The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-05

committees in both the House and Senate
that have jurisdiction of the Nicaragua
canal matter are understood to be pre-
disposed against it. By curious coin
cidence it happens that the chairman Of
the Interstate and Foreign Commerce
Committee, which has charge of the
matter in the House, is the second men,
Der of the Pacific Railroads Committee
and a strong advocate of the funding bill;
while the chairman of the Committee on
Commerce in the Senate, Mr.. Frye, is a
member of the Committee on Pacific
Railroads in that body and is one of the
men relied on by Huntington to make the
fight for the funding bill.
sit is striking circumstance that the
funding bill supporters in both houses are
thus related to other important matters of
legislation in which the Southern Pacific
combination is interested. OF course, an
adverse report OF the Committee on Inter
state and Foreign Commerce in the House
or of the Committee on Commerce in the
Senate in the Nicaragua Canal proposition
would be practically conclusive. 1t would
be impossible to overcome such a report.
The same is true of report from the Com
mittee on Rivers and Harbors of the House
or Of the Committee on Commerce of the
Senate against an application for improve
ment of any harbor or waterway"
Maguire's observations coincide with
those of others here who have been watch
ing the maneuvers of Huntington and his
lobbyists. THE CALL correspondent, dur
ing the last Congress, secured copy of a
telegram which Huntington sent to Frye,
opposing an appropriation for a deep har-
Dor at San Pedro and favoring Santa Mon
lea, where the Southern Pacific has built
wharves.
Senator Jones of Nevada, who, as is
well known in California, has large landed
interests at Santa Monica, was in COM
munication with Huntington. FRYE and
Jones were both members of the Com
merce Committee, which has such pro-
lects to report upon, and both Jones and
Frye were active on the floor of the Sen
ate, pulling wires for Santa Monica. Jones
proposed a resolution to send the Commit
tee on Commerce on junket to the Pacific
Coast, and proposed to entertain them at
his Santa Monica ranch. The resolution
passed, but several members OF the COM
mittee refused to go, evidently feariug
that a scandal might be attached to their
trip.
Huntington is again working to secure
an appropriation for Santa Monica His
agent here, John Boyd, has filed with the
Commerce Committee a report of Southern
Pacific Engineer Hood in which he en-
deavors to show that Santa Monica is
much better adapted for deep harbor
than San Pedro. This is an attempt to
counteract the effect of reports made by
frUo 4 bOo rIc Of
gineers in favor OF San Pedro as against
Santa Monica.
The CALL correspondent has entrusted
TO Mcguire evidence tending to show that
Huntington, through his agents here, has
brought questionable influence to bear
upon land officials of the Government to
expedite railroad patents. His agents here
have used money 10 influence subordinates
employed in land offices. One OF the par
ties, who was not paid what he was prom
ised, is willing to offer testimony when the
time comes, which will place Mr.. Hun ting
tons men in very bad light.
A resolution will probably be introduced
in Congress calling for an investigation and
directing the Attorney-General to bring a
suit to set aside patents secured by such
means. The CALL correspondent has in
his possession documents in writing show
ing that Land Department clerk made a
proposition 20 the railroad that he would
resign his Government position and accept
money from the railroad to make correc-
tions in land selections, which had not
been specified, tract for tract. according to
departmental regulations. This Govern
ment clerk did the work and secured the
assistance of another clerk in the Land
Office by paying him money. They also
paid money to the son of Commissioner
Stone, the former Commissioner of the
Land Office, hoping thereby to secure the
aid of Commissioner Stone himself.
ADMIRAL OUNCES SQUADRON