The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-16

before L lett w dSIlluStoH Tic Pi eSi~
dent stated to a gentleman, who Is q .
. warm advocate of San Pedro, with the .
. request that the statement be conveyed
Q to the members of the California dele .
. cation, that the San Pedro matter had
. been finally settled, and that the work
. would go on."-Senator White in an in .
terview.
Senator Stephen M. White returned from
Washington yesterday morning He was
quite ready to talk about anything connected
with public affairs, but most of his informa-
ton was relative to the status of the San
Pedro harbor matter.
II think at last this hard contest over the
matter of the harbor at San Pedro has been
settled in favor of the free harbor. pre-
sume," he said to the interviewer, that the
press reports have kept you all familiar with
the details of the work done.
ut is universally understood that Secre-
tary Alger, in connection with his adver-
tsement for bids for the San Pedro work,
included provision to the effect that any
contract made should be void unless there
was an appropriation made for tho present
fiscal year. This item is included in the
sundry civil BILL which became a law in
June. Immediately after the bill was
signed, Congressman Barlow interviewed
Secretary Alger and requested that ib-
mediate action be taken, but the only reply
he could get was that no move would be
made until an opinion could be had from the
attorney general. / may say in this point
that Chairman Hooker of the house COM
mittee on rivers and harbors, who had al
ways opposed San Pedro, came to me and
stated that he recognized the conclusiveness
of the report of the Walker board, and, this
being the case, he was anxious to do all In
his power to assist us. l told him that the
best thing he could do was to see Secretary
Alger, and this he did, and reported that
the secretary had told him that the opinion
of the attorney general had already been So
lcted.
"Then Mr.. Barlow went again to the sec
rotary and was told that the opinion of the
attorney general had not been asked for
A Flat Contradiction
This manifest contradiction induced me
to call on the president, whom found quite
well informed. He ran over the situation
up to certain point, and asked for the adj
ditional facts. These gave hira, and dis
covered that the president had made full
Investigation, and was familiar with ex-
Attorney General McKenna's opinion and
his construction Of the river and harbor bill
relating to San Pedro, and was in thorough
accord Herewith.
II briefly narrated my want of reliance on
the secretary of war, and ran, over the facts
already given to you, and 1 inferred from
the tone of the presidents conversation that
he would press the subject to final conclu-
sion. The next day Mr.. Barlow again went
to see Secretary Alger and received another
manana response. Senator Perkins, Con-
gresham Mcguire and other members of
the delegation, including myself, again met
the executive, and l stated the failure to
obtain any satisfactory statement of the
views of the war department
The President Takes Action
1.-THE president at once called his messen-
ger and sent telephone message to the Sec
retary's office and obtained the response
that the subject would be submitted to the
attorney general the next day. We left,
and two days after I learned that nothing
had been done toward submitting the case
to General Griggs. This led us to take fur
Their action, and Senator Perkins, Senator
Elkins, Congressmey Barham, De Vries
who granted US private interview. The
president, while properly reserved, ]
thought, showed the fullest appreciation of
the situation. l frankly told him that If
the harbor was ever completed it would be
because of his action. and that 1t would
never be commenced unless he saw fit to
exercise his prerogative. and that 1 had no
confidence In any assurance that Secretary
Alger might give. l assured him that the
people of California, and especially those
most conversant with the subject, had be-
come utterly weary of the delay; that had
made plain statement of the situation in
the senate, In which neither politics nor per-
sonal feeling was manifested, but tina: a
crisis was apparent. and that If no assurance
of action could be had, 1t would be necessary
for me to go ahead in my own way.
II further assured the presiden. that !
had the fullest confidence in his ability and
desire to assist us, and also knew that a
thorough knowledge of the situation would
lead him to justify our conclusions.
Ills assurances in reply were quite clear
and satisfactory, but before left Washing
ton the president said to gentleman who
is warm advocate of San Pedro with the
request that the statement be conveyed to
the members of the California delegation.
that the San Pedro matter had been finally
settled, and that the work would go on"
Hawaiian Annexation
When asked about the Hawaiian resolu-
ton the senator said "No, do not feel
disappointed in the affairs coming to a sue
cessful issue, but 1 do regret that a move
ment that believe injurious to the Ameri-
m NJ people has been brought about No one