The San Francisco call., 1909-01-06
HFTCH HFTCHY
BEING FOUGHT
BY ENGLEBR|GHT
Lobbying Against Project, He
Shifts Ground From Taxes
to Scenery
California congressman May
Take Colleague to Task
in Resolutions
Smith a Stumbling Block and
Spring Valley Agents
Are Active

WASHINGTON. Jan. 5.-Intense in
dignation is expressed by members of
the California delegation at the actions
OF Representative Englebright in at
tempting 10 obstruct the passage of
the Hetch Hetchy resolution. The mem
bers are not prepared to condemn pub
licly their colleague for his intrusion
into san Francisco affairs, but their
private expressions are vitriolic
Englebright first based his opposition
on the ground that Tuolumne county
would be deprived Of taxes on lands
which san Francisco proposes to sur
render TO the government in exchange
for lands in the Hetch Hetchy basin.
When he was forced to abandon this
contention. after it had been shown
that Tuolumne county would benefit to
the extent Of thousands OF dollars in
new roads and construction work, he
then based his opposition on the ground
that the scenic features of Yosemite
national park would be ruined.
WORKING As A LOBBYIST
His activity has not been confined to
appearing before the committee. He
has buttonholed members of the COM
mittee and placed himself in the atti-
tude Of a lobbyist against the interest
Of san Francisco. Members of the COM
mfttee from other states were at first
inclined to attach some Importance to
Englebrights objections for the reason
that he halls from California, but his
pernicious activity has aroused sus-
picions as TO his good faith in the
matter.
Members Of the California delegation
are considering the feasibility of hold
ing a meeting and adopting a resolu-
tion to be presented to the public lands
committee setting forth the fact that
Englebright is grossly misrepresenting
the view Of a majority Of the people of
the state, TO say nothing Of San Fran
cisco.
The subcommittee having the matter
in charge was unable to meet today,
but viii consider it tomorrow. Protests
are pouring in from various quarters
against the Hetch Hetchy project, but
City Engineer Manson and Supervisor
Giannini are active in keeping the COM
mittee informed as to the suspicious
source Of these protests. Most Of them
can be traced directly TO the Spring
Valley water company.
The San Francisco officials have in
tervieWed Senators Perkins and Flint and
found them both stalwarts in support
ing Hetch Hetchy. Senator Flint has
received letters from various influential
CalifOrnians urging him to procure
postponement Of the joint resolution on
the ground that all other sources of
supply should be investigated before
drawing upon Hetch Hetchy. He has
replied to all of them that this matter
has been thoroughly investigated by
the city and the Hetch Hetchy project
having been approved by popular vote
he is determined to DO all in his power
to secure favorable action by congress.
SMITH A STUMBLING BLOCK
The attiture Of Representative Smith
OF California is very disappointing to
other members Of the delegation. He
is Temporarily in a position to act as
stumbling block and is performing that
function 10 the best OF his ability. He
holds that the city should have a mere
easement TO lands in Hetch Hetchy ba-
sin, thereby vitiating the permit grant
ed by the secretary of the interior and
the action of the city based thereon.
OldASDn anu IAdIulLl nave arranged
for a conference with Speaker Cannon
thfs week and they have reason to
believe that the committee on public
lands viii give them a square deal
They VIII ask the speaker to expedite
the resolution on the ground that it
affects a great public enterprise.
Representatives Kahn and Hayes are
actively at work among members of
the house explaining the Hetch Hetchy
ndence in the passage Of the resolu-
tion IN the form desired by San Fran
cisco at this session.
There will be considerable DELAY.
from present prospects, but this will
be caused by the crush of public busi-
ness rather than by the opposition
which has developed.
GARFIELD sCoTCHES LIE
An article from the Portland ORE
gonian. alleging that Secretary Gar
field had granted rights worth millions
OF dollars ostensibly to the city. but
IN reality to a corporation, has been
circulated among members of the house
Secretary Garfeld's attention was called
20 the as4tcle and he declared il to
be whollg without foundation. Some
OF the protests against Hetch Hetchy
have been 81 ~ direct to Speaker Can
non. but The Call correspondent has
weight He has bundled them up with
out reading and referred them to the
committee on public lands.
Il IS probable thaS the good Offices
OF President Roosevelt and President
elect Taft viii be solicited by the
California delegation in behalf of Hetch
Hetchy il the congress committees
show q tendency TO attach weight to
the protests filed with them.
Frederick Bade Of Berkeley appeared
before the committee today and pro-
tested against the resolution. He was
fortified by an advance copy of an
article written by Lawrence p. Stearn
OF Boston, formerly expert engineer
of the Spring Valley.
Resolutions Indorsed
CALL HEADQUARTERS, CHAMBER
OF COMMERCE BUILDING, SACRA-
MENTO, Jan 5.-The nine senators who
represent San Francisco IN the state
legislature formally Endorsed this after
noon the concurrent resolution concern