The San Francisco call., 1897-01-20

Gated and resolved upon by the San Fran
cisco Cham ber of Commerce yesterday
afternoon. 1t was the annual meeting OF
the organization and 1t was also the IN
itial meeting o! the year.
Other interes ting matters came up Tor
discussion, and before the meeting ad-
journed lively and significant tilt ensued
over an attempt by strong element In
the assem- blage to lay aside all prop osed
resolutions in a bunch Tor the purpose,
as il aterfappeared, OF preventing action
on certain measures-amopg them the
promotion of waterfront belt-Iine rail-
road calculated to facilitate and expedite
traffic and save to the producer and the
manufacturer the delays and expenses
incident 10 other means OF transfer be-
tween railroads and ships.
The president made an address, in
which he commented upon many things
of moment to the shipping, marine and
commercial interests of San Francisco
and its future as a maritime city of in
creasing importance.
He spoke OF the immediate prospect of
a naval training school on Goat Island
and of a lightship and adequate signals
to be placed on the bar at the entrance to
the Golden Gate.
But his most radical suggestions were
with respect to the abolishment of port
quarantine dues and the service that
taxes shipping here for perfunctory quar-
antine inspection. The resolution on the
subject as adopted by the board is printed
herewith.
Last year it seems that 371z per cent
of the revenues of the Harbor Commits
sion were expended in salaries. A special
committee reported yesterday in favor of
a regime whereby ordinary business-like
~ k1 1hs
saved that could be devoted to water
front improvements.
The. following resolutions were adopted
looking to q curtailment OF expenses on
the front:
Resolved, That section 1852 be amended to
read as follows: The monthly salaries OF the
officers OF the State Board OFF Harbor Commls-
sioners shall be as follows;
$3.50
And they shall have power to appoint 10 serve
during the pleasure OF the board such assist
ants as may be absolutely necessary, and no
more, at salaries not to exceed the following ::
Secretary, $3.50: assistant secretary, slOO; at
torney, 500; chief engineer, $3.50; assistant en-
gIneer, 500; chief wharhnger, $3.50; assistant
wharhngers, Sl00; collectors $75; common la
borerS per day, 81; clerks, per month, SIS.
And in no event shall any salary be higher
than what is paid by average respectable
business houses for the same class of labor !;
and provided also, that the total amount OF
money paid out tor salaries of Commissioners
and employees, fuel rent, printing tationery
ana office expenses of every kind and nature
shall not exceed IN all more than 10 per cent
OF the current revenue received from the
water front. And provided, alsosthat tr;pli-
cate copies of the report now required by law
be made TO the Controller before the 5th of
each month, giving full detailed account OF
the receipts and disbursements OF their Off ce
for the previous month, to the enu that the
Mayor of san Francisco and the president OF
the Chamber OF Commerce shall each receive
q copy monthly.
RESOLVED, That it is the bounden duty of the
present Legislature now assembled to cause
a thorough investigation to be made into the
present and past conduct OF the Board OF State
Harbor commissioners, through q competent
committee, and to proceed against them and
their bondsmen legally should they have
violated their trust or have wasted the public
funds.
A resolution approving the general prin-
clple OF arbitration in all international
differences and contentious was adopted
and ordered sent to Congress with an ac-
companylng explanation that the princi-
pie should be applied by special arbltra-
tors appointed by parties 10 each dispute
rather than by a permanent body, and
Furthermore that no questions affecting
the Monroe doctrine should be submitted
to arbitration as that doctrine should be
maintained as indispensable to the peace
The establishment near Point Arena OF
Iife-saving station was urged upon the
Government in the following expressions
which were approved and ordered sent to
the Secretary OF the Treasury:
The Chamber of Commerce res pectfuily
calls to your attention the urgent need of a
lite-saving station just north of and near
Several vessels have been wrecked reaT the
dangerous headiand, in the vicinity OF which
the ocean currents are known TO be strong
and Irregular. Among them we recall the
bark Hyack, the ship Z. Buckley, the steam
ship Eastport, the schooner James Townsend
the schooner Ocean Spray, and the schooner
vessels mentioned the entire crews were lost.
The late wreck bv stranding near POint t
Arena OF the splendid steamship San Benito,
with the loss of six lives, resulting from the
absence OF life-saVing apparatus on the coast,
is q most urgent argument for the life-saving
station we request
In his annual address President Hugh
Craig spoke briefly in review of the things
accomplished by the Chamber of Com
nerce during the past var and COM
mented hopefully upon pending and future
reforms calculated to be of advantage TO
this port and to its commercial prosperity
He said that during the forty-seventn tn
year OF the organization just completed
the officers and trustees OF the cham Der
had given consideration to many of the
interests Germane to commerce. He de-
nounced the State quarantine service as
superhuous and expensive.
Continuing, he said the proposed Ha-
waiian caole is yet in the future, but bill
Is now before Congress which, if passed,
will secure the much needed telegraphic
connection. The British are moving rap
idly to establish a Pacific Ocean ca Bile
under their own control. He mentioned