The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 24, 1896, Page 5

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, JANUARY 24, 1896. 5 SIDNEY SMITH GIVES ANSWER, San Francisco and North Pacific Affairs Are Elucidated. VOTING POWER OF STOCK If President Foster Is Defeated a Consolidation May Follow WITH NORTH PACIFIC COAST. Defendant Says He Never Entered Into a Compact With Foster and Markham. idney V. Smith, who isa defendantin a suit brougkt by A. W. Foster, president of the San Francisco and North Pacific ,and others, growing out of the ted counsolidation of that railway with the North Pacific Coast road, filed his answer terday in the Superior Court of Marin County. In his answer Mr. Smith is joined by other def ants, all having the same He denies the various allegations intiffs, and in presenting his side gives an interesting view of private affairs of both railroad companies. The docu- y with the statement ne does not row ned its fixea char, - that line south of San 1 chiefly to fores hat the greater portion of its been derived from stumpage eight on forest products irom | by the company; that the | reven after to be derived Imo will me; arn or t tl cor auge road is not yperty that Mr. Foster | iends would have it appear. 1so denied t the deferdant on | Febru 303, or ever, was de- yndicate to pur- shares of the stock of the or that he had requested | i nd the late Mr. Hitcucock | th him in this purchase from the | of the late James M. Donahue’s 1d, furthermore, that the defend- | ant red to have these 42,000 | ares voted as a unit durirg five years | after of making the agreement, whereby Smith and his friends would con- trol the Donahue line. Smith also denies | that he and Foster on behalf of themselves and other members of the alleged syndi- 1 ever made & bid in writing to buy 000 shares for $800,000 in the Supe- rior Court of Marin County. He repudi- ates u that the plaintiffs confided to him as an attorney-at-law the prepara- | f or the adoption of ures as would falfill 'y Or any agreements or d in the complaint relative of these shares, or that as an ssumed the duty of pre- ement or adopting. the legal me ted in complaint. Mr. Smith adds that the plaintiffs, Mark- ham, Overton and Hitchcock, did seek'the i her counsel. He after forming a syndicate ve lived up to the terms of ir agreeement; that the management e directors of the Donahue road has its had endeavo: B been very successful or prosperous in its b ess, and that the earni of the i have been largely increased them. On the contrary, he shows that the earn- line have fallen nings for the year | be $30,000, r ending June 30, 1893, Smith admits that he is under pe- v ations to Antoine Borel, the ockholder of the narrow- the insinuation of 1at his relations to Borel have | induced him to do any of the | erged against him,and he denies his intention to vote his stock with tailway, at the next ceting of the other line, isso that | ue road shall be operated in the | of the narrow-gauge road, or in a_consolidation intended by him | the stockholders of the narrow- | line. | e statements of a scheme whereby the ad-gauge property would be injured rough connivance with the rival road are denied in detail and at great length. Continuing, Mr. Smith avers that he never sought to form a combination before the leof the Donahue stock and that the | sale was not made to & syndicate other | than Foster and Markham.™ After the sale | Foster asked the defendant (Smith) to | draw a pooling agreement for this stock, | and was told that it was not possible to | make such a compact legal and binding; but on Foster insisting Smith did draft | the pooling agreement and signed it March | 22, 1893. This document Smith claims was merely a mutual promise. It is set forth that the rival roads can be | made to pay handsomely by a combination of the management, because in that way great savings could be effected. As mat- ters have stood for some time distrust has been engendered among the stockholders, it being averred that Foster has been sus- picious of Markham, and Markham of | Foster, each that the other might sell out | his stock to parties owning 18,000 | shares. And therefore Smith, himself, | had valid reasons for becoming alarmed, | and under these conditions he was and is | justified in morals, as well as in Jaw, in re- | tiring from the pooling agreement, since | that compact has lost whatever cohesive | quality it ever had based on mutual con- | sideration. He goes on to say that he un- derstands that Markham and Foster in- tend to vote his stock, claiming the right | 1o do so through the agreement being in | effect a power of attorney and proxy to | vote the stock, and that unless restrained i by the court they will vote his stock, with | the result that a board inimical to Smith’s | interests will be elected. In conclusion he | asks: Wherefore this defendant prays the judg- ment of this court thet the agreement of March 22,1893, is and always was void and invalid; that the plaintiffs, Foster and Markham, be decreed to give up the same to be cancele that the restraining order heretofore made | herein preveuting this defendant from voting | his stock be vacated and set aside; that the prayer of said complaint for an injunction | against this