The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 17, 1895, Page 14

14 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, MAY 17, 1895. DENAND PROTECTON An Important : Meeting of the Chamber of - Commerce. TO HELP HOME INDUSTR_Y The Agricultural and Shipping Interests Are to Be Fostered. STIRRING = ADDRESSES - MADE. John P. Irish Opposed the Resolu- tions as Being Politically Impracticable. One of the most important meetines of the year in San : Francisco was held by the Chamber of Commerce yesterday after- noon. It was called to consider.fhe ques- tion of a bounty on' the exports of agricul- tural staples and a tonnage bounty, or dif- ferential duty, in favor of -American ship- ping, both of which industries are at pres- ent unprotected. ‘When the meeting was called to order by Vice-President Craig nearly all the available seating room: was occupied. Among the assemblage were many representative men from the interiorof the State. The Hon: Thomas McConnell of Sacramento and the Hon. George Olileyer of Yuba City occupied seats on the platform on eithér side of the chairman, Secretary Clement read letters from A. P. Roach of Watsonville, master of the State Grange, and. E. W. Davis, Superin- tendent ot Schools of Sonoma County, ex- master “of the - State Grange, expressing their regrets at being ‘unable to be present and indorsing the movement in the hearti- est fermis: The master of the State Grange wrote as Jollows: W ATSONVILLE, Cal., May 13: Hon.W, H. Diniond, President Chamber of Com- snerce, San Frascisco, Cal.—DEAR Sik: Have re- cefved-with pleasure your invitation -to attend the meeting of the Chamber of Commerce on the 16th inst. I deeply regret my inability. to be present, as the most profound interest cen- ters oni the Proposition you. are about to dis- | cuss, because of ifs. far-reaching ‘magnitude | and the mulitiplicity of beneficial effects its | speedy adoption and practical enactment into laws would subserve, Iam not conversant wich the evils which be- set the shipping interests other than to know that our merchant mariné has lost its former restige, and that our flag has been well nigh Briven from the seas threugh various remoy- | sble causes, chiefést of which was unfriendly legisiation. 1 fully know the ills by which agriculture is beset, and if yours -even remately approach ours it cannot fail to produce & bond of union which should incite both industries -to cease- desseffort in the direction of emanci pation, which efforts should never be relaxed until the samé measure of justice-and equality before the law is vouchsafed to us as that enjoyed by all other protected industries. | May the wisdom, iuxe§rny and patriotism of this meeting invite all' to & union of forces favorable to progréss and reform. And may victory crown the manly effort for justice ana ngm. have the ‘honor to:remain respectfully yours, A. P. Roacn. Mr. Lubin of Sacramento was introduced. He delivered a forcible address. The sub- jectis ome to ‘which he has given mach study, and his enthusiasm and earnestness were reflected in" the close attention and frequent demonstrations of approval of his auditors. He prefaced his address by say- ing that in the discussion of such a subject politics should cut no figure. - Said he: We all know what is meant by tariff taxa- tion, but after listening to the Démocratic and: Republican orators, -ng then hearing another discourse on silver, we are pretty badly mixed up. But -our ‘purpose is to consider the ques- tion oé‘yrorectian 1o our agricultural, commer- cial and shipping interests from theview point of what is best to be done ‘to accomplish the greatest benefits to our interests, R It seems a hard thing to explain that the ex- port price is always the home price. The ex- port price which Engiand wyoul pey us s no greater on suy comuiodity tian she would pay or the seme thing fromthe country where the cheapest labor is employed. ‘The export price s obtained in a free-trade market. | We erect a wall, as it were, which prevents too free & _competition between us and the products menufsctured in the cheap labor countries. In the matterof staple agricultural y:&deu&u we miust sell memh.:bme (ree-lmm; open competition with the agricultural Ronnmu of the world. There is no wall to gmtect them. One thing we losesight of is that e cantiot getone cent more for. the agricul- tural staplés consumed at home than we re- ceive for the exports. Agriculture is absolutely not protected. Jrotect manufactures and other industries st the expense.f agriculture. The only parellel to the system of this country is furnished by Russia. Al the otlier European countries grant the same protection to agri- eulture that is accorded to the manufacturing and other industries. If wheat was brought 1o £1 15 a bushel it would not remove the in- Justice that exists is the indisputable fact that my}: industry is protected at the expense of an- other. 1f you enable one man to sell his products for s hlfil pri¢e and do not make it possible for his neighbor to sell his goods at an equally fair price, then the protection isnot just or equable. We are here to-day to take a position which will be far-reaching in its effect. If the Cham- ber of -Commerce has the nerve to pass this measure the news will go abroad; it will go on. to. Washington and stimulate our representa- tives to make the fight for eguitable protec- tion. But if we fail 1o do this thing ats effect will bé felt throughout the State among the granges and other industrial organizations— ‘el, and even throughout the length and readth of the land. Captain~ Charles Nelson followed. He £poke with the earnestness of conviction, and stronfi]y urged the passage of the reso- lutions. He said: 8 This nation ought to have to-day the su- premacy over the thousands of steamships that yearly cross the Atlantic, but until three years g0, when & combination- of American capital purchased two English ships,which were after- ‘ward granted American registers, then - for the first time since 1859 did the American flag float at the peak of the great racers that now almost innihi_nte_ time between this country and urope. - Those two great industries, iculture and shipping, the last of which has been knocking at the door of