The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 17, 1896, Page 14

14 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, JANUARY 17, 1896 MAYOR SUTRO MUCH AMUSED. Glad That Congressmen Object to Talk of Bribery. JUST WHAT IS WANTED. Thinks Representative Bowers a Friend of the Railroad Company. DELEGATES BEING APPOINTED. Citizens of Colusa Pass Resolutions Protesting Against the Fund- ing Bill. ror Sutro laughed heartily yesterday g when he read the dispatch printed in TrE CALz, in which Congress man Bowers and others gave their opinion tnat the committee of fifty were hurting ces of defeating the funding bill uence of the Southern among the Nation's men and the Pac; magnates solo “If the shoe pinches let him take it off,” he said. “Iam giad to hear that the utterances Bowers, Who Amuses Mayor Sutro. Congressman of the committee, through the literature sent to Washington, are having effect. Of course some of the Congressmen, particu- larly those who are friendly to the railroad company, do not like to hear talk of bribe: Why should they? Itcomes too near home, and that is exactly what we are driving at. We want every Congress- man to know that the railroad is above bribery or the use of undue infin- ence, and that that influence has been felt in certain quarters. “That some one is squirming under the lash is very pleasing to the committee. It shows that the iron has struck home; that the knowledge thatthe eves of the coun- try are on men who are thought to be open to influence is having a disquieting effect. “If every man we fear can be brought to this state of mind we shall be satisfied that our efforts are not being wasted. “As to Congressman Bowers; well, he may be opposed to a funding bill (Senator ‘White says he is). but he has, to my mind, been a friend of the railroad for years past. ‘Whether he is or not will be shown when the funding bill comes up for ge. If he votes against it I shall be the first to say ‘Well done.’ “T expect that by this time the Congress- men and Senators are beginning to hear from home regarding this funding bill matter. Every newspaper in the home towns of the country’s lawmakers has been furnished with an abundance of literature on the subject, and if they follow the practice of former vears they will all print copious extracts and send special copies to the Representatives of their districts. I never saw anything bring a wavering Con- gressman or Senator to time quicker than this. When he knows that his friends, relatives and business associates are fully apprised of his danger he is generally care- ful to avoid shady-looking bills, no matter how much influence 15 brought to bear on im. *‘The time is approaching when the bill will come up for the consideration of Con- gress, and we are marshaling our forces. “Though nothing particularly new has come from the seat of war regarding the prospects of the coming battle, I think the chances of checkmating President Hunt- | ington are becoming brighter. He will fina that what I have often said is true— that it is far easier tb beat a measure in Congress or any legislative body than it is to pass it. We can see already that his in- fluence at Wasnington is waning."” Though few names of delegates for the convention at Metropolitan Temple to- morrow have reached the secretary of tne committee of fifty, there are evidences that the keenest interest is being felt in all parts of the State. Delegates are prom- ised from many sections, and in others resolutions of sympathy with the move- ment against funding are being passed. The citizens of Colusa and that vicinity are particularly enthusiastic, and at a re- cent mass-meeting passed stirring resolu- tions in reference to the matter. The following letter in relation to the meeting reached Mayor Sutro yesterda: Hon. Adolph Sutro, Mayor of San Francis In answer to your circular calling for a con- vention to be held in San Francisco on the 18th day of January the citizens of the town of Colusa at a meeting held in the Colusa Theater on Monday evening, January 13, unanimously adopted the following preamble and resolu- tion: WHEREAS, We belleve that strenuous efforts are being made to pass & funding bill in Con- gress extending the time for settlement of the aebts of the Central and Union Pacific Rail- road companies with this Government, and whereas, the citizens of Colusa, in mass-meet- ing assemoled, believe it to be inexpedient to B esoiuid, ThA W5 ave SpposeR w0 th esolved, ofa funding bill or a TN inany formh whaw, ever that will extend the time of settlement of this just debt. FRANK WILLIAMS, Chairman. Eb ST. MAURICE, Secretary. Communications were also received from the Supervisors of Napa County appoint- ing M. M. Estee as a delegate to t lz;)oq:r.-n. about the bribery of Congress- | not | | | | | | | when the occasion demanded. | the Desmoud dwelling. vention, from the Mayor of Santa Rosa appointing J. C. Simms and D. E. McKin- ley, from Chairman Forderer of the muni- | cipal board of Alameda appointing Green | Maijors, C. E. Naylor and B. C. Brown, and | from Mayor Davie of Oakland appointing | the following delegates: F. R. Girard, G. B. Daniels, I. Sinclair, George L. Fi v W. Foote, Eugene Hough. E. M. Gibson, John Gelder, M. McKinnon, C. B. White, Thomas Roberts and J. M. Bassett. i MARVELOUS ESCAPE. A Young Lady Knocked Down and Rolled on the Street by a | Cable-Car. | At 12:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon on | Post street, between Kearny street and | Grant avenue, car No. 710 of the cabie line | knocked down and badly bruised Miss Agnes Henneberry, a girl of 16 years. Miss Henneberry resides at 116 Jones | street. That tue girl escaped with her life is remarkable, for she was rolled several feet by the