The herald., 1896-03-29
ARE THE PEOPLE BETRAYED?

Recent news from Washington city
would seem to indicate that the people
here have grave cause for apprehension,
not to say indignation, at the attitude
which the matter of free harbor for Los
Angeles has been permitted to assume be-
fore the house committee on rivers and
harbors. 1t would appear that in some
way, which at present is not understood by
our people, and of which no explanation
has as yet been afforded by our representa-
tives in Washington, the outrageous at.
tempt which MIR. Huntington has for some
years been making to monopolize the ocean
commerce of this end of the state has met
with most undeserved measure of sue
cess before the house committee. That
the full import of the present situation
may be better understood by our readers,
it will be necessary to advert to certain
matters affecting our harbor interests
which have transpired since this congress
assembled.
w hCA tHO PkC5CAt 6CoSlou vi COuSICpS
convened, the friends of San Pedro harbor
and that expression includes the people of
Southern California-were advised by their
representatives in congress that the condi-
ton of government finances would make
it impossible to secure. from this congress,
an appropriation to begin the construction
of an outer harbor at San Pedro in accord
ance with the recommendations of the
boards of government engineers, who had
best site for the deep water harbor of
Southern California. Twill be remembered
that the amount estimated by the board of
engineers of 1892, as necessary for this
deep water harbor, was in round figures
s., 100000. 1t was further suggested by
our representatives in congress that an APP
plication for much smaller sum for the
purpose of improving the inner harbor at
San Pedro. pending change for the bet
ter in government. finances, which would
permit the prosecution of the outer harbor
project in accordance with the recommen-
dations of government engineers, might be
successful. Acting upon this suggestion,
the Free Harbor league, which had been
organized for the purpose of securing APP
for free harbor for Southern
California. decided to apply for an appro-
priation of $4,000 for the purpose of
carrying out certain work recommended
by Colonel Benyaurd of the United States
engineers for increasing the depth of the
inner harbor at San Pedro. This action
was taken with the understanding upon
the part of everyone that it was in no sense
an abandonment of the outer harbor pro.
ject, but was a work supplementary to and
leading up to the final completion of that
project, in accordance with the recommen-
dations of the engineering experts of the
United States. For the purpose of secur-
ing this smaller appropriation, a delega-
ton, consisting of leading business men
of the city of Los Angeles, was sent to
Washington to advocate it before the river
and harbor committee of the house and the
commerce committee of the senate. These
gentlemen were led to believe
that their application was fav-
orably received, and although Mr..
Huntington was present when they APP.
peared before the house committee, moth
ing was said there, nor while they were
present in Washington, of the putting
through of any scheme adverse TO San
Pedro or favorable to the Southern Pacific
port at Santa Monica. 1t appears now,
however. from information received in this
city within the last week, that few days
after this committee left Washington city,
Mr.. Huntington, accompanied by his hired
engineers, E. M. Corthell and William
Hood, appeared before the house commit
tee and had a hearing by that committee,
at which certain ''remarks" were delivered
by Mr.. Corthell and William Hood, and
certain statements and documents in the
form of letters from three ship captains,
were submitted by Mr.. Huntington. These
remarks, statements and letters we're all
filled with the same kind of falsehoods
which the representatives of the Southern
Pacific have been indulging in upon this
harbor matter since they first began their
opposition to San Pedro by telegram
stating that the anchorage in the area of
the proposed outer harbor at San Pedro
was defective, which Mr.. Hood, chief en-.
gineer of the Southern Pacific company,
sent TO Senator Frye, the chairman of the
senate committee on commerce, upon the
eve of the consideration by that committee
of the bill introduced by Senator FELTON,
to make an appropriation for the begin.
ming Of the work upon the deep water har-
Dor at San Pedro, in accordance
with the rscomna endations Of TIE