Congress during several sessions | for recognition, which has to compete against the subsidized and cheap-labor ships of Europe, end the first, of even_greater magnitude, has also had to compete ageinst’ cheap labor and cheap capital, without having received any aid from the general Government, but instead has been crippled by the protective duty levied by our Government on imported goods for the benefit of the manufacturers, as well as coal, g«n end other articles 00 numerous to men- ion. The silver question sinks into insignificance as compared with thi d then will the cry of herd times be heard no more; nor will the question be asked, “What shall we do with our boys?” as thousands, yes, millions, of them ) seek emsloymemunl 'yore,and it will be an honor and not a degradation, as considered by e great many to-day, to be connected with the American merchant marine, as well as those magnificent vessels-of our navy, the admira- tion of the world. 5 4 5 ‘These two great industries will speak in no uncertain voice t6 Congress, demanding from itequal fostering and protection, which will bring- back remunerative prices; pmgern{, not alone to agriculture, but 10 our whole country; restore to our merchant marine the place. it once. occypied, namely, doing more than 90 per cent of our commerce, instead of 14 per cent, as it did in'1894. . On-concluding his remarks he offered the following resolutions prepared by David Lubin, 'ql‘he motion for its adoption was recorded by D. J. Staples: 'WHEREAS, Agricultural staples being exports cannot be protected by a tariff on imports as are manufactures, and - ‘Whereas, Anierican ships in the foreign trade, being built of protected material and nnder protection” wages are at a disadvantage in the world’s competitfon with ships con- 1 structed and operated in cheap labor or free'| trade countries; such advantage being beyond the reach of protection by & tariff on impors; therefora_be it 3 Resolved, -By the Chamber of Commerce of -Ban Francisco that the Mepressed condition of the staple agricultural and shipping interests demand the enactment of such legislation as will put both these great industries upon a footing of equality with. those now specially fostered by the Government. . Be it further Resolved, That since neither of the two great unprotected industries can derive any benefit from & tarff on imports, we call upon Congress 0 equalize the protection system by extending to agricultural staples and American shipping that {uit measure of protection which they are entitled to. as long as protection is the con- trolling and public policy of this nation,and that this be dowe by an export bounty on the staples of agricultiire apd to American ship- ping in the foreigh trade either by & bounty on tonnage or & differential duty which shall dis- criminate in favor of American as against for- eign ships, all to the end that a restoration may be brought about of our merchant marine and that the independent land-owning farmers of the nation may not be driven into bank- ruptey and ruin by the compeution of the cheap land and labor countries of the world. Be it further Resolved, That the efforts of the chamber be pledged to the furtherance of & union between the shipping and agricultural interests in an endeavor 10 secure equitable protection for both at the hands of the Government. A long letter supfilememar_v to that witten by Master Roach of the_ State Grange to Secretary Clement, was read by Senator Voorheis of Sutter’ County, in which the writer reviewed the present sit- uation of the agricultural and shipping interests at length, and assured the Cham- ber of Commerce of his hearty support of any movement or measure looking to the improvement of affairs. 5 The smooth-tones of John P. Irish’s voice: were heard from the back part of the room, and a.new element of interest was ‘introduced in the almost certain an- ticipation of an opposition to the passage of Mr, Lubin’s resolutions. Though in an exceedingly small minor- ity, as the speaker expr_essed it, he was heard with attention. Said he: Mr. Lubin’s argument against protection is perfect. One class has been taxed for the benefit of another class. His proposition to ‘equielize matters by putting an export bount; on agriculture is, in my opinion, an artifici interference which is equally as vicious as the effect which he seeks to remedy and which is the result of other artificial interference. In the example of other countries we havea warning against such a vicious system. In those_countries the system has become S0 thoroughly interwoven with the other systems, banking, commerce, etc., that they do not know where to let go. Now, then, it has been said here that the burden of the protection to manufactures has fallen on agriculture. “B’” ays taxes for the benefit of “A.” Very well. Borair, Lubin says equelize it by paying “B’ % bounty equal to the protection enjoyed y AL It amounts to one thing. We will tax our- selves in order to furnish our surglus products to the foreign consumer at a cheaper price. The only way we can compete with the large agricultural countries of the globe is tosell our products in the open markets of the world ata cheaper price. Will this bounty which is talked about re- dound to the benefit of the farmer? By no means. When you seex to remedy an evil resulting from artificial_interference by another system of artificial interference, you get back to a worse condition than you are in now. The whole system of protection is that a man shall walk around with another man’s meat on his bones. When you walk around with your Own meat on your bones then you let the whole system of proiection fall to the ground. Mr. Lubin responded with spirit. He insisted that taxation must be equalized— call it tariff or whatever term you may wish. Colonel Irish’s references to free trade policies cannot be borne out by fact. There is no absolutely free trade nation on the globe. England, which has been used for illustration, is not a free trade country. **‘We may all come to it in time, but until we do there must be protection to all and an equalized taxation,’”” he said. Captain Murray and Chairman Craig made short addresses in favor of the resolu- tions, and as the question was called they