guard-board in front | before the gripman could stop the car. Dr. Rosenstirn, in his buggy, happened | to be passing at the time, and was one of | the first to release the girl from the peril- ous position. Miss Henneberry was con- veyed through the crowd to a lodging- | house near by. Dr. Rosenstirn found that | she was not fatally hurt. There was a deep gash on ber right arm and several bruises on her face and head. The young lady was removed to her home late in the afternoon. THE FOLSOM BOULEVARD The Superintendent of Streets Will Advertise for Bids Soon. If the action of the Street Committee of the Board of Supervisors is ratified by the | board Superintendent of Streets Ashworth will be notified on Tuesday next to adver- | tise for bids for the converting of Folsom | street, from Steuart to Nineteenth, into a bituminized boulevard. At the last meeting the committee de- | cided that $35,000 could be spared out of | the funds now in the treasury to begin the | work and that the rest could be raised | The work | will begin from Stenart street. DESWOND GIALS FOUND. Trapped After Weeks of Patient | Search by Policeman Rourke. The Sisters Are Important Witnesses Against Peter F. Lane, the Aged Capitalist. The Desmond sisters, Hannah and Liz- zie, have been found, and when the trial of Peter F. Lane, the aged capitalist, for felonious assault upon little girls comes on in the Superior Court next week they will be on hand to give their evidence. Hannah is 16 years of age and Lizzie 11. | Hannah acted as an agent for Lane in get- ting little girls to go to his house, and was paid small sums of money for her services. At the time of Lane’s arrest Policeman Rourke, who was the means of exposing the scandal, placed some of the little girls | under arrest, so that they could be held as | witnesses, but when he went to the Des- moud house he found to his chagrin that | the two girls had flown. Lane had that day been released on bonds, and he was seen in the afternoon entering and leaving It was broadly asserted that the girls’ parents had been paid to keep them out of the way. Rourke has been persistently hunting for the missing girls and it was not till Wednesday when he had obtained the assistance of Policeman Sylvester that he obtained a clew to their whereabouts. | They learned that the girls were living | with Mrs. Reese, 813 Camp street. They | went there that night, but the girls were on the alert and escaped by the rear door. The officers chased them over fences for some distance, but they had too greata start. All that night the officers continued their search without result, but yesterday they ascertained that the girls had fled to the house of Leonard Brunt, 1136 York sireet. Last night, during the rainstorm, the officers went to Brunt’s house. Rourke | went to the front and Sylvester to the rear. The girls made an attempt to escape, but when they saw it was useless they langhed and willingly accompanied the ofticers to the City Prison, where they were booked for vagrancy. Their testimony will be of the greatest value to the State in the prose- cution of the aged hibertine. PARDINI ON TRIAL. Two of His Supposed Victims Placed on the Witness- Stand. Judge Wallace’s courtroom would have been crowded to suffocation yesterday had not his Honor ordered the doors locked, no one being admitted who had no busi- ness there. perverting the moralsof a number of young girls, was on trial. Louise Oliver was the first of the alleged victims placed on the stand. The girl is over 15 years of age, though no taller than Ave most girls of 8 or 9. She was self-possessed | and gave some shocking testimony with & pparent unconcern. Another supposed victim is little Minnie | She looked like E gan, who also testified. a fiule chiid in shabby dress and worn red Tam O’Shanter and seemed nervous and frightened. Apparently she is not over 12 years of age and seems unfamiliar with vice. Secretary Kane of the Society for the Suppression of Vice and Policeman Cole- man gave details of Pardini's arrest in November and M. H. Lichtenstein, a pawnbroker, near the defendant’s late place of business, gave testimony in favor of the accused man’s character. Much of the tesumony was unfit for p ublicution and considerable time was taken up in making the witnesses describe t he premises where the crimes are said to have been perpetrated. e Large Real Estate Sale. Baldwin & Hammond will eonduet im- portant sale of real estate for the Pacific Im- provement Company &t their salesroom, 10 Montgomery street, at 12 noon Thursday, Janu- ry 23. Seventy business and residence lots within three biocks from the City Hall, and fronting on Market, Mission, Brady and Stevenson streets, will be ofteredl for sale. Valencia-street property wiil also be otfered. B —— Signed the Milk Ordinance. Mayor Sutro signed the new milk ordinance recently adopted by the Board of Health at the request of the Board of Health yesterday. By its provisions those desiring to go into the | milk business must first obtain a permit from the health authorities and afterward sell milk of a certain degree of purity and strength. All wagons must bear the license number, and the Board of Health is given power to destroy cows found to be suffering from disesse. Highes’t of all in Leavening Power.