The San Francisco call., 1909-01-10
GARFIELD APPEALS
FOR HFTCH HETCHY
Secretary of Interior Personally
Appears in Behalf of City's
Water Supply
Indications Are That Rights
Viii Be Given Without
Opposition
isseeiaI DIsealeh % The Canl

iSPeoIal Dtspofch 10 / he Call
W-ASHINGTON. Jan. s.-The house
committee on public land today gave
b nearing on the resolution introduced
by Representative Smith of Califor-
ria last Wednesday in the matter az
tae Hetch Hetchy valley reservoir site
ihls resolution was published in the
Can last Thursday morning and is. in
eject. the report of the subcommittee
IF the committee on public lands bsv-
ing the matter in charge.
AT the hearing today everything went
san trancisco's way, with the excep-
non that T. I. Whitman. nature lover
from Boston, who was the first to speall
at the hearing. said that to build a
reservoir in the Hetch Hetchy valley
would be desecration of nature. Whit
man statements went by the board
however, when Secretary of the In
terror Garfield appeared before the com
mittee and strongly advocated the
ssrant TO san Francisco. Garfield made
as straight an appeal for the interests
~ the city Of San Francisco as could
possibly have been made by any citi-
zen Of that city. He told the commit
Zee that there were just three classes
OF people who have interests in that
valley and in the watershed contribu-
tory to the valley. one Of these classes
is comprised Of the lovers of scenery.
Another class is composed of the camp
cTS. and both of these classes are COM
paratively few in number The third
class having an interest there. Secre-
tary Garfield said is composed of the
hundreds Of thousands Of people who
so 10 make up the population of the
city OF san Francisco. and for their
superior right 10 use the water and
The valley as q necessity of life he
'nade q strong plea.
SECRETARH's ACTION LEGAL
Garfield was followed by Assistant
Attorney General Woodruff. who is as
signed 10 the law in the department of
the interior Woodruff told the com
mittee that in his opinion there was not
the slightest doubt that the secre-
tary Of the interior was well within the
law when he gave a permit to the city
% san Francisco 10 build a dam in the
lietch Hetchy valley. This opinion on
the part Of Woodruff conflicts sharply
with the opinion expressed TO the Call
correspondent by Chairman Monden Of
the committee on public lands. who ap-
peared to think that not only the le-
sality but the prOpriety OF the action
81 the secretary Of the interior in issu-
ing the permit might be called into
question. After the statement made by
the law officer Of the department Of the
-ALFLAtIr IL appears gldlM ll4dL Nlac dc
tion Of the secretary viii not be called
into question in any way that viii in
terfere with the progress Of legislation
desired by san Francisco.
Among those who appear - be op-
posing the Hetch Hetchy grant is the
- appalachian mountain club Of Boston,
au organization Of nature lovers that
-.has appealed constantly TO the various
ylsbs in san Francisco for assistance
'an securing an Appalachian mountain
forest reserve.
During the progress of the hearing
..Isepresentative Englebright Of Califor-
MIA offered an amendment TO the reso-
.lutiOn providing that the point at which
las water should be diverted should be
ore mile above Jawbone creek. It ap-
'fjears that there are some private in
-tezests on Jawbone creek. and should
.the water be diverted below these in
sterests holding they could be restrained
.from polluting the water. Engle-
,0right-s amendment was met by
-s-tatement from Chairman Mondell that
s1he committee would not go into de-
.tails Of this sort. and ii is very evident
laat the amendment viii be turned
down.
WONDELL Is FRIENDLY
Among the members Of the com
.riittec who appeared especially friend.
81 to san Francisco at today's heaknE
were Chairman Mondell, who all alons
has been open TO conviction as TO the
merits of the case: Representative
Pray Of Montana. Representative How
land OF Ohio. Gaines of Tennessee
Craig Of Alabama and Hammond o.
Minnesota Two of the members o.
tne committee appeared 10 be antagon-
istic. They are Parsons of New York
and VOlstead Of Minnesota.
Representative Kahn, who attended
the hearing. said this evening thai
the proceedings indicated that Sar
Francisco has every reason to feel Sc
cure in her contention. The question:
asked at the hearing" said Hahn, "fol
the most part indicates a friendly dis.
position. ] am satisfied that when the
resolution is finally reported to Tho
house il viii be practically in the form
that is desired by the city of Sar
Francisco. The committee viii con.
slider the resolution at an executiv.
session next Thursday. and 1 believe Il
VIII be reported to the house within
day or two thereafter. We hope to Sc.
cure action in the house soon after the
resolution has been reported, and W.
VIII DO everything we can TO secure
recognition from the speaker for the
purpose OF getting il TO an early vote
D While matters are proceeding 81
smoothly we do not care to tall
about making a fight, but at the same
time we are ready TO make a fight
and winning one at that, If neces-
sary~