The San Francisco call., 1909-02-21
~<a1AxzlVINy


justify the statement quoted in your letter IN
fact ] was not present at any OF these com
mittee meetings when this matter was being
considered. having been az home al that time
attending 70 some business afairs. Yours very
truly. PHII.O HALL.
February s. 1862.
Aqar favor OF February just AZ hand rela-
tive To dispatch in san Francisco Chronicle and
which you qnote. wit: ,'Seversl members
etc / cesire 10 say that the foregoing is
moi warranted iy any remark made by me. Very
truly yours BIRD MCGUIRE.
February 9. 1909.
lave received copy OF yoar circular letter
IN reference 10 recent hearings before the pGhlir
lands committee OF the house on the hetch
Hefchy resolution l vUted 10 favorsbly report
the resolution e. the house. but I know nothing
about ibe balance Of the matter referred 10 IN
'' '' ''1'' CHARLES y. PRAY.
DISPATCH NOT WARRANTED
February 10. 1903
] sm in receipt ot your letter Of the ID inst:
telling that 2 dispatch from Washington
February referring 10 the actions OF the com
miSlee on public lands IN the matter Of the
lietch Hetchy srsint 10 san Francisco contains
The following words several members Of it
ttle committee on public iandSl who had evi-
IDENTIFY been friendly with san Francisco have
said that after hearing Pheisn and Macarthgr
they were convinced that Ssn Francisco had not
acted in good faith toward the water company.
Nou ssk whether not the foregoing is waf-
ranted 10y any remark made by me concerning
your participation 10 the committees hearings
Ia reply 1 would say that the statement which
you qnote from The special dispatch is not
warranted from anything that ! have said nor
do l concur in tie sentiment expressed. Very
sincerely yours. BURTON J. FRENCH.
TESTIMONY WAS APPROPRIATE
February II 1902
I am in receipt OF yoar letter OF recent date
lnqaiTng about the authenticity OF Z statement
quoted from the Chronicle.
The statement quoted did no; come from Ire
and does not reflect my views 50 far as roGT
past ot the work here is concerned | thought
,yfa sal . .lg-l
70 the point.
/ am taking the liberty o. mailing you a copy
will feel that l discharged my duty in a salts
sc. SMITH.
Your letter Of February was received. /
apprcc ate that there is more news for news
papers In trouble than there is in quiet From
what I have heard. there have been many state
ments in the san Francisco newspapers In re-
gard to the Hetch Hetehy bearings that require
correction.
In my opinion tho case of San Franeiss.o would
have been stronger If left TO her members of
congress. Messrs, Kahn and HAYES The festi-
mony and attitude OF some Of her other repro
seniafives have shown narrowness OF view and
8 bitterness Of feeling that tended 10 arouse s1s-
picion in the minds of members of the commit
toe i do not say that your Testimony neces-
sarily aroused sueh suspicion Very truly yours.
HERBERT PARSONS.
FACTS FOR THE PUBLIC
1t seems to me important that the
citizens Of San Francisco should know
the character OF the services rendered
by those who are intrusted with the
conduct Of public affairs. ] therefore re-
Quested the Chronicle TO publish the
foregoing correspondence in order that
its readers might form a reliable judg-
ment as TO the correctness or other
wise of the statement rejecting upon
my conduct made by the Chronicle :
special correspondent in Washington
That paper having failed 10 publish
more than the briefest and least sig
nifcant excerpt from the correspond
ence. ] now submit the matter to the
press of the city in order that the
facts may be given the publicity war
ranted by their bearing upon public
interests. Respectfully.
WALTER MACARTHUR
san Francisco. February 20 1909.