—Latest U. S, Gov't Report Roral ABSOLUTELY.PURE - Baking Powder Eugene Pardini, accused of | THE COURT MUST HASTEN, But Two Weeks Left in Which to Decide on the New Primary Law. MORE TEST CASES IN SIGHT. What the Law Is and Why It is Thought the Supreme Court Will Kill It. A second and possibly®a third proceed- before the Supreme Court fora decision on its constitutionality may follow scon the application of W. Gett Jr. of Sacra- mento for a writ of mandamus to compel the Supervisors of Sacramento County to proceed to carry out the law. A The petition® will be heard on Monday by the Supreme Court sitting in bank, and District Attorney Ryan of Sacramento County will represent the Supervisors and contest the validity of the law and its ap- plication to Sacramento County. The matter is exciting universal interest among the politicians here and elsewhere, | Democratic attornays of this City will ap- pear at the nearing in the role of amicus curiz and assist in arguingthut the law conflicts with the constitution and with various decisions of the Supreme Court. Joseph Rothschild is one of these. Ten days or so ago the Supervisors of Los Angeles County passed a resolution declaring their intention of proceeding to put the law into operation, and prepara- tions to found a test case 1n this action were at once besun. The District Attor- ney of Los Angeles County has written to District operation and assistance in getting an early decision as to the validity of the law. It is understood here that a legal action has been or is about to be begun there, which will be foliowed by an appeal to the Supreme Court. In that case the peti- tioner would ask an order restraining the Supervisors from carrying out the law, | while the opposite action has been taken in Sacramento County. One case which brings the vital points of the question before the court would be sui- tictent, but there is a possibility that after hearing the Sacramento petition the court will decide that the law does not apply to | Sacramento County and dismiss the peti- tion without deciding the main points. In that case the Los Angeles proceeding would come along in its place. But the law requires important steps to be taken during the monta of January and a quick decision is needed. So there 1s counsider- able talkk among both those who want the law upheld and those who do notabout tak- ing the question directly from the City Hall across the street to the Supreme Court building. Such a case will necessarily | arise here before the end of the month anyway. The decision us to whether the new or the old Board of Election Commis- sioners is the legal body is expected from day to day. After it is handed down one of the first acts of the board will be to draw names for election ofticers and to provide new boxes, and Auditor Broderick will be at once called upon to approve the warrants for expenditures. Garret McEnerney, at- torney for Auditor Broderick, has advised him to approve no warrants under this law until its validity is settled and this he will do. Therefore the earlier the de- cision comes the better, and so all who are interested, both for and against the lasw, are anxious that the Election Commission- ers here test the points involved as quickly ossible. This law puts primary elections on the legal plane of general elections. Hereto- fore partivs have done as they pleased with them or done without them. The law creates as legal institutions ‘‘State | conventions,” “district conventions'” and | “local conventions.” A general primary election must be held on the second | Tuesday of July every two vears for the | election ot delegates to such conventions. | This election 1s & general one, at which all | parties vote at the same time, and it is | under the exclusive management of the | Election Commissioners as is a general election. The Election Commissioners must be- gin their work in January of each year | in which a general election is to be held by selecting from the last assessment roll not 'Ie:s than thirty electors residing in each i]!recmcl, the selections to be made from all existing parties in as nearly equal pro- portion as possible. These names go through quite a process of registration, publication and safe storage. One of sey- eral practical difliculties in carrying out the law appears right here. It has been discovered that in many precincts of this City there are not thirty voters on the as- sessment roll, and one precinct has but fourteen. The names sclected, registered and pub- lished as descrived are the ones from which, twenty days before the primary, the Eiection Commissioners are to draw | the names of five election officers of varied political faith in each precinct and pup- lish them. Those drawa are compelled to | serve, under penalty of law, unless excused oy the Ilection Commissioners for good cause. The reward of those serving is ex- emption from jury duty for one year. In San Francisco 1845 citizens would thus be exempted, materially lessening the supply of jurors while raising the standard of pri- mary elections. | _The Election Commissioners. must pro- vide a polling-place ip each precinct and a | separate ballot-box for each "party partizi- | pating in the election. Each party must use ballots of a designated color. The polls must be open from 9 A. m. until sun- set. Challengers are officially appointed. All the expense except for ballots is borne by the county. Any act which isa public offense at a general election is made a public offense at a primary election, and the same penalties follow. | Estimates of the cost of holding a gen- | eral primary election in this City range from $32,000 upward. Haa this law been made a general one, applicable to the whole State, the main legal points urged against it now would not have existed. It was iramed as a gen- eral law, but at the last hour, in deference to interior counties, it was amended to | make it apply only to counties of the first | and second classes. It was the intention | of the Legislature to make it apply only to San Francisco and Los Angefe: coun- ties. The act of 1883, which prescribed the present classification of counties for the regulation of the pay of county officers, | putting