The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 8, 1895, Page 1

/e VOLUME LXXVII.— NO. 88. SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 8, 1895 PRICE FIVE CENTS. THE PACIFIC SLOPE, Attempted Swindling of a Land-Buyer at San Diego. FORGERY OF A DEED. Revelation of a Cunning Plot Just as the Deal Was to Be Closed. TRAGEDY AT SAN BERNARDINO. A Horse-Trainer Wounds a Woman and Then Sends a Bullet Through His Head. Say Dreco, March One of the best laid traps yet discovered in this city to swindle a purchaser of real estate, and in- volving a forged deed and perjury, was ntally discovered yesterday rk, who was about to pay over s piece of paper. So cunningly heme been worked that no sus- tever had been raised until the when Clark, by asking a the whole thing bare. Some rk was offered three lots on s for $2300. He accepted the offer and put up a $50 deposit. Yesterday at 1 o’clock he was to pay over ance and get a grant deed. It ap- peared that the owner, B. Etcheverry, had made adeed in San Francisco on Septem- ber 19, 1894, conveying the property to Frank Etheridge of this city 0. Th deed was sent to the Merchants’ Nationa Bank here with instructions to deliver it to Etheridge on payment of $2300, less $1 for commissions. Clark was as- sured that Etheridge would take up the deed, convey the property to him by grant deed and place them both on record, thus completing the transactien. It now develops that the deed was forged, Etcheverry having been in France for nearly two years. Etheridge and J. Walmer, another real estate man here, from whose list the property was obtained, both appeared in a bad light, and it is alleged that the deed was signed here and later acknowledged by some one imperson- ating Etcheverry before John F. Lyons, a notary public of San Francisco. As could not have known the person, the lat- ter must have been introduced to him by some one in the conspiracy to defraud,and whose identification will complete the chain of evidence needed to convict three or four men of felony. Several other fraudulent transactions have been brought to light during the day which make it probable that a searching inquiry will not be lacking in results. To Sell the Schooner Wahlberg. Sax Dieco, March 7.—Collector of Cus- toms Fisher has gone to Los Angeles, where he will bring libel proceedings against the schooner Wahlberg for a fine of § The last time the schooner was sold by the Government it brought $1600. The captain has disappeared and no infor- mation has been obtained regarding his whereabouts. e TRAGEDY AT SAN BERNARDINO. A Horse-Trainer Tries to Kill @ Woman and Commits Swicide. Sax BErNARDINO, March 7.—John W. Kellett shot and dangerously wounded Nettie Jones this evening and then puta bullet through his own brain. The scene of the tragedy was Rose Cottage, a house notorious from one end of this valley to the other. The woman, who had been liv- ing with Kellett, came here from Los An- geles a week ago. Kellett, who lives in Los Angeles, arrived here Tuesday and urged her to return. She refused. He called at noon to-day, and they remained in the room till the shooting occurred. No quarreling was heard. The woman re- ceived one bullet in the cheek and another in the abdomen. Kellett’s death wound was in the temple. Kellett was a horse.trainer and sporting man, aged 27 years. A few minutes after the shooting there was a very dramatic scene when Minnie Kellett, sister of the guicide, who is an inmate of the house, re- turned from a ride and found her brother dead by his own hand. The wounded woman has made no statement, but the in- ference is that Kellett again importuned her to return, she refused again and then ke fired. —_— RIPE CHERRIES FROM VACAVILLE First of This Scason’s Crop Sent to As- semblyman Bassford. VAcAvILLE, March 7.—That the present season will be an early one for fruit is demonstrated by the fact that ripe cherries are now being sent from here. The first box of cherries of the purple Guignes vari- ety was sent to Sacramento Monday to As- semblyman H. M. Bassford, they having been taken from his trees. By next week several boxes will be ready for California and Eastern markets. The fruit prospect in general in this great fruit center is quite flattering at present, with the exception of the apricot crop. Trees of this variety were well filled with blossoms, but from the causé of some un- known affection they failed to set. On some trees nearly every fruit bud has fallen, while on others not one-fourth re- main. Young trees, however, are all right, and on them the young apricot is well set, but as there are not many young orchards this will not have much effect on the total yield. Careful estimates have been made, and it is generally conceded that there will not be one-third of a crop. There are good prospects of a large peach crop. The blossoms are well distributed and are setting firm. This can also be said of nearly every other variety, but it is too early to make positive assertions, espe- cially on the prune crop in general, as this fruit not unfrequently drops after it is half grown. Srsn G oenn A Napa Will Contest. Nara, March 7.