The San Francisco call., 1896-04-10
COMMERCE TAXED
FOR POLITICS,
Administration of the Har.
Dor Affairs of San
Francisco.
REFORMS DEMANDED.
Views Expressed by a Commit
tee of the Chamber of
Commerce.
PILOTS AND LAW MAKERS.
Assertion That a Corruption Fund Is
Available to Influence Legis.
lation.
PILOTS AND LAW MAKERS.

The commerce committee of the Cham
Der of Commerce held an important ses-
sion yesterday afternoon, with Hugh
Craig presiding.
The sub committee on harbor property
and harbor changes submitted report.
The report discusses at considerable length
the subject of completing the seawall, and
in this connection SAYS:
1t is conceded by all alike that the wall
ought TO be completed at once from Market
street south to Channel. What makes the ne
cessity more pressing is the fact that until the
seawall be completed the City win not improve
the streets adjoining the docks and the Har-
Dor Commission has no jurisdiction over them;
that the streets along the water front from
Market street south are in disgraceful condi-
tion.
The report estimates that the cost of
completing the wall will amount to 81 ,0OO.-
600. Four sources are mentioned from
which the money might be obtained:
First-From the revenue of the Harbor Com
mission.
Second-From the Federal Government.
Third-From the general fund of the State.
Fourth-From the City of San Francisco.
In regard to th e general administration
of waterfront affairs the subcommittee
presents the following:
In the administration of the harbor prop
erty your committee sees room for very great
improvement The Harbor Commission has
long been regarded as "spoils'' for the party in
power and in the administration of the water
front the doctrine of ITO the victor belongs the
spolls" has been carried out to its fullest ex-
tent. Unfortunately, in this case, the "spoIls''
come directly out of the commerce OF San
Francisco, which is compelled to pay the bills
The extent to which the "spoils' system has
been carried on the water front is q matter of
grave concern to the public. Not only have all
official positions, from that of the Harbor Com
missioner down to the wharf-sweepers, been
given out a reward for party fealty, but
supplies have been purchased and minor con-
tracts have been awarded not upon business
basis, but because the seller or contractor be-
longed 10 the proper political party and had
influence in the party councils.
1t is needless to point out that such a system
is wasteful, extravagant, inefficient and wholly
unsatisfactory and that it ought TO be changed.
Your subcommittee therefore recommends
that this body appoint some competent person
TO draft a bill to provide for the administra-
ton of the waterfront property under civil
service rules, upon business basis and re-
gardless OF partisan considerations, and that
when drafted the bill be presented to the next
State Legislature for enactment into law.
In this connection your su subcommittee takes
pleasure in saying that it believes the present
Harbor Commission is heartily in accord with
your subcommittee in the movement TO take
the administration of the Harbor Commission
out of politics and place it upon business
basis. The present commission has already
effected some reforms in this direction and
| betrays disposition to effect more were it
enabled to do so under the law. Your sub
committee has good reason to believe that a
measure for administrative reform could be
drafted which would meet with the hearty
approval of the Harbor Commission and of
the Governor OF the State. Respectfully SUBJ
mitted, FRANK DALTON
WILLIAM L. MERRY,
! HUGO d. KEEL,
1SADoRE JACOBS
A. /. EsBERG.
In discussing the recommendation of
| the report, Isadore Jacobs asserted that it
would be better for the committee to go
before the party conventions and get in
serted in the platform of each parry a
| declaration in favor of the. reforms de-
sired. He believed that very little if any
! good would be accom- plished by drafting a
| bill and presenting it to the Legislature.
1.-The pilots,' he said, would probably
oppose tn e bill. understand they have a
lature."
The report was sent back to the sub
committee for such action as the commit
tee should deem proper in drawing bill.
The secretary reported that letter had
been received from Congressman Loud in
which the latter stated that he was work
ing to get an appropriation for a fog
signal ship on the bar to take the place of
the whistle.
Professor Davidson said an appropria-
tion of $4,000 would probably be allowed
for the purpose of removing three rocks dis
covered in the bay. A rock near the
Potrero wharf with only depth of II feet
of water over it was made known by Cap
tain Gray and his tug man to Lieutenant
Sears of the Coast Survey steamer Near
thur. There were also two rocks in front
OF the harbor, one of them near Harrison
street wharf with 26 feet of water over it.,
and another where the depth of water was
% feet. The rocks will soon be indicated
as danger exists that a battle-ship might
touch one of them during spring tide.