The San Francisco call., 1908-11-28
ANGRY MEMBERS
GRILL COMMERCE
CHAMBER HEADS
General S. w. Baekus and Fair
iaxWheeIan Call c. C. Moore's
Remarks misleading
Ratification OF Trustees Ac-
ton Made by IS Out of
$50 Membership

The action of the officers of the San
Francisco chamber of commerce in
thanking the Los Angeles chamber of
commerce for its cooperation III him
dering the development of San Fran
cisco's harbor improvements aroused
the keenest indignation yesterday
among members of the local organiza-
tion. The sheer audacity of the COM
munication of gratitude has stirred
prominent members of the chamber to
outspoken resentment.
General Samuel w. BacKus and Fair
fax Wheelan. both members, declared
yesterday that President c. c. Moore's
remarks on the local feeling on the
Islais creek proposition were mislead-
ing.
In the letter sent by President c. G.
Moore, at the direction of the trustees,
was the sentence: "The action of the
trustees Gin opposing the proposition)
was subsequently ratified at the quar-
terly meeting of the members"
ONLY 35 OUT OF 75o
'Moore's letter did not go sufficiently
into the facts of the case said Gen
eral Backus yesterday 1T is true that
the act of the trustees was ratified
at the quarterly meeting. but at that
meeting there were not more than 35
present out of membership Of more
than $50. Then several members made
a fight to have the question left to a
postcard vote of the membership. but
that was voted down by the Islais
creek interests. The meeting was not
unanimous by any means, and SO there
was no popular ratification of the truS-
tees action
Fairfax Wheelan was equally em-
phatic yesterday
AT the meeting in question | made
a speech urging that the proposition be
submitted to a post card vote of the
membership of the chamber of COM
merce, he said "That was voted
down, but many voted in favor of the
postal canvass. The opposition was
not unanimous. The membership of
the chamber of commerce of 750 was
committed against the proposition by
the majority vote of not more than 81
present at the quarterly meeting.
sTINGING NOTE TO MOORE
After the Meeting 1 addressed al
letter to President c. c. Moore. In that
communication, among other things. l
said:
The adverse decision Of your hon.
orable body could not have been in
dorsed more emphaticalIy had the vote
been cast only by those interests who
are desirous. I am informed, of filling
in portion of the Islais basin for their
own private uses
Fairfax Wheelan's letter was proph-
etic. Already the lumber inter-
ests are active in their endeavor to fill
in the land which would soon become
the property of the state if the selfish
acts of local interests and the jealousy
of Los Angeles had not spoiled the
plan.
Luther Wagner, the engineer for the
subcommittee on harbor improvements
of the Citizens committee of forty,
admitted yesterday that he has pre-
pared plans for the Acme lumber COM
pany to fill in approximately four
blocks of partly submerged land in the
Islais basin, being part of the land de-
sired by the state. Adjoining the Acme
lumber company's property is tract
owned by the Pope & Talbot lumber
company.
Wagner denied the persistent rumor
that he has worked on plans for the
reclamation of the Pope & Talbot land
The Pope & Talbot lumber company
was one of the most energetic fighters
against the bonding proposition 1t adj
dressed personal letter to each men,
Der of the Merchants association urg-
ing that the proposition be defeated
at the polls.
WAGNER BOOSTS OWN SCHEME
Wagner is now strongly supporting a
proposition by which the state would
secure but 40 acres of the submerged
lands, instead of ga acres. which was
the original plan. The 40 acre tract
lies beyond the property owned by
Wagoner's client, the Acme lumber COM
pany, and still further beyond the line
of the Pope & Talbot holdings. While
the controversy is still waging over the
defeat of the bond issue provision, the
proponents of the measure and some
OF those who opposed it are busy with
plans to be presented to the next legis-
lature calling for a new propositions
State Senator Richard Welch and the
leaders of the Mission promotion asso-
citation are already active in a move
ment to have the Islais creek PROPOSE
ton again presented to the voters, the
only difference in the issue being that
the Sl,00O,000 bonds be issued for a
term OF 20 years rather than 20 years.
The new amendment to the constitution
provides for the longer term of securi-
ties.