—About one month ago Charles W. Plass, a wealthy farmer of this county, died, leaving a will which gave his property in trust to his wife, Catherine Plass, and his brother, Philip Plass, to be held and used by them during their life- iime, and at their death to go to his two 7 he. sons, Philip Plass Jr. and Charles Plass Jr., four-fifths to the former and one-fifth to the Jatter. The will was duly filed for probate, but the matter has not yet been heard in court. To-day Charles PlassJr. filed a protest against the admission of the will to probate, alleging that undue in- fluence was used on deceased against him at the time of making the will. The mat- ter has not yet been set for a hearing. e SUICIDE AT VICTORIA. Vice-Principal of the High School Kills Himself in a Fit of Despair. Vicroria, B. C., March 7. great sen- sation was produced this morning by find- ing the body of Neil Heath, B.A., late vice-principal of the high school, in a field near this city with a bullet-hole in his head, having shot himself Friday last. Heath was suspended for six months for using language highly disrespectful to the Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation. There was religious feeling over the mat- ter, and; Heath, who was in straitened circumstances, brooded over his suspen- sion. He was 52 years old and a native of Scotland. He had a family in Australia and was a fine scholar. SUICIDE OF A RADEC GIRL. The Lass Shoots Herself for Some Reason Unknown. RiversipE, March 7.—Details of a suicide which occurred Tuesday last near Radec, a remote settlement in the eastend of the county, were received in this city to-day when the Coroner returned from the scene. The unfortunate victim was a 16-year-old girl, named Carrie E. Tripp, who for some cause unknown ended her life by shooting herself. The Coroner held an inquest yes. day and the jury rendered a verdict of suicide. Miss Tripp was a lady of cheerful dispo- sition and her relatives are at a loss to ac- count for the rash act. There is a strong belief that the shooting was accidental. A MYSTER'W_LDS ANGELES FINDING OF A WOMAN'S LEG RE- CALLS MRS. HOFFMAN'S Dis- APPEARANCE. AUTHORITIES RESUME WORK ON A STRANGE ARROYO SECO CasE. Los ANGELES, March 7.—Mrs. Etta Hoff- man, wife of Philip L. Hoffman, a butcher residing at Arroyo Seco, has long been missing from her home and cannot be found. Mrs. Hoffman was a young and rather handsome woman of about 25 years of age. It was one evening during the latter part of October, 1894, that Hoffman came to the house of Mrs. Walbridge, his mother-in- law, and stated that his wife had suddenly left him. Since that time the missing wife has not been seen or heard from. When Hoffman called on Mrs. Walbridge to tell the news of the sudden disappearance of the woman he acted strangely and ap- peared to be greatly excited. He afterward paid everal visits to the house of his mother-in-law, and shortly after one of these a note came to Mrs. Walbridge signed “Etta,”” in which the writer re- quested her mother to deliver a photo- graph to the bearer. Itisnow not believed that this note was written by Mrs. Hoff- man, but that murder is behind the affair, and that the woman’s leg found in the heap of debris on Broadway a few daysago belongs to the body of Hoffman’s wife. During their short period of married life the Hoffmans had many quarrels. Their home in Arroyo Seco, which is located about two miles outside of the city limits, was the scene of many bitter wordy en- counters, and the story that the wife had left her husband did not create much sur- prise at the time Hoffman told his story. As the days went by and months passed and the missing woman did not return her relatives became suspicious and em- ployed detectives to work on the case. Absolutely no clew was discovered which would lead to information as to the where- abouts of Mrs. Hoffman, and the officers were inclined to give up the search when the leg was unearthed in a back yard the other day. Is the mortified limb a part of the dead body of the young butcher’'s wife? That is the question which the authorities are now trying to determine. DISPUTE OVER A REWARD. Claimants to the Amount Offered for the Capture of Roscoe Robbers. Los Anceres, March 7.