The San Francisco call., 1896-12-25
solu.ely incompetent to improve the water

solutely incompetent to improve the water
front In any manner.
A deficit is now staring the city IN the iage.
There is no money on hand to repair the
Eighth-street bridge which has been plocK-
AIDED to travel for nearly two years. ooule-
ward around Lake Merritt is in an uncom-
pleted condition because of lack OF funas.
Our streets are a burning shame and a uls-
grace TO the community because OF lack OF
funds. The West Oakland marsh proposluon
has been agitated for years, but no money
could be raised with which to change IL into
beautiful park, as has so long been desired py
the people of that community. ana n nrlnly I'M
believe that it will be admitted by all 1alr-
thinking men that the city IS absolulely IN.
competent TO care for and handle TINS vast
undertaking-the building up oil the "eVer
front.
Who. then. could do this? Clearly no one
but the State of California, and am still tur-
ther convinced that nine-tenths OF the cltl-
zens and taxpayers of this entire county 1e-
sire that the State of California should take
charge of this work. II has shown US in the
past that 1t is capable of handing thls VasI
undertaking. 1t has done so In San Francisco'
San Diego and the harbor OF Humboldt pay.
Then came the question OF the present llll-
CATION that is being carried on by the Clty OF
Oakland to recover its water front. ola not
at that time, nor do l now, desire IN any way
TO hamper this city in the good WORK mat IL is
doing. 1 talked to several prominent men
about the town about this matter ana as 10
what effect the introduction OF such e. Dial
would have upon the case prosecuted py the
city.
Ny conversation was with attorneys, and
they said that they did not think 1t could In
terfere in any way. l went to one whom L
considered a that time to be my friend, the
Hon. W. r. Davis. put to him this question
'What effect would the introduct1on OF such
bill have on the present litlgauonr' he SAID
in effect that that portion OF the Dill which
would repeal the act OF 1852 he considered
would have no effect upon the present ntlga-
ton. He objected, however, to the State
taking control of the water 'front.' ana SAID ne
rOf1l6
Har Dor Commissioners could be elected by the
city of Oakland. "But," he said, 81 think we
ought to wait until we get decision In this
case" 1 then went to several other lawyers
and asked their opinion about the matter, and
they all agreed that the decision would be
handed down from the Supreme Court clearly
setting out the rights of the parties interested,
Notwithstanding the passage OF bill OF this
nature.
I desired at that time to have free, full and
complete discussion by the citizens OF Oak
land, by the newspapers of Oakland and all
parties interested, as 10 the advisabllity OF
Introducing this bill, and so had squib
published in the Tribune to the effct that
was drafting such bill. No attention was
paid to il for nearly two weeks when l was
interviewed by an Examiner correspondent
and garbled account of that interview was
published in the Examiner the next day and
hence the discussion. I have been approached
by many people since that time to discuss the
bill. No one disagrees with me so far in the
idea that the State should own and control
the water front, ia king possession Immediately
upon the passage of such an act, and compel
ling those who questioned its rights to go into
the courts and fight.
The only question of disagreement is to the
time when such bill should be introduced
now or at the end of the present litigation. 1t
is that question that | would like to lee de-
eided by those most deeply interested-the
Merchants Exchange and the Board of Trade.
I viii nost gladly abide by their decision, and
shall be very much pleased to attend the meet
ing next Monday evening.
I am, indeed, sorry, though. that there are
some who cannot discuss this measure iairly
and impartially, and without STOPPING to per
sonaIities. My motives have been absolutely
fair and myself free from the control of any
person or corporation, or any one, or anything
else than simply a desire to do what is best for
the district tnat l represent, for the City and
the entire