The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-10
A WARRANTED PROTEST.

Although it was known to we'll informed
residents that the excessive charges im-
posed upon ocean traffic at this port were
an essential factor in the maintenance of
an oppressive overland railway monopoly;
that the charges for pilotage were exorbi
tant and that the laws protecting the
swindles which the local pilotage business
represents proceeded from corrupt sources
and were corruptly exercised; that a
shameiessly wasteful management of the
States concerns in port matters was in
existence as the result of a disgraceful
political spoils system, and that the port
of San Francisco stood alone as the op-
pressor of ocean traffic, il was not until
last Friday that the strong men of this
City have had the enterprise to rise as
one man and determine upon an abolition
OF the evils.
Here is an extract from the address
made by George w. D:ckie that every
Californian should ponder: 1.-THE enor-
nous fortunes made in railways have
drawn mems attention away from the
more conservative traffic of the natural
highway. When their attention is again
turned to it there will be more wealth
made from the Pacific than was ever dug
from the Sierras. No State has such an
iron grip on commerce as California.
San Francisco has a position un-
equaled by any city in the world. The
Golden Gate is San Francisco front door,
but the State has watchdog there to
drive away the commerce that would
enter"
All this and more is eminently and
shamefully true. 1t is so disgrace
full a condition of affairs that the
suggestion naturally followed, by W.
L. Merry, that as the State has
corrupt it would be better to turn over our
water front to the National Government.
Under this plan" he declared. "the sea-
wall could be completed in five years or
less at cost approximating, as | am in
formed, $2,500,000, whereas, under State
management, with present conditions, it
will take fifty years and cost nearly $780,
10000" That is, the difference between
these times and these amounts will
represent the difference between the COM
potency and honesty OF the National and
State Governments.
So long as the State maintains control OF
the harbor means for defraying its ex-
penses must be contrived. Evidently the
prevailing sentiment of this great meeting
favored a free harbor, or very low and
strictly reasonable and honest charges
Mayor Sutro advocated the abolition of all
tolls and taxes on ships and shipping, and
the levying of general tax to meet the
| expenses. This would be so radical d
measure that it might encounter fatal op
| npcjtinY, And what could ha hot
for the whole State than the greatest pos
| sible encouragement to ocean traffic?
| The one State In all the Union which
most needs to encourage such traffic is the
one that places the harshest restrictions
upon it. 1t is to be observed, however
that no dissenting voice was raised in thi;
great convention Of representative men
against the charge that the existing condi
tons are the result of corrupt politics
| That is the underlying and oYershadow
ing fact in all this murky business, and
this should be the thing to be kept mos
prominently in mind Have the eminent
business men OF San Francisco no respon
sibility for this condition of things?
Mayor Sutro in his address gave him
in that direction. "To get legislation" hi
said, 1--WE must have honest legislator.
who cannot be bought by the powers
which domineer over us. Such legislator
We shall never have unless the honest anc
the better classes join together to contro
the primaries" So long as the lead
| ing business men permit corrupt poll
ticians to control the State legislation 81
long will the State be held against every
natural tendency to progress.