—It has not yet been decided who is entitled to the reward for the arrest and conviction of Alva John- son, the Roscoe train-robber. Detectives Frank Dowler, A. B. Lawson and Leslie D. Rogers have all laid claim .to the $1300 in dispute, and Charles Etzler also wants a share. Etzler is the man who accompanied “Kid” Thompson to Arizona and helped him spend some of the Mexican money secured at the robbery. Etzler made a confession and Johnson finally admitted his guilt. The latter was given life sen- tence, and Etzler, not having taken any part in the “hold-np,” was not arrested. “Kid"” Thompson is now awaiting trial. Wells-Fargo and the Southern Pacific companies have asked the court to deter- mine who is entitled to the reward for Johnson's conviction. Assoon as Johnson received his sentence he refused to testify at the examination of his partner in crime, knowing that the law did not provide greater punishment for contempt of court than the sentence he had already received. It is now said that he has changed his mind and will testify. Thompson has se- cured the services of three attorneys to conduct his case. A Neglectful Hushand in Trouble, Los AxGELEs, March 7.—Otto Raacke, the son of a wealthy brewer of St. Louis, was arrested here to-day at the instance of his wife, for non-support. Raacke is said to have spent $200,000 in two years ina merry life. He has been a resident of this city for several years. He was formerly a newspaper man. He is well educated and! has a pleasing address. He married his wife in this city. He has two children. Highbinders Attempt Murder. Los ANGELES, March 7.—Highbinders at- tempted to kill Charley Ah Goon in China- town Tuesday. He is a partner of Ah Suey, killed by highbinders a few days ago, and an important witness at the trial of Wong Chee, charged with the murder. Chariey Ah Goon is now at the home of the attorney in the case and will remain there until the trial. Chinatown is all ex- citement over the affair, A SPECIAL MESSAGE Gov. Budd’s Appeal to the Legislature for Economy. SEYMOUR’S BILL A TEXT. Urging the Creation of a State Board of Charities and Corrections. PRESENT WASTEFUL METHODS. The Numerous Expenslve Boards in Existence He Says Should at Once Be Abolished. SacrameNTo, March 7.—Governor Budd transmitted a message to the Senate and Assembly to-night strongly requesting the Legislature to pass the bill introduced by Senator Seymour, providing for 2 State board of charities and corrections, which should displace the various boards con- trolling the different insane asylums and reformatories. The Governor refers to his inaugural ad- dress, in which he called attention to the heavy taxation in California and the great expense of the State government in Cali- fornia as compared with those of other commonwealths. He declares that the vlum reports show that the cost for the various institutions for the insane is dis- proportionate to the costs of other States. He recommends the abolition of the local boards, and concludes with a strong request for the passage of the bill. The text of the message is as follows: To the Senate and Assembly of the State of California: In my inaugural address delivered to your honorable bodies I called attention to the extravagance of our State government and to the high rate of existing taxation. Imade a comparison iy that address between the ex- penses of California and those of the other principal States of the Union, showing by tables presented that while California in popu- lation was twenty-second, in the matter of total expenditures it ranked fourth. In that inangural I also called your attention to the reports of the Superintendent of the Napa Lunatic Asylum and the former Super- intendent of the Stockton Lunatic Asylum, showing the large number of persons therein maintained, who, under the law, should not be inmates of these institutions. I said in this connection, after indicating the great dispro- portion between the expenses of California and other States of the Union: As a step in the direction Indlcated I would recommend a.bill be passed abolishing existing asylum boards and providing for one non-partisan board of from seven to nine members to control the entire system. of lunatic asylums, with power to employ one general supervising liead, who shall o an expert and not otherwise connected with any of the institutions. The saving by such s system would be large, and local persuasion and influence could circumyent neither the expert nor the gen- eral board. Since my inauguration and in the discharge of my duties as Governor I have more fully in- vestigated the institutions and affairs of the State than was possible prior thereto. I have discovered ample proof of all I said in that ad- dress and that its statements were far short of the actual facts. A bill was introduced, without suggestion from myself, by Senators and Assemblymen of the State, going beyond even the recommenda- tions of my address, which bill, in my belief, if adopted by this Legislature, with such amend- ments as {t may deem proper, would save to the State hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. Irefer to the Senate bill known as the Pendleton bill (No. 693). In another portion of my address I spoke as follows: The extraordinary increase in the number of our lunatic asylums and other State institutions had its origin in two causes: t, the desire of mem- bers of the Legislature