The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-27


pense of the public; only those remote
from deep water can appreciate the neces-
sity for direct and cheap railway connec-
tion with the ocean.
"If our sympathy is quicker to span the
seas which separates US from the inhabit-
ants of an island struggling to establish
republic, it must be remembered that we
are nearer to those who are struggling.
If we insist strenuously upon The mainte-
nance of the Monroe doctrine it will be re-
membered that the expression comes from
q people who contribute to a nations
strength in time of war as we'll as to a
nat ions wealth in time of peace. If we
e mphasize our advocacy Of ship canal
across the isthmus it must be remembered
that such waterway would be of immense
advantage to the States along the Pacific
Coast and of great value to the Cen
trail West in reducing transcontinental
rates.
eff we reiterate our oft-repeated demands
for the restoration of silver to its ancient
post ion as standard money. equal with
gold in mint privileges and in legal tender
qualities, it must be remembered that, as
producers of wealth, we find the products
of our soil falling with the appreciation of
gold and that as DEBTORS we find our debts
increasing in weight, because the money
to iquidate them can only be secured by
an ever-increasing sacrifice"
Senator Allen of Nebraska, who was
present, was elected a deIegate-at.large.
Hon. Hugh Craig of California delivered
an address on the Nicaragua canal. The
great advantage to the commerce of the
United States which would result from
the construction of the canal could be fully
appreciated, Mr.. Craig declared, by every
business man and farmer. 1t would reduce
the distance from New York to San Fran
cisco from Is, 700 miles to less than 5000; it
would reduce the time of a voyage from
the Pacific Coast to Liverpool and London
from three to five months to less than
month; it would make the export of wheat
and other products from the Pacific Coast
to Europe profitable, and the life of the
Pacific Coast commerce to Europe might
be said to depend on the construction of
the canal. Figures were given showing
that on an estimated cost of $100, 900, 900 the
canal would pay IA per cent on the invest
ment.
Mr.. Craig asked that the paper on the
canal, prepared by Captain Merry of San
Francisco, the recognized American au-
thority on the subject, be made part of
the official records of the congress in place
of his remarks on it.
Hon. James V. Mahoney of Iowa was
the first speaker on trans Mississippi rail-
road tariffs. The vital i'm mportance to COM
mercial and industrial prosperity of just
and reasonable freight rates was noted.
The demoralizing influence of rate wars,
rate-cutting and the giving of rates was
dwelt upon. An amendment to the inter-
state commerce law allowing the railroads
to make legal agreements for special rates
under the sanction of the Interstate Com
merce Commission was advocated. He
also spoke in favor of the pooling bill.
Captain Bryson of Davenport, Iowa,
spoke of the improved methods adopted of
late TO settle disputes between railroads
and the people. but said many unjust dis.
ordinations exist. Principles of exorbi-
tant charges could be found in the bridge
tolls at bridges connecting some of the
Western States.
Captain Bryson read reports showing
that under the Iowa laws, which had been
opposed and condemned by the railroads,
the earnings of the railroads had increased
and that they had prospered. An
enlargement of the power of the Inter-
state Commerce Commission was advo-
Gated, and also the principle that rates
should be regulated by the cost of the
service and just return on the actual
capital invested. The benefit of water
routes in lowering railroad rates was noted
and the speedy completion of the Henne-
pin canal was strongly advocated.
Freeman Knowles of South Dakota took
issue with the sentiments expressed by
Mr.. Mahoney. He was surprised, he said,
to find an advocate of the pooling bill in
the Trans-Mississippl Congress. The Elk
horn road from Omaha to the Black Hills,
he said, was capitalized at s45, 900 per mile:
there was little grading on the line and
competent engineers had told him the
line could be duplicated for $4,000 per
mile. But rates were fixed to pay interest
at per cent of $45, 600 per mile, and this
method of fixing of rates would apply,
more or less, to all the railroads in the
country. 1t was for the people to change
this method. His speech was interrupted
often by applause.
This afternoon the delegates visited the
Omaha and Grant smelter and the pack
g-houses at South Omaha.
A reception was given by the Omaha
Woman's Club TO the wives of the dele
gates at the woman's clubrooms, from to
6 O'Clock p NJ. About 200 women were
present.
At the evening session Hugh Craig of
California made an address on the
Hawaiian question. Resolutions were
adopted in favor of cable to Hawaii, the
completion of the Hennepin canal and pro-
portional representation. A hot debate ON
the silver question will occur tomorrow at
2:30 O'Clock, in which Mr.. Bryan will
speak for silver and John L. Webster of
Omaha for gold.
PalIl NJ aM la AllARRaERn