one county in each cldss, has since been considered a general one for all purposes. tled this classification business in the case of Blass vs. Lewis, which knocked out the fee bill, and in the case of Turner vs. the County of Siskiyou, by declaring that under section 5 of article XI of the consti- tution counties may be classified only for the purpose of regulatine the compensa- tion of certain public officers. Thus the classification under which the primary law was placed was gone. Under the new con- stitution there could be no classification for any purpose but the one mentioned. But the new constitution left most of the previous laws in force, and the old section 4006 of the Political Code gives the classi- fication in force, if there is any, and under this classificatian_all but sixteen of the counties of the State—all of over 8000 vopulation—are in the first and second classes and so are subject to the new primary law. Hence the Sacramento County petition and hence the increased interest in the law. If the Supreme Court decides thet this old classification is not in force the spplication of the law will be ing which will bring the new primary law | and there rumors that several well-known | Attorney Barnes asking his co- | In October last the Supreme Court set- | 1 narrowed to the two chief counties of the | State. The best friends of the law doubt that it will stand. The main points which will be urged against it are cfim it is special and | prohibited legislation in that it applies to | certain counties only. | _Section 25 of article IV of the constitu- tion says: | The Legislature shall not pass local or special | laws in any of the following enumerated cases, that s to say: Ninth — Regulating county and township business or the election of county or township | officers. * = » Eleventh — Providing for conducting elec- | tions or designating the places of voting, ex- | | cept in the organization of new counties. * * * | _Twenty-eighth — Creating officers -or pre- | scribing the powers and duties of officers in ey ¥ e 8 (il rd—In all other cases where a gen- | eral law can be made epplicable. The law in question is held to be an at- tempt to regulate the elective franchise differently 1n different portions of the State. Itisa case ‘‘where a general law can be made applicable.’” Itis held to be | the kind of special legislation especially prohibited in the provisions quoted above. Section 11 of article 1 of the constitution | requires that “‘all laws of a general nature shall have a uniform application,” and this is held to be a law of a general nature. | Many Supreme Court decisions are ready | for citation in support of this view, as weil | as other provisions of the constitution, in- cluding the one requiring the Legislature to “‘establish a system of county govern- | ments which shall be uniform throughout the State.” s Thu: ystem of political pri- maries i ve a while longer it wili be because the new law does not apply to the whole State. The law was gotten up by Martin Kelly and Thomas Cator. Frank D. Ryan, District Attorney of Sacramento County, who will oppose Mr. Gett’s motion for a writ of mandamus, has | no doubt but that the primary law will be | declared invalid. ““There can be no doubt about its being unconstitutional,”” he said. ‘“*When the question was first broached the Supervisors referred it to me. A careful investigation | convinced me that the law could not stand. I so reported and the contest at once be- gan. | *‘The lower courts upheld my position. Mr. Gett appealed the case, but there will be nothing for the Supreme Judges to do under the law but affirm the findings of the lower court. *Iam glad that the question was raised | at this early day. Had it been overlooked till after the elections great confusion and enormous expense would undoubtedly have been occasioned.” CONDENAS HOLY SHOWS | Rev. Hobart Chetwood Will Not Batten on Church Enter- tainments. | The Clergyman’s Principles Versus [ the Mission’s Neces- sities. Rey. Hobart Chetwood has tendered his resignation as incumbent of St. James | Episcopal Mission, on Clement street, near | Sixth avenue, and the announcement was made yesterday that Bishop Nichols had | accepted the resignation. For a number of months past Mr. Chet- wood, who is well known in this City as the editor of the Pacific Churchman, has | officiated as missionary to the Episcopal | population of the Richmond district, and the result has been the spirftual edifica- | tion and uplifting of every one concerned. | The congregation of the mission grew dur- ing his pastorate, and his preaching was famed from one end to the other of Point Lobos avenue. Bat, in spite of all these promising con- ditions, there was a littlerift in the congre- gation, which has been slowly widening ever since the winter season of concerts, | cantatas and church festivals began. The | rift did not denote any ill feeling on either | side; it was a difference of opinion, or of | principle rather, between the clergyman | and his parishioners, but it has led to the Rev. Hobart Cuetwood’s resignation, and left his flock pastorless mourning his de- | parture. In order to understand thoroughly the grounds taken by Mr. Chetwood and his parishioners, it must be explained that St. | James Mission, like a great many other spiritual corporations, is not rich'in this world’s goods. The Guild Hall, on Clement street, where the congregation meets to worship, has been built, but by no means fully paid for, by the church members. In addition | to the interest on the loan for the Guild | Hall there are taxes and other necessary | expenses to mee; | | The congregation has been in the habit of | raising the money by giving concerts, comedies, cantatas, teas, birthday parties | and other mild forms of dissipation of the | common variety. What Mr. Chetwood objected to was the combination. Holy shows, he gave his people to under- stand, were not in his line at all. The | | church was a church and the theater was | The Rev. Hobart Chetwood. [From a photograph.