from particular sections to secure the approval of their constituents by con- ferring upon them certain supposed benefits, and the consequent iniquitous system of trading to which this gave rise. These observations, first, as to the enaeavor of the members of the Legislature to secure the approval of their constituents at the ex- pense of the people at large, and second, local persuasion and influence exerted upon them, have been put to the test in this Legislature and have been exemplified in the considera- tion of the so-called Seymour-Pendleton bill. We have seen in the corridors of the Capitol either the trustees of the various institutions affected by these bills or their representatives using every influence within their power for the purpose of defeating the measures. We have seen local boards of trade and local mer- chants not only appealing to the members from their respective localities for the defeat of these measures, but even ‘demanding that the measures be withdrawn. When local communities or the business men of leading towns publish to the Legislature and to the world that they demand that their rep- resentatives in the Legislature shall abandon measures of this nature because of threatened loss of business it is & virtual admission that the loss to the localities would be & saving to the taxpayers of the State and constitute a very strong reason why the proposed legisla- tion should be adopted. While these boards of trade and other like bodies are making such strenuous efforts before the Legislature, I fail to find one recommendation emanating from them in the interest of economy. The Board of Examiners of this State, of which the Attorney-General and Secretary of State, both upright Republicans, are members, will bear out the executive in his statement that the extravagance of these institutions and the burdens placed upon the people by their mismanagement are things so far beyond the conception of the people that, if known, they would create a storm of general indignation which would cause local trustees and local merchants to pause before assaying to dictate 1o the Legislature what ought to be done in the interest of the people. The investigation made by the Board of Ex- aminers show that but few institutions are not in violation of the letter and spirit of the law, misapplying public funds, in some places us- ing the maintenance fund for the purpose of making purchases and improvements, and in others spending money for the State in luxur- ies for the heads of the departments such as would not be contemplated by any judicial regulation, and in still others maintaining many inmates that should not be there. The maintenance of State officers, housed and cated for at the expense of the people, is an item in the list of extravagances of no small importance. The Attorney-General, the Secre- tary of State,the Surveyor-General and other officials of equal ability, who are elected by the people, receive but $3000 a year to maintain themselves, whereas persons selected for im- portant positions in State institutions by local boards are allowed larger salaries by these boards, and are maintained in luxury at the expense of the State. This measure that I now recommend to you has no politics in it, but 1s a proposition of such great importance to the people and will work so great a saving to them that I feel even at this late hour of the session called upon to urge its passage, 50 that something may be done to change the existing state of affairs in California and give the people some relief, for which they are asking, and to which they are entitled. I hope you will pass this measure, and that I may not be compelled in the future, in the selection of hoards of trustees of the institu- tions affected by it, to select three men who will be members of each and every board, and thereby, under the law, constitute a Board of Charities in fact, although not in name. IGNORES THE MESSAGE. VIRTUAL DEFEAT OF THE BILL THE GOVERNOR WANTED. Sacramexto, March 7.—No fiercer con- test has been waged this session than that which was precipitated upon the Assem- bly this evening by the message from Governor Budd. Pendleton’s bill, identical with that of Senator Seymour’s, which gives a board of three commissioners the entire controling power of the Mendoeino, Napa, Stockton, Agnews and the Southern California asy- lums for the insane, the Industrial Home for the Adult Blind at Oakland, the Deaf, Dumb and Blind Asylum at Berkeley, the Home for Feeble-minded Children, the Whittier school and Preston School of In- dustry at Ione, has been awaiting action on the urgency file for some time. It gives these three commissioners power to engage all employes and buy all supplies. Naturally such a bill would be regarded with suspicion when coming to a Repub- lican Legislature from a Democratic Gov- ernor. It was natural that the Democrats should try to advance the measure, but when