The herald., 1897-03-13
is THE FIGHT ON AGAIN9 2

II looks q little as though Uncle Coils
doesn't know when he is whipped.
special to The Herald this morning says
that Huntington and his henchmen
FRYE Hood. Corthell and Morgan, are
endeavoriiSN to influence the secretary OF
war to postpone indefinitely the letting
of contracts on the deep sea harbor at
San Pedro.
Tn order to muddy up the situation,
Morgan and the others are preparing a
so-called minority report" to file with
the secretary-which report, of course
will favor Santa Monica. Senator
White will doubtless be able to block
this despicable trick. He makes the
point, very properly, that Mr.. Morgan
is now only a private citizen, and has
no right to file any report whatever.
The situation would be relieved OF
some of its strain if Secretary Alger
were not prejudiced against the san
Pedro harbor project 1t is well known
that when he last visited this coast ne
gave a very pronounced opinion in IA
vor of Santa Monica. How far he
would allow his personal predictions to
influence his official acts it is hard to
say; but, at the least, personal bias is
not reassuring.
Coupled with this uncertainty of dis
position on the part of the secretary
is that fateful may" in the act of con-
gress making the appropriation. 1t
says that, after the commission shall
have reported, the secretary of war may
proceed to let the contracts. Able law
yers here and elsewhere construe the
word may in this connection as the
equivalent of SHALL" and they cite su-
preme court decisions to that effect.
But, with a hating disposition, ver-
bal loophole and Uncle Coils pull dead
against the proposition Of beginning
work at once, the outlook begins to be
little somber.
However, faint heart never won a
fair harbor. The true friends of South
ern California here and in Washington
should gird up their loins for another
FRAY if it becomes necessary. Upon one
thing we may congratulate ourselves:
The appropriation was made before the
site was determined upon Had these
proceedings been reversed Mr.. Hunt
ington and his lobby would be on hand
to defeat the appropriation altogether,
and the contest would be much more
formidable AS matters now stand
there is no likelihood of reversing the
action already taken by congress. The
utmost that Huntington can accom-
plish will be to postpone the Inaugural
ton of the enterprise for perhaps four
years. But, if Secretary Alger should
attempt any such scheme of dalliance
he would have the liveliest sort of a
racket on hand from the representa-
tives and people Of the Pacific coast.
Other portions of the country would
undoubtedly take up the cudgel for us.
The result thus far obtained is recog-
nized throughout the country as great
victory for the people as against selfish
corporate schemes. Now If it should
appear that the cause of the people was
in danger of overthrow through such
chicanery, the whole country would
speedily line up on our side, and it would
not be long until this would be in the
forefront as a national issue. Los An
geles would stand forth as a young
Daniel to meet the corporation Goliath.
If that's the fight to be made, why let's
get ready for it. If the fight must be
waged for four years, why, four years
fight it is, and welcome. In a contest
of that kind, with right on our side.
we need not distrust our strength or
our endurance. The Republican admin
istration would eventually be discred-
tied and the rights of the people would
be vindicated.
EASTERN INVESTORS