The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1896-05-14

CLOSED BY A COMPROMISE
THE SENATE DISPOSES OF THE
CALIFORNIA DEEP HARBOR
QUESTION.
A COMMISSION WILL SETTLE It.
Opposing Parties Agreed to Have Com
mission Name the Harbor-River and
Harbor Bill Will Be Disposed
of Today.

Washington, May 12.-The animated
contest which has proceeded for the last
four days in the senate on deep water
harbor on the southern coats of Califor-
mia, was brought to close today by
compromise between the conflicting in
terests. The issue has been between the
points of Santa Monica and San Pedro,
the locality urged by the California sena-
| tors
Mr.. Frye, chairman of the commerce
committee, finally harmonized the differ
ences by referring the determination as
between Santa Monica and San Pedro to
a commission to consist of three civil EN-
gineers, a naval officer and an officer of
the coast survey. The compromise was
accepted by the California senators and
was unanimously passed
An amendment urged by Mr. German
limiting the expenditure under the con-
tract authorizations to $200O,OOO annual
ly led to lengthy debate. A motion by
Mr.. Vest to table the amendment failed
26 to 81.
An agreement was reached to dispose
of the bill by 3 o'clock tomorrow.
SENATE PROCEEDINGS.
| Washington, May 12.-Mr Aldrich
(Rep) of Rhode Island, member of
the committee on finance asked immedi-
ate consideration in the senate today for
resolution offered by him directing the
hnance committee, under the provisions
of the senate resolutions of March 3. 1891,
to inquire what American labor and in,
dustries are suffering from or threatened
with injurious competition through i'm
portation of products, and if so to investi-
gate the causes which have made such a
competition possible.
Mr.. Allen Pop) of Nebraska objected
to immediate consideration, and it went
over.
| The invitation to attend the Tennessee
| centennial exposition was accepted, and
the presiding officer was authorized to
name committee of five senators to at.
tend the opening at Nashville on June 1.
next.
Mr. Frye (Rep) of Maine, chairman of
the committee on commerce, resumed his
speech in support of the proposed amend
ment to the river and harbor bill for a
deepwater harbor at Santa Monica, Cal.
The senators reviewed in detail the re-
ports of the army boards At one point
where reference was made to the feast,
bility of locating the harbor at Santa Mon
| lea for the amount expended in the
| amendment, Mr.. White Dem.) Califor-
mia, interjected the inquiry:
One day they favored one locality. the
next day another. One year they chose
congressional platform favoring San
Pedro; the next year they chose one on
| platform favOring Santa Monica.
Mr. Berry interrupted to say that the
recent platform referred to did not men
ton Santa Monica, but declared in
favor of all the harbor projects.
This, declared Mr.. Frye, was equiva-
lent to an endorsement of the Santa Mon
ica project and was so proposed and SO
understood by the candidate.
Mr.. Frye laid stress upon the report
of Capt. Taylor, showing the unioue ad-
vantages of Santa Monica. The sena-
tor also read a letter from Gen. Miles.
stating that as result of his observa-
ton while in command of the division of
the Pacific he had no hesitation in say
ing that Santa Monica had many advan-
tages to make It a safe harbor and good
anchorage, while the surrounding bluffs
afforded opportunity for mounting land
batteries for defense.
Mr.. Perkins Rep) of California de-
MED the suggestion that this was a con-
test between two railroads. He read
from Mr.. Frye's speech that the cry of
Huntington savored of the slogan of the
sand lots and that his name was soon
jured up as the bOgie man of California"
That cry is libel on the fair name
of the people of California, exclaimed
Mr.. Perkins.
81 repeat the charge that the people
of California seek Office by declaring
against any man."
He went on to state that he had moth
ing against Mr.. Huntington unless il
was to the testimony before a commit
tee and a letter he had written. He had
known him as an honorable merchant in
California
The vice president of the Southern Pa
cific had been recently chosen by the Cal
ifornia convention as a presidential elec-
tor. The people of California believe in
railroads, but they insisted that this road
should not prostitute their powers and
influence, but should stand on an equal
footing with every other citizen.
Meanwhile, in concluding the debate.
California senators were subject to any
sand lot agitation.
Mr.. Frye announced that he would
suggest concession or compromise, and
he thereupOn moved that the bill as re-
ported be amended so that the appro-
priatiOn be made to Santa Monica or
San Pedro the location of the harbor to
be determined by commission COM
posed of one naval officer to be appointed
by the secretary of the navy; an officer of
the coast and geodetic SURVEYS to be