The herald., 1896-05-09
IN CONGRESS
southern CaIifornias Harbor Is the Chic,
1atter Discussed


WASHINGTON, May S.-Witb tho
bond resolution out of the way the senate
! gave ltS attention to the accumllla tion
~ MINOR measures before going on with
the river and harbor bill Mr. Mitchell.
hePupllcan, OF Oregon, gave notice that
when the last appropriation bill was
| passed he would press the Joint resolu.
ton FOR the election of senators by the
! people, not for the sake of having fur
ther speeches, but of actually adopting
| the resolution
-, Bills We're passed to establish a class
| iHcatlon division in the United States
| patent office, and granting permission
| Tor the erection of monument in WASH
| ngton in honor of Samuel Hahneman
and appropriating $4,000 for foundation.
Ihe river and harbor bill was then
| taken up: on a point Of order by Mr.
! Csorman the committee amendment was
stricken out providing that all persons
employed on river and harbor works
snail be selected and hired by the officers
! of the corps of engineers in local charge
| OF these works, in order that the officers
may De held to strict responsibility for
the proper execution of the work in their
| charge. The following individual amend
ments were made:
Mr. Gray, Democrat, of Delaware
to permit retired army officers to engage
III river and harbor works; by Mr.. Car
Ter, Republican, of Montana, for dam
Ferry, to develop water power; by Mr..
Lodge. Republican, of Massachusetts,
for survey of Portland channel Alaska
This disposed of the entire bill except
the reserved amendment for a deep
water harbor at Port Los Angeles, in
santa Monica bay, Cal, and authorizing
contracts aggregating $2,99s. 900 for the
work. A vigorous contest was promised
on this item, the two California sena-
tors, Mr.. White and Mr.. Perkins being
opposed to it. Mr.. White offered an
amendment for the creation of a board of
three officers to report on the relative
merits Of Santa Monica bay and of San
Pedro harbor for the purpose of deep
water harbor. Large easels were brought
into the senate chamber and maps of the
Pacific coast placed thereon. With
pointer in hand Mr.. White then called
attention to the main points Of the con-
test
The senator said the Pacific coast
wanted good deepwater harbor. Most
of the harbors were poor ones That at
San Diego was too remote for large
element of the commerce. This demand
for better harbor facilities led to the de-
velopment of the Santa Monica project
and Senator Jonfs Of Nevada built
railroad from Los Angeles to Santa
Monica with view to ultimate eastern
extension, but the road fell into the
hands of the Southern Pacific railroad.
Mi. w Hlle tHen pointed out tnat a board
of army engineers had recommended
San Pedro as the desirable point for a
harbor, and that this recommendation
was endorsed by Chief Engineer Casey.
objection was made to this report and
through the efforts of Senator Frye an
other board headed by the present chief
of engineers was appointed. Three points
-Redondo, Santa Monica and San Pc
dro- contended before this board, each
element being duly represented the
Southern Pacific railroad being repre-
sented by one of the best lawyers in Cal
ifornia.
This board, made up of eight Of the
foremost engineers of the service. rec
commended San Pedro harbor. When
this report came before congress moth
ing was done. The fight in behalf OF
Santa Monica was still on as though no
report had been made. Mr.. White traced
In great detail the history Of the subject
Taking up the present status, Mr.
White urged that the two California
senators and the representative from
Continued on Second Pags,)