The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-29
IMPROVEMENT OF RIVERS.
ACTION TAKEN BY THE CHAM
BIER OF COMMERCE.
correspondence With Senator Fer
kins In Regard to the Duties
ON Fruit.

A meeting of the Board of Directors
Of the Chamber of Commerce was heio
yesterday afternoon, at which II was
decided to send three delegates to the
convention to be held at Woodland on
January 10Th. The convention Will pc
composed of delegates from every sec
ton of the Sacramento Valley, ana
questions Of such common interest as
irrigation, navigation, drainage, pres
eryation Of forests. etc., Will De ois-
cuSsed.
There were spread upon the minutes
copies of petitions which had been sent
to the Governor by the sacramento
Chamber of Commerce and by the Su-
pervisors of Sacramento. Yuba and Yolo
Counties, asking that any call for
special session of the Legislature should
include the consideration Of amend
ments to the laws to this effect that
the Auditing Board to the Commission
err of Public Works may perform fur
ther work on the creeks, rivers and
sloughs.
A letter was read from Congressman
De Vries showing that in spite of his
best efforts to get work done at Nico-
cided adversely.
In this relation the following letter
from Commissioner Of Public Works =.
D. Ryan was read:
Sacramento Dec. %, 1899.
j. o. Coleman, Secretary of Chamber
of Commerce.-Dear Sir: Your favor
containing copy OF report Of United
State Board of Engineers report upon
the condition of the Feather River and
the relation Of the National Govern
ment toward same, received this day.
Bearing upon this subject Of river
improvement and the importance Of
action upon the part of the State,
quote from a recent letter received from
Congressman De Vries. He says:
1.-The river work of California has
been riously retarded by the unfortun-
ate condition of the present laws. Not
only has work been retarded. but good
faith with the Government has been
somewhat strained, inasmuch as the
appropriations obtained from the Fed
eral Government were granted upon
the strength Of the arguments that the
State would do its share in the work,
and would continue so to do
/ regard as of vital Importance the
necessity of work being Zone to improve
the conditions existing upon the Feath-
er River. AT my request State Engi-
neer Nurse will continue his investiga-
lions upon the subject. We expect
that when the report is completed some
way will be devised by which neces-
sary work can be inaugurated and that
shortly the uncertainties of the present
laws will be adjusted. Very respect
ruby yours. FRANK D. RYAN
Commissioner of Public Works.
DUTY ON FRUIT.
At recent meeting of the Chamber
resolutions were adopted protesting
against the passage of the proposed
commercial treaty between the United
States and the West Indies, and the rec
fprocity treaty with France, on the
ground that the, fruit industry of the
State would suffer thereby. The res
olutions were forwarded to Senator
Perkins at Washington, and his reply.
which was received recently, was read
and filed. 1t follows:
Frank Miller, President; ]. o. Cole
man, Secretary, Sacramento Chamber
Commerce-Gentlemen I beg to ac-
knowledge receipt of your favor of the
It'll inst, inclosing resolutions adopted
at late meeting of your Chamber of
Commerce, protesting against the
passage Of the proposed treaty between
the United States and the West Indies.
and the reciprocity treaty between this
country and France. and in reply would
say that 1 will to-day present the same
TO the Senate for its consideration and
nave 1t referred to the Committee upon
Foreign Affairs for their. consideration
and final action.
The committee have promised to give
your special delegate, who is here, a
hearing, as we'll as the balance of the
delegation from California, before they
report the same back to the Senate for
its consideration. They have also prom
Used to move in executive session that
the seal of secrecy be removed from
the same, and that the treaty be given
to the public press, SO that our people
may have the opportunity of consider
Ing the treaty in all Of its phases.
In this connection I would say that
your delegation in Congress from Cali
fornia have personally interviewed the
President and the Special Commissioner
Plenipotentiary upon the tariff in rela-
ton to the Jamaica treaty, and it is
claimed that the full reduction of duty
upon citrus fruit will amount to only
$4,000, and they do not believe that 1t
is possible that it will in any measure
affect the prices of citrus fruits in the
United States, and in return for this
small concession the Special Plenipo-
Tertiary Commissioner claims that the
farmers of the United States will re-
ceive several hundreds of thousands
dollars benefits by commissions made
on duties heretofore paid in Jamaica
upon articles that are the products of
the soil in the United States.
beg to assure you that your delega-
tion in Congress will spare no effort to
do all in their power to protect not
only the citrus fruits that grow so pro-
ILLEGALLY in our State, but also all other
products Of the soil of California.
have the honor to remain, your obedient
servant, GEORGE C. PERKINS.
United States Senator.
After the receipt of the foregoing let
ter, a second was received from Senator
Perkins, the postscript of which is ex-
tremely interesting, inasmuch as it is
an opinion expressed after a careful
study of the situation. He writes:
Frank Miller. President; j. o. Cole
man, Secretary, Chamber Commerce,
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Since writing
to you some days since the pledge of
secrecy has been removed. by order of
the Senate, from the pending treaties
between France and Great Britain and
this country. ! have taken pleasure in
mailing copies to you to-day. under
fpc