Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-23
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL.
How 1t Finally Passed as to the Cali
fOrnin Harb0r.


The conferees on the river and harbor
bill were in session yesterday and reach
ed an agreement satisfactory to all con-
cerned, including Senator White, late in
the afternoon. The House oonferees agreed
to recede from their opposition to Senate
amendments for harbo-s at Santa Monica
ard San Pedro, provided the bill should
be amended SO as to render unavailable
the appropriation for the inner harbor t
Wilmington on San Pedro bay, In case
the commissioners provided for should de
eide upon San Pedro as the most available
place for an outer harbor This PROPOSE
ticn was accepted, and an amendment was
made to the SanPedro item to the effect that
no contracts should be entered into for
the inner harbor at Wilmir gton until the
commissioners should report and not at
all In case they should decide in favor of
an outer harbor at that place. The House
conferees yielded their ccl tention that the
commissioners should be named in the
bill and agreed to the addition of the
following proviso az an addition to the
Santa Monica ITEM
provided. however, that If the board
hereby constituted. as in this section pro-
vided. shall determine in favor of the con-
struction of breakwater at Port Los
Angeles no expenditure of any part of
the money hereby appropriated shall be
made, nor shall any contract for the con-
SlTuClloU OIL suCU DTeak"at6f De entered
into until the Southern Pacific Company,
or the owner or owners thereof, shall exc
cute an agreement and file the same with
the Secretary of War, that any railroad
company or any corporation engaged in
the business of transportation may share
in the use of the pier now constructed at
Port Los Angeles and the approac hes and
tracks leading thereto situate westerly of
the easterly entrance to the Santa Monica
tunnel upon such just and equitable terms
as may be agreed upon between the par
ties, and if they cail to agree, then to be
determined by the Secretary of War; and
hereby appropriated is made for the con-
struction of breakwater at Port Los
Angeles. said Southern Pacific Company, or
the owner of the track and approaches
leading to said pier, shall execute an agree
ment and file the same with the Secretary
of War, that any railroad or trar sportation
&C mpany or corporation desiring to con-
struct wharf or pier in Santa Monica
bay may, for the purpose Of approaching
such wharf or pier. and for the purpose
of constructing and operating the same,
cross the track or tracks, approaches and
right of way now used by the Southern
Pacific Company under such regulations as
may be prescribed by the Secretary of
War, and upon the payment of such COM
pensation as that officer may find to be
reasonable;
Provided. further, that in event said
harbor Is located at Port Los Angeles no
greater royalty on the rock used for the
construction of the breakwater than twelve
and half cents cubic yard shall be
charged; and the Southern Pacific Com
pany shall charge no more than one-half
cent ton mile for freight on rock trans
ported over it's road"
The House also yielded the provision for
survey OF the Wilmington harbor with
view of increasing it's depth. The agree
ment was reached Just in time to permit
Senator Frye to present the conference re-
port to the Ssnate and have 1t accepted
before adjournment