defendant and the defendant cor- | poration be denied, that the writ of injunction of this court issue herein restraining the plaintiffs, Foster and Markham, from voting or sttempting 1o vote this defendant’s stock. THE LABOR UNIONS. Will Organize a Building Trades Coun- cil—=The Coopers’ Strike Has Been Settled. The Building Trades Council, 8 project that has been under continuation for sev- eral months, will soon be & reality. Thurs- day evening, February 6, it will be organ- ized for the mutual benefit and protection tue carpenters six months ago, and invita- tions were sent to the plumbers’, stone- cutrers’, lathers’, painters’, brickmasons’ and similar unions to join in the work of forming a central council. Nearly all re- ponded and sent delegates, and nearly every delegate declared in favor of the movement. It was also generally consid- ered advisable to find a suitable building to be used as a beadquarters, Last evening the general committee met and several of the active workers reported having sent to several building trades councils in the Eastern cities for their plans of organization. All of those pres- ent, and the meeting was well attended, Cecided that it would be the best to organ- ize, and without further delay. So far the four carpenters’ and joiners’ unions, the sandstone cutters, plasterers, cornice-workers and painters have declared in favor of a central eouncil. It is be- lieved that the other unionsof the build- ing trades will fall into line as soon as they see the project fairly started. Atany rate the unions mentioned decided to go ahead and form a building trades council. Notice will be sent out at once to all unions in this line to_send their delegates to the meeting that will be held on Febru- | ary 6, and it was announced that if not over four unions be represented they will organize and draw the others in as oppor- tunities present themselves. ; During the discussion the question was | | raised whether or not the Ironmolders’ | | Union is entitled to a representation in | the Building Trades Council, most of | the molders’ work being that of making | machinery and heavy castings. It was aecided that as the ironmolders construct a large amount of ironwork for buildings that union is clearly entitled to be repre- | sent An invitation will be sent to this union to send delegates to the meeting | when the Building Trades Council will be | organized. | The strike of the coopers in the Pacific Woodenware and Cooperage Company has been settled to the satisfaction of all per- sons interested. A week ago the company decided to make a reduction of from 10 to 20 per cent on their millwork in the mill near the foot of Sixth street, and about twenty men walked out rather than sub- mit to a reduction, and their strike was ap- proved by the Journeymen Coopers’ Unioir. Tnesday night the men and the employ- ers held a conference, and the latter de- cided to restore the coopers’ wages to the old rate. Wednesday morning the men went back to work and the best of feeling prevails in the mill. OWNERSHIP OF RAILROADS A Mass-Meeting Adopts Resolu- tions in Favor of Govern- ment Control. Congressman Maguire Asked to Under- take the Task of Accomplishirg This Object. In response to the call for a mass- meeting of all in favor of Government ownership of railroads, & couple of hun- dred people gathered at Metropolitan Hall last night. A Rev. J. cott, in calling the meetin, to order, said: The only protection from private monopoly is Governmeut ownership. The railroad mo- nopoly is the head center,out of which all other monopoly oppression flows. There is 1o class that does not contribute to the revenne g | of this monopoly, and every man pays s tax to the railroad monopolies that no king on earth would be allowed to impose. And the Cen- tral Pacific Railroad is one of the most oppre sive of these monopolies. J. M. Reynolds spoke on the subject of “Government Ownership and Operation of Railroads.” He said it had been reported that the agitation for Government owner- ship had been suggested by the railroad people in order to secure votes for the funoing biil. Continuing he said: These rich monopolists are the real anarch- ists of this country. This is the only classthat has the meaus to Corrupt our leg Though I knew that men under the influence of the railroad had called this meeting, I felt it my duty to come here and express iny ons in favor of Government ownership of railroads. There 1s & remedy for not only the raiiroad monopoly but all similar monopolies. It lies in the people, who should jointly undertake the work of production, manufacture dis- tribution. This would do away with the pres- ent methods of business, which are largely of the nature of gambling. He then introduced the following reso- | lutions: The people of California have repeatedl manded by petition, resolutions and tnrough their representatives in Congress, that the Pacific railroads, which h become debted to the Nation and been given am time to provide for the full pavment, should be compelled to pay the debt now due the Goy- ernment. WHEREAS, We, as citizens of the United States who Wwill be most vitally affected by the final settiement of the Central and Union Pecific railroads’ debt, deem it proper to im- press upon Congress as