The San Francisco call., 1908-10-11

was. adding that he was under tele-
graphic orders to represent the post
master general at the congress.
Fisk admitted the accuracy Of the
newspaperman's exposition OF the sit
uation. but took a technical defense
that he had not Joined the corollaries
as the newspapers had.
When the congress met in the morn
ing President J. b. Case introduced
President elect Thomas F. Walsh, the
multimillionaire Of Denver. Walsh
made a pleasant address and was
cheered by the congress.
RESOLUTIONS ARE ADOPTED
Colonel Ike 7. Pryor. the vice pres
ident, took the chair and called for
the report of the committee on reso-
lutions. Ed i. Harris, chairman of the
committee. stated that the report was
ready and moved its adoption when
read. ". o. Hart. chairman Of the
compilation committee, read the re-
port No fight was made on any Of the
paragraphs in the joint resolution.
Even Frank Short sat silent and smil
ing while the resolution faVoring gov
ernment control of reservoirs for cleo
trio power supply. as skillfully fixed
by former Governor George c. Pardee,
was read.
contained recommendations on the fol-
lowing important matters:
Approval of the project for a deep
waterway from the great lakes to the
gulf of Mexico; improvement to the
highest points Of navigation Of rivers
penetrating the trans Mississippi coun
try; support on the part of senators and
representatives Of the internal water
ways policy of President Roosevelt, and
the creation, if necessary, of a national
board Of public works and an increase
OF the public debt TO carry on adequate
works.
Large appropriations for California
river and harbor Improvements, in ac-
cordance with the resolution introduced
by Senator Leroy Wright of San Diego.
were approved, also Improvements and
fortiications at Coos bay, improvements
Of Bayou LafOurche. Louisiana, the Ar
kansas river, the construction of an in
tercoastal canal from the Mississippi to
the Rio Grande and Improvement of the
Siuslaw harbor, Oregon. Protection for
sugar and the grape industry Of Cali
fOrnia was recommended to congress.
Urgent needs for increase of the dock
age facilities on the Pacific coast par
ticularly at Mare island and Bremerton,
were shown. Government supervision
of electric power enterprises was rec
the United States and the Latin Ameri-
can republics, were urged, and govern
ment steamship line TO replace the Pa
cific Mail If the latter corporation did
not improve its service was asked for.
Other matters taken up We're the rec
concentrations for stringent laws relat-
ing 10 perishable freight tariff reci-
procity, the leasing Of grazing lands,
the Panama canal work for furthering
n ~ TO- ,.nT
survey, for the protection of national
forests, for giving increased powers to
the interstate commerce commission in
the matter of advanced freight rates.
for improving the American merchant
marine, for the United States public
health and marine hospital service, ia
voring good roads and international
fisheries laws. favoring reduced rates to
the Alaska ukon exposition at Seattle
and favoring the removal of restrictions
upon the allottees of Indian lands with
in the state of oklahoma, and COM
mendations on the work of the fedora
tion of tree growing clubs Of America
Former Governor J. J. Gosper of Ari-
zona. a member of the delegation from
Los Angeles. introduced a resolution,
which was passed, favoring the admis-
sion as separate states Of Arizona and
New Mexico territories.
PARCELS POST DISCUSSED
The parcels post matter then came up.
Pinkham OF Hawaii, chairman Of the
subcommittee on postal laws of the
committee on resolutions, made an ex-
tended report explaining why the COM
mittee had not approved the resolution
indorsing parcels posts. His report was
an argument.
Edward Berwick, president of the
Postal Progress league, then intro
duced as a substitute to the motion
contained in Pinkham's report the fol-
lowing resolution
Whereas. all improvements in
methods and lessening Of the cost of
production and transportation tend to
enlarge the boundaries and increase
the volume OF commerce; and
Whereas, Postmaster General Meyer
has proposed to reduce the rate per
pound on parcels sent through the do
mestic mails from 16 to II cents per
pound, to increase the maximum
weight from to IL pounds, and
also to permit packages to be carried
on all rural free delivery routes from
their initial point to any other point
on the same route at the rate of 8
cents for the first pound and 2 cents
additional for every pound added up to
IL pounds;
BE it resolved, that this congress
heartily indorses the postmaster gen.
erals recommendation and urges on the
United States congress to take the
necessary steps to make these recon-
mendations effective"
Then followed the fight Of the day
Berwick led off. He was followed by
Colonel John p. Irish, who pictured
a dire condition If the law went into
effect. Ex-Governor Rickard of Mon
tana took up the cause where Berwick
had left ii and made a stirring speech.
declaring that the masses want and
need the parcels post
FISK ARGUES FOR CHANGE
Postmaster Fisk asked an extension
OF time over the five minute limit when
he spoke. His argument was well
made. He declared that the same
arguments now used against the par
GELS post project were made against
rural free delivery.
Can this body afford to go on record
as opposing a reduction in postal
rates." Fisk asked. lie declared that
the express companies were fighting the
law. He said that the law would aid
the country stores located on rural de-
livery routes more than il would help
tho mail order houses, and quoted
President Roosevelt's commentator of
the proposal
60.