} | & theater and he did not want to see the churches competing with the givers of secular entertainments for the sake of nlrpy lucre. Free entertainments for the amusement of his flock Mr. Chetwood was perfectly willing to preside over, but he could not bring himself to look toward holy shows | as a source of income to the church. ‘It is our necessities against our pastor’s principles,” said the flock, but they re- Irained for some time from giving a show, except once, when the tax man became very Eremng, At Christmas, however, they burst out into another entertain- ment, at which, to the clergyman’s sor- row, an admission fee was charged. That entertainment virtually closed the deal between Rev. Hobart Chetwood and the St. James Mission. The pastor has since resigned. There is nothing but the best possible fecling on both_ sides, however. The par- ishioners ‘say Mr. Chetwood has always been accustomed to large ~hurches and does not understand the necessities of a struggling mission. The Baird Divorce Case. In the Beird divorce case in Judge Dainger- fleld’s court yesterday leave was given the re- spondent 10 file an amended answer. Then the case was set for trial February 5. e et e A MODEL establishment, operated by skilled rinters and -] . ‘gz Cl".ln bl}nfl:rl. The Mysell-Rollins Cg » | the good of the proaucer and of the con- [ well, is powerless to determine the rates at | fauit. | | | would be placed on exhibition by men | i | would be a magnificent advertisement for THE FREE MARKET COMING ¢ Its Advocates Hold a Meeting and Loudly Sound Its Praises. MUCH ENTHUSIASM EVINCED. Middlemen “Damned With Faint Praise "—Proposal From the Harbor Commission. San Francisco is to have a free market. At least, so say W. H. Mills and a goodly number more, and it looks as though they would see their pet project through to a successful outcome. The advocates of | the idea had a chance to give free vent to their views on the matter at last night’s special meeting of the trade and finance committee of the Merchants’ Association. Despite the tempestuous weather there was a good attendance. Among those present were: A. Fusenot, R. F. Usborne, W. H. Mills, K. Melrose, J. W. Carmany, A. 8. Baldwin, M. Adams and R. J. Frued, secretary of the commit- tee. M. 8. Kohlberg, the committee’s vresident, occupied the chair. Mr. Miils was the first speaker of the evening. He said he was well aware that | the opening of a free market mright work some little hardship to commission mer- | chants. At the same time, he said, he was | not speaking for or against any one 1n the commission business. He was looking to sumer. If he were considering some mat- ter bearing upon the public health he | would not consult the undertaker. By the | same rule of reasoning, when he was de- | Iiberating upon a measure intended for | the benefit of the general public he could | not be expected to consult those who make a living off the needs of the same public. At present the consumer paysa price which,” continued Mr. Mills, “if divided equally with the producer would render the cultivation of land in California worth while. The difficulty at present is that the producer has no voice in fixing the price of his products. The consumer, as vhich he must procure food products which are regarded as necessaries. The fact 1s that producer and consumer are un- able to come to any understanding. Be- tween them stands a third party anxious to buy at the lowest fignre and sell at the highest. That is the commission mer- chant’s business, and no one has a right to find fault with him for it. Butin any event buth producer and consumer have to iive, while if the miadleman’s business is taken from him ha will find something | else to do. ““‘Another point may be noticed when we recollect that here in San Francisco about 83,000 people live 1n hotels and boarding- | houses. There are in the City about 850 | licensed restaurants, in some of the largest | of which as many as 2500 meals are served every day. From hotels, boarding-houses and restaurants come about 1200 aaily purchasers, and heavy, constant purchas- ers at that. If these large buyers could purchase directly from the vroducer, it can easily be seen how expenses to both parties would be minimized. This is really the great raison d’etre of a free | market, and I am sure such an institution here in San Francisco would be eminently successful. *Now, our City has not, properly speak- ing, a market. All we have in the market line at present are marketplaces occupied | by commission merchants, who perhaps have purchased their wares from other | commission merchants in turn. In order to comprehend the bearing of this patent | fact, we must recollect that the greater | the number of hands through which a staple article of commerce has to pass the higber its price invariably becomes. There is no reason for us to ignore the fact that our present commercial methods are at 1 can think of no city where a free market is 50 necessary as our own. ““A free market will rencer small hold- ings of land desirable and lucrative to heads of families; and once this state of things is well established the problem of the settling and colonizing of the habited portions of our State will be solved. fiow is it that in Mexico living is so much easier and less expensive than in the United States? Simply this: Food vroducts always have a market, and the preducer ~is constantly urged to further production by the consumer, with whom he deals directly day after day. ‘‘A free market here would be a contin- ual fair. The best products of the State inin- | having an interest in disposing of their very best wares. Such a market here Californian products, and far surpass any other establishment of the kind in any | other section of the Union. It would also radically cure some grave defects in our | present commercial conditions, | B. N. Rowley was of the opinion that, while markets seemed to be a success in some Eastern cities, notably Philadelphia, thev would not work here, the manner of living in California beingaltogether differ- ent from that in vogue in the Atlantic cities. He said he had given the subject y little attention from Mr. Mills’ point of view, and thought that gentleman’s vlan a brilliant one “if it would only work.”’ . Mr. Mills and Mr. Rowley then engaged in a discussion on the issue raised by the last-named gentleman. Each of the co testants seemed desirous of holdaing h ownin a quiet, gentlemanly way, when Mr. Fusenot came to the rescue in a very suave little speech, which ended by his placing himself unequivocally on the side of Mr. Mills. 2 Mr. Adams gave some strange illustra- tions of sharp practice among commission | merchants of the City. He cited onein-| stance in which the commission merchant sold at a high retail price, crediting the consignor with a moderate wholesale rate. He said he had the names. and that con- | siderations of delicacy alone prevented him from making them Public. % At this point some little feeling was manifested by one or two of the visitors present. 3 Mr. Adams hastened to express his re- | gret that any discussion should have | arisen, and hoped his attitude might not be misunderstood. He maintained, how- ever, that the dishonorable practices re- | ferred to by him were said to be very com- | mon among commission merchants. He contended that if such ways were not gen- eral among commission merchants, that 1act should be made public by the better class of men in the business and offenders against strict honesty exposed as frauds and swindlers. Mr. Rowley gave his recollections of the free markets of Philadelphia as he had seen them in his boyhood and in later years. He laid particular stress upon the fact that the farmers have a chance to go into town with their produce and return home at night with their money, large or little, as the case might be, but allof it, without having to share their profit with any one else. He said perhaps 70 per cent of the venders were women, the hus- bands usually attending to the heavy work of their farms, leaving the selling to their wives and children. The following communication from President Colnon of the State Board of Harbor Commissioners was read by the secretary: | SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 16, 1896. J. Richard Freud Esq., Secretary Merchants’ Association, City—DEAR SIR: Your note of yes. terday’s date, inviting me to be presentata meeting of your association called for this evening to discuss the proposed free market for this City, was received tnis morning. A prior ¢ngagement may prevent my attending your meeting, but the receipt of your note fur- nishes an opportunity for the expression of some views on the subject which I had alread; presented to & committee from Highlan | tion or in joblots, of the perishable products | of the farm’s and orchards in the interior; and Grange, Patrons of Husbandry, Santa Clara | ounty. The interest of the grange, as pressed by its committee, is_in the pos con the water front, of facilities for the re handli eipt. 2, short-term storage and sale, by auc- this is the only so-called frec market that has been considered in any way by the Harbor Commission. In fact, it may be doubted whether this board would have the right to maintain any- thing in the nature of a general market on the City front. A murket for cereal products has for some years been established on the seawall, where shipments from the interior and even from Oregon are permitted to remain a certain number of days after landing without any charge for storage, and to lay there a certain longer period upon the payment of a small sum, the object of the board evidently having | been to collect such revenue only as would | meet current expenses and enable its officers | 10 exercise the necessary control over the use of the allotted space. | Here was found the precedent for so much of a free market, so callea, as has been considered by the Harbor Commission; and, in fact, this | was what suggested the idea in the firstin- | stance. It was scen that an advantage was conferred (at all events sought to be conterred) | upon the producer of cereals which was denied | 10 producers of perishable farm products, such as fruits and vegetables. The grain farmer could let his sacks of wheat remain five days on the landing without incurring a cent of pense, even the tolls which_are collected upon ali other products crossing the line of the City front being omitted in the case of grain, flour tuffs. During this time he ‘could r or make arrangements for storing But the fruit farmer has always been obliged, owing to the congested condi- tion of the landings during tue fruit season, not only to pay full toils but to hurry his stuff AWway soon aiter its arrival in order that room might be had for the cargoes which were rap- idly to follow. This commission also in the past, by author- ity of an act of the Legisiature, sef apart a portion of the water front for the exclusive use of the fishermen, where the bounteous yield of the waters taken by them is sold, shipped or stored, the commission going so far as 10 provide cold storage iacilities, Mean- | time, as said before, the producer of