The San Francisco call., 1907-01-05
.HkRBOR BOARD IS
CALLED DOWN
McNab Tells Commission
It Is Trying to Give
"Ha-Ha" to Merchants
CARRIES HIS POINT

James McNab is OF the opinion that
Harbor Commissioners Spear, Macken-
zie and Crocker are giving the ''ha, ha"
to the allied commercial association IN
stead of trying to improve conditions
on the water front. William Matson,
w. G. Tibbitts and McNab comprise the
subcommittee from the commercial
bodies that recently recommended the
removal OF coal bunkers and all per-
manent office buildings from the bulk
heads. The committee also recon-
mended that no lumber should be dis
charged at covered docks, and that all
lumber should be removed from other
docks as fast as discharged
The Harbor Commissioners, perceiv-
ing that quick and absolute enforce
ment OF such recommendations would
provoke a storm of indignation among
the steamship men, lumber dealers and
coal shippers, resolved to enforce the
regulations and put the responsibility
up to the Chamber Of Commerce and
other commercial bodies.
What the commissioners expected
happened, and the protests were so
sharp and stinging that McNab. Mat
son and TibbittS went before the Board
of Commissioners and complained that
the board had not used discretion. 1t
was said the spirit OF the recommends
tions had been violated. 1t was not In
offices of steamship companies con-
nected with the docks should be re-
moved.
ASKS MODIFICATION
Commissioner Spear replied that the
subcommittee should take the report
back and modify it by designating
what offices should remain and the
offices that should be removed
Captain Matson insisted that the
commissioners should apply the law OF
common sense in the Interpretation of
the report. He said:
We come here in courteous. gentlemanly
manner to assist you In relieving the congestion
meet us in good faith You go out Of your way
to make the work harder for US.
Commissioner Spear said:
We accepted your report and followed its rec,
position to interpret the spirit Of your report.
| You want some OF the steamship companies 20
have offices on the bukheads. but your report
recommends the removal of all. You want US to
discriminate. Why don't your commercial or
ganizations give us the moral support you prom
ised when we agreed to abide by your recon-
mendations? We are not collecting rents from
offices and coal bunkers because we have given
notice that they are to be removed
JUMPS COMMISSIONERS
McNab took the commissioners to
task for striving to make the recon-
Popular. He said:
The style OF notice sent out by your secretary
incensed the steamship companies. You include
with lumber general cargo" in the order for i'm
mediate removal. We recommended that no lum-
Der should be discharged at covered docks. be-
cause lumber can stand exposure, but general
merchandise should be under cover. We did not
expect that the board would prevent a boat
from taking on lumber at Jackson-street wharf.
On behalf Of merchants trying to help
you. but. to expression Of the street,
your board is trying to give US the ''ha ha.
After more talk. In which McNab and
Matson criticised the offensive manner
| of the boards enforcement OF the
recommendations, Commissioner Spear
said the board would agree to remove
such cigar stands. stables and offices
on the bulkheads as the committee
should designate. and allow other
buildings the committee might indi-
cate to remain. 1t was decided that
Spear. Matson. Tibbitts and McNab
should meet at o'clock this morning
and go along the water. front. The
offices TO go will be pointed out and
the offices to remain will be designated.
The board received two bids for
| $500 tons of rock to repair the sea
wall. The award went to Gray Bros,
whose bid was SLOTS a ton Healy,
Tibbitts Co.'S bid was $1.74 ton.