Los Angeles herald., 1908-11-01

JudSon RuSn, Democratic nolhiii00 1ot
congress, speaking at the wigwam, said
In part:
Mr.. McLachlan made his record as
a member of congress an issue in this
campaign and demanded it be investl-
gated. ] made an investigation and
from time to time stated the results
of that investigation.
Last evening there was published a
statement signed by the Republican
congressional committee, which state
ment in pamphlet form is being dis
tributed throughout Los Angeles and
which attempts to give to the voters
a detailed account of the official SER
vices of Mr.. McLachan as a member
of congress from this district.
"This circular recites that, A persis-
tent effort has been made to miSrepre-
sent Mr.. McLachlan's attitude on the
San Pedro harbor question, and that
from the beginning he has been con-
sistent, active and effectual friend of
San Pedro
''It also states that He was MEM
ber of the Fifty-fourth congress when
the appropriation of $2,9O0,000 for the
building of a breakwater at San Pedro
was secured, and worked hand in hand
with the Hon. Stephen NJ. White for
the accomplishment of that result
IT have been credibly informed that
Mr. McLachlan in his public addresses
in this county during this campaign
has ofttimes claimed the entire credit
for obtaining this appropriation. The
facts are these:
'That Congressman Hooker of New
York, chairman of the rivers and har-
bors committee, reported bill to the
Fifty-fourth congress which contained
an item appropriating 100000 for the
Improvement of San Pedro harbor, and
an item appropriating $3,000,000 OTTO
an item appropriating $3.000,000 to
protect the long wharf which the
Southern Pacific contemplated build
ing.
property adjacent to this proposed har-
Dor. In other words, this item pro-
posed that the government of the
United States should spend $3,000,000
building a breakwater for the sole
benefit of the Southern Pacific Rail-
road company.
''Mr. Cooper of Wisconsin discovered
these items in this bill and notified
the people of Los Angeles of the situ-
alton.
"Both of these items were then
stricken oR of the rivers and harbors
bill and the bill passed and sent to
the senate.
"Stephen M. White waS then United
States senator from this state and he
INTRODUCED an amendment in the SEN
ate which provided for an appropr1a-
tion of $2,9O00O0 to be expended in
building a breakwater at a point to
be determined by a board of engineers.
This amendment was adopted and in
serted in the rivers and harbors bill
in the United States senate.
"This bill was then sent back to the
house. The house disagreed to the SEN
ate amendment
Nv. Of NnNu
chairman of the rivers and harbors
committee was chairman of this con-
ference committee and insisted no ap-
propriation whatever be made that
could by any possibility be used at San
Pedro, and for twenty-four hours he
held to this appropriation bill, stead
fastly refusing to consent to this
amendment.
During this time a prominent rep
resentative of the harbor interests of
Los Angeles went to Mr.. McLachlan
and asked him to explain to the house
that Mr.. Hooper and those of his col
leagues, who were refusing to consent
to this appropriation, were the same
men who inserted in the original bill
the appropriation of 100000 for Santa
Monica.
"Mr. McLachlan whiningly replied
that the speaker would not recognize
him: that he could not say anything.
He was then asked to go to the other
members of the house privately and
explain to them the situation, but he
said he could not do anything.
"This friend of San Pedro's then went
to James G. Mcclure, the Democratic
congressman from San Francisco, and
explained the situation to Mr.. Nc
Guire. Mr.. Mcclure notified Mr..
Hooker and said:
Mr.. Hooker, you and your col
leagues inserted the item in the orig
inal bill appropriating $S,00O,OOO for
the improvement of Santa Monica har-
Dor. Y6u now object to any approprta-
ton for harbor improvements that can
be possibly used at San Pedro.
Your objections do not appear to
be sincere, but to be made in the in
terests of the railroads. If your COM
mittee does not report that bill to the
house, approving that item, I will arise
on the floor and explain to the house
and the country your position in ref
erence to the matter
"Mr. Hooper said he didn't want any
unpleasantness about the matter, and
Immediately upon the fall of the gavel
Mr.. Hooper arose in his place and an
nounced the conference committee had
agreed upon this bill and the item in
controversy had been acceded to.
McLachlan Never Did Work
During the twelve years that have
elapsed since that time a total of
$663, 900 has been appropriated for har-
Dor improvements in San Pedro har-
Dor, very little more than $4,000 a
year, and so far as the record discloses,
Mr. McLachlan never worked one hour