Republicans tried to give the Gov- ernor the power of appointing a commis- sion that would control more patronage than the Governor himself the House called a halt and it did so by 45 ayes to 25 noes. The roll call was as follows: Ayes—Ash, Bassford, Belshaw, :Bennett, Berry, Boothby, Butler, Cargill, Coleman, Col- lins, Davis, Dixon, Dodge, Dunbar, Fassett, Gay. Glass, Guy, Hall, Huber, Hudson, Jones, Kelsey, Kenyon, Laird, Laugenour, Lewis, Liewellyn, Meads, Merrill, Nelson, North, Os- born, Powers, Price, Richards, Rowell, Spencer, Staley, Tibbitts, Tomblin, Wade, Waymire, Weyse,Wilkinson—45. Noes—Bachman, Barker, Bettman, Bledsoe, Brusie, Bulla, Coghlin, Cutter, Dale, Devine, Devitt, Dinkelspiel, Dwyer, Hatfield, Healey, McCarthy, McKelvey, 0'Day, Pendleton, Phelps, Reid, Robinson, Sanford, Thomas and Twigg— 25. This vote was taken on a proposition by Huber of Los Angeles to strike out the section of the bill enumerating the institu- tions over which the commissioners were to exercise control. It is hardly probable that the bill would have come up had it not been for the Gov- ernor’s message. While the urgency file was being considered the Sergeant-at-Arms announced a message from the Governor. Under pressure of this statement, Pen- dleton had his measure considered out of order. This aroused Huber. He objected to taking the measure up out of order. “The gentleman from Los Angeles was in the House last night five minutes before the bill was called last night,” he said, “Five minutes after it had been passed on the file because of his absence, he returned. This it seems to me is very significant, when we consider that the bill is eagerly brought forward as soon as the Governor’s message with its covert threat arrives.” Pendleton protested that there were no politics in the bill. He urged that it was for economy’s sake. One concession he gladly agreed to. This was an amend- ment providing that no more than two of the Commissioners should be of the same political belief. Thomas of Nevada also joined in defense of the bill. He told how costly the present boards of directors were and of the im- mense saving that would follow having three directors for all the homes instead of five for each one. Huber wanted to amend by striking out the Whittier School, and then moved to strike out the whole of section 5, enumer- ating the schools to be governed by the new board. This would, of course, be equiv- alent to killing the bill. North of Alameda and Spencer of Lassen supported Huber. Bachman, Reid and Laugenour, all Dem- ocrats, made stirring speeches in favor of the bill. Jones of Stockton denounced thebill as most iniquitous. The Democratic Gov- ernor, by trying to force his will upon the Assembly, he said, was following closely in the footsteps of President Cleveland. Nelson, Wade and Waymire also opposed the bill. Laugenour said that the present Boards of Directors discriminated in favor of local merchants. This he thought the commis- sion would correct. Then the amendment was voted upon and section five killed. A consultation was held between the ad- vocates of the bill. At length Laugenour gave notice that he would ‘‘reconsider the vote by which the bill had been killed." Upon a point of order being raised he changed his motion. This time he gave notice of his intention on the next Legis- lative day to consider the vote by which the amendment was lost. Again a point of order was called upon him. As the con- sideration had to be ruled on this evening he knew the House was against him. Another hole was punched in the bill by striking out the tenth section, ordering the State Treasurer to turn over all moneys to the commissioners when they should be appointed. Then further consideration of the bill was postponed till to-morrow. R LIEU LANDS INVESTIGATION. GOVERNOR BUDD SEEKS INFORMA- TION FROM ATTORNEY-GEN- ERAL WRIGHT. Sacramexto, March 7. — The lieu-land squabble which has developed over a bill introduced in. the Legislature probably prompted the following: MARrcH 7. Hon. M. J. Wright, Surveyor-General, Sacra- mento, Cal.—DEAR SIR: Iam directed by the Governor to ascertain what applications, if any, have been made in your office, and what proceedings, if any, have been made in your office during and since the year 1891, relative to selections of land in lieu of sections 15 and 86, embraced within reservations by the Gov- ernment of the United States, and if any, will you please furnish him with the names of such applicants, the lands 5o sought 1o be selected, and in lieu of what lands, and any information within your knowledge bearing on this matter. An early replyis of importance. Yours very truly, E. L. CoLxoN, Private Secretary, FIGHT ON MERCHANTS, Efforts to Kill a Bill Checking Fraud by Creditors. MOTIVES OF OPPONENTS. Certain Assemblymen Seek to Prevent the Reduction of Sheriffs’ Fees. MEMBERS VIOLATE PLEDGES. In Spite of the Opposition the Meas- ure Passes by a Good Majority. SacraMENTO, March 7.