The San Francisco call., 1908-10-27
FAVORS THE WATER
RONTPROPOSITION
William K. Davis Supports Plan
for Settlement of Important
Question With S. P.
Appears Before City Council and
Goes Into Detail of Various
Subjects

OAKLAND, Oct 26.--William r. Da
Wis, chief counsel for the city in the
water front litigation, supported the
proposed settlement of water front dis
putes with the Southern Pacific CONF
pany in d lengthy explanation before
the committee of the whole of the city
council tonight of the memorandum
which has been prepared by the board
OF public works. Davis said that while
ne had not sat with the board in its
conferences with the Southern Pacific
officials. the various subjects of the ten
tatlve agreement had been submitted TO
him for legal Interpretation. He paid
high tribute to Mayor, Mott. City Attor-
ney McElroy and City Engineer Turner,
as off1cialS and citizens declaring that
their entire good faith in this matter
mad been shown by the wide and open
publicity which theyi had given the
-propOSltlon. Davis went over the mem
orandum, item by item. and gave his
views of each one. showing what he
believed the city would gain by their
adoption as part of the franchise pro-
posed to be given the Southern Pacific
company for the use OF portion of the
water front.
Before Davis began. NJ j. Laymance
read a revised plan of settlement
which he had prepared and which was
presented as recommendation from
the harbor league.
Attorney Davis said that in his opin-
ion, If the city could lie left in posses
sion of it's lawful needs, jurisdiction
and powers on the water front and
other claimants by granting conces-
s1ons. properly safeglIarded, that this
would be a most desirable way to pro-
ceed toward the final solution of water
front problems. He outlined in detail
the erect of the terms as tentatively
proposed under the board of works
agreement. He said that the best inter-
ests of the city could not be impaired
by. grant of properly termed fran
chises to great transportation compa-
MES
Speaking of the proposed plan to
make hnal the Judgment of the United
States circuit court of appeals in the
western Pacif1c-Soutf1ern Pacific case,
Davis declared that this would be de-
cree of the next court of last resort in
the country and would make immedi-
ately salable and marketable harbor
Improvement bonds.i He was of the
opinion that to take the case to the
United States supreme court would
mean delay of at least two, and pos
sibly three or four years, with the un-
certainty of the outcome impairing the
value of the bonds. TO effect settle
ment at this time. und er the agreement
would enhance the value of bonds.
said Attorney Davis, and hasten the
opportunity for the city to proceed with
harbor improvements. He declared that
those who said they favored an imme-
date bond issue and also an appeal to
the United States supreme court were
inconsistent on the face of the situation.
Davis pointed out thai 1t was not i'm
possible that. unless settlement was
erected, the next legislature. might
take the water front but of the city's
hands. Before concluding he suggested
some minor changes in a number of
items. Davis speech was loudly aD-
plauded by the large lobby.