strongly as possible our views concerning this important matter; whereas, our representative from_this district, the Hon.James G. Maguire, we believe to b fully informed as 10 the almost unanimous | | senfiment cxisting in this State against the refunding of the debts of the Pacific railroeds and in favor of the foreclosure of the Govern- ment’s mortgage on these railroads, and in favor of their being placed under the direct control of the Government and operated by it in the interests of the people of the whole Nation; therefore, be it Resolved, That we confide to the Hon. James G. Maguire especially the specific duty to araft & bill providing for the foreclosure of the lien new held by the United States against the Central Pacific and Union Pacific railroad, for the acquiring of said railroads by the Govern- ment and the perpetual operation of them as & public hignway. Resolved, further, that a copy of these resolu- tions be forwarded to the Hon. James G. Ma- guire with our request that he comply with these instructions, and that a copy be sentalso 10 each member of Congress. Dennis Kearney then asked permission to speak to the resolution. In introducing him the chairman stated that he believed that Kearney was the man referred to by the last speaker as being under the influ- ence of the railroad, and that the auaience would no doubt be pleased to hear from him on this point as well as the advisabil- ity of Government ownership. Kearney after denying connection with the railroad corporation denounced Hunt- ington and Mayor Sutro—the former as be- ing a despoiler of the people and the other for having, as claimed by the speaker, gone back on a pledge to advocate Government ownership of railroads. Morrison 1. Swift, a socialist from Chi- cago, stated that the people of the east do notany longer believe in millionaires; that they looked upon them all as no more than convicts out of jail. He said that all millionaires should be abolished and a pol- icy of nationalization adopted. ¥ After R. E. S8hannon had spoken in favor of Government ownership of all public functions the resolutions were adopted and the meeting adjourned. s Sl i PIKE, BASS AND PERCH. Soon to Be Placed in Clear Lake and the Big Rivers. In 1892 the Fish Commissioners planted in Lake Cuyamaca, fifty miles from San Diego, four varieties of fish from the in- land lakes and rivers of the East. They were the vike or pickerel, the biz-mouth black bass,the war-mouth bass and the | vellow perch. Deputy Commissioner A. G. Fletcher of the Southern district was re- cently instructed to see how these fish were getting along. He did so, and has sent an encouraging report to the com- mission. The fish are doing well ana mul- tiplying rapialy. g[‘fie Commissioners were so encouraged that they decided to distribute a lot of the fish in the Lower .Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and- in Clear Lake, Lake County. At present this lake Is filled with carp which are of poor. flavor and bony. The bass and pike are beautiful, gamy fish and are excellent food. These will supplant the carp in a few years, as they live on of ail members connected with the build- ing trades. The movement was started by other fish instead of on mfid, grass and fish spawn. THE HENRY HODK INQUEST ¢ Evilence That the Union League Club Man Fell From the - Oakland Boat. NO INDICATION OF SUICIDE. The Funeral Will Be Held To-Day at the Family Residence on Jack- son Street, Oakland. The cause of Henry Hook’s death is still unknown. At the Coroner’s inquest held in Oakland yesterday tne jury found only that Mr. Hook ‘‘came to his death by drowning in the San Francisco Bay on or about January 14.” The watch found on the body had stopped at 1:15 o’clock. This | seemed to serve as evidence that Hook | had taken the last boat from the City to Oakland on the night of the 14th. No' really but one set. Receipts of produce are irst entered in a rough book kept outside the office, and Iater copied into the regular books, A circumstance that led to the misappre- hension. COURSING AT NEWARK. The Interstate Club Will Hold Its Inaugural Meeting Next Month. The Interstate Coursing Club held its final meeting last evening and elected officers for the ensuing year as follows: Dominick Shannon, president; W. C. Peaton, first vice-president; J. Lang, sec- ond vice-president; A. Rosetter, treasurer; J. Dickson, secretary; executive commit- tee—J. Horton, T.J. McCue, James Byrnes and J. Dean. The membership is limited to forty sportsmen, who will leave no stone un- turned to popularize the pastime and elevate it from the mire in which coursing has been buried for many years on this coast. The club_will bold its mext outdoor meeting at Newark Park on kebruary 22 and it goes without saying that a grand day’s sport is sure to result, as the best of canine running stock in this Oity will come from the kennels of the represent- atives of the Interstate Club. As every lover of the leash is aware after the first heavy winter rains hares become fat and lazy and will not perform y de- | THE LATE HON. HENRY HOOK. | one, however, has been found who remem- | bers having seen him after he left the | rooms of the Union League Club. | Vincent Hook stated that he saw his | brother last alive a week ago Tuesday | during a visit made to Vincent's ranch, near Martinez. | Last Monday he came to see his brother, | but found him not at home, his daughter | saying that her father had been away | | nearly a week and that she had begun to | become uneasy. On the night of the | Union League electicn Mr. Hook took $20 with him, and it was subsequently learned that he had paid $17 50 of this for dues at the club. e left the club about 10 o’clock. | y brother,” said Vincent Hook, *was | afflicted with rheumatism and asthma, but was always of a jovial disposition and was rarely despondent. “I do no¢ think he had an enemy in the world except himself and I never heard him say a word about taking his own life. I am of the opinion that after leaving the club he took a late boat, and feeling ill went to the railing of the boat and fell overboard. As soonasI learned from my niece of her father's ab- sence I immediately began a search in San | Francisco. I do not for a moment believe he committed suicide, because he has gone through very severe attacks of asthma and rbeumatism in the past.” W. T. Hemstead, who, together with Robert Wainwright, Ed Cosgrove and Ernest Heaa, found the body of Mr. | Hook, stated at the inguest that they first discovered the body about 9 o’clock | Wednesday morning lying imbedded in | the mud at the foot of Castro street, about | sixty feet from the shore, and nearly | where the scow schooner Young America | was anchored. There was no mark of in- | jury apparent. William P. Hook, a nephew of the dead | man, said his uncle was subject to frequent | attacks of asthma. and that these attacks | came more often at night and without | warning. | . The funeral of Mr. Hook will take place to-day from the family residence, 1016 Jackson street, Oakland. The interment will be private, at Mountain View Ceme- tery. The Rev.John Badewell will con- duct the servi Mr. Hook was born in Arrow Rock, Mo., on October 1, 1848, and came to California with his parents in 1850. The family, on arriving in this City, departed imme- diately for the goldfields of Hangtown, now Placerville, and they remained there until 1851. They then moved to Sacra- mento and engaged in the merchandise business. In this city they carried on a very large business until driven out by fire'in 1852. Afterward the father of Mr, Hook began a mercantile business in Mar- tinez, Contra Costa County, and Martinez has continued to be the homestead of the family. Mr. Hook amassed a large fortune and invested his money in farms throughout the county. Mr. Hook was given an excellent educa- tion. He attended the Contra Costa school until 1865, when he entered the Benicia College, graduating in1867. At 20 years of age he was appointed abstract clerk in the Naval Office of the United States Custom- house. He remained in that position un- til 1875. Then he accepted a clerkship in the furniture-store of his uncle, Elijah Hook of Oakland, and after ten years in that house he made a tour of the United States, dur'\ngwhk:h trip he was the guest of President Hayes at Columbus, Ohio. He was nominated for Lreasurer of Con- tra Costa County in 1886 and was afterward nominated for the Assembly by the Re- publicans in 1888. He was elected by a large majority. He was the originator of the agricultural bill that separated his county from Ala- meda and was the main advocate of the Feeble-minded Home bill. He was chiefly instrumental m having the appropriation bill of $10,000 passed for the location of the first United States Grange in Cali- fornia. He held for a number of years the position of cashier in the United States Custom-house. but of late years has given the greater part of his attention to his large ranches in Contra Costa County, which aggregate over a thousand acres. He married Miss Elizabeth A. Berming- ham, a sister of Captain John Berming- ham of this City, in 1874. Miss Berming- ham at that time was assistant principal of the Oakland High School. Mr. Hook leaves one daughter, Miss Elizabeth k. Hook. Miss Hook’s engage- ment to Dr. Reuben Hall of Martinez was announced several months ago. Only One Set of Books. In explanation of the statement made in Justice Cook’s court that the W.R. Larzelere Commission Company keeps three sets of books in its business, the manager of the concern ates that it was a mistake, and that, while ac- counts appear in three separate books, there is as well before a brace of fast dogs as when green food is scarce. To offset any pos- sible likelihood of having, on the day of the meeting, a series of short races owin to an inferior condition of the hares if al- lowed {heir liberty of the running field, Mr. Shannon has taken the timely precau- tion to notify the manager of the park to confine the short-taii sprinters in the breeding paddock for one week previous to the day of the meeting,so that they | will not become bloated irom. a too free indulgence of green food. Grain will be substituted in lieu of grass and every pre- caution will be taken by the manager to guarantee the mepibers of the Interstate Ciub & grand day’, sport on the inaugural day of its meeting. HER VICTORY COMPLETE An Interesting Case Involving a Precedent in Fraternal Legislation. Mrs. Osterman Secures Her Endowment and Vindicates the Good Name of Her Husband. Aside from