The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-20
Uses Some Vigorous Language
Before the Conference
Committee.
HOOKER FIGURES AS CATsPAW
1t Is Now Certain That the Amend.
ment Recently Passed Will
Not Be Set Aside,

THIS morning ana made such vigorous
protest against their appointment of a
board to select deep-harbor site that they
finally yielded. At least, Senator White
was informed tonight by member of the
committee that this (the only remaining
item of dispute) will probably be settled
tomorrow morning and that the confer
ence committee will agree to the amend
ment proposed by Frye on Tuesday week
ago and passed by the Senate, providing for
board of one naval officer, one officer of
the Coast and Geodetic Survey and three
civil engineers to be appointed by the
President.
White used some vigorous language be-
fore the committee this morning. He adj
dressed his remarks particularly to Hooker
of New York, chairman of the House Com
mittee on Rivers and Harbors, who is a
member OF the conference committee and
one OF those who desired to repudiate
Frye's Senate compromise.
The fact is that Frye himself is the one
who proposed to substitute a board to be
appointed by the conference committee,
but he is making Hooker his catspaw.
Senator White said to the committee
this morning (while ostensiDly addressing
his remarks to HOoker):
Il understand there is some hitch about
the deep-water harbor matter, and that
some mem bers of this committee want to
substitute a board to be appointed by
themselves to make a deep harbor loca-
ton instead OF leaving the selection of
such board to the President, Secretary
of the Navy and superintendent of Coast
and Geodetic Survey. l would like to
know just why this substitution is de-
sired.
Frye remained silent, but Hooker IN
dertaking to speak for the committee,
said: The President might not make
these appointments, and If he did the APP
pointees might not accept"
This ludicrous explanation was so pal
paoly weak that Senator White could only
say: "Why, my dear sir, the Executive
will not refuse to carry out the act OF
Congress, and do you think for one mo-
ment that the gentlemen appointed to
make this selection will refuse to serve?
The item appropriates $4,000 to pay five
commissioners for only a few months
work. Do you think they could refuse
eight or ten thousand dollars each for this
serviceP What direct personal interest
have you in California affairs? l hereby
serve notice that if the amendment pro-
posed by Senator Frye and passed by the
Senate is repudiated l will use my best
endeavors to show TO the Senate that there
is another motive back of all this. Another
question l would like answered Is, why
do you threaten to strike out the San
or60 pr1la boy
way and appoint the outer harbor board
yourselvesP
Hooker replied: Because unless pro-
vision is made for an outer harbor there
will be no need for inner harbor improve
ments."
White replied hotly: ::"You only confess
that you know nothing about California
harbor matters. The inner-harbor project
has nothing whatever to do with the outer
harbor. You expose your dense igno-
rance"
White was angrily aggressive and per-
sonal encounter between the two men
seemed imminent. White finally went
out OF the committee-room, however, leav-
ing the conferees silent and amazed at the
Californian's outburst. Frye, however,
stubbornly refused to yield and made out
a list OF five names TO be appointed m en-
bers of the board TO select the harbor
They were as follows: Admiral J. G.
Walker, I. G. Mendenhall, late superin-
tendent of the Coast and Goedetic Survey ;
Thomas c. Clark, president OF the Ameri-
can Society of Engineers; Alfred Noble OF
New York and Colonel II. 6. Prout of New
York. These names were handed to
Senator White latter in the day with the
request that he consult the chief of the
War Department engineers, Craighill, as
to the character and competency. Mr..
White saw Craighill and then reported to
his colleas ues. lit was as l expected.
OF course, Mr.. Craighill did not care to
express any opinion about these engi-
neers."
Late this afternoon Senators CORN an
and Faulkner said TO Frye that it would
never do for the Senate conferees to re-
pudiate t amendment proposed by Frye
and passed by the Senate. They said it
would provoke great hostility and in the
end would be disgraceful. Frye probably
yielded to their sdvice, for tonight Sena-
tor w hite received word that the confer
ence committee would recede from its posi-
ton and recommend the Senate amend
ment providing for a board TO be appointed
by the President, Secretary OF the Navy
and Superintendent of the Coast and
Goedetic urvey.
However, in view of the treachery OF
Frye as evidenced of late, they do not by
any means feel assured that all is well, but
whatever may be the report of the confer
ence committee, one thing is sure, the
Senate will have to stand by its action of
last Tuesday or else no river and harbor
bill conference report will be passed in the
Senate. Many Senators are indignant at
Senator Frye's treachery and are reticentiy
beginningto believe that he has some self
ish interest in Huntington's success.
The deep harbor matter is the only point
not yet settled. The committee decided
to recommend the continuous contract for
Oakland harbor, but decreases the appro-
priation to be available next fiscal year