The San Francisco call., 1896-04-18
Trying to Garry Out the Pledge
Made to the People of
His District.
NOT FOR HUNTINGTON's SCHEME
Collis, However, Has His Say and
Champions the Railroad
Interests.

WASHINGTON, D. c.. April 17.-Th,
rival San Pedro and Santa Monica harbo
delegations were arrayed against eacl
other before the Senate Commerce Com
mlttee to-day. The session lasted from
1890 A. NJ. until 5 P. NJ. Senators White
and Perkins, Representative McLachlan
Huntington and several of his agents to
gether with the nine Los Angeles dele
gates were present. The first speaker was
McLachlan, who gave the following sue
cinct history Of the case:
perhaps it would be we'll for me at the
outset of my remarks to state briefly the
history OF harbor matters in the vicinity
ef-Los Angeles. More than twenty year:
ago Congress made an appropriation fol
the improvement OF Wilmington harbor
now known as the inside harbor of Sar
Pedro, and various appropriations have
been made for improvement of that har-
Dor until they now aggregate nearly
81 600. Some years ago the Govern
ment engineers made an investigation oi
the outside harbor at San Pedro and re-
ported the feasibility of constructing 8
deep-sea harbor in that vicinity.
"a short time afterward another survey
was made by Government engineers for
the purpose of determining which was the
better place for the outside harbor, at San
Pedro or Santa Monica, g place located in
the neighborhood of thirty miles north
west of San Pedro. Reports of the Gov
eminent engineers in reference TO the in
vestigation of these two harbors are a
matter of record, and can be examined by
you for themselves. They will show that
the Government engineers in comparing
the two locations, specified certain advan-
tages in favor of San Pedro.
''Since that last report there has been a
great deal of agitation over the question
as to which is the better location for a
deep-sea harbor in that locality, ard each
locality has had its supporters. When
was nominated for Congress I stated that
If l were elected l would do all in nv
power to obtain provision for a deep-sea
harbor at San Pedro. I think that each
candidate nominated by either party in
that campaign two years ago did the same
thing. The general sentiment of the peo-
pie, based largely, believe, upon the re-
ports of the Government engineers was in
favor of San Pedro.
''These are conditions on which 1 came
10 OOuBI6SS. dII1hSu III w dSH1USUOU
and found here the friends of San Pedro
in doubt as TO the advisa ability of contend
ing for an appropriation for an outside
harbor at San Pedro at this session. After
consultation with the friends of San Pedro
harbor l decided II was wise on account OF
the depleted condition of the treasury and
economical ideas which seemed to prevail
to confine my efforts TO an appropriation
TO deepen the inside harbor at San Pedro
to eighteen feet at mean low water, ac-
cording to the report of Colonel Benyaurd,
who stated that it could be done for
S392, 900.
81 was the last friend of San Pedro who
finally assented TO that course, and the
friends of San Pedro will bear me out
when I say that told them that l was
elected to come here to work for an out
side harbor at San Pedro. That was my
pledge to the people. and feared l would
not be justified in confning my efforts to
an inside harbor. But it seemed the best
thing to do.
ave went before the House Committee
and asked for an appropriation of 1892 900
for.the Improvement of the inner harbor
at San Pedro, at the same time stating
an outside harbor in that locality, but dis
tinctly declared the reasons why we had
concluded 10 confine our efforts at this
Congress for an appropriation for an inside
narbor.
"Just before the river and harbor bill was
reported TO the House it was learned that
the House Committee had included in it
an appropriation for the full amount that
was asked for an inside harbor at San
Pedro and also an appropriation for about
81, ,S000 0O0 for the construction fan outside
harbor at Santa Monica.
II am bound here to state, as represen-
tative from that district, that | never
asked an appropriation for Santa Monica.
We simply confined our efforts to the in
side harbor at San Pedro. And | now say,
as a representative of that district, coming
fresh from the people, that l am not here
to-day asking for an appropriation for
Santa Monica, but asking for one to COM
plete the inside harbor OF San Pedro ac-
cording to the plan of Col. Benyaurd, and
If in the wisdom of the committee they
see their way clear to give US an appropria-
tion for an outside harbor ask you 10
give it for the construction of such harbor
at San Pedro. No locality in the United
States is more entitled to large appro.
priation for such improvements. No ex-
penditure of public money will bring
better results, not only to that locality but
to the whole nation"
w. c. Patterson, president of the Board
of Trade of Los Angeles, said:
sin view of the repeated reports of the
United States engineers and in view of the
repeatedly expressed preferences of our
people it would seem to us superauous to
discuss the question OF site for a deep sea
harbor. 1t would seem scarcely necessary
for US to attack the claims which have been
presented for establishing a harbor at