the personal interest that at- | taches to the decision of the Supreme Court just handed down in the case of Mrs, Sarah Osterman vs. District Grand | Lodge No. 4, L. O. B. B., an important pre- cedent is established in connection with fraternal society legislation. Monroe Osterman died on May 29, 1891, and at the time of his death was a mem- ber and secretary of Ophir Lodge No. 21, L1.0. B.B. His widow, after his death, in due time made application for the $2000 to which she claimed to be entitled by virtue of her husband at the time of his death being a member of the endowment branch of the order. She was informed, however, by Trustees D’Ancona and Saalburg of Ophir Lodge that not only had her husband been delinquent in his dues and assessments at the time of his death, but that he was a defaulter. During the trial of the case Trustee Saal- burg testified on direct examination that Osterman’s defalcation was between $3400 and $3500, but on cross-examination he modified this so as to bring the amount down to about $900, but it was later shown that the actual skortage was less than $300, It was also shown that there was due Osterman from Ophir Lodge at the time of his death more than the amountof his shortage ana the dues and assessments which had become delinquent. The claim set up by the defense, how- ever, rested mainly upon the ailegation that the deceased had been delinguent and liable to suspension, but had been able to keep the matter of his delinquency from the lodge by virtue of being its secretary. But the Supreme Court holds that the laws of the order expressl{ provide that a member must be formally suspended by his lodge before his heirs lose their right to the endowment, and that a mere delin- quency did not abrogate the rights of the member’s beneficiaries. Another peculiar development that was part of the proceedings in the trial court was the testimony of the plaintiff that she had been wduced by Trustee William Saalburg to sign the following document before they would consent to pay her the endowment: You are hereby authorized to pay to Ophir Lodge No. 21 all moneys in the hands of my late husband, Monroe Osterman, belonging 1o said lodge, and to deduct the same from the endowment of $2000 which you hold for me under the laws of District Grand Lodge No. 4. ‘This order the Supreme Court holds to be of no value, as the endowment in ques- tion could not be made liable for her hus- band’s debts. Many of the members of the order were surprised that the plaintiff should have been able to secure the services of Joseph Rothschild, as he is not only the attorney for the order, but is also a member of the supreme tribunal of the organization—the International Court of Avpeals. Speaking of his action in taking the case Mr. Roths- child said that it appeared to him to be so flagrant an attempt at injustice to a widow that he felt it his duty, as a mem- ber of the order, whose pride it isto look after the widows and orphans of deceased meimbers, to assist Mrs, Osterman to se- cure her endowment. JAPAN'S CHEAP LABORERS How They Learn by “Looking At” the Operatives of Other Nations. THREE YEARS' MATCH EXPORTS The Japanese Cotton-Goods Exporters Driving English Products Out of Asia, The joint committee of the Manufac- turers’ and Producers’ Asscciation and Chamber of Commerce met yesterday in the Mills building to consider the Japan- ese cheap-goods question. There were present: Hugh Craig (chairman), Fred H. Dingie (secretary), Julian Sonntag, Pro- fessor George Davidson, Wakefield Baker, W. F, Bowers, George H. Collins, W. B. Curtis, William Rutherford and A. Sbar- boro. The following report was received from Wakefield Baker of the firm of Baker & Hamilton, relative to the metal products of Japan: ‘With the limited means of information at hand it would seem as though they had an ample supply of coal, iron and copper. Their wire, however, is not in the most desirable shape for working, and from the fact that freight forms such & high percentage on goods of this class it may safeiy be relied upon for the present, at least, that no shipments of prod- ucts of iron will be made to this country. In this connection it may be positively stated that notwithstanding their present cheap labor nearly all the by-products of iron which they are at present ng ere im- orted into that country, and while they may Peable in the fture to supply their home con- sumption, there is but little fear from their that they will enter this especiaily aiter consideriug the present protective duties. Native copper hus always been sold so cheaply there that it sould seem as tnough it might "be possible for the products of this metal to be shipped to this market whenever they may have machinery to make such com- modities economically. 1t has not been possible to obtain figures as to the possible output of native copper, but it is known that thereis and has been an over- supply rather than a scarcity. They are very large producers of coal, and from the best information at hand it would seem as though the average price of this for local consumption would not exceed the cost of similar coals in this and other cheap coal- producing countries. 