The herald., 1896-05-05

THE action of Senators Ellxins ant
German was somewhat of a surprise tt
us when the matter came to a vote, as
our people had counted on their support
Senator Elkins processes great friend
ship for San Pedro, and his action III
the committee can only be accounted
for on the theory that he was under
obligations to the majority because OF
the liberality shown by the committee
IN providing for his state. 1t Is not inn
probable that Senator Elkins will yet
be found on the side of San Pedro.
THE good, hard sense of Senator
Knute Nelson and his manifest honesty
and fairness were strongly impressed
upon us. His proposition that the whole
matter should be submitted to an inn
partial commission and an appropria-
tion for an outer harbor be made. to be
expended upon the site which the COM
mission after thorough investigation
should recommend was made in all cam
dor. and was so eminently fair that 1t
undoubtedly would have been accepted
by the opposition If they had any faith
In the merits of their case, but 1T Is not
on the merits of the proposition that
Huntington ct al wish to have the ques-
tion decided. Nelson's proposal is salts
factory to our side, and we are not afraid
to fight it out on that line.
The majority of the Democratic sem
ators are greatly incensed at the treat
ment Senator White received at the
hands of the commerce committee, and
] think / am safe In saying that he vii!
have the almost unanimous support of
the Democratic senators when he makes
his fight on the floor of the senate. he
will also have the solid support of the
Populist senators, barring Jones or Ne
vada II he may be classed among them
The PopuHst senators, by the way,
have acquitted themselves nobly in
every instance where a conflict has
arisen between corporate influence and
the people. They feel outraged over the
brazen attempt to foist a harbor appro-
rriation upon the people of southern
California which has never been asked
for by the representatives or the dls-
trict in either branch of congress, or by
the people themselves, and in direct con-
travention to the recommendations OF
three separate boards of impartial gov
ernment engineers. The job will never
succeed with the aid of Populist votes
in the senate, that is certain.
To Senator Perkins also is due need
of praise for the noble stand he has
taken in this fight, which has almost
been made a party issue in certain quar-
ters. Although leaving Senator White
to bear the brunt of the battle, Senator
Perkins is uncompromising in his fealty
to San Pedro, and he may be depended
upon to exert his best influence to bring
other Republican senators into line
when the question comes to a vote in
the senate. Unfortunately. the Repub
lican senators will stand almost solidly
by Chairman Frye, as a matter OF
party polity, more than anything else,
it seems.
Senator White will make a great fight.
He is recognized by his colleagues as
the peer of any man in the senate in
debate, and it is expected that he will
make such a strong presentation of
the case, that no senator who is not
wholly under corporate influence can
vote in favor of an appropriation for
Santa Monica as against the claims of
San Pedro.
Our delegation left Washington fully
satisfied that the peoples cause was
safe in the hands of Senator White
and that he will win out in this fight If
1t is at all possible for any man or num-
ber of individuals to shatter the power
Of the Huntington influence.
Such in substance were the observa-
tions of Judge stephens when inter-
viewed last evening. He was besieged
with callers at his office as soon as it
was known that he had returned from
Washington, but had to deny himself
to all visitors on account of business
which demanded his immediate atten-
ton At the close OF the day. however