The record-union., 1896-01-16

tfons
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 15.-Grang-
ers and business men from the Sacra-
mento and San Joaquin Valley Counties
assembled in the Chamber of Commerce
this morning to attend the meeting OF
the convention of the California River
Improvement Association.
The convention is a representative
one, composed, as it is, of the Super
visors of San Francisco, Contra Costa,
Solano, Yolo, Sacramento, Sutter, Yuba,
Tehama, Shasta, Colusa, Glenn, San
Joaquin and Santa Clara Counties, the
Chambers of Commerce of San Fran
cisco and Sacramento, the Trustees OF
Sacramento and the city governments
Of Marysville, Petaluma, Stockton and
San Jose.
Senator A. H. Rose of Colusa called
the meeting to order by referring to the
objects of the convention. 4 suppose
there is no question so interesting to
Californians," he said, ''as that of
transportation, and the Improvement OF
the bay and it's tributary rivers is to-
day, 1 apprehend, not second to any
question that can be presented to the
business men of the State.
For that reason you have been
called together. The rivers of the State
are the greatest railroad commission
that can be evolved: Your material
interests are at stake. 1t is thought
that we should ask Congress for a per-
manent appropriation that will per-
petuate the waterways of the State
Nominations for Chairman were
called for, and Senator William john
ston was named and elected. Gentle
men of the convention" he said, 1.-The
objects of this meeting have been so
well defined that 1 need not repeat.
think we had better proceed to business
by the election of a Secretary"
On motion, Senator Gleaves was
elected Temporary Secretary.
The gentlemen present were requested
to hand their credentials to the Secre-
tary. AS they were handed in the names
were read.
on motion of Mr.. Green of Colusa,
representatives from Marin County
were admitted to seats, and L. F. Moul-
ton of Colusa and Mr.. O'Hara of Glenn
were recognized as delegates.
At the request of the Secretary, R. t.
DevIin of Sacramento and F. L. Swasey
were appointed assistants. The list of
counties embraced in the call was then
read, and as the names of their repre-
sentatives were called they were ac-
credited as delegates.
The convention was then permanently
organized by a resolution being adopted
declaring the temporary officers as the
permanent ones.
J. r. Price, engineer of the Board of
hot h1h h16
requested to express the regrets of E. E
I4eake at his inability to be present.
The speaker remarked that he was
heartily in accord with the work of the
convention and that he was ready to
furnish any information within his
knowledge.
A discussion on the admission Of
proxies led to the adoption of resolu :
ton giving to the delegates present the
right to cast the entire vote of the coun-
ties they represent.
H. J. Cochran of San Joaquin, who
was imbued with the idea that the con-
vention should proceed with the bust
ness on hand without a waste of time
in profitless discussions on organiza-
ton, attempted to get down to business
by Offering a resolution providing that
a committee of three be appointed, 20
consist of a representative from Sacrq-
mcnto Valley, one from San Joaquin
Valley and one at large, TO proceed to
Washington, to remain there to work
for an appropriation for river and har-
bor improvement in California, the ex-
penses to be paid by the different coun-
ties represented in the convention.
Ayers of Santa Clara remarked that
he belonged to a law abiding community
and that county funds could not be ap-
propriated to any such purpose.
Cochran and others disagreed, and
several instances were cited of public
money having been appropriated in a
similar movement in the past.
Attention was called to the fact that
San Francisco is greatly interested in
the appropriation to be made at Wash
ington. Senator Rose of Colusa thought
it essential that this city should be
represented, but he was of the opinion
that other matters should be discussed
before a committee should be appointed.
Burke of Contra Costa concurred. In
his opinion the convention should de-
eide what is to be done before a delega-
tion should be sent to the Capital
Mr. McGettigan of Solano offered a
suggestion to the effect that the naming
of the committee be submitted to the
Executive Committee.
Major Weinstock of Sacramento spoke
in favor of sending a delegation to
Washington, and he called upon Mr.
Adams of Yolo and those opposed to
such plan to give their reasons for
their position.
Mr.. Adams replied by stating that
there was no law which gives county
Boards of Supervisors the right to ap-
prcpriate public funds for the purpose
of sending a delegation to Washington.
He favored trying, if possible, some
plan by which the desired object shall
be accomplished without sending on the
committee.
DR. McLane of Alameda. replied
briefly TO the effect that he had looked
into the question of the right Of County
Boards to appropriate funds for such
purposes as sending a representative
10 the seat of national legislation. 'sThe
law gives Supervisors the right to ap-
propriate 81 900 a year for the encour-
agement of immigration; that money
could be used"
Mr. Burke again took the floor and
called attention to the necessity of first
stating what was expected of Con-
gress. There are men at Washington. ="
he said. who are interested in keeping
down the Improvement of our rivers
and harbors. Let US give expression
to what we want. Let US state our de-
sires"
Mr.. Cochran made some pointed and
sensible remarks. in which he got down
to the vital point for which the conven-
tion was called. He showed that the