3 This committee has not gone further into their general resources on metals from the fact that freights and import duties as at pres- ent existing would make imports irom that country almost if not absoluiely prohibiting, and, further, because labor in the manufac- ture of metals forms such a small percentage of the cost. WAKEFIELD BAKER, For the committee. W. F. Bowers, for the committee, re- ported upon the manufacture of Japanese rubber goods as follows: Your committee is unable to learn that they are operating any rubber factories at present, but they doubtless wiil be at an early day, be- cause they are already making the cotton duck which is a large factor in the production of mechanical rubber. They can easily obtain crude gum direct from the rubber forests of India and machinery from this country. With | such low-priced matericl and labor they could easily undersell the American manufacturer if their product was allowed to enter this coun- wy free. W. F. BOWERS. Horace J. Dunn, who was formerly con- nected with the Japanese Consular service, and who bad been requested by the committee to give some information | upon the labor status of that country, was | present. He said that the daily wages of laborers had lately gone up in the empire on an average of from 10 to 17 sen, or from 6 to 9 cents, their value here. Tn 1872 Japan exported 9,242,035 eross of boxes of matches, valued at 041 silver yen (a yen is about 54 cents, United States coin, here). In 1893 the export was 13,541,287 gross boxes, at 3,537,974 silver yen, and in 1894 the match expor: was 13,843,022 gross at 3,795,634 silver yen. The United States received in 1892 about 150 gross, in 1893, 1300 ¢ross, and in 1894, 5285 gross. Mr. Dunn stated that it would be impos- | sible for the operatives of any country to | compete with the Japanese. Workmen on | watches now being made in that country | were being paid an equivalent to 9 cents a day for the same labor that $2 75 and $3 50 is paid in this country. i!annger William Rutherford of the California Cotton Mills at Oakland mude an aadress so full of facts and figures per- taining to the incoming waves of Japanese cheap-labor products that the committee was aghast at the impending peril. He read the following extract from a letter requesting him to remove the mills to Japan as an illustration of the marvel- ously cheap resources of that pushing em- pire The price of coal here is 11 to 13{ yen; cost | of ground for a site (200,000 square feet— male labor per day, twelve hours, 0.25 to 0.75 The taxes will be about 75 per eent of what they are in California, and are payable in_sil- ver ven, or about 50 per cent. There is no duty o importing raw cotton from anywhere. Tex- tiles of any kind manufactured in Japan pay no duty when exported. Cost of the building would be about one-third of costin the United States. Mr. Rutherford here stated to the com- mittee that he could remove his entire plant to Japan, pay $7 50 per ton freight on raw cotton and export cotton goods at a profit of 20 per cent. Phe Japanese writer adyised his Oakland correspondent to take in'u native partner, as then “the interior and exterior com- mercial field of Japan and China would be accessible to the new firm, as by the peace treaty bst\\'gen those two countries a large new territory of China has been opened commercially to Japanese only.”” After ad- vising Mr. Rutherford to locate kis mills near Yokohama, which is within an hour’s railroad ride of Tokio and nearer the great market of the capital city than the many mills of Osaka, which is now beginning 10 compete with the world, the writersays: We hayes native partner for you, Mr. who hesin Japan high and influential social and commercial connections. He isagradu- ate of several United States colleges and is thoroughly acquainted with the American and Asiatic markets as well as his own. After stating that capital was no object, that money could be procured for the building of “as large a plant as desired, the writer gives this following bitof informa- tion: As regards the starting of the mill, it would only be necessary to_take to Japan 'a few ex- perienced hands from the United States for a time not exceeding one month. We have in Japan all the help necessary, including the most skillful 1n textile manufactures, so that a few days of looking at the United'States help would be sufficient to enable our Japanese hands to pick up the thread and to finish each particular kind of goods quite to perfection. Mr. Rutherford stated that the incessant activity of the Japanese is carrying him ahead at a prodigious rate. He is taking the British Indian markets away from Great Britain himself. English and even German trade journals are sounding the alarm. ‘“As the Japanese took our arms and beat the Chinese they are taking our commercial methods to beat us. They are advancing against us armed with our own weapons. They are always imitating, imitating, imitating.” z Speaking of the readiness with which Japan has adopted foreign methods Mr. Rautherford said: English and American methods were in- stituted in the commercial, postsl, naval and military departments of the Government, and her inquiring and energetic sons can be found in the ~dockyards, machine-shops, laboratories, workshops and the schools of thg most advanced nations, and the recent re- markable military and naval supremacy