The San Francisco call., 1909-02-21
Correspondence Shows Dispatch
to Chronicle Misrepresented
COngressmen's Statements
Charge of Bad Faith Toward
Water Company Was Never
Even Suggested
Replies of Members of Public
lands Committee Show
Report Was Untrue

IN order 10 correct a mistaken i'm
preston which may have been created
10y a dispatch in the Chronicle in re-
card to the hearings in washington
on the Hetch Hetchy grant. Walter
Macarthur has been in correspondence
with the members OF the committee on
public lands before whom the question
was argued.
The dispatch printed by the Chronicle
stated that several members Of the
committee who were apparently friend
ly TO san Francisco had said, after
listening 10 Phelan and Macarthur. that
they were convinced that San Fran
cisco had not acted in good faith
toward the water company. The let
ters from the members of the commit
tee Indicate that no such sentiments
were expressed.
Macarthur was selected by Mayor
Taylor as a membeE of the delegation
sent to the na1iond capital to present
the claims Of the city. He spoke be-
fore the committee, and authentic
reports teiegraphed al that time
brought The Information that he not
only made a favorable impression. but
cleared up many of the doubts that
had existed The result was commit
tee report favorable to the contentious
OF this city
LETTERS FROM MACARTHI
The correspondence which appears in
those columns bears testimony to the
effectiveness Of Macarthur's labors in
Washington The entlre matter is pre-
scented in the following letters from
Macarthur:
To the Editor Of The. Can-sir: A
SPECIAL dispatch TO tlc Chronicle.
GATED Hastil.eto TON. February l. pub
liSaed Up The coiamrs - tlfat paper on
lAe "a inst. contains "a statement the
practical effect ~ which .s that the
incersi sHed is responsible in a meas
urc for he wide division OF opinion
among the members 0f the committee
"n public lanss ia tae matter OF the
proposed ltetll Bc1cnE grant 20 san
FRANCISCO. Being Somewhat concerned
10 learn t1o actual basis of Your cor
respondent statement as q matter Of
pualf2 rather thau personal interest.
addressed e&cn mcmber~Of The COM
san Francisco Cal. Fab. . 1900
Pear Sir- Iie san Francisco Chronicle Of this
eTfc. IN special dispatch from Washington
3D. ted l~f lnst.- referring 10 She scfi0n Of the
-finuiittee on public lands En- thp matter OF the
lini fl tietciT grant % san francisco. contains
rlc following
several members ~ II fconsnittee on the t,r,l-
PIP lands who had evidently been friendly 10
80 francisco. have ssid tIat after hesring Phe-
fanei~eo had not acted in sood faith toward the
narer company
Kindly inform me- a vour oarIicS. convenience
Nh'thef of NOT ihr foregoing IS warranted by any
remark made hT ron concerning nav ,,srficfpstion
tn ihe committees bearings Very sincerely
YOURS WALTER MACARTHUR
REPLIES TO COHHITTEEMEN
OF the % members OF the committee
- have replied. that number probably
including All who were present during
the bearings given the commission
rom san Francisco Tho replies from
he members OF Tie committe care as
follows:
February . 1909
Replying 10 your letter of Fetr1larv , would
say that do not reraIl having nade auv state
ment 10 any one with regard 10 rour appearance
before the committee on rbe public lands in he.
laif ~ the city in connection with the Hetch
ifefcna reservoir other then Size statement
made 20 sou at the close of The hearing nj which
you spoke. 10 the eject thar vcii bsl made a
very clear and forceful statements Very truly
Chairman Committee on the Public Lands.
February g. 1904
have YOURS of February covering ..spe-
cisi from Washington published IN ne Chronicle
rurpofting 30 give certain criticisms OF certain
members of The Iahlc lands committee. asking
nc whether Or not ] made ang such statement
] uot only did not make ssIch statement but
neTer heard ~ fl before. nor have | ever used
any Sich language.
The department ~ the representatives Of San
francisco and san Francisco county has been
fnost cleciiehic 10 themselves and 70 the people
lnsF represent. aonrs very Respectfully
JOHN W GAINES.
February s. 1909.
Replying 20 your favor of February 2 / beg
20 say that the statement quoted by you and
copied from The san Francisco Chronicle was not
warranted 10y sny statement made by me-
hsve made no statement Whatever concerning
your participation in the hearings before the
lands committee. Neither have ] made any
statement concerning Mr. Phelsns remarks be-
fure thar committee upon Wticl the statement
crofed by you could have been based Very
fruig yours ". y. CRAIG.
February s. 1903.
know nothing u what others may have done.
NJ. I said nothing ~ fhe kind. nor have I heard
alT other ncinbcr ~ TIE colaIaiffee make such
statement. } WIS in favor ~ tee city ia that
e1utrgTersy- The necessities q a great city are
Far above the sentimental question of scenery In
the far away mountains t-iat comparatively few
csn enjoy. Yours truly. n. A. SMITH.
STATEMENT CALLED UNFAIR