The herald., 1897-02-25
commissioners LEISURE
The San Pedro Report Was
Premature
arbitration TREATY DISCUSSION
The Senate Intends to Take Its
Time
TO BE A TARIFF SESSION
Republicans Afraid to Tackle the Finan.
cial Question
Speaker Reed Will, Apparently. Appoint Only
Five Committees
Senator White May Have Another Big
Tit With His Foe = Specnla-
tlon as to Local
Pfums
TO BE A TARIFF SESSION
Republicans Afraid to Tackle the Flnan.
cial Question
Speaker Reed Will, Apparently. Appoint Only
Five Committees
fsnecial Correspondence to The Herald.)

Especial Correspondence to The Herald)
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1I.-Various ru-
mors are afoat regarding the harbor
commission now in session in this city
One is that Admiral Walker Will induce
three other members OF the commission
to vote with him for San Pedro, and that
Santa Monica will receive but one VOTE
that of Morgan. l was Informed by a
gentleman who had personally inter-
viewed Admiral Walker that that gen.
tleman would make the other
members vote with him; that
he had the Influence and the
power to do go; that he was gruff ard
rather rough in his manner. and that the
Others would not dare to antagonize
him. I paid very little attention to this
latter theory, for l feel sure that there
will be no bulldozing at all. The COM
mission is at work every day
now. and the tables and desks
in their meeting room are COW
cred by maps, papers, books, etc. They
do not intend to hurry through their
work-that is certain. 1t may be be
that they will be through in time to re-
port to ths present administration, but
even that is not assured. Admiral Walk
er will pers onally deliver the report of
the commission TO the secretary of war.
who will in turn deliver it to the presi-
dent. and from the White House, in my
opinion. we will hear the result. Some
enterprising citizen of Chicago started
the rumor on Sunday that he had heard
directly from the commission and that
San Pedro had been selected. OF course
people were more or less influenced by
this canard. and kilograms from anxious
citizens of Los Angeles and vicinity
came pouring in, asking If there was
any foundation for the rumor. 1t can
lie truthfully said that no one on earth
has been informed as to the commits
sion's contemplated action, or as to
whether any action is contemplated.
ADMIRAL WALKER SAYS.
Admiral Walker says that the men,
bcrs have not discussed the matter
among themselves; that they have not
come to any understanding as to how the
vote will be recorded; that that Is mat
ter for future consideration after the
evidence shall have been read and the
maps and plans inspected. A bet was
made here the other day that San Pedro
would win. The party who placed his
money on Santa Monica says he knows
that that place will win, but how or
where he got his information he refuses
to divulge.
HUNTINGTON ON HAND.
Mr.. Huntington is on the ground, and
although he Is keeping in the shade, he
Is no doubt being fully posted regarding
the movements of the commission. 1t is
noted here as somewhat remarkable
that the members of the commission
have been so successful in keeping
things to themselves. 1t may be that
before this letter reaches it's destination
q decision Will have been rendered: but
at any rate no one at this writing
knows what the outcome of the matter
will be. The sessions are strictly pri-
Vate, the secretary even of the commits
sion not being allowed in the room while
consideration is being given to the tes-
timony and other evidence. Mr.. r.
Kerens of st. Louis is also here and is
deeply interested in the result. 1t may
be that another trip to California will
be had, but this is hardly probable, un-
less something now unforeseen trans
pires. which will compel the commission
to return to the seat OF war
THE ARBITRATION TREATY.
The arbitration treaty is causing lots
of trouble, both in and out OF the senate
Hundreds, yes thousands of letters are
being received here daily asking the
senate to at once accept the treaty anC
to pay no attention to the small de-
tails of amendments, etc. Most O.
those who thus offer good advice have
never read the provisions of the pro
posed treaty, have never seen the CORE
spondence leading up to it, and dom
know anything at all about it. If, per
chance, the senate should accept it, ant
afterwards trouble should arise by rea
son of an improper consideration. of it
provisions, these same good, kind peo
pie would be the first to blame those VIII,
accepted their advice. They are cen
suring the senate now because it vii
not act as quickly as they wish, ant
they would condemn that body if, afte
accepting the treaty, England SHOULD
get the better of us, or take advantag
of the strict letter of the compact. Th
magic word Arbitration" has SCENE,
to catch the eye of the majority of tn
people of the Union, and it seems ais
to have prevented that just considera
tion which such an instrument shoul,
receive at the hands of those who will
be benefited or injured by it's enactment
The senate as body is earnestly con
sidering the question, and it is safe t
say that a majority of that body fayo
arbitration, but full and fair considera
tion should be allowed. The duty en-
Joined by the constitution upon tn
senate cannot be performed in a mo
ment, nor day. The British govern
ment and Mr.. Gresham commenced ne
gotiations looking to the making of tn
present proposed treaty some years age
and MI. Olney almost from the beginnin
of his incumbency exchanged commun
cations with Lord Salisbury regardin
1t. The work to be done by the senat
is just as important, just as extensiv
as that performed by the executive de
partment. and it is but reasonable t
allow that body ample time to complet
Its labors. The treaty will not be rat
Ned during this session of congress, bu
1t will not necessarily die, unless MI
Mckinley withdraws 1t. The next sec
retary of state favors the treaty and
would seem impossible for Mr.. McKin
ley to withdraw it.
Senator Sherman has about conclude
TO withdraw the measure for this ses