in the war with China “vas the result of her “careful preparation and wraining along these lines. is just as real and true as her navaland mili- tary, and it is as certzin as her national exist- enc. Her people are patriotic, brave aud law- abiding, and there are 40,000, waiting and ready to be led into the peaceful pursuits of aumost five acres), 10,000 to 25,000 yen; cost of | yen; female labor per day, 0.14 to 0.35 yen. | Japan’s industrial and commercial progress |- :nsnufflcmping, trade, commerce and agricul- ure. Labor and fuel are so cheap that neither Europe nor the United States can stand out against her in the open field of competition, end Japan has no patent laws and no inter- national restraints on her citizens, utilizing any and sll inventions and improvements found by her industrious sons in every pro- gressive country they are in. Japanese agents are seiling in our markets to-day chemicals, textiles and metal goods at rices the American manufacturer and pro- ucer cannot touch. You will find chemicals in our drugstores, metals in hardware-stores and metal-workshops, and_textiles in our dry- £00ds houses which are of Japanese make. As 4 representative of textile manufacturers on thiscoast I am in a position to know that Japanese manufacturers have already taken some from our trade, and in time, if sufficient Pprotection is not afforded by National legisla- tion, every textile factory will be affected, and itwon’t be long before we all feel it. The evil effect will be the same upon our laboring classes whether we permit the importation of cheap labor goods or let in Japanese and Chinese immigration. Indeed, the evil least serious and objectionable would be the admis- sion of thelaborer. Better that he produce his stock and menufacture in this country than do s0 in another county, and then sell his prod- ucts here; and those who champion the cause of the exclusion of Asiatics should consider this view of the question. Every month large shipments of cotton pass through this City in transit to the cotton mills of Japan, chiefly to Osaka, the Manchester of that natlon, Every bale shipped abroad to be manufactured represents a loss to the American laborer of $30 a bale in wages. In 1883 Japan was erccting at Osaka her two first modern mills, equipped with the latest and best makes of machinery. To-day she is erecting her fifty-sixth mill, and all the mills erected in that time are managed entirely by Japanese, and the financial results far exceed to the capitaiists and investors their most san- guine expectations. No alien can in Japan own real estate, therefore all those mills are built for and under the control of Japanese citizens. They are well managed, and economical methods prevail, and a large percentage of profit paid to stockholders, and the products of 700,000 spindles are sold in foreign lands. The wages paid married cotton- mill help in Osaka, Japan, is as follows: ‘Women, 1or twelve hours’ work, 14 to 35 sen; men, for twelve hours’ work, 25 to 75 sen. If it costs in this country $50,000 in wages to produce from bales of cotton plain salable cotton produets the same can be produced in Japan for about $17,500. The freight on these goods to and from Japan would not be more than $15,000, which leaves a balance in favor of Japan of $17,500, not taking into account the reater difference in{avor of Japan arising rom the payment of everything on & silver basis. Mr. Sonntag moved that the joint com- mittees urge their respective associations to request our representatives in Congress to urge the appointment of a committee to investigate the Japanese import and ex- port trade; also that a mass-meeting be held in the Chamber of Commerce at the very earliest day possible to further discuss and take action upon the subject of the cheap Japanese products invasion. MLOKG THE WATER FRONT, The British Ship Falls of Halla- dale Makes a Record for Herself. A Seaman Lost From the General Fairchild and the Homer Disabled. The British ship Falls of Halladale, which arrived from Swansea yesterday, has made the quickest run in years, and if the time was reckoned from land to land it would be the quickest on record. Cap- tain Fordyce says his ship made the run in ninety-nine days, and that is only twenty-four hours behind the voyage of the FEudora two years ago and two days behind the record made by the Merioneth five years ago. The Halladale had a remark- able streak of luck from the Horn to San Francisco, as she was only thirty-nine days getting here, which is equal to steamer time. From 50 deg. latitude in the Atlantic to 50 in the Pacific only occu- pied ten days, so that the ship had all her bad weather in the Atlantic. The day the Falls of Halladale sailed Charles Anderson, a seaman, reported for duty. He was then slightly under the in- fluence of liquor, and was told to go to bed. When the watch was called next morning Anderson was missing, and the chances are that during the night he went on the forecastie and fell overboard. Captain Fordyce of the Falls of Halla- dale is an old-time shipmaster, having been a master in the *‘County” line of ships for over twenty-five vears. The last time he was in San Francisco was in 1869, when he was master of the famous tea clipper Singapore. The recent southeasters