were passed by a unanimous rising vote. Walter N. Castle introduced the foll ing resolutions, which were adopted by a unanimous vote: WHEREAS, The Nstional Grange Patrons of Husbandry at its last snnual session at Spring- field, I1l., passed resolutious for the holding of a conference between the representatives of sgricultural and commercial interests, at which conference one of the subjects for dis- cussion will be the protection of staple agri- culture by an export bounty; therefore be it Resolved, That the president of the Chamber of Commerce of San Francisco be hereby au- thorized to appointa committee of one 1o at- tend. said conference on behalf of the com- mercial and shipping interests of Calhfornia with the end in view of securing such co-opera- tion bétween the agricultural and shipping in- terests as may be best calculated to secure to each of these industries that just and equit- able measure of protection to which they are entitled as long as protection is the public policy of this nation. The meeting adjourned amid expressions of gratification. NOTED WOMEN LECTURERS, The Woman’s Christia) Temperance Union Will Entertain Mrs. Matthews and Miss Pash. Preparations are being made for the wel- coming to California of two world-famous lecturers of the W. C. T. U. Mrs. Stephen Matthews, national organ- izer of the British Woman’s Temperance Association, will arrive overland from London to-morrow and on the 24th inst. a “‘jubilee reception’ in honor of Queen Vic- toria’s birthday will be tendered to Mrs. Matthews by the State officers of the W. C. T.U. Mrs. Matthews will lecture in the Third Congregational Church June 12 on the duties of motherhood, and other ap- pointments will be made hereafter for her. Migs Ellen Pash will arrive in 8an Fran- cisco in about two weeks. She isa grad- uate of Girton College, Cambridge, and is a young English woman of varied accom- lishments. Ladg Henry Somerset of astnor Castle, who is president of the W. C. T. U..in the British Empire, is the patron of Miss Pash and recommends her to the temperance women of the United States in glowing terms. Miss Pash is also a devotee of the Salvation Army and spent several years in its work in India. Her lectures consist llrge‘liy of reminiscences of her work in England, France and India. She was presented by the Empress of India with a shawl as a token of appreciation for the work she is doing for women. GENERAL WEDENBURG. An Ex-Hawaiian Official Who Will Re- turn to the Islands. Frederick Wedenburg, formerly Post- master-General . of Hawaii, who some months ago™ left Honolulu on account of friction with the new republie, has been invited.to return to his home in the Sandwich Islands and expects to do so. During his residence in,8an ncisco Mr. ‘Wedenburg has not taken part in any plot- tings against the Hawaiian Goyernment. An intimation fo that effect was unfortu- nately %lxlgl\:hed in a recent issue of the CarL. This suggestion is an injustice to Mr. Wedenburg. ™ For the purpose of set- ting him right 1n this community and nmonfihu'owp people in Hawaii this ex- planation is given. " - Highest of all in Leavening Power.— Latest U. S. Gov't Report Royal Amu{m;..’.u’_s_ Sy Powder i 3 PATEY SUDDEN CHANGE OF HEART Superintendent Ashworth Sur- prises the Red Rock Quarrymen. HE WANTS THE RATTLER TEST. The New Specifications as to Rock and Bitumen Exactly Like the OId Ones. People are wondering at the sudden change of heart that has come over Thomas Ashworth, Superintendent of Streets. Contractors, architects, quarrymen and those who supply material for street paving are surprised at the very sudden and unex- pected conversion of Superintendent Ash- worth to the blue and gray rock fetish. They have called upon him, or tried to do so, asking for an explanation of the mat- ter. But they have found him absent from the City. Immediately after his conversion to blue rock Mr. Ashworth hied himself away to the seashore or the moun- tains; no one .appears to know whither, and even inquiries at his residence fail to disclose his exact wherebouts.. There is indignation mingled with the surprise, and the red rock quarrymen and contractors declare they have not been fairly dealt with by the Street Superin- tendent, They declare, too, that Mr, Ash- worth, in the specifications filed by him with the Street Committee of the Board of Supervisors last Thursday, rescinded all his previous statements concerning the unfairness of the Rattler’ test for concrete stone, and showed beyond a question his very recent conversion to _the false dogma that Gray Brothers should be permitted to have an exclusive monopoly in furnishing the foundation stone for street work. Rock men are -fully awakened on the question, and an investigation of some kind will certainly be asked for by those most interested. 5 The ordinance that has been in force for several years made provision for a test of the concrete rock to be used in street pav- ing, known as the Rattler test. This test has been proved unsatisfactory by ex: - ence, and especially so as it has resulted, and always will result, in giving Gray Brothers, dealers in blue rock, the exclu- sive monopoly in supplying rock to be used for this purpose. Another serious ob- jection to this test isin the costliness of the material it provides for, since Gray Brothers receive a much higher price for their rock than would have to be paid for much of the rock excluded under the test and which is known to be equally as good for the purpose. Citizens whose property is to be improved by street work, as well as taxpayers who are interested in munici- pal economy, have made complaints of this state of affairs. 