The herald., 1896-10-27

pledged to favor the bill; man whose
election had been openly championed
by Huntington, and who took his place
upon the committee with his mind made
up, and his promise given to favor the
legislation which he was appointed to
consider and pass judgment upon.
Mr.. Reeds services to Mr.. Hunting
ton, and his opposition to everything
favorable to the welfare of the people
of the Pacific coast, did not stop here.
He also permitted Mr.. Huntington to
secure a majority of the committee on
| rivers and harbors favorable to any Job
which Huntington might attempt to get
through congress. This fact became no.
torious during the agitation of the San
| Pedro harbor matter before congress-
1t then appeared that Reed, in appoint
! ing the chairman of the house commit
| tee on rivers and harbors, had gone over
the heads of two men who were nearest
| in the line of promotion to that posi-
| tion and had appointed as chairman
| Mr.. Hooker his personal friend and a
warm supporter of his presidential as
pirations Mr.. Hooker, as a member Of
| the house during the preceding congress,
had unreservedly pledged himself to
the friends of San Pedro and assured
them in most positive terms Of his earn
est assistance In securing an appropria-
tion from congress for the construction
Of harbor at San Pedro, in accordance
with the recommendation of the govern
ment engineers
When the matter came before the har-
Dor committee of the house, of which Mr..
Hooker had been made chairman, the
friends of San Pedro were astounded to
find as their most bitter opponent the
man who had before given most unre-
served promises Of his support. During
the discussion Of the matter in Wash
ington it became we'll known that Mr..
Hooker's change of position and his SUBJ
sequent support of Mr.. Huntington's
scheme to rob the government Of 81, 3,00O,-
900 was owing to the influence Of Mr..
Reed in inducing him to carry out bar
gain to assist Huntington which Reed
had made, and as a consideration for
which Reed was to receive the influence
of Huntington and the Southern Pacific
in support Of his presidential aspira-
tions.
1t is an open secret that Mr.. Hunting
ton contributed largely to the expenses
Of Mr.. Reeds campaign while he was
seeking the nomination. Just as 1t was
an open secret that the Southern Pacific
in California did all it could to secure in
structions for Reed from the Republic
an state convention; which support, by
the way, was more responsible for
Reeds being turned down by the rank
and file of the Republican party of this
state than was any other influence
working against him.
Mr.. Reeds services to Mr.. Huntington
went even farther than this. The Pa
cific coast senators, led by Senator
White, succeeded in passing through the
senate bill permitting miners to make
title to mineral claims located on the
land grants of the Pacific railroads; a
measure of immense Importance to the
!, mining interests of all the western states
and particularly of California and Ore
gon. Huntington fought this measure
bitterly in the senate but Senator White,
ably seconded by Senator Mitchell, a
Republican from Oregon, succeeded in
passing the bill through the senate, from
whence it went to it's proper committee
in the house and was by that committee
returned into the house with favorable
recommendation. The only thing then
necessary for the measure to become
a law was the consent of Mr.. Reed to.
recognize the member who had agreed
to call 1t up so that 1t might pass the
house. 1t was fully understood that the
majority of the house was favorable to
its passage, and it's passage would have
occupied only the time necessary to call
the roll.
A short time before congress adjourn
ed Senator White and Senator Mitchell
WdlLeu upOH MI. IbctU dIlu pledutO WltN
him to consent to have the measure
called up and put upon its passage,
explaining to him how important 1t was
for the mining interests of the Pacific
coast. Mr.. Reeds actions toward these
senators at the interview, in refusing
their request was characterized by
even greater lack of courtesy than he
usually displays to those who are en-
deavoring to induce him to adopt some
course which he has reason to think
may be against the interest of Mr.. Hunt
ington. After the interview 1t became
notorious around Washington that his
reception Of these senator's had been
such that Senator Mitchell had ex-
pressed his opinion of the speaker of.the
house to his face, during the interview,
In language which, though amply justi-
fled. no doubt, by the provocation,w would
hardly be fit for the eyes of The Herald
readers. This became a matter of public
comment around the capitol, largely
through the fact that Mr.. Reed, for some
days after the interview, was heard to
indulge in complaints of the rudeness
with which he had been treated by a
Pacific coast senator in the course Of
an interview with him.
Thus Mr. Reed, in three matters, each
OF immense Importance to the people
Of the state Of California, and in each
OF which Mr.. Huntingtons interests
were opposed to those of the people,
| used his power as speaker of Repub-
lican house of representatives to serve
Mr.. Huntington and advance his ends
| at the cost Of the people of this state.
Is 1t possible that the Republican mana
gers, knowing as they do that the peo-
pie are informed of these things, be-
lieve that the citizens Of California are
| OF such short memories and SO lost to
all sense Of independence and self re-
spect, that they are prepared to take
advice upon public questions from such
| a man?