Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-02
APPEAL FROM PARDEE
Governor Asks for Payment OF
California's Claims.
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
Proposed to Guarantee San Francisco
Bonds.
JOINT RESOLUTION PRESENTED
Board of National Commissioners Sug-
gested-Senate Votes Thanks
to Gen. Porter.
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE
JOINT RESOLUTION PRESENTED

sJtHdte MI, TtFhti1S pTcSSittu tc'c6i NpASAS
petition from Gov. Pardee of California for
the payment of the claims of that state
against the government for the settlement
of which bills now pending. The text
OF the petition was as follows:
"Wfn Congress, in CALIFORNIA; present
great need, pass our per cent public lands
claim, amounting to about $1,000 coo; also
our war of rebellion claims, aggregating
g. coo 600; also our Indian war claims, orig
inaIly $500, 900, on account Of the destruc-
ton of $500 COO goo of San Francisco prop
erty. which represents one-ffth of the as
sessed valuation of the entire state? Our
state funds, including maintenance of asy-
lums, penitentiary and repairs of public
buildings, injured and destroyed by earth
quake, will all be greatly hampered unless
Congress can see its way clear to pass
these claims the justice of which has
never been seriously questioned We are
under great obligations to Congress al
ready but We venture to ask for this fur-
Their aid
The petition was referred to the commit
tee on claims.
The following bills were passed Author
izing the construction of dams across the
Coosa river at Lock in Alabama.
Authorizing the construction OF bridges
across the Clinch river in Virginia and the
Holster river in Tennessee by the South
and Western Railway Company.
Mr.. Lodge tnen TepOTLSu lIOiu tue Sph4
mittee on foreign relations and the Senate
passed the House joint resolution extending
the thanks of Congress to Gen. Horace
Porter for his services in locating the
burial place in Paris of John Paul Jones'
There was no debate on the resolution.
To Lend Credit to San Francisco.
Mr. Newlands presented joint resolution
directing the Senate committee on finance
and the House committee on ways and
Hzn fNiH Of O
governments guaranteeing bonds to assist
in the rebuilding of Sap Francisco.
The resolution recites the recent disaster,
and saws that under the powers OF the gen
eral welfare clause of the Constitution Con-
gress should come to the aid of San Fran
cisco. ,
The resolution follows: Resolved by the
Senate and House of Representatives in
Congress assembled, that the committee on
ways and means of the House of REPRE-
sentatives and the committee on hnance OF
the Senate chamber consider Jointly the
various plans for financial aid IN the res
toration of San Francisco, and that they
report TO the Congress whether or not II Is
advisable or practicable for the national
government to aid San Francisco, either by
a guarantee of credit to the city OF san
Francisco which Will enable the city 10
secure at low rates or interest the iloliey
necessary for public works, as well as the
money necessary for the restoration OF the
commercial residential and manufacturing
buildings Of San Francisco to be loaned at
fair rates of interest to property oWne!
upon note and mortgage sucn guarantee OF
credit to be conditioned upon the approval
by a commission to be appointed py the
President of the United States OF the plans
proposed and the expenditures mace there-
under: or whether 1t is practicable or ad-
yisable TO promote the organization OF
great financial corporation, nauonai OF
state, half of whose stock shau pc taken py
subscribers for cash. and half OF winch
stock may be taken by San Francisco prop
erty owners for property conveyed TO such
corporal ton, at an appraised VALUATION the
cash subscribed to be used either Tor loans
To individual owners of San Francisco prop
erty or to be expended in improving prop
erty so conveyed to such corporation, with
provisions for the gradual sale OF such
property after the successful comp teton OF
the work of restoration; such plan TO IN
volve profit to the stockholders thus CO.
operating; and whether or not 1t IS prac-
ttcable or advisable for the United states
to invest in the stock of such corporation
or TO make loan to such corporation upon
the lines heretofore pursued by the nationa4
government in aid of national exposiuohs
for the promotion of commerce between the
states and with foreign nations, or whether
any other plan is advisable or practical for
national aid in the restoration of San FRAN
cisco.
.-That whatever plan Of aid be advised,
board of national commissioners expert
enced in exposition building, to be appoint
ed by the President, by and with the ad-
vice and consent OF the Senate, shall be
included with such powers of control over
both plans and expenditures as may De
deemed advisable.
Mr. Newfands then had read dispatch
from San Francisco printed today in which
he was quoted as saying that New York
financiers had agreed to supply S100, coo, 600
for the restoration of the city OF San iran
cisco. He said that the article had been
given wide publicity by the Associated
Press and that while he had been in New
York for the past two or three days con-
sulting with financiers on the subject of
the restoration OF San Francisco the state
ment printed was an exaggeration.
No Assurances Received in New York.
He had communicated his movements to
Mr. w f. Heron, counsel for the Southern
Pacific railway al San Francisco, merely for
the purpose of securing his opinion as to the
feasibility OF the plan. and not because any
thing had been actually accomplished. The
plan had not reached such proportions as
the dispatch indicated, and no definite as
surance had been received. but he had found
in New York as elsewhere. much sympathy
for the people of the stricken city. and had
also discovered disposition 10 aid.
He had, he said. offered the resolution
without consulting the California sena tors,
feeling that they might be sensitive on the
question of asking aid. AS for himself he
wanted to say that although he and those
connected with him had been heavy losers.
resolution IL 1t should become law.
We propose to reconstruct our hotels and
finance the matter ourselves" he said and
then added that his interest was due solely
to his interest in the Pacific coast generally
and his affection for the people of that part
OF the country.
In reply to a question from Mr.. Knox he
said II was true that the steel buildings had
withstood the earthquake shock better than
other large structures, but added that COM
paratively little damage had been done by
the shock. the fire being responsible for the
greater part of the injury.
Has the senator made a calculation to
show what aid from the government win be
necessary to restore San Francisco?" asked
Mr. Hopkins. and in reply Mr.. Newiands
said he had not made an accurate estimate
He thought. however. that as much as $780,
100000 or 100000. 600 would be necessary to
accomplish the complete rehabilitation of
the city. OF that he thought the insurance
companies would supply $100, O00, 900 or $780,
DOC. coo. and he was confident that private
enterprise also would do much. Hence he
was of opinion that the government would
not be called upon to guarantee more than
500 000O
Cases Cited as Presidents.