The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 30, 1895, Page 1

- The VOLUME LXXVIIL—N! 0. 15 OOES IT MEAN WARZ England's Activity in the Massing of Troops and Ships. TAKEN FROM CANADA, War Vessels and Soldiers From Garrisons Returned to Eng- lish Waters. CONCENTRATION AT FOOCHOW. Rumors That These Moves Are Con nected With Russia’s Acts in the Far East. MONTREAL, QuEsEc, Oct. 20.—An offi- cial order which was received from the British War Department to-day has caused no end of comment in diplomatic circles. The order in question is for the recall of half of the garrison now in Canada and the return to English waters of several of the largest vessels of the North American squadrons. While even officials in high circles are unable to give any explanation for the peremptory order, it is thought to have an immense bearing on the troubles which are brewing in the East, and that it is in order to have all the forces possible concentrated to start at a moment's notice. That the troops have been recalled as soon as the ruzored action of Russia in the East was made known to the War Department, and that they ordered the Canadian fice to have the troops ready for recall, and the dispatch with which the first order has been followed by the more peremptory one is viewed as hay- ing only one significance—great probability £ ITERSBURG, Russia, Oct. 29.— A dispatch to the Novoe Vremva from Vladivostock s that a B h naval squadron has ¢ ntrated at Foochow. The paper that Great Britain is zealously seeking a pretext to declare war against China, in order to counteract Rus- sia’s successes and restore her shattered prestige in the Pacific. WASHINGTON, D. C., Oct. 20.—Wong Chi Chuan, who is accredited with having conveyed to St. Petersburg the secret treaty giving to Russia the right to carry the Siberian railroad through Manchuria to Port Arthur, is described here as being high in the favorof the ruling authorities in China. He isbetween fifty and sixty years of aze. His last office was that of Provin- cial of Heutch, a dignitary only second in importance to that of Viceroy, which is the rank of the great Li Hung Chang, who negotiated the recent treaty of peace at Shimonoseki. The ostensible purpose of his trip to Russia was to congratulate the new Czar and to tender to him the pres- sents given by the Chinese Government in return for those sent by Russia to the Chinese Dowager Empress some months ago. Nothing 1s known here as to the secret treaty which Wong Chi Chuan is said to have carried. He is now again in Peking awaiting a promotion, which it is believed will be fully in keeping with the important character of his recent mission, which he is understood to have so successfully per- formed. LONDON, ExG., Oct. 29.—1It is stated at the Russian embassy in this city that a telegram was received some days ago from Prince Lobanoff Rostovski, the Russian Foreign Minister, declaring that the report that a secret treaty had been concluded be- tween Russia and China is unfounded. The sole object of Wong Chi Chuan'’s visit to St. Petersburg, so far as the embassy 1s aware, was to congratulate the Czar upon his accession to the throne. The embassy knows nothing whatever of Wong Chi Chuan being the bearer of a secret treaty on that occasion, and is equally ignorant of any steps being taken by Russia to build a railway in Chinese territs The Siberian railway has now reached Omsk, and there has been no pro- ject hitherto to extend it to Tsitsihar. Therailway from Vladivostock is laid in a northerly direction to Lake Bakal, so as to join the Omsk railway, and does not touch Chinese territory. The officials at the embassy further stated that they are not aware that Russia claims any right of anchorage at Port Arthur for her vessels beyond what was conceded to the other powers. The statement is incorrect that a Rusfian squadron or any part of a Rus- sian squadron will be permanently sta- tioned at Port Arthur, Nothing is known at the embassy of the speech attributed to the Governor of East- ern Siberia, in which he was made to say that Vladivostock must remain the Rus- sian headquarters, although part of the fleet would be at Port Arthur. Itcould only be said that he would have nothing to do with the Government's policy in such matters. In conclusion a denial was entered of all the reports current in the past few days regarding Russia’s action in the East. The origin of the reports, the officials declared, they were unable to ex- plain. It is remarked in other well-informed quarters that Japan is still occupying Port Arthur, and that the Russians could be there with Japanese permission. A dispatch to the Globe from Hongkoug of to-day’s date says Wong Chi Chuan was appointed last fall to go on a special mis- sion to Russia, ostensibly to congratulate the new Czar Nicholas upon his accession, hut really to convey a secret treaty conced- ing the right to carry the Siberian railway through Manchuria and constructa branch railway from Tsitsikar, Moukden, to Vla- divostock. The dispatch in other respects confirms the Times’ Hongkong dispatch of October 25, asserting the existence of a treaty be- iween Russia and China, giving especial military and commercial advantages to the former, and adds that a Russian fleet of fourteen vessels arrived at Port Arthur yesterday. BERLIN, GerMaNY, Oct. 20.