The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-14

have spent the time devoted TO them more
profitably in discussing matters affecting
our own people.
"The California delegation has faith
fully carried out the instructions of the
people given through conventions and the
State Legislature, and voted to omen the
minis for the free coinage Of silver. I am,
however, somewhat in doubt as to the
effects of such a measure, excepting for
the product of the mines in the States and
Territories of the United States. / do not
believe that free coinage of foreign silver
will of itself bring prosperity. We want
better prices for the product of the soil
and employment for our people at remun-
erative rates of wages.
tThe bill providing for funding the debt
of the bond-aided railroads, which was
prepared by committees of the two houses,
was reported favorably and placed on the
calendars, where it still remains. An
effort was mhde to bring up the measure
in the Senate before the close of the ses-
sion. but failed. The California delega-
ton has resisted the consideration of the
bill, believing that no action of Congress
is necessary. The friends of the bill have
made a strong fight to have the bill called
up early in December next, and my
opinion is that if they can bring it to
vote it will be passed. The rules of the
Senate, however, are so elastic that its
consideration can be prevented by parlia-
mentary tactics if there are ten Senators
who will unite in an effort to do so,
1.-THE delegation has not been idle as far
as CALIFORNIA; interests are concerned.
The mem bers were united in an effort to
secure liberal appropriations, and sue.
ceeded except in the case of those for pub
lie buildings. Early in the session the
edict went forth from the controlling
powers in the House that no money should
be appropriated for public buildings in
any State. This programme was adj
hered to and no money was given for that
purpose except in the cases OF the capitals
of three States-Montana, Washington and
Wyoming-which have no public build
ings:
ing liberal appropriations for Humboldt
harbor, Oakland harbor, San Diego har-
Dor, Port Hartford, the inner harbor at San
Pedro, and an appropriation of $4,000
has been made for an outer harbor at
either San Pedro or Santa Monica, accord
ing to the decision of a commission to be
appointed for the purpose of determining
which of the two locations is the better for
the purpose.
This is not the place to discuss the mer-
its of the plan adopted, but | viii say that
it is unprecedented in the history of the
Government to make an appropriation for
harbor work that has not been recon-
mended by Government engineers after
careful survey and examination. The ac-
ton of the Committee on Commerce,
which proposed the appropriation, is made
to appear in a stronger light from the fact
that it refused to make little appropria-
ton of $4,000 for Alviso Greek, port of
San Jose, because the work had not been
recommended by the Government en-
gineers.
sit is exceedingly gratifying to the dele
cation to have placed the Oakland harbor
Improvements under the continuous con-
tract system, which insures the early COM
pletion of the work as planned by the en-
gineers of the Government.
1.-THE delegation is also exceedingly graf
ihed at having secured an appropriation
for the San Joaquin River and $3.50, 900 for
erecting restraining dams to prevent in
jury to navigation on the Sacramento
River from the deposit of mining debris.
1t also secured the creation of a commits
sion, consisting of a board of United
States engineers, to make a detailed sur
vey and report a plan for improving the
Sacramento and Feather rivers and their
tributaries. Appropriations were also Sc
cured for special WORKS which have been
brought to the attention of the Govern
ment.
Several special acts of Importance to
the Pacific Coast have been passed. Pro-
vision has been made Tor lightship on
the San Francisco bar; for a life-saving
station at Point Bonita for new Govern
ment quarantine boat; for the survey of
sunken rocks in San Francisco Bay; for
"a bic to Aloatraz IslaDd; for the COnStruc-
ton of a battle-ship and three torpedo
boats on the Pacific Coast at an advance of
per cent above the accepted bid on the
Atlantic; for improvements at the Mare
Island Navy-yard, and for a naval train
ing station at Goat Island. The Secretary
of the Navy, at the earnest solicitation of
the delegation, has made an order for the
immediate enlistment of 100 boys as ap-
prentices at Mare Island, so that there
may be no delay in establishing the school.
a liberal subsidy has also been secured for
the line of American steamers between
San Francisco and Australia, which will
enable it to successfully compete with the
subsidized British line from Victoria.
The sumo $100, 900 has also been appro-
priated for the repair of the Hartford.
Monday afternoon last the Oakland
Postoffice bill, which I introduced in the
Senate early in the session, appropriating
$3.50, 600 for n site and building, | HAD
consent, and passed. This will insure
early action by the House of Representa-
tives at the session in December.
Congress has also passed liberal forth
fication bill appropriating $11, 100000 for
Notifications and ordnance for coast de-
lenses. ne plans OF the D0drQ winch mas
the work in hand are comprehensive, and
provide for defenses at the principal ports
between Puget Sound and Lower Califor-
MIA. San Francisco and San Diego will
come in for very liberal share of the
money expended in this work.
"a bill was passed, also, increasing the
navy by 1000 men, which does not include
the 150 boys whose enlistment for the
training school has been provided for.
early in the session there was hope
that bill providing for the construction
of the Nicaragua canal would be passed
before adjournment, and also that the lay
ing of cable to Hawaii would be author
lied. Bills for these enterprises have been
reported in both houses, and there is every
reason to believe that they will become
laws before the end of the present Con-
gress.
1.-THE delegation made an effort to secure
needed legislation for the Territory of
Alaska. The question of land titles is an
important one, and the coal, lumber and
mining interests present problems that
should be solved. The liquor traffic espe-
cially should be regulated in the Terri
tory. Early in the session introduced
bill having for its object law protecting
the salmon fisheries in the waters of
Alaska. 1t fingered along IN the House