The herald., 1897-07-31
Ayers Apology

The Detroit Free Press of July oath
contains an important interview with
Secretary Alger on the San Pedro harbor
matter, which the people of this section
will be interested to read in full.
After stating that there was nothing
new in Washington or Congressional
circles, beyond the reports as carried in
the press dispatches, Mr. Alger was
asked concerning the letter sent him, as
Secretary of War, by the Michigan dele
cation of Republican Leaguers during
the recent convention of that organiza-
ton in Detroit, anent the San Pedro
harbor in Southern California. st have
that letter." was his response, land i.
seems to show that California has in
terested many other States in the matter
Of that harbor appropriation" and he
smiled.
Then, taking sheet Of paper, he drew
a rough outline of the coast on the Pacific
Ocean in the neighborhood of the pro-
posed harbor, indicating the various
points, and talking as he sketched.
you see,' he said, Congress some
time ago appropriated $2,9O0,OO0 for a
harbor on the Southern coast of Cali
fornia in the vicinity of San Diego, the
site, of several in dispute, to be left to the
decision of a board of naval experts ana
engineers, of whom Admiral Walker was
chairman. The appropriation bill en-
pressly declared, however, that the sum
of money advanced was to be devoted
to the dual purpose of both a haven of
refuge and a harbor of commerce. When
the commission under Admiral Walker
finally made it's report, recommending
San Pedro harbor as the best and most
available site for the proposed improve
ments, it provided for the construction
of breakwater of stone for haven of
refuge only and the entire appropria-
ton of $2,900,OO0, with more added to it.
than congress provided, was consumed
in the estimates. That left the coast
without a harbor for commercial pur-
poses and without a cent of the appro-
priation left for it's construction. That
was plainly not in line with the law,
which clearly stated that the $4,000, 900
was to build both a haven of refuge, in
the form of breakwater, and also har-
Dor for commercial purposes.
las the report was against the spirit
and intent of the law my only recourse
was to refuse to authorize the expendi-
ture of any of the money appropriated.
In this decision was influenced not only
by my own judgment and sense Of right
and duty, but the advice Of eminent
lawyers and leading public men, Now,
if Congress, after it considers the report
Of the commission and passes upon It
favorably, tells me to go ahead and ex-
pend the money appropriated I will do
so, and the work will be begun al once.
Until Congress does this, however. 1 am
powerless to act, and the matter will re-
main just as it is.
'That is all fudge" continued Secre-
tary Alger, when his attention was called
to an implied and covert insinuation that
his alleged naction was due to the influ-
ences of the Southern Pacific railroad
under the direction of its President,
Coils p. Huntington. HE himself is
opposed to the work as it stands" added
the Secretary, "but if Congress says to
me go ahead then the work will be I'M
dertaken at once"
Referring to the chart he had roughly
outlined, Secretary Alger explained that
imme diately back of the harbor of San
Pedro, which it was proposed to use for
the improvements, lay a partly land
locked basin known as Wilmington La
COON. 1t was proposed in the plans of the
commission to utilize this by dredging
and piling, for the harbor of commerce,