—A dispatch from St. Petersburg to the Cologne Ga- zette says that officers who are financial | SAN FRANCISCO, WE PRICE FIVE CENT experts have been added to the Russian | embassy at Peking, together with a body- guard ot 200 Cossacks. TWO0 ENGINEERS WERE KILLED. An Awful Wreck of Two Passenger Trains on the Missouri Pacific Caused by a Blunder. ST. LOUIS, Mo., Oct. 29.—Two passenger trains on the Missouri Pacific collided at Howard station, a suburb eight miles west of here, at11o’clock to-night. Two men were killed and three injured. The dead: John Howard, engineer; Wil- liam Catron, engineer. The injured: George Trese, fireman; Dunbar; Buck Taylor, Wild-West show- man, right leg broken. A number of pas- sengers were more or less shocked. The trains met on a switch, and both en- gines and three cars of the east-bound train were completely demolisked. The two trains were ased for suburban traffic. The east-bound train had but few passen- gers, while the west-bound train carried theater patrons going home. The accident was the result of a blun- der. The two trains should have met four miles further west, but Engineer Catron of the west-bound train tried to reach the Howard switch in time to meet the other train. Both trains were running slowly or a more dreadful calamity would have occurred. At midnight a wreckage crew was working to reach the bodies of the two engineers. T S DEBS HAS A GRIEVANCE. But He Wil Not Advocate a New Movement as a Substitute for Trade Unionism. CHICAGO, Irr.,, Oct. 29.— Eugene V. Debs, to set at rest the rumors that have been circulating recently in labor circles, has sent the following statement from the McHenry County jail: “I beg to state that there is no founda- tion for the report that I am to advocate a new movement as a substitute for trade unionism. Ihave found some fault with railroad employes’ organizatlons on ac- count of their conduct during the Pullman strike, not because they did not help us, but because they did help the railroad company to defeat us, and this has been construed as an attack on trade unicnism.” The belief 1s general among A. R. U. men, however, that Debs has a grievance against some of the officers of the organi- zation, which will result in some changes in thelist of officials. —_— BEATEN BOTH TIMES. Five St. Louis Hoodlums Routed in At- tempted Robberies. ST. LOUIS, Mo., Oct. 20.—Five men at- tempted to hold up a Laclade-avenue elec- tric car and rob its passengers at 1 o’clock this morning. The men attempted to board the car on Chestnut street, but after a severe fight the conductor, assisted by the passengers, knocked the hoodlums from the car while at the same time the motorneer turned the current on full pres- sure and the car was soon out of reach of them. A few minutes later the same gang en- tered the office of the Wabash Hotel and after knocking down the clerk attempted to rifie the safe. The noise they made aroused the proprietor and the guests. A free fight ensued, in which the would-be robbers were routed and one of them cap- tured. VAN ALEN WAS ARRESTED, The Newport Millionaire Taken ‘Into Custody on the Colt Warrant. By Reason of This Society Scandal His Friends Have Deserted Him. PROVIDENCE, R. L, Oct. 20.—James Van Alen, the Newport millionaire, is now | in the custody of the law, and Wakehurst, | the big Ochre Point estate, is in the hands of the New York Surety Company ona mortgage for $100,000. Its assessed valua- tion is $219,600, and the price which its lordly owner has refused for it in days gone by was $900,000. Process Server P. S. | Knull, one of Sheriff Anthony’s depu- ties, quietly did his work and accepted |the bail as offered and aporoved by Golonel Colt's counsel in this city. There are reports afloat to-day that Van Alen’s wealthy friends and members of his own set included in the very exclusive ‘180" have given him the cold shoulder in this hour of trouble and scandal. These reports are to the effect also that he could not get any of the numerous millionaires whom he knows to furnish the requisite bail. _ KILLED ON THE HIGHWAYX. Shocking Murder of a Young Wife in Texas. TYLER, Tex., Oct. 29.—A horrible mur- der was committed four miles east of here last evening. The victim, Mrs. Leonard Bell, the 19-year-old wife of a farmer, was visiting her motherand about dusk started to walk home, a distance of about half a mile. Her path passed a cotton gin, where a number of men were at work. Soon afterward her mutilated body was found a quarter of a mile from her home on the road. It presented every evidence of a terrible struggle. The body was al- most nude. The fiend, after assaulting | her, had cut her throat from ear to ear and had completely disemboweled her. A large posse of officers from this city is searching for the murderer. If captured Judge Lynch will preside at the trial. b But Her Neclk Was Broken. FAYETTEVILLE, ARk., Oct, 29.