The herald., 1896-04-15
Los ANGELES HERALD: WEDNESDAY MORNING. 49,
SOUND HARBOR PROPOSITION
The Petition Which is Being Circulated
and Signed.
Some Comments IS to the Ultimate 0atcome
Of the Pending Harbor Agitation by
One Who Knows.

What may be termed Sound har-
Dor proposition petition is being cir
culated throughout the city and Is re-
ceiVing thousands of signatures. Those
who for any reason have been denied
the opportunity of signing it may, ana
are hereby urged to call at the business
office of the Herald, 222 West Third
street. where the matter may be at
tended to. Prompt action is respect
fully asked. The petition reads as fol-
lows:
To the Congress of the United States:
We, the undersigned, members of the
chamber of commerce of the city of Los
Angeles, and interested in the CONNER
cial development, growth and prosper
ity of said city and of Southern Califor-
mia, most respectfully petition that the
appropriation recommended by the
engineers OF the United States govern
ment of 1892, 900 for deepening the inner
harbor at San Pedro. and also that the
appropriation of 2,SS5, 900, recommend
ed by the United States engineers for
the construction, at San Pedro of the
deep water harbor designed by the gov
crnment to serve the commerce OF
Southern California, shall be made by
this congress.
Mr.. Jefferson Chandler writes The
Herald on the outcome of the pending
harbor agitation as follows:
Editor Herald: Some alarm is felt
| ing harbor agitation. Having some
knowledge of the procedure of the gov
| ernment in such cases, L wish to say
| that the people can rely implicitly upon
| the orderly and usual governmental
| method controlling the location and i'm
provement OF public harbors and pub
| lie works. All such matters are deter
mined absolutely by the engineering
| department and by senatorial courtesy
| There is not an instance in the history
| of the government where public har-
| Dor has been improved in conflict with
| the wishes of the senators represent
| ing the locality constituting the site OF
the improvement. when endorsed by the
| department of engineers. There is q
| wise rule of senatorial courtesy in all
| such cases Senators have. as they
| ought to have, confidence in one an
other; this rule of courtesy assumes
| that gentlemen residing in given To-
| cality know better the interests and
wishes of that locality than outsiders
| This assumption is in accord with the
| representative principle.
| California Is as well represented in the
| senate as any state in the union; it's SEN
| ators are incorruptible and of the high
est order of ability; their influence in
! matters relating solely to this state is
| controlling; they know what the decis-
| ion of the engineering department Is in
| the harbor mater, and that no amount
| or popular sentiment can operate TO al
| ter locations. Public business proceeds
| on fixed lines of action; otherwise confu-
| sion would prevail The engineering
| department Is perpetual; it Is filled with
| able and conscientious men; its buSi-
| nes is not political, but scientific; its
| character abides as administrations
| come and so.
| Senator White is fearless and up
| right man; his residence is here. He
| knows the merits of the controversy and
| will act accordingly. / have nothing to
| say for or against any private interests.
| it is natural that such interests are par
tial to themselves A public harbor.
| however, is a peoples matter. Its wise
location is the uppermost consideration.
| The commercial destiny of the city af-
| fected by it is involved for all time.
| Private corporations may perish, pass
into and through the possession of re-
| ceivers and change their alliances: but
a harbor stands for the whole public
and is hospitable to all interests alike
The senators from California will
| control and settle the controversy.