5 g And so emphatic did these complaints finally become that on the 18th of Febru- ary last a resolution (No. 11,847; third series) was adopted by the Board of Super- visors, reciting these complaints and the fact that the board proposed to adopt specifications for the performance of good street work and the furnishing of good ma- terials, and requesting persons interested to prepare specifications and present their views in writing relative to the material, its character and the tests to be applied. These were to be presented to the Street Committee on Febru: 28,1895. In com- pliance with this resolution the red-rock people, at the time specified, presented specifications, accompanied by their views on the subject. These specifications wholly eliminated the Rattler test and de- clared that the only fair test is one that will measure the tensile strength of the concrete in its completed form. In full, the report presented by the red-rock men was as follows: To the Street Committee of the Homorable Board of Supervisors, San Francisco: In compliance with resolution 11,847 (third series) recently advertised, relative to rock, concrete and bitumen proposed to be used in the construc- tion of bituminous pavement, and requesting all parties interested to prepare specifications and present in writing their views relative to material, etc,, its character and tests required, and to submit the same to your committee, we, the undersign‘d, Champion & Crocker, respectfully beg leave to submit the following specification and views relative to the rock to be used in such construction: Specification—The rock used shall be clean, sharp, hard and aurable, free from dirt, clay or other soapy substances and not subject to disintegration by the action of air or water. This rock shall be crushed or broken to an average size, not exceeding two inches in any direction. Views relative to material, as suggested by the above specification, and as to its character and the required tests—It will be observed that the specification here presented dis- tinetly eliminates the proposed requirement that rock to be used in_the construction of roadways must be either blue or gray in color, and also eliminates the present test, known as the Rattler test. First—We assert that the proposed limita- tion as to color and the use of the Rattler test 50 reduces the sources of supply as to subject purchasers to the extortionate and unjust de- mands and conditions of & monopoly, and will impose upon taxpayers and owners of property hereafter to be improved unnecessary bur- dens of expense, and unjustly withdraw op- rtunity for the Y.I’Jmnn of fair and legitimate usiness from a Jarge class of persons who have invested large amounts of cn&sml bly pre- venting them from entering into full, fair and honest competition. Secondly—We assert that there is no rock, blue, gray or red, in use or available for use, which will stand the Rattler test when fairly applied, 28 has been demonstrated by recent experiment, and we here call attention, in sup-: gm't of this assertion, to the test made by the juperintendent of Streets on the 21st day of February, 1895, in which all rock, gray and red, then tested, failed to meet the require- ment and also to the tests made of similar rock on the 23d day of February, 1895, by our committee, While on the occasion of the st last mentioned the rock of Gray Bros. (gray in color) apparently met the standard as to loss, there is evidence which cannot be ig- nored—that the rock submitted to the test had been previously prepared for the purpose by filling or otherwise removing and rounding o the sharp edges and corners. A sample of the rock thus prepared was piaced in the posses- sion of the Superintendent of Streets by Mr. Morgenstern, ‘'a member of your committee, and is subject to identification and examina- tion, which is hereby requested. We assert that the Rattler benhor any other test of rock in preliminary stages, is Jot a fair and just test, and that the only fair test is one which will try and measure the tensile strength of the concrete in its completed form, after lapse of sufficient time for hardening. Thirdly—We assert that the rock commonly known as red rock possesses equal merit for use in street and foundation work with that of blue or gray rock, and in many respects the ualities of the first named are superior to those of the last named. While bz the tests heretofore referred to the 10ss of rock from the uarries of Diggins Brothers and the under- signed (red rock) was greater than that of gray rock, even assuming that the test was fairly applied, it is undeniable that the rock from the anmles of Diggins Brothers, Champion & ‘rocker and other red-: ocmnlxfleshu been in use for gell’s, and is now being used in street and foundation work by leading architects and engineers in_work of the most extensive and important character and with most satis- factory results. We cite as instances founda- tion of Mills building, Crocker building, Par. Tott building, on corner of Powell and Post streets, the new million-dollar Parrott build- ing on Market street, the Ol ic Club build- ing, the building of the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Spreckels’ Sugar Refinery, the ten-story apartment building corner of Cali- fornia and Jones streets, now in course of con- struction, the foundation for the new barracks at the Presidio, foundations for dynamite guns near Fort Point; the roadbeds of nearly all'the cable-roads in_this City are made of Ted-rock pray your honorable co refully in- veutifinu the truth of tl::‘:;lmgr? ha:"m at{ud and in fairness to the undersigned and other contractors and to the owners of property in T referred to, to ado) € B] 4 fication and requirements herein \n?ted- This report was duly filed 'by the Street Committee and a disposition of the matter Wwas postponed till the meeting of March 7, which all the members of the Board of Supervisors were invited toattend. At the time appointed, several other members of board ‘were present, and the matter was thoroughly discussed. All of the allega- tions contained in the specifications and written views of the xec{rock men were supported by the evidence of many lead- ing architects, experts and engineers and other persons having knowledge of the subject. And all this without dispute from any source whatever. It was shown that red rock was as good as blue and gray rock, and the inadequacy of the Rattler test was thoroughly established. Among others who gave their viewsat that time was Superintendent of Streets Thomas Ashworth. He unequivocally ad- vocated the admission of what is known as red rock to competition, as being in many respects superior to the Gray Bros.’ rock. Mr. Ashworth also emphatically asserted that he did not believe in the Rat~ tler test, and that any test adopted by the board