—As the northbound passenger train came over. the long trestle south of town yesterday a woman waiked out of the car, climbed over the handrail between the coaches, and stepping down on the safety chain threw herself to the ground. A car wheel struck her and knocked her out from the track, but the fall broke her neck, and sne was dead when picked up. A child with her says that her mother was Mrs. Mary Staf- ford, and that she lived on East ?econd street, Pomona, Cal. Receiver for a Brewery. MILWAUKEE, Wis., Oct. 29.—Judge Seaman in the United States court this THIS SCENE IS BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATIVE OF THE NEW SOUTH AND THE TRIUMPH OF FREE LABOR. {Reproduced from the New York Puck.] SHOT IN COLD BLOOD, Railroad Laborers Down in Guatemala Slain by Troops. DESERTERS WERE TAKEN Those Who Surrender Under | Promise of Protection Also Put to Death. I SOME SHOCKING CRUELTIES, The Majority of the Victims Were | Negro Citizens of This Country. QUETZALTENANGO, Guaremara, Oct. 29.—Laborers working on the railroad out of Port Barrios are complaining most bit- terly of harsh treatment and unpaid wages, being forced to work agamnst their will, left abandoned when sick, unburied when dead. Many of those who attempted to leave have been shot down by brutal over- seers, aided by soldiers. Some have succeeded in getting away, fleeing to Honduras or getting away in ships to New Orleans, and those mostly who had money sent them, while some made their way to Mexico about the middle of October. A band of thirty, most of whom were negroes, left here one night for Mexico, but after suffering untold hardships from hunger, inclemency of weather and fatigue, | they were overtaken last Tuesday night by the Guatemalan Government forces, which was sent hence to intercept them before they succeeded in reaching the frontier of Mexico at La Porfia, near Santa Ysabel River, and ordered to surrender. Thirteen of the fugitives obeyed the order, and these were sent back under a heavy guard. The balance prepared to de- fend themselves, and in the gulch on the bank of a river quickly buiit temporary | fortifications, where they were attacked | ‘Wednesday afternoon, but after two hours’ hard fighting, nine survivors surrendered on promise that their lives would be spared. When once in the hands of the | captors, however, they were forced to stand in line and were shot down like dogs. Twelve of the killed were negroes, | | submitted to the council for the American citizens, they claimed. There isno redress, because these affairs, which are frequent, are generally in the unsettled section of the country, and when the Gov- ernment’s attention is called, the claim is made that the slayers were attacked by bandits and that the bandits met a de- served fate. EZETA THE KE Al His Plans Fail and He Will Soon Depart. ACAPULCO, Mexico, Oct. 20.—It is ab- solutely untrue that Ezeta chartered the steamer Romero Rubio or any other steamer here. The Mexican Government will not allow any violation of the neu- trality law. Ezeta is convinced that he will not be allowed to conspire here, and he is undecided whether to go to Europe or return to the United States, Hisfriends say he may go to New York, as he is tired of San Francisco. All refuse to speak of the rumor that he is preparing to go dis- guised to Costa Rica. > TWENTY PERSONS INJURED. Two Houses Wrécked in London by a Gas Eaxplosion. LONDON, Exe., Oct. 20.—A tremendous gas explosion wrecked two houses in Church court, off the Strand, at 7 o’clock this evening. Rescuers were promptly put to work on the ruins and every effort was made to reach those who had been im- prisoned under the falling debris. Up to a late honr to-night no bodies were found. Itis now believed that .. . more than four persons, exclusive of those who were taken to the hospital, were dangerously injured. About twenty were injured seriously. ME sy Koyalty and a Betrothal. LONDON, Exa., Oct. 29.—A number of foreign Embassadors and Ministers, to- gether with many society leaders, called at Marlborough House, the town residence of the Prince of Wales, to-day and inscribed therr names in congratulation upon the betrothal of the Princess Maud of Wales to Prince Charles, eldest son of Prince Frederick, heir-apparent to the throne of Denmark. g Cannot Suppress the Slave Trade. BERLIN, GERMANY, Oct. 20.—The Em- peror presided over the autumn session of the Colonial Council to-day. The report ast year declares that it would be (lifiicurt to gup- press the slave trade so long as the desires of the people of Zanzibar and the island of Pemba for slaves stimulated the supplies. e Congratulates the Company. BERLIN, GerMANY, Oct. 29,—The Em- peror has sent a telegram to the North German Lloyd Steamship Company at Bremen congratulating the company upon having ordered the construction of two | large steamers in German yards, thus en- couraging home industry. e e An Extensive Ice-TI'ield. LONDON, Exe., Oct. 29.