The herald., 1897-05-23
Arouses Indignation in Los
Angeles
SAN PEDRO HARBoR FIGHT
REoPENED BY THE sECRETARY's
REPORT
A Personal Expression From Promi-
nent Citizens, Including Many
Republicans

The feeling in Los Angeles over th
course taken by Secretary of War Alge
in referring back to congress the Sal
Pedro harbor matter. is intense, ant
since the secretary's report appeared
has been the principal topic for discus
sion among our leading citizens, and II
fact throughout Southern California
There is no argument, the universal sell
timent being strongly against the arbi'
trary power exercised by the secretary
in reopening the harbor question in con-
gress after it had been once settled to
7 the satisfaction of a large majority OF
! the people of Los Angeles and Southern
! California.
This public sentiment is not confined
to party, as those most incensed at the
action of Secretary Alger are Republic
ans They fear also that he is hurting
the party by his procedure.
A Herald representative yesterday in
terviewed a number of leading citizens
mostly of Republican faith, as to the re-
port of Secretary Alger on San Pedro
harbor, and obtained the following ex-
preston:
Judge r. H. F. variel: Responding
to your question, What do l think Of
Secretary Alger's San Pedro report?'
will say that while have not examined
the act itself since the report came out
for the purpose of ascertaining how far
the report is justified, nevertheless am
candid in expressing it as my emphatic
opinion that the report is indefensib.e
on any ground, and while perhaps there
may be some technicality growing out
of the course of doing business in the
office of the secretary of war sufficient 20
Justify a partisan opponent of San Pc
dro in thus attempting to thwart the
expressed will of congress and of the
people, yet from my recollection of the
history of this public improvement
must say I think there is no merit or
Justice in the secretary's course. Fur
thermore am candid in expressing it
as my opinion as a Republican that il
will prove perilous to our party's SUI
premacy in this state for the administra-
ton to give Mr.. Alger's course its sane
ton"
Major George H. Bonebrake: "Secre-
tary Alger is a personal friend of mine,
and 1 dislike to criticise his action, but
he is certainly acting very strange.
1 think he is entirely mistaken in his
ideas, to say the least, but hope and
think the matter may be remedied with
out the trouble many people anticipate.
His reply to the resolution offered by
Senator White is made up of special
pleadings and creates the impression
that his opinions are biased or personal
in their character. Perhaps he still re-
tains his personal ideas and preference
for Santa Monica as the harbor site,
which he expressed while on visit here
some time ago. And yet it is hard to
understand how he should allow his per-
sonal ideas to interfere with what seems
plain to all is his public duty. Of course
he has the power to act as he has done,
but 1 believe no government officer ever
did the same before. The word may
ir such cases is generally interpreted and
taken as a command, and l cannot see
any possible reason why he should ask
congress for further instructions"
Judge S. o. Houghton: Il think the
reasons given by Secretary Alger for
declining to act in the harbor matter as
directed by congress are puerile. There
Is certainty HOlullE III lIS dSl VI NOi4-
gress to indicate that the government
intended to build any wharves or bulk
heads to be used for commercial pur-
poses. The government never did any
such work any where, so far as am in
formed, in any harbor that it ever i'm
proved. AS ! understand the BILL it was
clearly intended by congress to provide
for the construction of such work as
would make a deep water harbor i'll
which ships could safely anchor or lie
at wharves which might be constructed
along the shores of such harbor by pri-
vate enterprise. If understand tle sec
retary's report, he is in doubt whether
congress proposed to cause the creation
of a harbor for commercial purposes
alone, or a harbor for refuge alone, or
a harbor for both refuge and commerce.
/ do not find in the act anything to JUS
tify any doubt as to the purpose of the
appropriation.
r. N. Bulla: "While Secretary Alger
may have been justified in making a
report in answer to the resolution offered
hy Senator White, do not think he was
justified in hiding behind the question
as to whether the harbor was to be for
there is question rs to the intention of
the harbor act seems to me absurd, and
/ cannot understand how the secretary
hopes to maintain his position. 1t Is
plain to me that it was his duty to call
for bids for the harbor work without this
delay, and by not doing so he is working
a great injustice to the people of Los
Angeles and Southern California;
J. III. Braly: Il have read the resolu-
ton appointing the harbOr commission
through very carefully. Also their re-
port, ard l cannot see wherein Secretary
Alger can find any grounds for the posi-
ton he has taken. | think his action
entirely uncalled for in a public officer
and his position is indefensible. How
ever, it seems to me that his course Will
have the effect of solidifying the public
sentiment of Los Angeles and Southern
California in favor of San Pedro includ-
ing those people who formerly favored
Santa Monica, as they are now angry at
the action of the secretary. l Don't have
any doubt about our securing the har-
Dor improvement finally, but l regret
the unnecessary delay"
Frank A. Gibson: II can see no merit
in the objections stated in the secre-
tary's report. The commission was en-
trusted with the duty of determining
which Of the two points was the better