Los Angeles herald., 1906-10-02
HARBOR'S FATE AT STAKE

The fate of San Pedro harbor depends
largely on the result of the coming cleo
ton for governor and members of the
legislature.
The Legislature will have the power to
satisfy the federal government by ap-
propriate enactment, that appropria-
tions for harbor work should be con-
! tinued. AS the matter now stands
there is but little hope for further ap-
preparations. That fact was made
clear in the recent declarations, in this
city, by two members cf congress who
are on the house rivers and harbors
committee.
1t will rest with the next legislature
to decide whether public interests shall
be protected from corporate rate ra-
pacity at the harbor. in accordance
with safeguards provided in the state
constitution. If the Legislature and the
governor shall be controlled by the
Southern Pacific company and its allies
there will be no legislation adverse to
corporate interests. and there surely
will be no such legislation if Candidate
Gillett be elected governor and a. Re-
publican majority be elected to the
legislature.
According to the state constitution it
is the duty of the Legislature to protect
public interests in just such cases as
the one presented at the port of San
Pedro. section of the constitution
states explicitly that no corporation,
company or Individual claiming possess
sion of harbor frontage shall be per-
mitted ito exclude the right of way to
such water whenever it is required for
any public purpose, nor to destroy or
obstruct the free navigation of such
water
Following that clear distinction Of the
inalienable rights cf the public, as
against corporate or other aggression,
in this injunction upon the Legislature:
THE legislature shall enact such laws
as will give the most liberal construc-
ton to this provision, SO that access to
be always attainable for the people
thereto"
Nothing could be palmer than the
language thus quoted from the constitu-
ton. The rights of the public at San
Pedro harbor are fundamental and par
amount. Amy corporate or other priv
ileges claimed in frontage of tidal
lands of a harbor' are subordinate to
public interests. And it is incumbent
upon the legislature to safeguard those
interests from encroachment of any
character.
How obviously important It is, there
fore, that the next Legislature shall be
representative of the peoples harbor in
terests and not merely tool of the
railway combine. And in view of the
governors veto prerogative, it is equally
important that the veto power be ex-
ercised by an unquestionable represent
tative Of the people and not by man
mortgaged to e. III. Hartman in re-
turn for his selection as 'tLs next gov
ernor OF California"
A vote for Candidate Gillett or a vote
for a machine Legislative candidate
means vote for tying up San Pedro
harbor indefinitely. The government
may not expend another dollar on the
harbor under present conditions. as
we are emphatically warned by mem-
bers OF the rivers and harbor committee.
Conditions win not be changed II Harri-
mans mortgaged candidate be elected
and a machine-made legislature be in
stalled at Sacramento
Voters OF Southern California particu-
Iarly, and Of the whole state generally.