should be one to test the concréte in its completed form. He also stated, at the same time, that these opinions expressed by him were but repetitions of those here- tofore given by him openly and repeatedly at many other times. At the conclusion of the discussion the committee took no definite action, but re- served the matter for advisement. Nor was anything more heard of the matter until these specifications were filed by Mr. Ashworth last Thursday. In the :mean- time the bitumen matter was taken up and an ordinance enacted which was vetoed by the Mayor. Subsequent to the Mayor's veto the Board of Supervisors referred the whole matter, including rock and bitumen, to Superintendent Ashworth, requesting him to prepare specifications for all kinds of material to be used in street work, to the end that good work and good material should be obtained. Complying with these instructions, Mr. Ashworth" filed his speci- fications with the Street Committee Thurs- concrete. The Market-street Railway Company has used during the t ten months about twenty thnnunfi (20, ) cubic yards of red- rock concrete in the constrnction of its electric roadbeds and foundations for building. ‘We are pre| to show & large number of blocks paved with bitumen on red-rock con- crete during the five years, which prove to be far more superior in all respects to many blocks where the concrete is made of blue or gray rock. We also beg leave to refer to letters and certificates from leading and distinguished architects and_engineers, especially tc the analysis by Professor Price, which were filed in the lewn{lol this board on a previous occa- sion and which are presumably accessible at the present time. In view of the foregoldg, we respectiully. - day, May 9. -To the astonishment of every person familiar with the circumstances and the history of the measures before the board, these ‘specifications, which were handed in by a deputy, proved to_be, both in letter and in spirit, nearly identical with those which had proved so objectionable, not only as regardps the rock for the con- crete foundation, but also as to the bitu- men specifications vetoed by Mayor Sutro. In these new specifications the Rattler test is retained and the prohibitions re- garding the bitumen are the same that made the vetoed ordinance so objection- able. The essential parts of Mr. Ash- worth’s recommendations are as follows: SAN FrRANCISCO, May 5, 1895. To the Honorable Board of Supervisors of the City and_County of San Francisco—GENTLEMEN: In compliance with the request of your hon- orable body, as per resolution No. 12182 (third series), I herewith submit specifications for paving roadways with bituminous rock which in my judgment, will tend to secure the use of good bitumen and the construction of proper and lasting pavements. Respectfully yours, THOMAS ASHWORTH, Superintendent of Public Streets, Highways and Squares. _Following this, under the head of “Spe- cifications—Bituminous Rock Pavements for Roadway,” after describing the “true arc” of the roadbed and providing fora concrete foundation that shall be com- vosed of *‘one part of Portland cement, two parts of clean sand and seven parts of clean rock,” the provisions are as‘follows: The rock must be either blue or gray sand- stone, or red rock of an approved quality, but either kind must be clean and hard and durable, free from clay or dust, not subject to disintegration by the action of air or water, and free from seams or marked lines of cleavage. * * * And shall be such rock only as shall not lose by erosion and fracture more than 25 Eer cent of its original weight upon testing the same by what is known as the Rattler test, the said test of rock to be made in the Rattler machine belonging to this City and County by placing the said rock in_ said machine, and the same put in revolving motion at the rate of not less than twenty- eight revolutions per minute for three con- secutive hours. Ali rock losing more than 25 per cent of its original weight shall be rejected as unfit for use. * * As to the specifications for the bitumen work, when the new and the old are thrown in contrast, it isseen that the only difference between the new ones filed Thursday by the S\lgerintendent and the old ‘ones vetoed by the Mayorisin a slight change in phraseology. _The new and the old bitumen specifica- tions: Filed by Superinten- dent Ashmorth May 9. The bituminous rock used shall be of the best|be of the best quality and quality and shall contain|shall contain from ten not less than twelve (12)((10) to fifteen (15) per per cent_nor more than/cent of bitumen. = The fifteen (15) per cent of|bitumen contained in the bitumen. The bitumen|material shall be such as contained in the mate-|will not vaporize below rial shall be such that(250 degrees Fahrenheit, none of it will vaporize'and be of & nature to below @ temperature of|make a good cement, and 250 degrees IFahrenheit, |the material must also be and of such & quality as|clean and free from all 10 make a good cement. |stone pebbles, mica, The bituminous rock earthy, gravelly or veget- must also be free from |able matter. all coarse sand and peb-| In reducing the rock bles, and free from clay |preparatory (o laying, 1t and vegetable matter. In|shall not be done in open reducing the rock pre-|kettles or by any other paratory to laying, jt|process liable to burn or shall not be done in open|destroy the ofl or bitu- kettles or in any other'men in the rock. Fur process liable to burn or | ther, the rock used shall destroy the oil or bitu-/be in the condition as men in the rock. aken from the mines in Further, the rock used|its natural state, in bulk, shall be in the condition|and delivered ' on the as taken from the mines|streets where the worlk is in its natural state, in|being done, and without bulk, and delivered in/having been previously the 'streets where theldisintegrated. work is being done, and| The rock shall then be without having been pre-|heated until it melts and yiously disintegrated. becomes disintegrated. The rock shall then beland shall be uniformly heated until it melts and |spread over the founda- becomes disintegrated, tion of concrete and and shall be uniformly|rolled whilst warm. spread over the founda-| tlon of concrete and