—In the Assembly this afternoon there was a long debate on bill 561, the idea of which came from the San Francisco Board of Trade, proposing to lessen the amount of expenses necessary for an insolvent debtor to turn over his goods to his creditors. The billis the work of the Judiciary Committee, and was the result of long, hard work by men who rec- ognized the viciousness of the present sys- tem. But the word went around that the bill was intended to give the ‘‘rich merchants of San Francisco” a lever with which to pay their bills. It was on this ground alone that the fight was made. ‘When the bill first came up Reid of Trin- ity had an amendment he wanted accept- ed. The law in its present form makes it a prima facie evidence of intent to defrand if a merchant mortgages any of his prop- erty within thirty days of tie time he goes into insolvency. Reid wanted this stricken out. He argued that the banks would fear to loan money to merchants whose credit was shaky, and that the latter would often be Zorced to the wall when, if they could mortgage their property, they would have been able to weather the storm. Powers of San Francisco spoke of the frequency with which convenient brothers- in-law got property on mortgage. To amend the bill at the present stage of pro- ceedings was endangering its passage. He thought the gentleman should have put in his amendments before, when the bill was being carefully considered. “The bill is only against the dishonest debtor,” he said. “The debtor class cannot be opposed to it, since it lessens the amount of expense they now have to endure to make a settle- ment. The only men who will be injured will be lawyers, who will lose fees, and the sheriffs, whose bills will be cut down ma- terially.” Bulla of Los Angeles announced that every honest debtor would be in favor of the bill. “He will no longer have to go down in ignominy as only paying 10 cents on the dollar, because the.fees of the Sheriff, keepers, assignee and attorneys have eaten up all his property,” said he. “Instead he will be able to show that he was able to return at least 35 or 40 cents.” Judge Waymire and Mr. Spencer spoke in the same line, showing the value of the bill and its many terrors for the man who would try to cheat his creditors. Then the previous question was moved. Reid wanted a chance to close the debate, but the ruling of the previous question shut him out. Reid’samendment was lost. Then the question of the passage of the bill came up. Not enough votes were cast to carry the measure and a call of the House was demanded. As soon as the doors were closed the real lobbying began. It was evident that the pity for the mer- chant was only put on. The trouble lay in the fact that the Sheriffs’ fees would be cut down. In San Francisco the perquisites of the Sheriff alone would be cut down at least $10,000. The Sheriffs of the smaller counties would lose porportionately. Of course their influence was actively at work, and the rumors of an active “sack’’ grew to ominous proportions. There were large enough interests at stake to give these rumors the aspect of fact and a number of members were forced to object to the presence of lobbyists hov- ering about the doubtful members. At first it was thought the San Francisco dele- gation would be solid for the bill. Bettman, Dinkelspiel and Powers were foremost among those pressing the bill, although they were aided materially by all the lead- ing attorneys on the floor. At last the call of the House was dis- pensed with and the roll was finished. ‘Chen it was shown that the bill was passed by a vote of 44 t0o 30. One of the votes in the aflirmative was cast by Thomas of Nevada, who was actively fighting the bill in the interests of the Sheriff of his county. He moved a reconsideration for to-morrow. The action of those San Francisco mem- bers voting against the bill has caused much unfavorable comment. The Demo- cratic platform pledged its members to ““aid the commercial and mercantile inter- ests and avoid unnecessary delays and needless expense by passing such amend- ments to the insolvent act as would shorten the time when assignees might be chosen to ten days, and limit the fees and ex- penses connected with keeping insolvents’ assets, prior to the election of assignees, to the amount allowed Sheriffs for holding property under attachments.” The reso- lution concluded: “And we pledge our legislative and municipal nominees to carry out the spirit of thisresolution.” Coughlin, McCarthy, O'Day and Twigg voted against the bill. The Republican platform pledged its legislative candidates to similar measures. Boothby, Devitt, Lewis, Merrill, Wilkin- son and Zocchi voted against the bill. Among the others who opposed the measure were: Ash, Cargill, Coleman, Col- lins, Gay, Holland, Huber, Hudson, Keen, Laugenour, Osborn, Pendleton. Price, Reid, Richards, Robinson, Sanford, Staley, Stansell and Tibbitts. —_— THE JORDAN CLAIM. It LEADS TOA LIVELY FIGHT IN THE ASSEMBLY, BUT PASSESs. SacramENnTo, March 7.