—The ship Moresby, which arrived to-day from America, reports that near Ireland it en- countered a field of ice twelve miles iong® and ten miles wide by 200 feet high. This may account for the loss of the Lord Spencer and other ships overdue. HOLMES VERY SHARP. But He Failed to Score While Acting as His ‘Own Counsel. GAVE UP THE STRUGGLE. Witnesses Identify the Body of Pietzel, One of the Victims. EVIDENCE AS TO CHLOROFORM. Only Once Was the Prisoner Disturbed, and This Was by a Photograph. PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Oct. 29.—The second day of the Holmes trial did not at- tract nearly so great a crowd as yesterday, as the public had learned that they would not beadmitted to the courtroom. Through- out last night in the loneliness of his ceil Holmes worked steadily preparing his case, and only ceased when the first rays of sun began to find their way through the narrow slit that does duty for a win- dow. He then threw himself on his cot, but an hour later he was up again and con- tinued writing until told it was time to start for the court. Promptly at 10 o’clock the jury filed into the box. A moment after Holmes entered. Despite his long and sleepless night he looked fresh and bright. District Attorney Graham announced to the court that Mrs. Howard, as Holmes’ latest wife is known, had seen the prisoner this morning before he was brought into court. What took Pietzel and waiting for the latter for some time on the Monday following the day Pietzel is supposed to have been killed. The next merning (Tuesday, September 4) Smith went to the house again and, not finding Pietzel, he became suspicious that all was not right and instituted a search of the house. Lying on the floor in the second-story back room was the body of a man. Smith recognized Holmes as a man he once saw at Pietzel’s house, but he never knew who he was until they met at the time of exhumation of the body of Pietzel for the purpsse of identification in secur- ing the insurance money. Smith said that Holmes offered $30 at that time to have the body cremated. District Attorney Graham turned the witness over to Holmes for cross-examina- tion. Holmes' line of examination of Smith was directed toward showing that the latter could not have seen him (Holmes) enter the house and passup- stairs as he testified from the place in which he (Smith) was sitting in the room at the time. Holmes admitted that he was at the house, but his evident object was to discredit Smith with the jury, not as regarded the witness’ honesty of testi- mony, for that was only too evident, but with his recollection of events that came under his notice, and that he had heard or been told and afterward confused it with facts of his personal knowledge. Smith was allowed to stand aside while a plan of the house was put in evidence. Smith.was again recalled, and showed upon the plans the place where he discoy- ered Pietzel’s body. While Holmes was cross-examining Smith, District Attor: Graham carelessly placed the large crayon of Pietzel upon the tabie directly before Holmes, and the prisoner could not avoid seeing staring steadily at him the face of the man he is being tried for killing. After a cross-examination of an hour, in which Smith’s testimony was not shaken by Holmes, the witness was dismissed. Dr. William J. Scott, the young physi- cian, who was called when the body was found, was the next witness. He testified to what was 1n the room and the incidents connected with the finding of the body. Recess until 2:30 was taken before his cross-examination by Holmes. Pietzel at one time wore a beard, and Holmes extracted from Dr. Scott the ac- knowledgment that he had expressed the opinion that the murdered man could not have raised whiskers on his cheeks owing to the sparse growth of hair there. In an- swer to the question, Dr. Scott said that there was about an ounce of chloroform found in Pietzel's stomach. No food was tound in the stomach or any alcohol, although there were evidences that Pietzel bad been an intemperate man. Holmes asked Dr. Scott if at any time he had expressed the opinion that the body found at 1316 Gallowhill street could not haye been that of Pietzel. Dr. Scott replied that he did not say this, but he had said it would have been impossible for even a friend to have recognized the body in the condition 1t was. The next witness was Dr. William K. Mattern, physician to the Coroner. When Dr. Mattern’s name was called Holmes asked the court that the physician’s testi- mony be postponed until to-morrow, as he was an important witness and he wanted plenty of time to examine him. Mr. Graham objected and styled Holmes’ request as by-play and Dr. Mattern was called to the stand. After testifying to the exterior condition of the body. Dr. Mattern said that the lungs were greatly congested, indicating that death had been sudden. A nhalf ounce or more of chloro- form was found in the stomach. As there was no trace of irritation found in the stomach Dr. Mattern was of the opinion that the chloroform was injected into the stomach after death. The cause of death was given by Dr. Mattern as chloroform poisoning. Dr. Mattern de- scribed the scene at the exhumation of the body at the