Los Angeles herald., 1909-06-24
FLEMING MAY
TAKE FRIES CASE
TO WASHINGTON
CIVIC BODIES SEND PROTEST
TO SECRETARY OF WAR
CITY COUNCIL JOINS EFFORT TO
RETAIN ARMY CAPTAIN
Wilmington Trustees and Chamber of
Commerce Pass Stirring ResoIu-
tions Against Removal of
Leader of Harbor Work
kkTF the pressure now exerted is not
4 sl1ficin11t To iInnal. the retentinn

ACNN@-e@S~-
- of Capt Amos A. Fries at the
Los Angeles office of the corps of
engineers ] am heartily in favor
of the consolidation committee send
ing A. P. Fleming to Washington
to talk to the secretary of war-he will
get it DONE" said a leading consolida-
ZIONIST yesterday. Nobody knows how
effectively in hand Mr.. Fleming had the
fight at Sacramento and how he saved
the day more than once when every
thing appeared against consolidation.
He is a finished politician of the right
sort, the man | would like to see nom
mated for the first elected mayor of the
consolidated city.
Nobody knows better than Mr..
Fleming how to demonstrate how Valu-
able to the making of our harbor cap
tain Fries is. He himself is more inti-
mately familiar with the harbor ques-
tion than any one, not excepting Cap
tain Fries, and naturally has the
achievements of the engineers office at
his fingers ends. Mr. Fleming has
high political friendships in official cir
cles at Washington through his stand
ing in the east before making Los An
gels his home, and if present avenues
prove inadequate he could get at the
powers that be by new channels.
One Way Left
"The consolidation committee knows
1IS DuSlH6SS SO Ou5llly W.
should not presume to lug suggestions
in on it; yet it may not be amiss to
remind the committee that in its secre-
tary there is available a way to have
Captain Fries retained if all other ef-
forts fail; and to the truth of this the
last legislature will undoubtedly testi,
fly. Hence / say, II necessary Senu
Secretary Fleming to Washington
This sentiment is one of many specu-
lations among business men, all voicing
the decision that Captain Fries is too
valuable to the protection of the har-
bor to lose from Los Angeles. Ihe
movement to retain him was given the
official aid of two powerful interests
yesterday, the city Of Los Angeles IN
resolutions forwarded by City Clerk
Lelande after their adoption by the city
council, and kilograms from the cham
ber of commerce sent by Piesident
Willis H. Booth. The Federation. club
at its weekly luncheon also passed res
oIutions urging the retention of Captain
Fries.
the following resolutions passed by that
body, which show how strong is the
feeling against the contemplated
change:
whereas, The city council of the city
of Los Angeles has, by its harbor COM
mission, been informed that the war
department contemplates removing
Capt. Amos A. Fries as engineer in
charge of San Pedro harbor; and
Experience invaluable
"Whereas, This council believes that
the experience gained by Capt. Fries
as engineer at San Pedro harbor is in
valuable to the city and that he should
be retained here as engineer in charge,
that as such government engineer ne
could give the city the benefit of the
knowledge gained by him in his close
attention to the details of the develop
ment of San Pedro harbor; therefore
be it
citv of Los Angeles, that we do here
by express our appreciation OF the val
liable services of Capt. Fries IN con-
nection with his work and our deep
regret that it was thought by the war
department necessary to issue the or
der removing him as engineer IN
charge: and be is further
"Resolved, That on account of Capt
Fries long and intimate connection
with the work at San Pedro, ms
knowledge and experience in that great
work, the value that the city OF Los
Angeles places upon him as safe and
public spirited engineer in TINS work
and the universal confidence in his
ability and integrity, this council be-
lieves that the removal of Capt Fries
from this work would be direct blow
to the people interested in honest and
intelligent harbor development and we
most respectfully request your honor
able secretary of war to cause the or
der of removing him to be rescinded;
therefore. be 1t
.'ResoIved. That Senator Frank P.
Flint and Congressman James Nc
Lachlan be, and they are, hereby re-
uuested to use their utmost endeavor
to have rescinded the order of the war
department relieving Capt. Fries as
engineer In charge of the harbor work
at San Pedro"
Chamber Takes Hand
The Los Angeles chamber of COM
merce board of directors took up yes
terday afternoon the transferal of
Cant. Fries, which was presented by
President Willis H. Booth, and he was
instructed by unanimous vote to wire
Secretary of War Dickinson, Senator
Flint and Congressman McLachlan the
feeling of the business men of Los An
geles as expressed through the cham
Der of commerce. This was done by
President Booth in the following tele-
grams:
"Hon. J. M. Dickinson, Secretary of
War. Washington, d. c.: In view of
the intention of Los Angeles to spend
millions in improving San Pedro har-
Dor as soon as consolidation of Los
Angeles with harbor cities is effected,
and in view of appropriations congress
will doubtless make to deepen cham
nels, etc, this organization desires to
express the belief that Capt. Fries
thorough knowledge of the entire sit
uation. coupled with the unusual con-
fidence of this community makes his
retention as engineer in charge a mat
ter of vital Importance. May Los An
geles expect your favorable action to
this end?
LOS ANGELES CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE.
willis II. Booth, President"
"Hon, Frank p. Flint, Washington,
d. c.: Have wired secretary of war
emphasizing Importance of Fries re-
tention. Believe the intention of the
city to expend ten millions on harbor
in the event of consolidation shows
the disposition of Los Angeles to CO.
operate with the government in a COM
prehensive harbor development and
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