The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-19
Congressman Loud Speaks
of Probable Legis-
lation.
HE HAS A PET MEASURE.
Reasons for Supporting the
Great Inter-Ocean High.
way.
TO ADVANCE SAN FRANCISCO.
In Favor of improvements for Red.
wood Greek and the AlvisO
Channel.

F. Loud that the most important question
that will come before Congress during the
present session, so far as affecting the well
fare of California and the coast generally
is concerned, is the Nicaragua canal, and
he expects to devote his best efforts to the
success of that measure. Congressman
Loud will leave for Washington the latter
part of this week. In an interview yester-
day he outlined briefly what matters he
proposed to give his attention to during
the session.
81 shall devote my particular atten-
tion," he said, ''to the Nicaragua canal
bill. I believe it to be measure of greater
interest to California than all other pro-
jects put together. l have carefully
watched the trend of sentiment in Con-
gress, and am satisfied that some favor
able legislation on this matter will pass
Congress at its next session, This is not
wild assertion on my part, but conclu-
sion arrived at after most careful consld-
Grafton of the conditions surrounding the
enterprise.
"As a Californian l would favor any
measure that would secure the early COM
pletion of this short waterway between the
two oceans. AS a Californian legislator L
shall endeavor to secure the most favor
auie IeSisidIloi poSSiple III lnls IeSalu, re-
tanning beyond the possibility of removal
Government supervision in its manage
ment, in the fixing of tolls, etc.
81 look upon the Nicaragua canal as
matter of such great moment, particularly
to the people of San Francisco, that / am
not inclined to be a stickler for technical
tiles regarding its construction. We are
naturally at the extreme limit of inland
transportation, and San Francisco can
never become great city until it can con-
troll the trade that belongs to it by virtue
of its natural advantages. To explain: II
there were hundred competing railroads
in San Francisco. this City could not i'm
port goods from Europe and the East and
distribute them to the interior if every
town and city along the line of these many
railroads could secure the goods cheaper
than the San Francisco merchant could, by
reason of the difference in the freight
charges. 1t is these conditions that pre-
vent the San Francisco merchant from
shipping goods to and doing his proper
share OF business with Utah, Nevada, New
Mexico and portions of Oregon, Washing
ton and Idaho, and until he can do this
San Francisco will not reach its proper and
due stage of greatness and prosperity.
''The opening of the Nicaragua canal
will allow us do to that Then with various
lines of railroads running to the interior
we will command a large portion of the
natural conditions originally gave us.
Il shall also support such legislation as
is of benefit to our State. Whatever spare
time have left after giving proper atten-
ton to the Nicaragua project, l shall de-
vote to the consideration of other matters
of direct interest and Importance to Cali
fornia now under way. One of these will
office. Another is the resurvey of the
harbor of San Francisco and the ap
proaches thereto, which project has now
been under way for two years; also legis-
lation looking TO the removal of the rocks
IN the harbor; such additional lights and
fog signals as are necessary to protect our
commerce; improvement of Redwood
Creek and the channel at Alviso.
"All these things will need careful look
ing after by the members representing
this State. This, with the large amount
of department work coming from the peo-
pie, will take my whole time at the coming
session.
II have been on the Postofice Commit
tee since have been in Congress, and of
of time to the matters coming under the
province of that committee. / feel that
there must be some modification in the
postal laws relating to the transmission of
matter through the mails at pound rates,
now known as second-class matter. The
receipts ana expenditures OF the POStOfflce
Department are continually drawing
farther and farther apart, the expendi-
lures increasing disproportionately, owing
to the law admitting novels and books Of
the trashlest character to second-cla
rates as long as they are issued in serial
numbers. refer to such books as are
sent out by the publishers of what is
known as Once Week of New York.
1.-THE result of this law has been to allow
any published matter. so long as it is
assumed that it is issued in serial num-
bers, as often as four times year, to be
admitted to the mails at the rate of 1 cent
pound. 1t costs the Government to
transmit all mail matter about cents a