potter’s field and the active part taken in the identification by Holmes. place at this interview is known only to the prisoner and the woman he deceived into marrying him. Jeanette Pietzel or, as she was familiarly known in the family, ‘‘Dessie,” the daugh- ter of the dead Pietzel, was called as the first witness. She is a girl of 15 or 16 years of age and seemed perfectly composed as she took the oath. Her only testimony was the identification of a large crayon photograph of Pietzel as that of her father. Eugene Smith, the man who discovered Pietzel’s body, was called. He testified to his acquaintance with Pietzel, whom he knew under the name of Perry. The wit- ness occasionally refreshed his memory by referring to some notes he had. Holmes objected to thisand the court sustained the objection. Smith told of several interviews with Dr. Mattern had no lancet with him, but when it was necessary to use one Holmes produced one from his pocket and stripped the skin from the leg of the dead man to show an old wound. Holmes then began to cross-examine Dr. Mattern. He was asked the color of Piet- zel’s mustache and hairand replied that the former was reddish and the latter dark brown. At the request of Holmes the court di- rected Dr. Mattern to read the notes he took of the description of the body at the time he held his inquest. As Dr. Mattern read his notes Holmes copied them. Holmes subjected the witness to a long technical examination upon the condition the stomach and bram would be in after chloroform poisoning and excessive indul- gence in alcoholic liquor. Dr. Mattern could not say from the condition the body was in whether the chloroform in the TRACK-LAYING ON THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RAILROAD. 3 STOCKTON, Cal., Oct. 29.—The farmers in that portion of the San Joaquin Valley lying between this city and the Stanislaus River have heard and seen a great deal of the Valley Railroad during the past two months. They have met the en, talked with the right-of- fact began to dawn upon them that gineers as they were running the lines through the country and have the road was no distant blessing, speedy completion by the projectors. Now comes the last scene before the regular trains are put in motion—that of the track-layers, followed by the ballasting crews, morning appointed Frederick H. Marx of Chicago receiver for the Waukesha Springs Brewing Company of Waukesha, Wis., and fixed his bond at $100,000. Mr. Marx is treasurer of the company. materials to the front as fast as th longer be witnessed from their fields, trains on the San Francisco and looked forward to for so many years s San by them will be a reality, way agents of the Commercial Association. Then the graders came along and the but an enterprise being pushed to a Not far behind is a construction train, engaged in moving e large gangs can handle them. there will be a lull for a few months, but later the regular Joaquin Railroad will dash by their places, and the new line ‘When these scenes can no stomach had been injected hypodermi- cally or whether it had been forced down the throat. Holmes for the first time seemed to score & point. He asked Dr. Mattern if he had not made a report to the Coroner that death was due to congestion of the lungs from the inhalation of poisonous or noxious gases, and the physician replied that he had. A moment later Dr. Mat- tern denied that he had said this, and Holmes appealed to the notes of the court stenographer. These sustained him, and then Dr. Mattern explained that he thought Holmes had asked the question in refer- ence to other cases, and Holmes’ point went for naught. Holmes questioned Dr. Mattern closely as to how Pietzel was killed by chloroform poisoning; if the poison was injected into the man’s stomach after death? Just as the line of questioning began to grow in- teresting Holmes announced that he was growing confused with his own questions, and that for the present he would aban- don that phase of the subject and take it up again by calling Dr. Mattern asa wit- ness for himself. The next witness was Dr. Henry Leff- mann, an expert in chemistry. Dr, Leffmann testified to the effect of chloro- form upon the system. Coroner Samuel H. Ashbridge was the next witness. Coroner Ashbridge read the affidavits of Alice Pietzel and Holmes when they identified the body of Pietzel. In his affidavit Holmes said that he last saw Pietzel alive in November, 1893. This concluded the Coroner’s testimony. At 5:20 o’clock the court adjournea until 7 o’clock. The courtreconvened promptly at 7 o’clock. Before a witness had been called Holmes stated to the court that, owing to the criticism leveled at his coun- sel for withdrawing he had asked them to resume charge of his case. Ina moment Messrs. Shoemaker and Rotan, the two FOR THE CONVENTION. The Sum of $66,600 Now in the Subscription Fund. Is IT CONTINUES TO GROW. Most Everybedy Waiting to Open Up at the Big Mass- Meeting. LOS ANGELES WILL ASSIST US. Thomas Reed of Maine Is Anxious to Hold the Convention in the State of California. At the mass-meeting next Monday night there