Tolled while it i3 warm. And now the red-rock people are won- dering what influence it call)lebg that has sp suddenly converted Mr. Ashworth’s views on these matters. His explanations will possess absorbmg interest for a great many persons. It is asserted that his Kesent absence from the City is likely to prolonged beyond the time set for the consideration of these which is next Thursday. Street Committee will want to see Mr. Ashworth and hear his verbal statement before it takes definite action. When the matter came up before the Street Committee yesterday, Superin- tendent Ashworth was nomore inevidence fiermmlly than he has been for days past. e was represented by his chief deputy, Andy Donovan. The latter made no ex- lanations regarding the why and where- ore of his superior's conversion, and after the reading of the title of the proposed specifications, it was decided to report favorably upon it by Supervisors Dun er, Morgenstern, Benjamin and Hughes, while Supervisor Spreckels registered a dissenting vote. PAWNED HIS SAMPLIS. A Traveling Salesman Arrested for Fel- ony Embezzlement. 'Chnrlau Strickfuss of Strickfuss & Oppel, cigar manufacturers at 1209 Polk street, appeared in Judge Joachimsen’s court yes- terday and swore out a warrant for the ar- rest of Harry Ruth on the charge of felony embezzlement. Ruth was shortly after- ward taken to the City Prison. The complaining witness stated that Ruth was employed by the firm as a trav- eling salesman about two weeks ago. He was furnished with a sample-case contain- ing about $50 worth of cigars, which he pawned for $4. During the two weeks he also sent in bogus orders for goods to the Vetoed by Mayor Sutro ril 22, ‘he bitumen used shall A specifications, But possibly the value of He got the goods and sold them to different dgalers for cash and kept the proceeds. - Special Baggage Notice. Round-trip transfer tickets on sale at re- duced rates at our office oxLY. _One trunk, CONSOLIDATED LIBRARIES. Many Favor a Union of the Free Library and the Mer- cantile. ADVANTAGES TO THE PUBLIC. The Mercantile Assoclation’s Debts Could Be Pald Off Within Three Years. The question of consolidating the Me}'— cantile Library with the Free Public Library is now being agitated by a large number of the reading public. It started by a resolution presented by Trustee A. Gerberding of the Mercantile Library advocating the appointment of a committee to confer with the trustees of the Public Library. The committee was to learn if the latter desire to consolidate; if under the law it could be accomplished, and if so the matter would be submitted to the members of the Mercantile Library for final action. As Mr. Gerberding was unable to be present it was laid over until the next meeting. ‘While there are a few who oppose this union there are many who are heartily in fa.n(or of it. Asa matter of fact, the propo- sition to consolidate with some other library has been discussed annually for the past thirty years. The reason is that the Mercantile Library Association has not been a self-sustaining institution and has peen consiantly running behind. At the present time it is$75,000 in debt and with no very encouraging prospects of paying the interest on the debt, to say nothing of keeping up with the times in obtaining new books. Mr. Gerberding, who revived the old question, gives hjs reasons for so doing. He said: If we don’t do something of this nature what shall we do? It would bea shame for the old- est library association in the State to go into insolvency. We are now paying about $400 a month interest on our debt, or $4800 a year. The last printed report of the treasurer shows that on December 31, 1894, the receipts were $14,617 31. Of this $6000 was received as an additional and final loan of the Hibernia Bank. n order to keep the library going A. B. Mc- Creary, B. C.Bigelow, W. W. Stow and John Hunt donated about $1500. So you see ourin- come from other sources was not very large. The disbursements amounted to $12,864 65. Of this 5048 25 was for interest. A library that is obliged to depend upon membership dues will not be asuccess. All large libraries must have some outside source of sufply, in the shape of legacies or gifts. This library has none, and we cannot expect mefimlemen who have helped usto about $1500 to do so year after year. The total subscribing ‘membership on the first of this year was 1073. The regular mem- bers pay and 158 teachers pay 3, so the revenue from dues is only about $5950. Now, something must be done, and there are many adyantages to be gained in the proposition will submit, if the plan proves feasible. 1 would turn over the Mercantile Library As- sociation’s building and lot on “Van Ness and Golden Gate avenues and the library of about 68,000 volumes to the Free Library, the latter, of course, 1o assume all of our liabilities, amounting to $75,000. Our members would be able to enjoy the same privileges as now and have the use of 140,000 volumes of the combined libraries. Asitis, we have none of the modern books, and will not be able to purchase any to induce an increase in our membership. While this consolidation would not destroy the useful- ness of the Mercantile Library, which con- tains many rare and costly works, it would give the people of San Francisco the largest and finest free library in the United States out- side of the Bostcn Free Library. I am sure that our members would be greatly benefited s well as the public. The legal status of the case has been looked into, and but few obstacles have been found. Under the library act of 1880 free libraries may acquire real estate and other property. _The principal question is how the Free Library would able to meet the assumed debt of the Mercantile Library, and this suggestion has been made. h\'ery ‘year file Board of Free Library Trustees asks the Board of Super- visors to appropriate from $65,000 to - 000. As a rule,.of late years, the Super- visors cut these figures down to $35, or $40,000. Now it is proposed that for the next three years the Supervisors appropri- ate $65,000. The combined libraries, on a inch, can be conducted on $40,000, and g25,000 would go to paying off the assumed debt of $75,000. Mr. Gerberding and several others be- lieve this