Los Angeles herald., 1909-03-21
JOSEPH II. CALL
RESIGNS OFFICE
CRITICAL PERIOD IN HARB0R
PROBLEMS PASSED
PRIVATE AFFAIRS DEMAND HIS
IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
President of Municipal Waterways
Association Writes Letter OF Warm
Ing Against Tactics Of Corr
porate influences

Joseph III. Call yesterday resigned as
president of the Municipal Waterways
association. and his resignation was
accepted by the directors OF the as
sociation with extreme reluctance only
after they found 1t impossible to per-
suade Mr.. Call to reconsider. James
A. Anderson, vice president, becomes
president of the association.
Mr. Call feels that the critical period
in initiating harbor progress is passed,
and as he has been compelled to
neglect his business for. more than
eight months, he holds that he is JUST
fed in retiring. He assured the
directors that his retirement would
not In the least affect his interest IN
the Importance of the harbor ana
promised his hearty cooperation IN
advancing the work of the Muhiclpai
Waterways association.
The directors rendered Mr.. Call the
sincere thanks of the association for
his work. Mr.. Calls letter of resigna~
ton, which called attention to a num-
Der of pressing phases of the harbor
problem, warned the Municipal water
ways association that subtle corpora
ton influences must be closely watched
to avoid delay in the building of pub
lie docks at San Pedro harbor. The
letter is as follows:
1.-THE plans of the association de-
clared IN it's articles, to secure the
necessary harbor amendments to the
Los Angeles charter providing Tor
power to construct and exercise ex-
elusive jurisdiction over harbors. DOCKS
and highways to the water front, anu
also to secure an act of the Legislature
providing for consolidation of cities By
a majority vote in each city, have all
been accomplished.
THE means to secure consolidation
and public municipal docks, which wall
end the present railway monopoly in
transportation in Southern California,
Z have now been provided. All that re-
mains is To secure the confidence Of
the people of the harbor cities, that
the consolidated city will at once con-
struct docks upon the outer and inner
harbors and connecting highways 10
the business districts, as provided IN
the harbor amendments.
Most of my time for the past eight
months has been devoted to effect
these purposes. and my private busi-
ness, which has suffered in conse-
quence, now demands my personal at
tention. My resignation az president
and as a director of the association is
therefore hereby rendered, to take ef-
feet Immediately.
1.-THE powerful and subtle influence
of the transportation monopoly has
for many years closed to competitive
commerce by water not only the har-
Dor at San Pedro. but many other
harbors. Many representative people
in San Pedro inform me, and believe,
that the voters of that city are appre-
hensive that the railway influence 50
long exerted to close that port, will
still be continued to keep it closed and
to postpone the building of public
docks upon the outer harbor, which IS
now completed and where there still
remains a mile of unappropriated wa
ter front, and that such influence will
be directed to keeping the public au-
thorities occupied with dredging opera
tions upon the tide land flats and with
the litigation concerning railway
trestl s and bridges. and suits over
tide lands. and thus indefinitely post
pone the day when there shall be pro-
vided docks in actual operation and
competitive commerce.
"While such litigation and improve
ment of the whole inner harbor is 20
be ultimately contaminated, have felt
that the immediate construction of
docks upon the outer harbor and con-
Meeting highways should not be de-
layed and / have advocated that this
should be the declared intention not
only of our association, but of the city
through it's public officials, as believe
that nine-tenths of the people of the
city would not willingly tolerate any
other plan.
at know of no reason why this as
sociation or any unbiased public body
of this city, official or otherwise,
should not declare their wishes regard
ing the immediate construction of
municipal docks upon the outer harbor
and connecting highways to them. and
/ see no reason why the city should
not make it's purposes effectual at
once by now proceeding with the con-
etkr att Ara nf taA 90
macadamized highway to the present
frontage of the city, upon the inner
harbor upon the boundaries of. San
Pedro and Wilmington"