The San Francisco call., 1908-09-19

Fireworks fiared again yesterday in
he India basin act controversy. Engi-
aeer Luther Wagner reiterated his
statement that the federated harbor
Improvement associations had decided
20 oppose the passage OF the measure,
cor which he had been called sharply
% task at a meeting Of the Civic league
3y Colonel ". j. Barrett, a member Of
The committee. Chairman Thomas Ma
gee Of the executive committee fatty
denied that Wagner had been given
any authorization for the statement
From the Mission camp came insinua-
tons that Magee was personally inter
ested in the plan of the harbor commit
tee because more than S4,OO0,0eO of
the improvements recommended were
TO be on or near the property Of his
clients, Theresa Oelrichs and Virginia
Vanderbilt near Fort Mason. This
charge aroused Magee TO an indignant
denunciation of his accuser. Colonel
" J. Barrett also lent his voice to the
discord with a stinging criticism Of the
action OF Magee and Wagner in TAX
ing part in the discussion of the meas
ure-
The first sputterings of the pyrotech-
nical display took place Thursday night
at a meeting of the Civic league when
Engineer Wagner, in arguing against
the India basin act, declared that the
harbOr Improvement associations had
instructed him to issue a foreword to
his report, recommending the defeat of
the act. On that occasion Colonel w. j.
Barrett announced that, although he
was a member of the executive COM
mittee, he was not aware of any such
action by the committee.
Thomas Magee, chairman of the ex-
ecutive committee" said Wagner yes
terday, authorized me to go ahead
with the printing Of an official state
ment signed by the committee recon-
mending that the India basin act be
defeated. II was on that authority
that I made the statement at the meet
ing OF the Civic league last night that
the committee had decided to oppose
the measure"
When this statement was communi-
Gated TO Magee he said:
There has been no meeting Of the committee.
did not authorize WGgOner 70 say that the
committee was opposed 70 the India basin act
am not responsible for Wagoner's statements
] must refuse 10 be interviewed or to take part
IN these controversies.
Colonel ". J. Barrett expressed dis
appreciation OF the actions of Magee
and Wagner, saying:
The executive committee Of the federated har-
Dor Improvement associations was selected at a
conference Of - commercial. civic and improve
nent clubs for the purpose Of employing enei-
neers 10 prepare plans for improvements and ex-
tensions To the harbor OF san Francisco Fn-
gineer Wagner and Colonel Heuer were selected
oy the committee 10 prepare these plans. and IL
Is the function and purpose OF this executive
committee 70 pass upon the plans Of the en-
Any individual member Of this committee has
no night 10 take IL upon himself to go beyond
the purpose for which this committee was
created anc incorporate anything in the report
as submitted by the committee. nor s. it the
eommittee.s duty TO pass upon anything but the
report OF the engineers submitted
Any action beyond this by any irdividual
member OF that committee must OF necessIty
leave an impression that the individual member
Is working with an Interior purpose and motive
We do not wish TO infer that Thomas Magee is
actuated by any such motive, for he out Of
his broad experience, has thorough aud com.
prehensive knowledge Of the duties and resnon.
sibiities Of that committee. and / sure he
viii not step beyond the boundaries of those
duties and responsibilities.
Frederick Churchill. secretary of the
Mission promotion association and sec
retary Of the Islais creek inland har-
Dor association, made the most direct
fling in the flank attack on Magee He
In view Of the high handed tactics Of the mar
IN control Of the federated harbor inaproveu1en,
association. ] think there may be something sig,
nifcant in their insistence on Wagonerss rlsr
- far as Thomas Nagee Is concer9,5 +. Pran si
- - -, :. s,,,T- - a. hoo,,.ts,5, II VII
map they have put out that the rlap provide.
FOR the expenditure OF 81. 0s3. 069, almost en-
tireiy on the property belonging TO Theresa Del
Tichs ana Virginia Vanderbilt, commonly knowr
as the Fair estate These persons are Ma9ee',
most important clients, ] understand.
When Magee was told of this state.
rnent. without its source being di.
vulged, he rose from his seat in anger
II you viii tell me the of the man VIII,
said fhaf-whO made such fnsinuafion-I'l y
meet him face 70 face, and then-and theI
You'll have a story.
Why those two women are clients Of mine
but that report means nothing to them The.
contributed 10 the fund which was raised fo
the securing Of the report, and all they have 20
TO show for II is two deep channels marked
through their property In pink ink on the map.
There is absolutely motive behind our ac
tfons except the welfare OF the city Why ".
recommended that a third of the entire appro
,,~faffon we asked for be spent in the Mission
fbe opposite end Of the town, and declared oui
rrfIIineness 70 wait for the rest OF the project
10 be carried out
Later in the day Magee was told thai
@be statement had been vouched for bS
frederick Churchill. He refused to say
anything further