can be done. H. H. Moore of 542 California street, for ten years librarian in the Mercantile Library, and now an honorary member, is a strong advocate of the proposition. He said: Thirty years ago I urged justsuch a move- ment. yxysaw thgn nmgmej library was xYot able to stand alone very long. About 1870 it was 1n & bad condition, and the Legislature permitted us to start a lottery scheme, which netted us $400,000.That money was squandered in getting up a $10,000 catalogue and in other extravagant ways. Out of this money the new library building was built.. Now we have the bufldi);lg and nothing to support the institu- tion. In 1870 we had 2000 members, but the number has dwindled down to 1304, of whom about 300 are non-paying. Iknow of many members of the Mercantile who are in favor of consolidating with the Free Library rather than have the association go into insolvency. A large number favored joining with the Me- chanies’ Institute Lihrar&', and all these will be 1n fayor of the proposed change. The propo- sition of the Free Library canceling the Mer- cantile’s debt is feasible. John H.} Wise, trustee of the Free Li- brary, was formerly a stockholder and trustee in the Mercantile. He saw what ‘was coming and often expressed a desire to consolidate with some other library. Horace Davis, one of the Free Library trustees, was formerly librarian 1n the Mercantile. This proposition was then a hobby with him and he fayors it now. William Loewy, a member of the Mer- cantile Library, is another who believes that the consolidation of the two libraries is the only way of saving the one of which he is a member. At the next meeting of the Mercantile Libur}v‘ trustees Mr. Gerberding will insist upon the adoption of his resolution and have a committee appointed to at least see what can be done. In the meantime all interested in both libraries will earnestly discuss the proposed consolidation. ALL AGENTS IN LINE, The Railway Passenger Ticket Men Perfect Their Organization to Main- tain Fares. The railway ticket agents met yesterday in the Palace Hotel and succeeded in per- fecting their organization, which has for its object the maintenance of passengers’ faves at whatever price may be set. D. W. Hitchcock of the Union Pacific, th_e only ticket agent here who refused to join the association, was present at yester- day’s meeting. He made an offer to sign the agreement under certain conditions, and the agents took his proposition under consideration. After some discussion they made an amendment in the agreement, chan, ing the fine from $25 to $15 for violation of the compact in selling tickets at reduced rates. The question of extending territory over which ‘the association shall have control was considered and the association decided not to extend it beyond Oakland and San ncisco. There still remains an open question as to the right of an agentin either (Place to sell a transcontinental ticket at reduced rates in neighboring towns without violating the ement. Mr. Hitchcock joined the association as soon as the agreement was amended to m :rlgw. 50 cents; linllseltrip, 35 cents. mée hi:_\. i pecial very. 31 Geary . Canfi general th 408 Talor siceet and Oailand ferry d9Rl Eloum. Milwaukee'snd 8¢, Pood Ballway, lected president,and W. W. Smith, E::neerf; vithpthe Union Pacific gom;_)a.ny, ta; : ¥ ”cAr: journment was tagen until May 24, when the Chicago a; ement will be -here with instructions fo thedifferent agents, who_will then in .all probability fall in line with the new compact. - TWO0 SMOOTH swmn’h@ns. Trick Played Upon a Mission-Street Grocer Which Was Balked by a Physicien. Two men entered the grocery of A.J. C. Wessels, Mission -and Lafuyen@- streets, about noon yesterday, pretending ' they were looking for a suitable place to start 4 business. . During the conversation the older Of, the two opened his purse and drew ont'two gilded pennies, representing them ‘as $10 pieces, and asked Wessels to exchange them for a $20 piece. ‘Wessels . did so and the two immedlsb&lg left the store. Wessels discovered the trick that had been played upon him and gave- chase, while Eis ‘wife blew a police whistle. The two men separated and Wessels pursued the one with the $20 piece, calling. out, “Stop thief!” A crowd gathered and ’“g:dsflfihf{;;?;e took in the situation, | and, pulling out a revolver, brought the fugitive to a standstill. The doctor com- ?led him to go back to_ the store and and over the $20 pieee to Wessels.. Then he allowed him to go. The older man was about 40 years of age, bhad a sandy mustache and wore a dark cutaway suit. His companion wasabout 24 years of age and smooth shaven. The police are looking for them. e e LOOMIS T0 BE DRUGED, Another Day of Revelations in the Trial Against Somers. Some Frult and Flowers Which Were Suspected by Mrs. Stelger. Plaintiff Loomis, in the trial of his case against Calvin Somers for malicious prose- cution, yesterday expressed his gratitude in court at having been allowed to present several facts that had been oppressing him for ten years. “During that time,” said he, ‘“my mouth has been closed in court and I have felt iike a wounded bird with both wings broken.” Attorney Rix had been asking him whether he did not possess a fruitful and fertile imagination, and as a sample asked him why he had said he wasafraid to walk abroad at one time for fear some one would stick a dagger in his heart. Loomis opened out on this. He said that a detective named Dogherty had been employed by Somers to steal from him a statement made by Somers of Loomis’ in- nocence of McClintock’s shootirg, and also to secure some letters which Mrs. Tread- | well had written to him and which were | believed to be damaging. Dogherty had first hired one Dugan to take him (Loomis) into a saloon, “jolly him up” and chal- lenge him to produce the statement, but Loomis refuseg to exhibit it. TO0. KEEP BUTCHERS T0 CELEBRATE The' Wholesale and Retail Shops Will Be Closed Next Wednesday. IT AS A HOLIDAY. A Grand Parade Will Preceds the Festivities to Be Held: at Shell Mound Park, » wlzz"fe};gx"w' day will' be celebrated - mext Vs 4y, and housewives ‘who' fail to 4y 1n & supply of meaf the day before will have to go withoyy on that occasion as every Wholesale .and - retaj! shop