The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-04-26
-lTH At.\LORkr1Ar~l


was too ambiguous to be enforced He
could not obtain the concurrence of the
Chief of Engineers, General Wilson, and
he thereupOn referred the subject to At
torneY General McKenna, who overruled
the Secretary, holding that there was
nothing in his criticism. He then declared
that he could not advertise for bids be-
cause no appropriation had been made Tor
that purpose FREQUENT offers were made
by the newspapers of this coast to print
the necessary notices free of charge. Ihls
he declined to accept on the preteXt that
the Government could not accept dona-
tons ignoring the truth that all over the
United States the Postoffice Department.
accepts expensive buildings free OF
charge Then several leading newspapers
expressed their Willingness to print the
matter and await Congressional action.
This the Secretary also declined. Mean
time the subject was referred TO the
proper Treasury officer, who ruled that
there was something like $4,000 on hand
The expenses of advertising were merely
nominal. Bids were advertised for, and
the bidders ranged all the way from the
price fixed by the present contractor to
the full amount allowed.
Still the Secretary was not satisfied
but failed to proceed, and declared his in
tention to present the act once more to
the Attorney General Ghen Governor
Griggs for construction. He assured
several persons that he had done so, when
as a matter of fact he had made no such
submission. The session of Congress was
coming to an end, and we naturally be-
came exceedingly nervous Several of us
called upon the President and | believe
that l there expressed my opinion of the
conduct of the Secretary of War in an
emphatic manner, and we all urged
promptness. Finally the President, after
having looked over the situation and
having determined that the harbor ought
to be located at San Pedro, asked the
Secretary when he intended to seek the
advice of the Attorney General. Pressed
directly by the executive, ne was COM
H. =
more the matter was decided against him,
as General GriggS promptly Concurred
with Judge Mckenna After this there
was nothing to do bus let the contract.
Perhaps there has never been any
work projected in the United States so
embarrassed by unnecessary difficulties.
Many of those who opposed the present
location did so in the best ~of faith, but
the public will never believe, nor would
it be justified in believing, that had not
the powerful interests headed by Mr..
Huntington been behind Santa Monica
there would have been no serious oppo-
siton after the making of the Mendell
report. Individual Senators or Represen-
tatives might have expressed dissent, but
the project would have gone through.
Mr.. Huntington has had vast experience
in Congress, has many friends there who,
recognizing his great ability, find it i'm
possible to find him in error, and they
there is another class to be found every
where, who seek the approval of wealth
and power and hope for its smiles.
During the battle which was waged
Walker board the people of Los Angeles
were in a state of ferment, but the
masses and the overwhelming body of
business men, who were unawed by rail-
road domination, advocated San Pedro.
A number of good citizens, however, it
must be said-among whom l count many
of my personal friends-preferred the
other place Now that the victory has
been achieved and the last opposing Of
fetal mas been rudely thrown aside. there
ought not to be further trouble. After
continuing contract such as that involved
here has been let, appropriations follow
as matter of course-not in the river
and harbor bill, but in the general ap-
preparation bill, the average amount APP