—One of the live- liest tights of the session occurred to-day over the claim of D. Jordan for $70,000. Jordan in 1878 built a portion of an ‘addi- tion to Folsom prison. Since that time he has been vainly trying to collect the money which he alleges is due him for that work. When the roll was called Judge Waymire at first voted in the affirmative. Later he changed his vote to “No.” The entire San Francisco delegation present voted for the bill. Dwyer and Powers were absent. The vote was as follows: Ayes—Bachman, Bassford, Bennett, Berry, Bettman, Boothby, Brusie, Butler, Cargill, Coghlin, Collins, Devine, Devitt, Dinkelspiel, Dixon, Dunbar, Ewing, Gay, Guy, Hatfield, Healey, Holland, Kelsey, Laird, Laugenour, Lewis, Llewellyn, Meads, McCarthy, McKelvey, Merrill, 0'Day, Pendleton, Richards, Robinson, Spencer, Swisler, Thomas, Tibbetts, Twigg, Wilkinson, Zocchi—43. Noes—Ash, Belshaw, Bledsoe, Bulla, Coleman, Dale, Davis, Dodge, Fassett, Glass, Hall, Huber, Hudson, Johnson, Jones, Keen, Kenyon, Nel- som, North, Osborn, Price, Reid, Sanford, Staley, Stansell, Wade, Waymire, Weyse—28. THE ASSEMBLY. MEMBERS SETTLE DowN TO CLEAN UP ACCUMULATED BUSINESS. SacrameNTO, March 7.—There is no play in the actions of the Assembly now. When an opportunity comes for relaxation they take it. Every working houris being taken advantage of. To-day an equal number of important bills were considered. Most of these were appropriation bills. The passage of the larger part was abso- lutely necessary to meet obligations al- ready incurred by the State. Other bills represent just claims. Measures asking for appropriations that are not an urgent necessity are very closely scrutinized and meet scant courtesy. Laugenour’s bill appropriating $10,000 to pay the Commissioner of Public Works and his employes for completing the labors outlined when the commission was estab- lished, was .beaten by a vote of 37 to 28. Many meinbers expressed the opinion that it would be well to abolish the commis- sion, and they were not in favor of allow- ing it any money. A call of the House was demanded, but receded from: Mr. Laugenour, however, gave notice of recon- sideration, and the biil will probably be passed to-morrow. Considerable discussion was evoked by the question as to whether the bill appro- priating $120,000 for additional buildings for the Home for the Inebriates at Los An- geles should be read a second time. Speaker Lynch resigned the chair to speak in its favor, showing that it was already crowded and that the appropriation had been cut down from $250,000 to its present size. The bill passed to its third reading. Reid objected strenuously to the bill ap- propriating $4750 to pay the California Demokrat, a German paper, for printing the constitutional amendments last year. Bachman of Fresno read the section of the constitution directing that the amend- ments be printed only in English, and de- clared that to pay the bill would be uncon- stitutional. After lowering the amount allowed to $2000 the bill was passed to its third reading. Among the bills finally passed in the Assembly were: Appropriating $25,000 for the completion and equipment of the branch of the Deef and Dumb Asylum at Berkeley. Appropriating 356 to pay Ira H. Locey and Henry Locey for services to the State Board of Forestry. Appropriating $1131 to pay C. 8. Merrill for services as stenographer upon Court of Inquiry held in S8an Francisco September 8, 1894. Appropriating $831 to pay moneys advanced the forestry stations by the State University. Appropriating $600 for two additional clerks and a phonographic reporter for the Attorney- General. Appropriating $5000 for the Home for Soldiers’ Widows and Orphans and Army Nurses at Evergreen. POLICE COMMISSION BILL. THE ASSEMBLY VOTES AGAINST THE MEASURE. SAcrAMENTO, March 7.—An unexpected opposition has arisen to the scheme to abolish the life tenure of the Police Com- missioners, and to-night the bill was voted down in the Assembly. For several days it has been known that a vigorous fight would be made against the bill of the Ju- diciary Committee. The bill was framed by a Republican committee. It is being urged by Cutter of Yuba, an ardent Re- publican, yet it is being opposed on the ground that it is a Democratic measure. The San Francisco delegation is divided on clear political lines, those voting for the proposition beilng: Coughlin, Devine, Dwyer, Healey, McCarthy, O'Day and Twigg, all Democrats. Those voting against the bill were: Bettman, Boothby, Devitt, Dinkelspeil, Dixon, Lewis, Merrill, Powers, Wilkinson and Zocchi, all Rebub- licans. Ewing, the Populistic Republican, voted with the Democrats and then changed his vote to ‘‘no,” in order to move a reconsideration. In the total the vote stood, 31 to 37. There was no fight over the measure to- day. Itcame up asthe special order and an unsuccessful attempt was made to stave it off. Since this could not be done opponents of the measure moved the pre- vious question to prevent amendments, de- feated a demand for a call of the House, put it on its final passage and beat it. The truth then appeared. The oppo- nentsjof the billjwere fighting to perpetuate bankers Alferd and Tobin in office. The friends of the bill think that when the truth becomes known the allies of the Re- sublicnn portion of the San Francisco elegation will transfer their allegiance. THE IDAHO DEADLOCK BROKEN. George L. Shoup Is Elected Senator to Succeed Himself. Boise Crry, March 7.