kept a vig fleet of grain-laden vesselsin port. Asthestorm | seems to have passed all the vessels seized the opportunity and went to sea. The Celtic ]gflrd sailed for London, the Os- borne for Hull, the Glenfinart for Queens- town, the Lauriston for Newcasle, N. 8. W., the Hospodar for Ipswich, the Falls of Clyde for Hull, the Copley for Queens- town, the Marie Hackfeld for Queenstown, and the Glendale for the Sound. The schooner}mcht Jessie, which was recently purchased by the Columbia River pilots, also sailed for Astoria, and on her arrival there will immediately be put in commis- sion. The Tahiti Island trader City of Papeete has just completed unloading 110,000 co- coanuts for L. J. Schresovich & Co., and will sail again on the 1st of next month, carrying the French mail to the islands. Almost every vessel that arrives in port has a tale of disaster to tell. 1f it has not | been a battle with the elements it is one of a man or men lost overboard or killed by falling from aloft. Thesteam schooner Alcazar was caught in Sunday’s south- easter, and the captain says he never had aged to weather the storm and reach port in safety. from the main topsail yard to the deck and was instantly killed. He was buried at sea. The steamer Arcata got in yesterday and reports that the steamer Homer was dition. NEW TO-DAY. The Homer is twenty-four hours Are LAE New Crop Leaf, shipped fresh from the factory in such lots that the smoker gets them while they are still moist. The leaf is grown, cured and selected with the one idea in view of producing a mild, sweet smoke, uniform and free- burning. Their ever-increasing popularity proves that this extra care is not in vain. Made in new sizes to suit your ideas of price—2 for 25 cents, 3 for 25 cents, and 10 cents straight. such a terrible time of it. Tue vessel was | several times in danger, but finally man- | The bark General Fairchild was also | caught in the storm. While the crew was | aloft furling sail Thomas Bradburn fell | spoken off Crescent City in a disabled con- | | picture overdue and fears are entertained for her. Should she not get in by noon to-day a tug will be sent out to look for her. The Arcata sighted the Homer at 10:30 A. M. on the 21st inst. and at that time she was making slow headway against the heavy seas. The captain signaled that a portion of the machinery had given away, but that he was not in need of assistance. The steamer at that time was making about 3 knots an hour, but if another accident had happened during the storms of the last day or so she would be in a serious predicament. The Homer is a good, stout ship, however, and her owners have no fears for her safety. CRUELTY AT SEA. First Mate Orr of the Ship John McDon~ ald Arrested. Charles W, Orr, first mate of the ship John McDonald, for whom a warrant has been out for some time on the charge of cruel treatment of sailors at sea, was ar- rested yesterday by a Deputy United States Marshal. The officers have been looking for Orr for some time, but have heretofore been unable to locate him. Orr was taken before Commissioner Heacock, gave bail and was released. ——— Philip Ratz Convicted. Philip Ratz, who was on trial before Judge Wallace for a felonious assault upon little Julia Christiansen, was convicted after six minutes’ deliberation by the jury yesterday. There wasno defense_ submitted to the case of the prosecution, and the arguments and charge took but & short time. There is another charge of the same character pending against Ratz. He will be sentenced next Friday. NEW TO-DAY. Mothers like the big store be- cause mothers know that the big store saves money for ’em. The big store doesn’t give ’em cheap stuff, but the very best of high-class goods at half price on special days. of those days. To-day is one Some remarkably clever Reef- er Suits to-day, like shown in above, handsomely braided, made from those fine Imported Blue Cheviots, equal to any suit in town for §5; money can’t buy ’em better. Some pretty Scotches among ’em, also handsomely braided, sizes 3 to 10 years, at ~-$2.50-- For bigger boys, made in the double-breasted style, ages 5 to 15 years, short trouser suits, a wonderful assortment of high- class fabrics, all-wool goods, suits that can’t be duplicated under $4 and $5 in other stores. To-day at the big store, ~~$2 50-- RAPHAEL’S (INCORPORATED). 9, 11, 13, 15 KEARNY STREET THAT BIG STORE. STHEVERY BEST ONE TO EXAMINE YOUR eyes and fit them to Spectacles or Eyeglasses with instruments of his own Invention, whoss superiority has not becn equaled. My success nas been due to the merits 0f my work. Office Hours—12 10 4 #. % Ho Percentage Pharmacy, 953 Market St AUCTION SALES, % EDWARD §. SPEAR & €0., Auctioneers, 31 and 33 Sutter Street. TELEPHONE, MAIN, 5181 CLOAKS, CAPES AND JACKETS AT AUCTION:! THIS DAY, F¥riday.. <January 24, 1896, At 11 o'clock A. i, in our salesrooms, 31 AND 33 SUTTER STREET, ++..WE WILL SELL.... By order of a New York Manufacturer and com signed to us for Peremptory Sale, 400 Cloaks, Capes and Jackets, In Plush, Velvet, Broadcloth, Silk and Satin, NorE.—The above goods are very fine aud tc them we beg to call the attention of ladies desiring fine outer garments. A3 Goods Now on Exhibition. EDWARD 8. SPEAR & CO., Auctioneers, 31 and 33 Sutter street.