in. San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley Q};n Toke Stockton, San Rafacl, Tiburon ' andt Bare: lito will be closed. A : o M grand parade, mar- lenomy:, ay's fes At the San Francisco men wil} be joined Various contingents from the toy and then all will proceed to S Park, where the Wi'ljllbe held: e various committees, with piet the chairmen, have already beer o in the Cart.” Everybody connected wiin the getting up. of ‘the sffair has workeq hard and conscientiously, and Buichers’ day celebration is now an assured President Sam Hammond has taker ticular interest in this festival and pre- dicts a success surpassing last year's anni. Yersary at the Midwinter Fair, Captain McMenomy asserts that he will have more men in line than paraded last year, and further says that the butchers’ colamn will be one of thefinest everseen in San Fran- cisco. - Entries for the various races and games at the Oakland Racetrack are many, and the contests are expected to be close and exciting, ferries the r 1 Mound picnic and celebration ires of siblished ess., 0 par- On another occasion Dogherty took fruit and flowers from Somers to his mother, Mrs. SLei%er. but the old lady refused to even smell them when she ascertained the sender for fear of inhaling some poison. Then the relations between Somers and'| his detective became strained, and Loomis said Dogherty came and revealed a plot against himself that had failed. ogherty said Somers had told him to take Loomis out to ‘‘Costa’s place,” on California street and Central avenue, and there treat him to a French dinner. There Loomis was to be drugged and the precious statement and letters safely abstracted. The witness had evaded this danger un- | consciously by stating his dishke for French dinners and his inordinate prefer- | ence for “plain cooking.” The witness also declared his anguish of mind suffered on two occasions through having to ride in the “black Maria” owing to the false charges of Somers. - He ac- counted for the fact that he had not.tried to escape from McClintock at the time of the shooting by saying that he had learned in the war not to run away, “Although,” he added, “we did considerable running at Bull Run.” 3 “‘Perhaps Major Mhoon was behind you on that occasion,” remarked Attorney Rix. “No; the major was engaged in the Red River compaign at that time,” said the witness. There was another effort before the case was continued to Monday to secure the ad- mission of the deposition of Mrs. Somers, ruled out on the score that a wife cannot testify against her husband. e SLATED FOR RETIREMENT. Officers of the Revenue Marine Who ‘Will Cease to Draw Pay From Uncle Sam. The board of examining surgeons sent here from Washington to report upon the standing of various officers in the United States revenue seryice has completed its work and will report ‘o the Secretary of the Treasury in a few days. Several of the officers in the service have been found too old or incapacitated for work, so their re- tirement has been recommended. They are First Assistant Engineer Wayson, now awaiting orders at Port Townsend; First Assistant Engineer Turner of the revenue cutter Walcott, Chief Engineer De Remer of the revenue cutter Perry and Lieutenant Benham, late of the revenue cutter Hart- ley. Wayson has been a sick man for years, and has not been to seafora long time. Tarner and De Remer have reache the age limit, and Benham hasbeen almost totally blind for several years. The retire- ment of these men will make room for the romotion of a number of young men who gave been kept in subordinate rank be- cause there were no vacancies. It is ex- ected that when the various examining goards now at work all over the country have completed their work at least thirty officers will be slated for retirement. < facturers. Food Removes wrinkles and all traces of age. It feeds through the pores and builds. up the fatty membranes and wasted tissues, nourishes the shriveled and shrunken skin, tones and invig- orates-the nerves. and muscles, enrichesthe impoverished blood vessels, and supplies youth and elasticity : to the .action of the skin. " It’s perfect. storee, MM . AT A 89, atall drug. Speclalist, 146 State cago. Guide malied freer” "o OBl ey HARD “SHO0” A’ stubbern hen ; and so is he who sticks stub- bornly to old habits and will not be moved. . The man who shoes him has bought the shoes from some one else and must charge a retail profit, of course. Our method of shoeing is new and different. -We are manu- No retail profit here. No. matter if your feet are hard ‘to shoe—out of our big stock we can fit' them—or we’ll msake you a pair of shoes to your measure. i SUIOIDE OR MURDER? SHOES RETATLED.AT FAC- A Witness Refuses to Tell What He X Knows About J. Waldie’s Death. There was quite a lively scene in the Coroner’s office for a few minutes yester- day. A witnessrefused to answer a ques- tion, and had it not been for the interven- TORY PRICES. tion of one of the jurors he would have been locked up for contempt. The con- |- tumacious witness was Edwin Lee, a sign- |- painter, and the inquest was on the re- mains of James Waldie, who died from gas asphyxiation at 3007 Fillmore street. Some one wrote a letter to the Coroner insinu- | ating that Waldie had been murdered and asking for a searching investigation. Lee's wife is a sister of dec , and it was sus- |- pected that Lee wrote the letter in ques- tion. ‘When put on the witness-stand Lee was asked what he knew about the case, but he declined to answer. Coroner Hawkins in- sisted on a reply, and after a_spirited argument the witness said he had seen aldie a week ago Sunday, and he was then sober, but nervous and despondent. When asked if he thought an y else had a hand in Waldie's death Lee posi- tively dcclined to answer. He said he wanted to consult with some of the rela- tives of deceased before answering. The Coroner got angry and locked him up, but finally al owed%nm to go an dhave his con- sultation. The case was continued till to- morrow morninf, when Lee will be again put on the stand. ——————— . hr’s mother was an excellent judge ctsgeulc, ‘but no musician. . WHOLESALE MAKERS OF SHOES, . NEAR SECOND. - P.r]." Saturday Nights tilt 10. Open ator taste” and odor. 98, -Sold by’ 4