CALIFORNIA

A perspective view taken from Wall Street. The original Trinity Church in the distance.
From "The Iconography of Manhattan Island," reproduced by courtesy of Mr. 1. N. Phelps Stokes.

placed the citizens of our whole State under lasting obligations by his bold and masterly exposure of the enormous frauds connected with the administration of the New York canals." Under the able leadership of Samuel B. Ruggles, a high authority on canal matters, the Chamber recommended the passage by the Legislature of an amendment to the State Constitution abolishing the offices of canal commissioners and authorizing the appointment by the Governor of a superintendent of public works who should have control over all canal matters. This proposal was accepted by the Legislature and the amendment suggested was subsequently ratified by the people of the State. A very salutary reform was thus accomplished.

Another opportunity for genuine public service arose in September, 1892, when the city became the victim of a genuine "cholera scare." There was an epidemic of cholera in Germany, and ships had arrived in New York harbor with victims of the disease on board. These were detained in the lower bay and none of their passengers, well or sick, was allowed to land. Incompetent and rather brutal conduct was exhibited by the quarantine officials in allowing the detained vessels to be tossed about in the rough waters of the bay for several days. A steadily increasing protest arose throughout the city at this treatment. The Chamber called a special meeting and appointed a committee which raised an emergency fund of nearly two hundred thousand dollars to be used in providing accommodations on land for the well passengers. The Governor of the State subsequently authorized the use of State money for the purpose, and the emergency fund was returned to the subscribers. The Chamber, deeply impressed with the gravity of the situation, adopted a memorial to Congress in favor of the establishment of a national quarantine, with the ultimate result of the passage by Congress of a law giving the National Government power to act in special emergencies in case of failure of duty on the part of the State authorities.

CHAPTER XX

ASSASSINATION OF GARFIELD

FUND FOR HIS FAMILY-FAITH OF THE CHAMBER IN PRESIDENT

ARTHUR
1881

WHEN the news of the attempted assassination of President Garfield on July 2, 1881, was received a special meeting of the Chamber was called on the next day for July 7, and resolutions were then adopted expressing the "unspeakable grief and indignation" of the society, and extending the deepest sympathy to the members of the President's family. Not content with this, the members of the Chamber, animated by the desire to relieve the President's mind of anxiety in regard to the needs of his family, started a subscription for a fund for their benefit in case of his death. Contributions were solicited from all parts of the country, with the result of securing ultimately a fund of about three hundred and sixtytwo thousand dollars, which was invested for the benefit of the widow and other members of the family. Another special meeting was called in September when the death of the President was announced, at which addresses were made and resolutions adopted expressing the sorrow of the Chamber and its sympathy for the afflicted family. In the resolutions thoughts were expressed which were in the minds of many men at the time. The manner of his death was declared to be a "solemn warning to the American people" and made it a duty to consider carefully the causes which led to it. Without mincing words, it was declared that his death "was the natural result of party rancor, and of the demoralizing influence which the system of appointment to the civil ser

vice has upon weak and depraved natures," and the earnest hope was expressed that "this calamity may lead the people to remedy evils which have long been apparent, but never so clearly as now."

There was no dissenting voice when the resolutions were put to a vote. Later in the proceedings, an additional resolution was adopted in which it was declared that in paying just tribute to the illustrious dead some consolation was to be found in the feeling and belief that the great loss to the nation would, "in an eminent degree, be lessened by the energy, fidelity and patriotism of his successor, our much respected and venerated townsman, Chester A. Arthur," who, the Chamber was convinced, would "labor for the best interests of the country in administering the office of President of the United States," and to whom the Chamber pledged its sincere and ardent support.

This deliverance, coming at a time when there was much apprehension in the public mind as to the course which Mr. Arthur would pursue, had an excellent effect. He himself was much gratified by it and sent word to the members that he had a deep sense of obligation to the Chamber for its prompt and cordial expression of confidence.. The faith of the Chamber was fully justified by the new President's conduct of the government during the three and a half years in which he held the office. When he retired on March 4, 1885, the Chamber elected him an Honorary Member, and when he died in November of the following year, it paid warm tribute to his virtues in a minute prepared by his lifelong friend, Cornelius N. Bliss. After speaking of the high esteem in which Mr. Arthur had been held for many years by his fellow townsmen before he became President, it was said in the minute: "It was not strange that outside the State where his ability and character were less known, honest doubt and distrust of the future of the country, in the serious crisis, should weigh upon the hearts of the people.