The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-09
asked that the amendment be referred to

asked that the amendment be referred to
his committee.
This started a debate that at times be-
came acrimonious and even personal. 1t
developed the fact, however, that the new
corporation entered its political career
with strong and enthusiastic following.
Powers objected to Dixon's proposition.
He said it meant delay, and delay at this
late day in the session was dangerous.
Spencer of Lassen grew eloquent in urg-
ing the befriending of the new road. He
pictured its enormous value to this State
and to San Francisco.
Dixon protested that as no one seemed
to know on which side of Market street the
lots were the new company was to be
given, he thought it only right that the
amendment should be submitted to his
committee for consideration.
Dwyer of San Francisco was opposed to
any unnecessary delay. Bachman of
Fresno said his people in the raisin county
were looking anxiously for the relief that
the new road offered them. ''This amend
ment is the breaking of new day." he
said. ''We are all waiting for its arrival,
for we know it brings prosperity with it."
Ewing, the Populist member, from San
Francisco, announced that he would be
willing to give the lots for nothing.
Powers once more took the floor and
said that Dixon wos right in the fact that
the bill did not state where the fifty acres
to be given were. ''It only says fifty acres
of dry land in San Francisco belonging to
this State" he said. "Under the ext
gencies OF the occasion, having in mind
the immense value the establishment of
these terminal facilities would be to San
Francisco, [ would say: Give them the
lots anywhere. If no other satisfactory
lots can be found, give the City Hall lots
or any others. p"
Amen" came in loud tones from q
member on the other side of the room.
why are the Governor and Mayor made
an essential part of the commission ?"
asked Hatfield of Sacramento.
Because they are ex-otficio members of
the commission, and it is safer to have
larger body let such a contract as this"
was the answer.
Dinkelspiel here announced that he was
not opposed to the valley road. He was
in favor even of leaving off the rental pro-
viso of the amendment. He had feared
that the lots of the Harbor Commission
north of Market street were to be given.
McKelvey of Orange asserted that he
thought it bad precedent for the Legisla-
ture to fix the maximum rental to be placed
on any of the States property. He thought
the lots to be rented should be advertised
and let to the highest bidder. A storm of
protests arose.
Spencer said: "This would give us just
what the people don't want. 1t would en-
able the Southern Pacific to overbid its
competitors, gobble everything in sight
and then freeze any competitor out from
terminal facilities op the water front"
care you legislating in favor of the
State?" asked McKelvey.
eyes"
"Would not my plan put more money in
the treasury"
mountain jurist. "But would not vote
in the treasury and starve all the
most valuable industries in the State.''
Don't you believe it is better to give a
poor man a chance to market his goods
profitably than to let one wealthy corpora
ton monopolize the whole water front of
San Francisco?" asked Bachman.
A shout of sympathetic laughter showed
that the Fresno Assem- blyman had many
sympathetic listeners.
Thomas of Nevada urged that since the
gentleman had requested that the bill be
sent to his committee, the House should
be courteous enough to grant the request.
AS Thomas took his seat Belshaw ex-
ploded with:
eyes, if you want to kill the bill send it
to the Committee on Commerce and Navi-
CATION. If you want it to pass"
A clamor of those who wanted to curb
the passionate utterances of the speaker
arose. When order was restored Dixon,
flushed and angry, was on his feet. "I
protest" he said, against being put in the
light of an obstructionist The gentleman
is unjust in his implications, and in an
swer to his insinuations ask to withdraw
my motion"
This simplifed matters. The amend
ment was adopted with a hurrah, few
minor amendments to the main bill were
adopted and the bill sent to the printer
After recess the new amendment was the
talk of the House. With very few excep-
tions the Assemblymen were in full
sympathy insisting that the Governor and
Mayor should form portion of the COM
mission in making the lease, especially as
those two gentlemen, with Harbor Com
missioner Colnon, will not be likely to job
the new railroad company in the interests
| of the Southern Pacific