Los Angeles herald., 1908-10-25
INDIA BASIN ACT
WARMLY ARGUED
CITY CLUB DISCUSSES 0UES-
TlOM VIGOROUSLY
JOSEPH NOEL SCORES oPPo.
NENTs TO MEASURE
Declares II Ratification Fails, Selfish
Men Who Own Tracts of Land
Nearby VIII Profit by
the Failure

The india basin act, which is to be
ratified at the coming election, Is the
cause of heated discussion which TOOK
place at the monthly dinner of the City
club in the Hotel Lankershim yester-
day.
Joseph Noel, writer Of some note in
the northern end OF the state. held his
own during the debate, which was
opened by Senator Bell, who quoted
the literature of those opposed to Ahe
| ratification of the measure. Senator
Bell said the letters had been brought
to him by a young man in the employ
of some San Francisco men opposed to
the measure Personally he said, i
am not opposed to the india basin act,
but since there is seeming division
| In San Francisco as to the merits OF
the bill, | am not inclined to be en-
thusiastic in its support, despite the
| fact | voted for 1t in the legislature.
Mr.. Noel took the floor at this juno
ture and showed the immediate eco
nomic interest of a few selfish men
dictated the sending of literature op-
posing the ratification of the India
| basin act. despite evidence showing the
| literature was false In its premise and
absurd in Its conclusions.
/ 1.-THE implication of ali this nonsense
relative to alleged division on this
question In San Francisco Is that the
people of that city do not wish this
| proposition to be ratified" began Mr..
Noel This Is wrong. The people of
| San Francisco are for this. True,
few men--not more than five or six
who make their living In San Francis
co. and sleep In Alameda are in oppo"
sition. They own warehouses on the
present water front. They are fearful
the present congested condition may be
relieved eventually, and the relief will
i,aRr tInsv aFaan
small In itself but possessed of money
to make good campaign, owns the
land 1t Is proposed to condemn and re-
turn to the state-which should never
have permitted Its being given to the
favorites of the old political party OF
'72 They are moving heaven and earth
TO have the question postponed. They
come with the seemingly reasonable
argument that postponement is neces-
sary until the constitutional amend
ment which provides for issuing 10
year bonds, is in force.
Intention of Opponents
Taking 1t for granted the constitu-
tional amendment In question will be
adopted-though we have no assurance
1t will be--what do these seemingly
public spirited men. who are so anxious
to conserve the public veal. intend to
do? They intend to fill In the sub
merged lands. They intend to dump
Rincon hill on the lands we intend to
make a part of the state domain by
this India basin act. Why? Because
In position to hold up the state when
the need for purchasing these lands
| finally becomes an Issue, as II Will, In
volving the very life of San Francisco
| harbor,
| "The sixty-four blocks 1t is intended
to condemn and purchase ander the
| India basin act are assessed al $48. 900.
| If the owners go before jury they will
get very little more than this for the
| property. First every juryman In San
Francisco knows how the state was
robbed of these lands in the first place.
And not one dollars worth of improve
ments has been made.
During the period of postponement
Rincon hill will be dumped on these
lands The right to do this has already
been granted by the board of super
visors Then the jury can be appealed
to successfully for damages virtually
to any amount. Today the lands neces-
sary to San Francisco harbor can be
secured for few thousand dollars;
three or four years hence 1t will take
millions to get title to them.
Argument Is Weak
"The argument that the tolls of the
harbor will not meet the relatively
triling additional expense incident to
paying the interest and sinking fund Is
one with the companion argument sent
out simultaneously, that the payment
of this interest and sinking fund will
fall on the taxpayers and wage earn
ers. Is not worthy of consideration. The
surplus of tolls has made it possible
for the harbor commissioners to with
hold issuing the $200o,000 bonds author
- nE1lx Of
these bonds has been issued. because
enough surplus to carry on the neces-
sary news work accrues from the har-
Dor tolls. The answer to this. and the
admission by the opposition that the
tax will fall on the harbor tolls, shows
how hard put they are for data when
they issue such mutually antagonistic
statements. If the tax to meet the In
terest and sinking fund falls on the
tolls, how can 1t fall on the property
owner and the wage earner?"
In conclusion Mr. Noel appealed to
the club members not to permit a feel
ing of sectionalism to blind them to
the facts. Also he showed the interest
of one portion of the state was the in
terest OF the other parts. He also
showed the supremacy of California
as a commercial center was threatened
by Prince Rupert, the new Canadian
port where $45,000.000 Is being spent.
Also he showed the rivalry of Seattle
was a decided menace, and the passing
of the commercial supremacy, through
not having adequate wharf facilities.
would drive California to the position
OF being second or third In the bidding
for commerce destined to arise when
the Panama canal is completed and the
sleep of the Far East Is over. He also
said the entire San Francisco press is
a unit In favor of the india basin act,
A vote of thanks was rendered Mr..
Noel for his clear presentation Of the