The San Francisco call., 1896-06-26
Work for the State in Congress
Approved at a Mass
Meeting.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL.
1t Furnishes the Principal Topic of
Discourse-0ther Important
Questions.

A meeting was held yesterday afternoon
by the Cham Der of Commerce in honor OF
the Senators and Representatives of Cali
fornia who have accomplished much for
the State with reference to the improve
ment of rivers and harbors in the recent
session of Congress.
Hugh Craig presided over the meeting.
He introduced to the members President
Sunodo of the Yokohama Specie Bank,
and this gentleman, with the japanese
Consul, occupied the seats of honor, the
former on the right hand and the latter on
the left of the chairman.
In presenting Mr.. Sunodo Mr.. Craig said
the bank he represented would receive
the entire indemnity which China would
pay to the empire of japan in consequence
of the recent war. A letter, as follows,
was read from Senator White, who was
unable to attend the meeting:
Los ANGELES, June %, 1896.
Captain W. L. Merry, Secretary Chamber Of
Commerce: DEAR CAPTAIN-Yours of the 2Oth
inst, informing me that there has been q
meeting of the Chamber of Commerce called
for o'clock P. NJ, June 25 has just BEEN re-
ceiyed. l would be delighted to be present,
but the circumstances are such that cannot
be there. However, this condition of affairs is
1 am as earnest an advocate of the Nicaragua
canal as any one in the chamber, and will do my
best to forward it and push it TO an early COM
STEPHEN NJ. WHITE
Congressman Barham was the first
speaker. He said: 81 am pleased to meet
you. and better pleased inasmuch as Sena.
tor White seems to voice the sentiments
that have called US together. The bill
which provides for the construction OF the
Nicaragua canal will become law before
the next meeting of the Legislature. This
statement if made six months ago would
not have been so certain. At that time
the precise location and many details of
the work were not known. After the re-
survey of the Ludlow committee things
are now practically clear.
81 understand from President Ceve-
land" continued the speaker, that he is
of the opinion that all the people of the
United States favor this bill. He told me
so with his own mouth. l have no anxiety
whatever that he will veto it, and / know
that three-fourths if not nine-tenths, of
the House are in favor of its passage, ana
two-thirds of the Senate.
sin my opinion, the construction of the
canal will transplant the center of COM
merce of the world and San Francisco will
be in short time the second New York"
Congressman Loud then took the floor
meeting was for the purpose of talking
over the canal proposition. | supposed it
to be gloritication meeting of the alleged
services which we representatives have
done in the Legislature for Cali ornia. 1t
is not difficult to get representation for
this State of ours.
1--WE may boast of one thing, and not
falsify, that we have by nature the best
harbor in the world. There is now very
little wanted for our harbor. There are a
few rocks that should be removed. | do
not think you can ever remove Mile Rock
but that beacon or a bell put upon it will
serve the best purpose.
"The Senators at Washington are will
ing to do anything in the world to benefit
our harbor. 1t is true we feared at one
time that because Senator Perkins asked
for so many things for our State we would
| kick the whole thing over and so procure
nothing, but such was not the case.
There is no question of such import
tance to the people of San Francisco as is
| this proposition OF the Nicaragua canal
Every effort should be put forth to get the
| you urge the more liable you are to sue
ceed."
Congressman Hilborn said: II do not
| come here as u visitor, but as friend and
! a brother. / have been a member of this
| chamber for long time and all my SYM
pathy and all my love is centered here.
my greatest pride is that | was instru-
mental in getting for this coast naval re-
serve. The fact of it is that the present
! depressed condition OF the country has
precluded any great improvement for any
| State, but l can say that in this California
has done even better than any of the rest
! An important thing for our State is the
establishment of naval training station
for boys at Goat Island.
rorH m a Jnor al
| only wish l had the confidence of the
other gentlemen who have spoken regard
| ing the passage of this measure. You
must RENE m Der it means the expenditure
of millions and millions of dollars. 1t is
a transportation proposition and 1t will
perhaps come into conflict with certain
! interests"
Congressman Mcguire said: 81 consider
! that the prevention of the passage of the
| funding bill Is the most important
measure to this State of the Fifty fourth
| Congress. want to say that the Califor-
MIA delegation stood shoulder to shoulder
! in the accomplishment of this. /, as a
! Democrat, would have had hard time in
Congress standing alone had not the Re-
| publican Representatives exerted their
efforts to win over the Republican side.
"In regard to this measure / think Cali
fornia is safe so far as the Fifty-fourth
| Congress is concerned, and the same senti.
ments that influenced the Fifty fourth
Congress will more strongly influence the
Fifty-fifth Congress-
The speaker spoke of Loud as the Nestor
of the California delegation, and said that
the burden of getting improvements for
California had rested upon him. Speak
ing OF the delay in the building of the
Postoffice for this City, he said that one
cause was undoubtedly the insufficlency
Of the force in the supervising architects s
| Office at Washington.
II think" said he, that by the latter
part of this year the work will be begun
and speedily carried to completion"
Senator Perkins, who had been called
upon first to speak, but had excused
himself on the plea of not being a
stranger, but one of the home body. said :
''For more than twenty years l have
been member of this Chamber of Com
merce." He spoke in complimentary
language regarding the distinguished
Japanese gentleman present, saying that
| he had come on mission which would
result in vast benefit to both the United
States and japan.
Senators or Representatives" said he,
f+1