Pacific railway, or the aboli-
tion of the bonding system, presented
two lengthy reports. The majority re-
port declares that the abolition of the
bonding system is matter which should
rest with Congress, where interstate
matters may be adjusted without inter-
ruption to existing national and CONNER
cial relations. 1t therefore deems it un-
wise at this time to urge Congressional
action in this direction. The minority
report favors the abolition of the law
granting to foreign railroads the privilege
of carrying domestic goods between do.
mestic ports.
Resolutions were presented to the con-
ference setting forth that the clause in
the Interstate Commerce law relating to
long and short hauls works to the per.
manent disadvantage of the Pacific
Coast, and appealing to Congress tc
modify or repeal that clause. These
resolutions were made the subject of 8
long debate.
At the conclusion of the debate the
resolutions accompanying the majority
report were unanimously adopted. w
B. Harrington, on behalf OF the San
Francisco Chamber of Commerce, pre-
sented series of resolutions thanking
the visiting delegations for their attend,
ance and active work in the delibera.
tions of the conference, and the delegates
responded with thanksl for the courteous
treatment and consideration which they
had enjoyed.
Major E. W. Jones, of Los Angeles, then
introduced series of resolutions calling
on Congress to adopt a liberal policy rel
ative to the Pacific Coast in the matter o.
coast defenses, lighthouses anc
river and hsrbor improvements. This
concluded the work of the convention
The special committee on permanen
organization will, however, hold meet
ing tomorrow.