The record-union., 1896-05-10
Relating to an Appropriation for
Improvements.
Joint Resolution introduced in the
Senate Providing That No Bonds
Shall be Issued Under the Existing
Law Until the President Has In
formed Congress of the Necessity
of Such Issue, and Until Congress
Shall Have Authorized Such Bonds
to be Issued.

WASHINGTON, May 9.-The greater
part of to-day's session of the Senate
was occupied by White Of California
in setting out the advantages possessed
by San Pedro over Santa Monica for a
deep water harbor on the coast or
Southern California. His argument is
to be answered on Monday by Frye OF
Maine, as Chairman of the Committee
on Commerce, which has incorporated
in the river and harbor bill a large ap-
preparation for Santa Monica
After the river and harbor bill was
laid aside the unobjected bills on the
calendar were taken up and some thirty
were passed.
Among the propositions which were
submitted, and which went over until
future day, was joint resolution
introduced by Pettigrew of South Da-
kota for suits against the directors
and stockholders of the Union and Cen
tral Railroad Companies and joint
resolution by Dubois of Idaho relating
to the issuance of bonds.
A bill for the construction of cable
and telegraph line from the United
States to Siberia, Japan and the Haw-
allan Islands, and to guarantee interes-
on bonds, was introduced by Wilson of
Washington (Rep) and referred to the
Committee on Commerce.
The joint resolution authorizing the
employment of counsel for the purpose
of bringing suits against the directors
and stockholders of the Union and Cen
tral Pacific Railroad Companies was
offered by Pettigrew of South Dakota
Rep) and laid on the table for the
present, Pettigrew stating that he de-
ha fa
ject.
Stewart of Nevada Pop) asked and
obtained leave to have printed in the
Record as part of his remarks a
paper entitled "A National platform
for the American Independents of 1885,"
proposed by William P. St. John, Pres
ident of the Mercantile National Bank
of New York.
For which party is 1t intended?"
Mitchell of Oregon (Rep) asked.
For some independent party" was
Stewards reply.
Morrill, (Rep) of Vermont, Chairman
of the Finance Committee, offered a
resolution, which was referred to the
Committee on Contingent Expenses, au-
thorizing the Finance Committee 20
refer the bond investigation to sub
committee.
Dubois Rep) of Idaho introduced
and asked immediate consideration fer
a Joint resolution providing that no
bonds shall be issued under any exist
ing law until the President shall haVA
communicated to Congress in message
the facts showing the necessity Tor
such issue of bonds and the amount
required for such purpose, and until
Congress shall by law have authorized
such bonds to. be issued.
The Joint resolution was laid on the
table for the present
The river and harbor bill was taken
up. and the contest over the deep sea
harbor question in Southern California
was continued. White Dem) of Cali
fornia resuming his argument in favor
of San Pedro.
He read from the report of the hear
ings before the Committee on Com
merce a synopsis Of the aftidavits made
by Captains of vessels. going to show
that the natural advantages of San Pc
dro were in every way superior TO those
of Santa Monica, particularly as TO the
character of anchorage These affloa-
Wits White said, were made by pracu-
cal men, not by theorists-men who had
cast their anchors in that roadstead.
and knew what they were talking
about.
White also quoted largely from the
Craighill report, showing points of van
fage possessed by San Pedro beyond
those of Santa Monica The town OF
Santa Monica he described as delightful
bathing place freQuented by thousands
of people, and he said that a considera-
tle number of railroad tracks between
the sea line and the bluff, where there
is now one track owned by the Southern
Pacific Company, would be absolutely
destructive to the place so far as its
present uses are concerned.
White also quoted from statements
of Colonel Haines and Major Raymond
of the engineers corps unfavorable to
Santa Monica, and said: I'VE are here,
] presume, to enact a law providing for
an appropriation to be expended for
some useful purpose and under condi-
tions where success would be reason
ably assured. We are not here for ex-
periments."
On the other side of the question,
White had read by the Clerk a long
extract from the report or Lieutenant
II. c. Taylor of the United States navy
comment upon it was that there was
an air of partisanship about ii. The
opposite view from Lieutenant Taylor
was taken by Professor Davidson o.
the United States Coast Survey, and he
had an extract from Professor David
sons report read, saying that IL was
very valuable from an expert point
OF view.
Peffer Pop) of Kansas made short
argument on the side of San Pedro, and
then, as the attendance in the Senate
was very thin. and as Frye Rep) of
Maine desired to answer the arguments
made, the bin went over unti Monday.
1t has been suggested. White said.
that through an esprit du corps the sec
ond Board of Army Engineers had CO.
incided with the first, and therefore he
and his colleague had prepared the
amendment which he had proposed-to
let the appropriation be made, and to
refer the determination of the issue be-