The morning call., 1891-01-21
A NAVAL RESERVE.
1t Is Considered by the Chamber
of Commerce.
TIE Shipping Bill, Nicaragua Canal, Hawaiian
Cable and Other Important Mat
tiers Dwelt Upon.

The forty-frst annual meeting of the San
Francisco Chamber of Commerce was called
to order yesterday afternoon by eX-Gover-
nor Perkins in the Merchants Exchange
Building, a large number OF members and
| invited guests being in attendance.
Thereupon the Secretary read his annual
report, showing that the numerical and
financial strength of the assoc alton is
| greater now than at any previous time in
its history.
President Perkins then read his parting
address, in which he took occasion to thank
the members for the honor they conferred
upon him by twice making him their presid-
ing officer, and then entered into an elab
crate resume of the work accomplished
| under his administration. He congratu-
lated the chamber on Tie general prosperity
| of the city and State, and also upon the fact
that the memorials and resolutions for
warded to Congress by the association in
the interest OF the people had in almost every
| instance led to the results they aimed at.
The harbor and waterfront improvements
now in progress were referred to; the pres
| ent quarantine laws were enlarged on and
vigorously condemned; and the fact that the
| English Government and Australian authori-
ties are consulting over the feasibility of
sending the colonial mails through the Do
minion, instead of the United States, was
| laid before tie meeting. In conclusion,
| President Perkins welcomed his successor
to office in a few nicely rounded periods. and
left the chair. which was then taken by the
new President. Captain c. L. Taylor.
A NAVAL REsERVE.
| After the new officer h ad acknowledged
! H. H.,
| himself paid Il few more to his predecessor,
| Governor Perkins announced the attend
anre OF several army and navy officers, who
were present by request to give their views
| on the bill which the chamber had formu-
| lated for presentation to the LEGISLATURE
| calling for the establishment of q naval re-
! serve.
/ BY a rising vote the chamber signitied its
thanks for their attendance, and as an al
| dlt!enal courtesy Immediately brought up
| for consideration the matter out of its regu-
| lar order.
The report of the Committee on Naval
| Reserve was then presented by Oliver
| Eldridge. 1t was a strong prOnouncement
! In favor of such an organization, and in
| Guided draft of a bill prepared by s. G..
Hlboyn, wherein a scheme for the organ
lZation of the proposed battalion was
mapped out. the battalion to consist OF four
companies and full complement of officers,
who should form a portion of the National
Guard of California.
After the reading of the report and pro-
posed bill the meeting was addressed by
Commodore Irwin, Captain Sampson, Lieu
tenant Blow, Lieutenant Wilson and Lieu
tenant Mcintosh, who heartily Endorsed the
views of the chamber as expressed in the
two papers. These gentlemen were a unit
In the opinion that the movement was not
only good one, but that it WAS one of abso-
lutte necessity.
a SCHOOL SHIP.
n Il /,
yiSable to ask for a school ship, properly
0ificered and equipped, which would serve
as place for Instruction for the naval
militia. Owing to the change in the anna
ment of modern vessels and the introduction
OF electricity, tOrpedOeS, etc, into modem
warfare the necessity for the old-time class
OF mau-ot-Wars men no longer exists. The
demand now is for men capable of under
standing the use OF the intricate mechanical
appliances employed in the batteries erected
for coast defense and on board modern war
ships. Consequently seamen should not be
exclusively enlisted into the reserve.
The other naval officers Endorsed this
view, and expressed the opinion that the
proposed battalion should consist of 70 per
cent of landSmen, who ought to be good gun
nerS, arLihceTS and mechanics, and the re-
naming % per cent of seamen. a body
such as this, ii well trained, could man any
OF the heavily armored vessels now in course
of construction. These vessels, too are ill.,
tended solely for coast defense, aud will
only be in commission one or two months in
the year. During those periods it would be
feasible t. educate the men in the of the
arms and the appliances on board, and on
becoming proficient in their Use they would
very properly be manned thereafter by the
naval militia.
The officers expressed themselves as salts
fed that the suggestion of the chamber
would be indOTsed by all the naval officers in
the country. New York and Massachusetts
have already organized such force. New
Jersey is about 10 do so, and many OF the
coast States are considering the matter.
The report was adopted and the commit
tee requested to present the HilDorn bill to
the Legislature.
NICARAGUA CANAL.
The board then adopted a memorial to
Congress, asking il TO enact such legislation
as will secure the economical construction
of the Nicaragua Canal under such Govern
ment c1Dtro. as will secure moderate tolls
for freight and passenger traffic and such
political advantages AS shall properly accrue
TO the Government of the United States by
reason OF such legislation.
This was followed by the adoption with
out debate of a second memorial, praying
Congress to adopt the Shipping Bill now be-
fore 1t, upon which the interests of the Pa
citic Coast largely depend
CABLE To HONOLULU.
Messrs. G. w. McNear, }. f. Chapman
and John ID. Spreckels, the committee to
whom tie project OF a cable TO Honolulu and
! New Zealand was referred, made report in
| which they say:
We deem the interests of the United States
| and Its merchants are paramount to the utter
| esls of all others In the Hawaiian Islands.
The citizens of that kingdom recognize the
| fact and naturally look 10 the United States Tor
aid III giving them cable communication with our
continent, thereby facilitating its commerce and
tIade and securing larger share OF the same for
| this country.
Cable communication with the Pacific Islands
would be OF great benefit 10 our nation, enabling
US 10 communicate with Its navy fleet stationed
| In the Pacific
| We think such cable facilities should be under
| the control OF the United States Government.
Preliminary TO securing The desired cable, we
| recommend that tile Congress OF the United
| States be asked to furnish definite surveys and
| souDdtngs and such other aid as may be neces-
| sary. We have prepared the following reso-
| luton.
A resolution covering those points and
appended to the report was carried unani-
mously.
ALASKA
1t was also resolved to petition Congress
to Improve the form OF government in the
| Territory OF Alaska. The fact that the
country has grown rapidly since the pas
sage OF the organic act Of 1884 was admitted
| but the great increase in the canning aud
| other industries, 1t is claimed, make the de-
| velOpment and protection of the resources
OF the Territory by the General Govern
| ment matter Of absolute necessity
IL was further resolved 10 urge upon the
Representatives in Congress the Importance
OF using all their efforts to secure an appro-
priation for the publication of a monthly
| pilot chart of the Pacific Ocean, similar in
lis general character to that of the North
Atlantic Ocean, already issued by the Hy-
geographic Office. This, it is claimed, has
| acquired worldwide reputation and risen
to such degree of usefulness that its with
drawal from publication would be regarded
ny Eastern commercial interests as dis
! aster..
Upon reading communication from Cap
tam dealey of the United States revenue
steamer Bear, resolution was passed adyo-
eating the establishment of an agricultural
school In Alaska.