—The Idaho Sena- torial contest was brought to a close to-day by the re-election of George L. Shoup to succeed himself. The finish was close and exciting. When the joint assembly met a Populist member who has been for Sweet moved a call of the House. ey A Case of Legislative Blundering. SAcRAMENTO, March 7.—Another instance of legislative blundering was discovered to-day. Assembly bill No. 431, carrying a small appropriation for the office of the Secretary of State, was sent to the Gov- ernor as passed, when it had but 40 votes in the Assembly. As a bili requires 41 votes to pass that body the Governor could not sign the measure. e La Fiesta Subscription Fund. Los ANceres, March 7.—The public sub- cription fund for the fiesta is growing rap- idly. All of the committees are meeting with encouragement of a substantial order and to-night the amount on hand foots up o $11,367. 3 CROWLEY CENSURED, Blamed for Writing the Letter to the Leg- islators. M'COPPIN IS SURPRISED, He Did Not Think the Chief Was Capable of Doing Such a Thing. SAYS: < TTi 18 UNGRACEFUL, The Police Commission Has Been Non-Partisan in Character for Sixteen Years. “T did not think Chief Crowley was cap~ able of doing such a thing; I had a better opinion of him.” Postmaster McCoppin was the speaker. He was discussing the letter of the Chief of the San Francisco police force to the members of the California Legislature wherein the author urged the members to vote against Assembly bill 658. This bill sets the term of office of all offices at four years, and the question is giving the Police Commissioners some concern. So the | Chief wrote a letter to his friends in the Legislature in which he declared that it “appeared to him to be inadvisable for the Postmaster Frank McCoppin. (From a photograph.] Republican party to convey such power to the Democratic party, a power which they would undoubtedly make use of in the in- terests of that party.” “That is just the object,” continued the Postmaster. “It was to lift the Police Department out of politics that I, as a member of the Legislature in 1878, secured the passage of a bill creating the present Police Commission. This act gave the ap- pointing power to the Judges of the Dis- trict Courts of the Fourth, Twelfth and Fifteenth districts and they appointed two Democrats, Major Hammond and Judge Tobin, and two Republicans, Mr. Alvord and Chief Crowley, who is ex-officio a member, to office. I, myself, advised the appointment of Crowley. “The complexion of the Legislature that passed this act was Democratic in both the Assembly and the Senate; the Gov- ernor who signed the bill was a Democrat, Governor Irwin, and two of the three Judges who made the appointments were Democrats. Therefore it comes with very bad grace for Chief Crowley to raise the cry that this is a Democratic measure, Chief of Police Crowley, [From a photograph.] drafted and designed for the purpose of gaining control of the Police Commission for that party. He owes his office to the Democracy. The Chief is a good man, an honest man, has certainly earned his $4000 a year for the last seventeen years, but that has nothing to do with the case. He above all men should try to keep the de- partment out of politics. “In such connection the department is a great power. In years gone by it has been used by different persons to serve private political ends. There is no question about that. It was a political machine. “When the people of San Francisco selected me to serve them as their chief executive I was immediately called upon to consider some 1500 applications for places on the police force then held by other men. I then saw the evil of politics in this department and determined to correct it. I did so when I went to the Legislature and after the hardest fight of my life succeeded in getting through the bill that created this august body. Now the members of the commission are all my enemies, and simply because I offered a little friendly criticism on the danger of allowing the de- partment to drift into politics; machine politics at that, the lowest, the nastiest politics. “I was the creator of this Police Depart- ment as much as I was the creator of any- thing in my life. I naturally feel an in- terest in it. I have watched its growth; studied its development, and when last #