The herald., 1897-03-26
T. E. Gibbon Examining
Huntington's Scheme
A D0G-IN-THE- -MANGER GAME
TO HAMPER THE SAN PEDRO
PROJECT WOULD BE FOLLY
The Forlorn Hope to Raise the Issue
Once More in Congress-Senator
Perkins Will Stand Firm

II. e. Gibbon, vice president OF the
Los Angeles Terminal railroad, arrived
in Washington on Monday last. A spe-
cial dispatch to the San Francisco Ex-
aminer dated Washington, March 20,
says:
Since arriving here yesterday T. E.
G!bbon of Los Angeles has been giving
all his attention to the San Pedro harbor
matter. He has not seen Secretary
Alger. and is not in position to state
what the secretary will do but he has
positively satisfied himself that the
Santa Monica contingent are depending
upon the secretary holding the matter
up, and refusing to advertise for blds
"I had some conversation with one OF
the Southern Pacific people this after
noon" said Mr. Gibbon, land he ex-
pressed the opinion that the secretary
would await further action by con-
gress before proceeding to carry out the
express provisions of the law creating
the deep water harbcr compassion. The
California Republicans who are here
cannot bring themselves to believe the
secretary will act in this way. Regarded
merely from political point or view,
and eliminating the right of the people
to have the will of congress carried out,
it would be the worst kind of folly.
The people Of the Pacific coast are
anxious to think well of Mr. McKinley's
administration, but If II should become
plain that one of the highest officials of
the government, a member of the pres
ident's cabinet, is being used to further
the ends of c. P. Huntington and the
Southern Pacific. discredited man and
ltrA "a a mr. Of
explaining will remove the blight. AS
for Senator Frye and the persons be-
hind the Santa Monica scheme, I am
certain from what I have learned since
my arrival here that they will do all
in their power to effect their end, re-
gardless of public opinion and its in
fluence on the future of the party on
the Pacific coast. They hope through
the secretary to raise the issue once
more in congress, and, by means of the
small minority in the senate which was
for Santa Monica, to prevent by dilatory
tactics the passage of any law or reso-
luton instructing the secretary to let
contracts for the beginning Of work at
San Pedro
I'm view of their repeated set-bocks
at the hands of the technical boards that
have examined the matter from a sci
entific standpoint, they cannot hope to
induce favorable action on behalf of
Santa Monica. They are playing dog
in-the-manger game, and would be con-
tent to defeat the hopes of those who
have advocated the superior claims of
San Pedro. 1t Is almost incredible that
they should succeed in inducing the Sec
retary of war to take the leading part
in so nefarious a scheme, but what are
we to think when General Alger lays
himself open to this charge?
From all that I can learn the lines
Of attack on San Pedro have been clev-
erly planned. The secretary, in a re-
port which shall seem to be quite with
out animus-the secretary posing as the
protector of the governments interests
will intimate to congress that the pro-
posed works will cost far more than
the estimates. 1t is hoped by Hunting
ton that this will do the trick. There
has been a great deal Of late in the
press about the extravaganza of the
last congress, and this comment is bound
to have its influence on the present ses-
sion. So, what with the criticism of the
press and the preaching OF the president,
congress, when the suggestion is thrown
out by the secretary of war that the
San Pedro estimates are under what the
real cost will be. is likely to become
affrighted, and relegate the entire sub
ject to committee
Senator Perkins has promised Gibbon
that he and other memb bers of the dele
cation will call at the White House and
represent to the president what an i'm
polite thing it would be to take the
action the secretary of war proposes.