The San Francisco call., 1910-10-14
governors
Will ATTEND
The CONGRESS
Representative Men of West to
Work for Merchant Marine
and Pacific Fleet
Sixty Prominent Persons TO Be
the Special Guests of San
Francisco

The Pacific coast congress, which
will convene in San Francisco Novem-
ber II, will be graced by the presence
of the governors of the western states
and the territories of Hawaii and
Alaska. Word has been conveyed to
the local committee that the execu-
tives of the coast and bordering states
are eager to join the big movement.
Formal invitations were extended
yesterday in the name of Governor
Gillett to 60 persons who will be the
special guests of the city. These in
clude the governor, lieutenant COVER
nor, speaker of the assembly and pres
ident pro tempore of the senate OF
each of the states embraced in the call
as well as their representatives in the
two houses of the national congress
The territorial division encircles
Washington, oregon, Idaho, Utah, Ne
vada, California, New Mexico, Arizona,
Hawaii and Alaska.
MANY DELEGATES COMING
The number of delegates to the con-
gress will range between 200 and 800.
The merchant marine league will in
vite the leagues representatives in the
western part of the United States. Th
commercial organizations will summon
delegates from their sister bodies.
Mayor Mccarthy will extend a well
cities.
The scope of the work laid out fol-
the congress is set forth in the hand
somely scrolled invitations issued yes
terday by the governor. They read:
The honor of your. presence is re-
quested as a guest of the Pacific coast
congress, to be held IN San Francisco
the auspices of the merchant marine
league of California, assisted by the
commercial organizations of Califor-
MIA, to discuss the urgency of mer-
chant marine legislation, the main
tenance of a strong battleship feet or
the Pacific coast, the permanent or
ganization of an annual Pacific coast
congress and the consideration of thu
Pacific coast expositions."
The present is regarded as most
timely for the discussion of these sub
jects. The plans were given furthe'
attention yesterday at a meeting In
the Office of Fletcher A Cutler in the
Crocker building. There were pres
ent: Governor Gillett, Senator George
C. Perkins. Colonel George Pippy, c. c
Henion and w. L. Hathaway.
FOR MARINE AND FLEET
Senator Perkins called attention tc
the fact that the merchant marine bill
passed the senate at the last session
and lacked only six votes in the house
1t called for aid to a Pacific line tt
South America, another to New Zea
land and two lines to Brazil. The bill
restricted the total yearly expenditure
to S6,O00000 At the present time
Japan is paying out $4,000, 900 annually
to encourage its shipping
The movement for the maintenance
of an adequate battleship fleet upor
the Pacific has found support In sucf
authoritative quarters that it is be-
lieved this will be accomplished a
soon as the yards on the west side Of
the national are properly equipped.
The program for the congress is still
incomplete. 1t is the intention to ar
range for addresses by several of the
best known speakers on the coast
Governor Gillett will preside, and in
opening will explain the full purposes
of the gathering.
NAVY SECRETARY COMING
George Won L. Meyer, secretary of the
navy, will meet Governor Gillett, Sen
ator Perkins and members of the con-
gressional delegation from California
in this city today, and the head of the
navy department will be informed OF
the movement to obtain battleshiI
fleet for the Pacific coast. This, the
merchant marine. problem and the
Panama Pacific exposition project will
be the themes upon which San Fran
ciscans will dilate during the stay OF
the cabinet member in this city.
Secretary Meyer is expected in the
city today. He will be the guest of the
chamber of commerce and will be en-
tertained by members of the merchant
marine league and of the exposition
company.
In the colonial ballroom of the St
Francis hotel at 7:30 o'clock tonight
Secretary Meyer will be the guest OF
honor at banquet being given by the
members of the chamber of commerce
More than $50 of the most prominent
merchants and businessmen of the city
will be there, as well as Governor Gil
lett, Mayor Mccarthy, Senator Perkins
members of congress and three rear
admirals.
WILL DISCUSS FLEET
At the banquet will be discussed the
battleship fleet and the merchant ma
rine questions, and the secretary of the
navy will be impressed with the neces-
sity of action upon these two matters
He will also be enrolled if possible as
a booster for the Panama-Pacific expo
sition in San Francisco in 1915. Sen
ator Perkins is expected to take the
lead in the discussion of the naval
questions. An effort will be made tc
gain the views of the head of the navy
department on these matters and gain
his support of the measures to aid In
their passage before congress.
Invitations to the banquet have been
sent to Governor Gillett, Mayor Nc
Carthy, Senator Perkins, Senator New
lands of Nevada, Rear Admiral T. S
Phelps, Rear Admiral j. B. Milton, com
mandant of the naval training station
at Yerba Buena; Rear Admiral H. Os-
terhaus, commandant of the Mare ISL
and navy yard; Senator Flint and Con-
gressmen Needham, Knowland Kahn
Englebright, McKinlay, Hayes, Nc