will be some substantial work done for the convention project. A great many of our citizens are disposed to re- serve their impressions and opinions for that occasion on the ground that the desired result can best be reached by an interchange of ideas when the projectors are assembled solely for that purpose. Corporations, firms and partners who have not been able or disposed to talk of the matter jointly will send their repre- sentatives to the meeting, and the matter will be intelligently hanaled. The public at large is not sufficiently familiar with the magnitude of the propo- sition to jump at it without some thought, and uatil the arrangements are put in the hands of a regularly selected and ap- pointed committee, made up and accepted at the next meeting, the best part of the work of the multitude will not be done. So far only the subscribers willing to contribute large amounts have come for- ward, and when the smaller amounts are asked the result will be a speedy accumus lation of more than sufficient funds. As has been proven in all great movements where money was required, it is very essential that the people individually favor the plan. In this particular case there are any number of inhabitants ot this City who would gladly contribute small sums to the fund, and when the committee takes the matter in hand it will be seen that they have a most potent influence in the matter of supporting the proposition. Not only Republicans but Democrats also are anxious to do what they can to bring the convention here. If the Repub- licans succeed in securing their convention they will have done so with the assistance of the Democrats. This unity of political spirit, is commendable in the people of San Francisco. The acquisition of the convention means something to every man, woman and child on this coast, and the inhabitants are intelligent enough to see it. There is no merchant so small, no pro- fessional man so obscure that he will not reap some benefit from having the cone vention held in San Francisco. Aside from this, the whole State of Calie fornia will enjoy its proportionate reward, and the Pacific Coast will have its share, Business men all over the City are discusse ing the plan with a view to bringing about the best possible results. Already there is nearly $70,000 on hand, which can be doubled when the time ar- rives for the small contributors to come in. Asa matter of fact, there has so far been no attempt to collect subscriptions under $25, although a great many people have signified their willingness to come in on the smaller terms. The purpose of the preliminary canvass was to see how the leading business men stood, and after that the rest will be secured. The Union League Club, believing in the success of the plan, has agreed to do the handsome thing, and it is likely that at the mass-meeting something will be done that will result in sending the subscrips tions up to over $100,000. Under the present conditions, now that the first move has been made, it is likely that there will be a temporary lull until it 1s clearly understood what the best course would b to follow. A variety of suggestions makes it neces- sary for a meeting to be held in order to see which is best to adopt. Various pub. lic-spirited citizens have different ways of completing the work already begun, and a gathering of all the citizens interested will result in bringing out the best ideas. The meeting will be held Monday nigh# in the rooms of the Chamber of Commerce, and all those who are imbued with a good suggestion are expected to be on hand. It is a meeting for the people of San Fran. cisco of both Republican and Democratia persuasion, and men who think are wel~ come. e e POLITICAL REFORMERS MEET, A Move Made Toward Getting in Line for the Convention. Last evening the first meeting of the Merchants’ Political Reform Club was held since its recent permanent organization ag 410 Kearny street. The chair was occupied by President Robert Hamilton and M. F. Donleavy acted in the capacity of secretary. The president thought that some note should be taken of the steps being made to secure the Republican Convention for this City, On motion of J. G. Conroy it was decided to hold a special meeting during the week for the purpose of subscribing money to the National Republican Convention fund, The amounts suggested ranged from $1000 to ¥5000. J. H. Irvine thought that the club might do something in the way of regu- lating railway transfers in the City. He spoke especially in reference to the harde ships inflicted upon the pubiic by the re- fusal of the railway company to grang transfers on the electric line to and from the Mission on the Kearny and North Beach Railway. He thought such mate ters should be at the pleasure of the Board of Supervisors instead of at the will of the corporation. A resolution condemning the adminige tration of Superintendent of Streets Ash. worth was defeated through a temperate but rather energetic speech on the part of | J. G. Conroy. He wanted to see the City Continued on Second Page, have good work, but did not desire to see id