The herald., 1894-02-16
WHAT THE WEST WANTS
Appropriations for Public
Improvements.
Plenty of Them and Without
Futher Delay.
Resolutions Adopted by the Trans
Mississippi Congress.
San Pedro Recommended as the site OF
the Southern California Deep Sea
Harbor-SOme Lively Dis
cussions.


By the Associated Press.
SAN FRANCISCO. Feb. 15.-The session
Of the transmississippi congress this
morning was not a quiet one. The
committee on resolutions WAS to have
made general report, but instead OF
doing 80 it presented the following reso-
10 ton:
Whereas, The convention is repre-
sentative of all political parties, and the
discussion of purely partisan subjects
would tend to weaken it's unity and the
influence of its action without serving
anv useful purpose therefore be it
Resolved, That it ia the sense of this
congress that it ia inexpeditious that
formal action be taken by the body upon
any purely partisan question.
The introduction of this resolution
caused division in the convention. A
number of members stated if the con-
gress decided any questions which af-
fected their political party they would
not abide by the decision. Others ex-
pressed opposite views, and after a run
ming debate of an hour or two the reso-
The chair announced that the selec-
tion of new president and OF the next
place of meeting would be in order i'm
mediately after receiving the report OF
the committee on permanent organiza-
tion.
The committee on permanent organ
ization submitted partial report. 1t
recommended for president Harry b.
h 70 1f 81 4 90
j. W. Van Derwerker, Arizona;
Colonel A. E. Castle, California
]. A. Finch. Idaho; H. B. Wyman,
Iowa; H. B, Compson, Oregon; l.. B.
Prince, New Mexico; George W. Scott,
Utah; Judge knight, Wyoming; M. l..
Gray, Missouri; H. L. Frank, Montana;
@. d. Foster, South Dakota; John ?.
Pryor, Texas.
The report was adopted unanimously,
and tue chair declared Mr.. Whittemers.
elected president of the congress. The
congress then took q recess until 2 pm.
At the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion, as was recommended by the COM
mittee on reorganization, Julian Sonn-
tagg OF San Frsncisco was elected secre-
tary to serve during the present conven-
to a permanent secretary, but there is q
tacit understanding that a permanent
secretary will be elected before final
adjournment.
When the matter of selecting the
point at which the next congress should
be held came up, the cities of St. Louis,
Denver and Boise City were put in nom
ination. At the request OF the Colo
RADIO delegation, Denver WAS Withdrawn,
however. and the final vote resulted
AIS votes for st. Louis and l5l for Boise
City. st. Louis was then declared the
unanimous choice OF the convention,
SAThe report of the committee on reso-
lutions was then received and the fol-
lowing resolutions submitted;
Memorializing congress for such ap-
propriations for the improvement OF the
rivers OF California as will permit hy-
draulic mining to be prosecuted with
out hindrance to navigation. Adopted.
Recommending the passage OF the
Caminetti bill for the improvement of
the navigabie rivers OF California under
the special contract system. Adopted.
Memorializing congress for liberal
and sufficient appropriation for the i'm
provement OF the rivers and harbors in
the new state OF Washington, including
the Columbia river and Olympia barbor,
and ior building ship canal connecting
Lakes Washington and Union with
Puget sound. Adopted.
Memorializing congress to push to
speedy completion the improvements
now under way on the Columbia river.
Adopted.
Memorializng congress for liberal
appropriation tor the completion OF the
improvements of Oakland harbor, and
that Oakland be made a port of de-
livery.
Memorializing congress for an appro-
priation for the improvement OF Port
Hartford to meet the commercial de-
mands and afford harbor OF refuge for
deep sea vessels. Adopted.
Memorialising congress for appropria-
tions for the permanent and complete
improvement of the Mississippi river
from its source to the jetties. Adopted.
A lively discussion was provoked by
the committee on resolutions, memor-
ializing congress for necessary Appro-
priations to insure the construction and
completion in the shortest time possi-
BILE of deepwater harbor at such point
on the coast OF Southern California,
near CnD Clby Ol bUS Aub5lob, rs may Dc
deemed most favorable for such harbor
by the United States government. Will
liam M. Cubery offerend an amendment
declaring 1t the sense OF the convention
that such improvements be made on
San Pedro harbor. He argued that the
resolution should be definite, ;nasmuch
as the government engineering boards
had repeatedly decided in favor OF San
Pedro harbor. W. l., Merry of Sar Fran
cisco stoutly opposed the amendment,
which finally prevailed by large ma
jority vote The resolution as amended
then passed.
A resolution was alao adopted memo
rializing congress for appropriations for
adequate coast defenses on Puget sound,
and requesting that ono or more war
vessels be stationed there.
The most spirited debate of the ses-
sion then followed on the Nicaragua
canal question. TIE committee on res
olutions reported q memorial asking the
prompt construction of the Nicaragua
canal under such conditions az were prcs
yided la the Morgan bill, or under any