The herald., 1894-10-28

mittes whether | do not think that Mr
Patton's defeat weakens my argument
will be compelled to make the admis-
sion. While my own views upon thls
subject will not be altered by the elec-
tion of Mr.. McLachlsn. yet my duty
compels me TO say TO my constituents
that my ability to procure the location
of the harbor at San Pedro will in that
event be decidedly problematical. The
fight Bgalnst Mr.. Patton ie railroad
fight, based upon his harhor views. That
fact will not only be known here but 1t
will be thoroughly understood In Wash
ineton. and his defeat will be there
deemed to be 3 judgmen. by you against
the propositon which he ia seeking to
promote in the interest OF the prosperity
OF this locality.
These are facts worthy OF eonsidera-
tion by Republicans and Democrats
alike, and ii Mr.. Patton is defeated,
hope that you will not blame me il the
harbor goes to locality where you do
not deere it to be. repeat, that the
election of Mr.. McLschlan will not alter
my views or Lessen my exertions, but IL
will render the latter much less effiGa.
cious, and indeed IL may we'll be said
that such a dsagreeable- result will en-.
tirely nullify my efforts.
! understand that in a recent speech
made by him ct San Pedro McLachlan
asserted or iniimated that the fact that
no appropriation was made for San Pedro
during the late session WAS in some way
attributable to me, and that he stated
that an item OF SAC, 900 WAS inserted in
the river and harbor bin in the house,
but waa stricken out in the senate. A
similar remark has been made by local
railroad organ. The fact of the matter
ia that the item mentioned by the gsn-
tleman was stricken out by the confer
ence committee. 1t Was originally in-
serted by mistake. Appropriations con-
tanned in the river and harbor bill are
usually made upon the recommenda-
tion OF the chief OF engineers OF the
United States army. On page 423, vol
ume 2. part l. OF the report Of the seere-
tary of war for 1893, the following state
ment is made with reference to Will
mington harbor; with the expendi-
ture of the amount now on hand the
present project will bs completed. No
further appropriation is asked at this
time as it ie desired first 10 ascertain
fully the effects of the operations now in
progress in occurring the desired depth
harbor is now in progress."
When the bill was made up in the
house the clerk preparing it did not
verify this portion OF the report, and
without any request from any one, he
inserted $4,000. Had thie money been
appropriated it would not have been
used, sinca the war department con-
trolls the expenditures, and for the rea-
or faA ha a1r
from, il is not desired to make any i'm
mediate expenditure in the inner hsr-
Dor, though, OF course, the work will be
continued as eoon az the officers in
charge are able to thoroughly study
the effect of the work done. When
the bill came to the commerce
committee of the senate, of which I
am q member. the error had not been
discovered and no objection was made
to the item and the bill was reported
to the senate leaving the $40.0 900 appro
priation. There were numerous
amend ments made ia the senate to the
river and harbor bill; among others, l
procured the measure to be so altered
as to increase the appropriations for
California $4,000. The house refused
to agree in the senate amendments.
The dill then went into conference
committee, composed of three senators
and three representatives. While this
committee was engaged in an attempt
to compromise points of difference. it
was discovered that a mistake had bsen
made in the insertion OF the $40, 900,
and. Mr.. Catehings, chairman of the
house committee, insisted upon its
elimination. Instead of the senate
ever being in favor OF striking
il out, the fact of the matter is that
each one OF the senators WAS perfectly
willing that the item should stand, al
though they all stated very truly that
it could not amount to anything, since
1t would not be utilized by the depart
ment. But the house conferees, calling
attention to the report OF the war de-
partment, demanded that the correction
should be made, and the conferees on
the part OF the senate agreed to do 30.
In the conference report referred to,
which is in the last Congressional Rec
ord, page $685., is the following:
"Strike out the following item: I'm
proving harbor at Wilmington. CAL,
continuing improvements, $40, ,000,' the
Same having been inserted in the bill
by mistake, and improvement having
been heretofore completed"
This ia the official record, and shows
the facts as l have recited them. The
senate added $4,000, 900 or 1000, 600 to
the river and harbor bill. but In the
compromise this amount was reduced
about one half Nevertheless, even TAX
ing into consideration the elimination OF
the San Pedro appropriation. there was
a net increase OF 1000 in the total
amount appropriated to California.
When the report of the conference COM
mittee came into the senate | called
attention to the action OF the represent
atives in striking out this item and en-
deavored to procure the committee to
allow it to remain, because thought
that should not be subjected to the
necessity OF making an explanation re-
garding the subject.
| urged this personally to Mr.. Catch
ings and others in the committee room,
and did SO upon the floor OF the senate.
My remarks are reported Cong. Rec.
vol. IL, p BOSS, 53d cong. I'd session.
Later on / brought the subject up again,
but under the circu instances / could do
nothing, since the argument was all
against me, and naturally could not
satisfy my colleagues that it WAS essen
tlal to make an appropriation which
could not be used. Senator Ransom,
the following statement. which can be
found in the same Record, p. 1896:
'The committee of conference upon the
part OF the senate was extremely anx-
ious to consult the wishes OF the sena-
tor from California in every respect, for
the reason that those conferees appreoi-
k,I - Il. III ~