The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-09

canals that the Government has carried
out, and stating that he did not desire to
be understood as criticizing the present
Board of Harbor Commissioners.
1--WE are discussing methods and princl-
ples," he said, mot individuals"
Congressman Mcguire was the next
speaker. He said:
San Francisco depends for her development
on her natural resources That is WHY She has
ton, or other California cities. Our future
greatness depends on ocean commerce. Why, ii
this be true, should San Francisco and Califor-
Mia be constantly erecting artificial barriers in
the way of that commerce? Mr.. Loud is to
discuss the natural obstacles to this port. Why
call upon the Nation to remove these when we
are imposing far more numerous distractions
than the rocks and shoals in the channel2 The
half-pilotage charge where 10 pilot is asked
for or needed has no merit whatever. ship
has 10 pay toll If she anchors in the stream
and dockageif she stops at wharf and wharf
age if she unloGds.
was not aware until / came here that half
the pilot rate was returned to foreign vessels,
while full rates were eXacted from domestic
ships. This is not to be tolerated.
have nothing against the pilots and do not
know if their recompense is too large or not.
The pilots are saddled upon shipping at this port
whether they are desired or not, and that is
wrong. NO man should pay pilotage unless he
needs the pilots services.
Local taxes upon shipping have been dealt
with in detail, as they ought to DE. am decid-
eddy opposed to them. You cannot make the tax
bear equally. 1t puts our citizens at an unfair
disadvantage. Such burdens are unwise gen.
orally and ought to be done away with. 1nso-
far as it lies i'll my power in Congress l shall
advocate all measures to promote that end, but
until California undertakes to remove the
handicaps she imposes it is hard to get up en-
thuslasm.
Congressman Loud spoke of the natural
distractions to the harbor. He said in
substance:
Natural distractions in San Francisco Bay
are very few. There are some rocks which
should be removed. The General Government
feels kindly toward San Francisco We stand
AL at Washington; we have asked so little
ticularly ready TO respond to our wishes. A
resurvey of the bay is now in progress. The
Mile rocks the engineer has reported against.
He states that their removal would be rather a
detriment than an improvement, as they would
still leave shoal. They are really guide as
they are now. The suggestion has been made
that a light and a Jog signal be placed upon
one of these rocks, to be operated by electricity
from the shore. The other rocks that are re-
ported as being really dangerous to nayiga-
tion-Arch Rock, Shag Rock, Blossom Rock
and some others-I think will be removed.
Congressman Loud concluded by advis-
ing commercial bodies to meet once or
twice year and voice CALIFORNIA; needs.
H spoke of the Nicaragua Canal, and his
enthusiasm concerning II provoked rounds
of applause.
mayor outro nau lelt tne cnalr Dy tnlS
time and Captain Simpson was again pre-
siding. He called on Senator Perkins,
who said that while he was no defender
of the pilots, 1t was very convenient
for ship approaching an unfamiliar har-
Dor to see the welcome sail of pilot boat
The only question is, he said, Are we pay
ing them too much?
He told the assembled bodies that they
should have commenced their agitation
years ago and elected legislators who
would pass wise laws instead of allowing
the bosses to elect whom they please.
~ speak feelingly,' said the Senator,
because l did not get a vote from San
Francisco except one independent one"
The Senator spoke of the advantages Of
a free port. Ships do not pay dollar in
New York. Delaware imposes no tax upon
shipping, and shipping is equally free in
! Alabama.
| "If we had adopted this wise policy
! said the Senator, 1--WE would have had all
those whalers rendezvousing here instead
of at the Sandwich Islands"
He spoke of the in ustlce OF esta bllshlng
a quarantine on ships and not on the rail
roads, and said that the ocean was better
regulator of traffic rates than all the rail-
road commissions that could be elected.
Captain A. P. LorentZen complained of
| Federal legislation that he said interfered
with shipowuers and masters by permit
ing their crews to leave them at any port.
Congressman Mcguire answered him
humorously by saying that the legislation
com planned of merely repealed recent
law and restored condition of affairs OF
which the captain had spoken enthusias-
| tically.
The meeting eliminated with these reso-
lutions introduced by Captain Charles
Nelson:
Resotued, That there be formed a permanent
committee to be called the San Francisco com
mittee, to consist of two delegates from each
of thu commercial organizations represented
] at this conference, who shall be appointed By
the president thereof for such terms and undel
| such conditions as the respective organization!
may decide; and be it further
ResOUed That the said committee, wher
formed, shall take charge OF the work outlined
by this conference and shall have power IL
raise funds employ help and perform all other
sets necessary to carry on the same