garden truck arriving at the wharves, or the shipper thereof, is obliged to conform ¥ to the regulations, in order tnat the contintious in- | flux during’the season may not be obstructed. To come, therefore, to the concrete of the proposition, so far as I am concerned as a member of the Harbor Commission, I um in v, etting apart section 4 of the seewall, at the foot of Front street, and have s shed, 500 feet long by 40 feet wide, for the use of shippers of fruits and vegetables in their season, under terms similar to those governing the use of the grain shed by the grain men; that is tc say, each shipper may occupy the space alloted 'to any particular consignment for from three to five | or seven days, as muy be determined by a con- ference between the board and the shippers or the State OTgANIZALioN of STOWETS, N0 CiaTge Lo acerue other than that for landing in the first instance. The grower. or shipper, or con- signee, as the case mizht be, would then not be forced to get his stuff out of the way in a hurry, or, in the absence of a buyer, to dump itinio the bay. He would have & breathing spell and time to look about for the best dispo- sition of his products. Such details as auction sales, or private sales by packeges or other- wise, might well be left to the producers the selves, 10 be arranged for by their State or local ‘organizations. In mno case, however, could the general control of the premises be diverted from the Harbor Commission. This, in brief, is the present stage of develop- ment ot the free-market idea so fur as the Har- bor Commission is concerned. Very truly yours, ¥ LNON, President Board of State Harbor Commis- sioners. The hour being late, and the storm giv- ing no prospect of abatement, the meeting adjourned after those present had briefly and informally aiscussed the contents of Mr. Colnon’s communication. Mr. Mills, have heard to-night con- firms my conviction that the San Fran- cisco Free Market will soon be an accom- plished fact. We have a formal and most liberal proposal from ths Harbor Commis- sion, and that means a great deal. [ tell you,” he repeated emphatically, as he van- ished down the elevator shait, ‘‘the San Francisco Free Market is coming, and when it once does come it will come to etay.” FAVOR A FREE MARKET. The Californla Frult Exchange WIIl Assist In the Move- ment. ! The stockholders of the California Fruit | Exchange held their annual meeting yes- terday in this City, which resulted in the re-election of the old directors and officers as follows: President, B. F. Walton; vice- president, Philo Hersey; secretary and treasurer, John Markley; directors—F. M. Righter, H. C. Morrill, D.T. Fowler, D. W. Parkhurst, R. ¥riselle, W. J. Dobbins, J. A. Webster and C. C. Thompson, The stockholders requested the directors to ap- oint ay manager R. W. Hersey of the State Exchange for the ensuing year. He | is the manager of the California Dried Fruit Agency, which is an organization of the fruit exchanges of Santa Clara County. The intent of this movement is to bring all the exchanges of the State into close relations, upon the lines agreed upon at a convention of fruit exchanges held in this City last year. Those present declared themselves in favor of a free market on the water front of this City, under such regulations as would afford the producer due protection, and it was decided that the exchange would be ready to accept any duty in con- nection with the enterprise that will be of advantage to the public. Edward F. Adams was appointed as a committee to represent the exchange in a conference | with the Harbor Commissioners and at all | meetings called to consider the subject. \ MOULDER MEMORIAL BED Teachers Have Endowed a Cot at the Children’s Hospi- tal. It Will Perpetuate the Memory of the Deceased School Superin- tendent. The memory of A.J. Moulder, the re- cently deceased Superintendent of Public | Schools, will be perpetuated by means of a memorial bed in the Children’s Hospi- tal, where unfortunate little ones can be | given the cares and attention their condi- tion require. Soon after Mr. Moulder’s death a com- | mittee of teachers consisting of Albert Lyser (chairman), Miss M. E. Donnelly (secretary), A. L. Mann (treasurer), Super- intendent ' Babcock, Miss M. E! Prog, Miss R. G. Campbell and Joseph O'Con- nor was appointed to devise means to pro- cure a suitable memorial to the deceased official. Shortly afterward the teachers voluntarily started a subscription among themselves and raised a substantial fund, which was recently turned over to the committee with power to expend it ac- cording to its own judgment. The committee met yesterday to discuss the matter, and decided to perpetuate the memorial. The treasurer’s report showed that $318 had been collected, of which $180 had been spent in fitting up the cot, and enough more in other expenses to leave a balance | of $60 on hand. This will be placed in the bank as a nuclets for the fund which 1s to endow the bed for all time. The plan is to collect at Christmastime each year 10 cents from each schoolteacher ih San Francisco, the instructors having }Ero_pose.d this arrangement themsslves. his will bring in about %90 each Christ- mas, and as the expense of mamtaining the bed is but $25 or $30 a year, a respect- able balance will be left to go into the sinking fund. It is estimated that $500 at interest will support the memorial with- out further contributions, and when this amount is reached the collections will cease. It was also decided that the memorial address that was adopted November 11, 1895, shall be suitably engrossed and sent to Mrs. Moulder. The directors of the Children’s Hospital have been notified of the action of the committee, and it is expected that the bed will