The record-union., 1896-03-04
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.
William JOhnStOn'S Report on the Sue
cess Of His Mission.
Letters Received by the Chamber From
c. P. Huntington and Senator
George C. Perkins.


report of ex-senator William Johnston
on the result of his visit TO Washington
as member of the delegation sent
there to endeavor to procure relief for
eur river.
Mr.. Johnston said that on his arrival
there he found things in bad state as
regarded securing an appropriation for
the river. He could but admire the eff
forts of Congress to bring the expendi-
lures within the limit, but he found
that their economy was far from being
justly and fairly distributed.
We are a long way off from the East,
and they have very little conception of
the Importance Of California to the
United States in spite Of the gold she
has poured into the treasury. When the
delegation ascertained that the passage
of the Johnson bill was an impossibility
they took counsel with the States Rep
resentatives and Mr.. Johnson and the
others all agreed in saying that it could
not pass in its entirety They then cast
about for a plan on which to unite in
getting some benefit for the river, and
concluded that the best thing they could
do was to get something Incorporated
il the river and harbor bill. They Ia
vored the johnson bill with or without
the appropriation, but realized that
there was an accumulation of thou
sands of bills, and ne single objection
would defeat it and pace it at the bot
tom of the file and it was therefore not
polite to press it They therefore
r agreed to ask for the appointment of a
board of three United States army Off
GERS to take charge of the river
He was asked why the present board
could not do so, and answered that 1T
was impossible, as their hands were full
already and there was years work on
the river. He pointed cut the fact that
it would result in no extra expense and
need no appropriation, as the officers
were already under pay Ae made
favorable impression by his statements
before the River and Harbor Commits
tee, and felt assured that provision
would be made in the river and harbor
bill for the appointment of board for
the river There Is remaining in the
treasury $4,000 of the former appro
priation, and the bill can place that at
the disposal of the board so that it can
go to work Immediately. Then the next
Congress can be asked to continue the
work
Mr.. Miller asked if the Johnson bill
ston answered that it was, as there is
no basis on which to argue, the report
of the former Board of United States
Engineers having stated that the river
is in better order than formerly, and
that no appropriation is needed. The
only way is to get a favorable report
from the proposed board, and then ask
fo1 an appropriation.
He was asked if he could suggest any
action of the chamber that would secure
the cooperation of similar bodies in
the State, and answered that he could
not There is no opposition, the entire
Congressional delegation being a. unit
on the subject.
Grove L. Johnson" said he, sis up
with the times and very energetic and
persistent, but unfortunately is not in
favor with the powers that be, having
antagonized the Speaker. I told the
Speaker in conversation that Johnson
was good fellow to have on his side in
a fight and a good man to conciliate. I
knew that the people would sanction
what he had done and would send him
back to Congress.
THE Speaker asked me if I thought
his action on the funding bill would
please the people and I told. him that
the people knew his opinion upon it be-
fore election and elected him, knowing
it. and that he would lose no votes on
account of his action on it.
johnson stands well there and is
doing some good work. The entire
delegation did the best they could, but
could not do much, on account of the
programme of economy. The appoint
ment of the board will be the entering
wedge. however. and if a favorable re-
mort on it can be secured from the River
and Harbor Committee it will be ap-
pcinted. because the river and har-
bor bill is sure to go through, and the
chances are better in it than in a sep
arate bill. If we cannot get the board
through the river and harbor BILL we
cannot get in at all.
HOME PRODUCTIONS.
The following communication was
read by the Secretary:
Sacramento, Cal, Feb. IS 1896.
Mr.. James l. Felter, Secretary of
Chamber of Commerce:
To the officers and Members of
Chamber of Commerce-Gentlemen
The Sacramento Federated Trades
Council. ibeing moved by a sincere
and public-spirited desire to improve
the commercial, industrial and social
conditions pGeNdfilHS IL LIS SAeS
sneetfullv ask your individual and col
1eetiye co-operation in a movement de-
signed to bring about the desired re-
suit. namely, the patronage OF nome
nroduction whenever and wherever
possible.
we would ask your body to take such
official cognizance of the. movement as
NAV seem to YOU meet and proper and
we would ask further the cooperation
Of vo1,r individual members in the for
marion of a, home-producers' and man
7,facturers' association, with the sole
object of encouraging home industries
nv patronizing only such as against
outside competition.
our reasons for desiring the formation
of such an association are as follows, to
wit:
Trirst-If Sacramento productions are
called for. the legitimate demand at the
Trasent time would be SO augmented as
r. neeessitate the employment. not only
of olr at present idle artisans, mechan-
5cs and laborers, but would also create
snoh a demand for such help as to al
most double present population, which
in t11rn would create more business for
our merchants and business men, who
in turn would have more money TO in
vest in enlargements and improve
1nents of both business and residence
propertv. and wage-earners would be
Pure al