be ready for occupancy in afew day 1 drugwists and dgalors, BUDD ASKED O PRESIDE: Advocates of Public Ownership of Railroads Call a Con- vention. WILL MAKE STRONG DEMANDS. The Iroquois Club to Be Requested at To-Night's Meeting to Indorse the Project. Governor Budd has been asked to pre- side over @ monster mass-meeting which is to be called to express the feelings of the people regarding Government owner- ship of railroads, and those who have the project in hand are anxiously awaiting an answer from the State’s chief executive before making the tinal arrangements for the gathering. Some time ago, when the committee of fifty made public the demands it wou?d present to Congress—that the funding bill prepared by President Huntington of the Southern Pacific should be rejected—a great many opponents of the railroad ex- pressed the opinion that the committes had not gone far enough and that it should not enly have demanded the defeat of the obnoxious measure, but should have appealed to Congress in unmistakable terms for a foreclosure of the $27.000,000 tirst mortgage held by the Government. 1t is now proposed to supplement the action of the convention which has been called for to-morrow by another conven- tion making greater demands and empha- sizing them by a showing as strong if not stronger than that of the committee. The projectors of the new move believe that the present is the time to get all that is coming to the people of Colifornia and the country at large trom the railroad coms= pany, and that the demands should be, made while the people are aroused and ready for action. Gavernor Budd is well known to be an advocate of Government ownership of rail- roads, and it is believed that he will con- sent to lead the movement and preside over the meeting, particularly as his ad- vice and counsel were not sought when the committee of fifty was formed. 2 A large number of men prominent in business and political circles have ex! pressed their willingness to attend the meeting and lend their aid in sending & ringing demand to Congress, and several prominent men have been secured as kers for the occasion. hus far no word has come from the rnor to those who addressed him on the subject, but as the letter was only mailed on Wednesday an answer was not xpected before this morning at the earli- est. Another factor that is working in favor of the Government ownership convention isa self-appointed committee of the Iro- quois Club, which intends to make every effort to have that organizationindorse the project. The club is already on record as lavoring public ownership of railroads and telegraph systems, and when the matter 13 broached at to-night's meeting it is be- lieved t! the members w take kindly to it and send its most prominent men as delegates to the conventi . The exact nature of the resolutions that will be presented to the convention has not yet been determired and will depend somewhat on the action of the anti-fund- ing bill convention. Should that body not make its demands stroug or clear enough to suit the Government ownersaip advocates it is probable that they will not be considered by the Government owner- ship convention and that that body will put forth its own demands without refer- ence to vthing that bas yet been done. No definite date has been fixed for the convention, but its projectors expect to call it for Wednesday next at Metropolitan Temple. The call will be issued as soon as word is ed from Governor Budd. “There is no doubt that the people are ripe for Government ownership,” said a member of the committee last evening, “and We see no reason why this time should not be taken to ask Congress to take everything that is coming to the Government. “If the United States Government has a mortgage on the railroads, as every one velieves it has, and that mortgage is due, why should nat the Government take what belongs to it just as a private citizen would do when his interests were involved. ing for the defeat of the fund- —while it may be a part of our rights—is not going far enough. The Gov- ernment will eventually own the roads anyway and it might as well take possese sion now as any other time.” A TROLLEY VICTIM. Camellia Roderiguez Seriously Injured by a Mission Car. As car 1086 of the Ingleside division of the Mission-street line was on its way to Ingleside last night between 8 and 9 o'clock the motorman noticed a man lying on the inward track near the foot of College Hill. Car 1096 was approaching on its way to the City and the man was placed on board and taken to the power- house at Twentv-ninth street. There the patrol wagon summoned from the Seventeenth-street station and he wasg taken to the City and County Hospital. The man said his name was Camellia Roderiguez and said he was a cigar-makep living at 12 Hinckley alley. He was walk- ing along the track eating a piece of bread when a car came up behind him and knocked him down. Both bones of Lis right leg were broken and his left elbow was crushed to pieces, and he appeared to be suffering from internal injuries. None of the carmen on the route appeared to know_ anything about the accident when uestioned by the police last night. As the victim is 61 years of age, his injuries are regarded as being of a very serious nature NEW TO-DAY. UNDER Tropical Suns 4rows the most powerfully curative #re ticle of ths vegetable kingdom—Peru= vian Bark. Tt formsthe most active ine gredient in the famous Peruvian Bitters & pleasant, palatable remedy unequaled in the world te restors the appetite, stimulate sluggish digestive functions, dispel malarial poisons, promote quiet nerves und sound sleep, replace wasted tissues—in shor:, to make the weak strong and shield the well from disease. MACK & CO0., San Franclsco. AL}