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

14 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1896 GRAND JURORS €0 DOWN THE LINE Reducing Municipal Esti- mates in Many De- partments. LIGHTS AND SALARIES. County Clerk Curry Replies to the Letter From the Jury. DEFENDS HIS MANAGEMENT. Redeemed the Office From Confusion | Wrought by His Prede- cessor. The Grand Jury, at a special meeting | yesterday sfternoon, discussed municipal | estimates in connection with the tax levy. | The estimates of the Auditor and the | requisition of each department were con- sidered. Many reductions were recom- mended. The result of the jury deliberations in | this respect will be presented to the Board | of Supervisors at 10 o'clock to-morrow forenoon. The expert, Horace D. Dunn, is now engaged in the work of putting the report in proper shape for the board’s con- sideration. The document will be presented to the Bupervisors by a committee of the jury consisting of Frank Maskey (ioreman), Frank P. McLennan (secretary), Theodore F. Payne, P. McG. McBean, Alpheus Bull Jr., J.J. O'Farrell ana E. E. Cheever. in regard to lighting the streets and public buildings of San Francisco the Grand Jury took the position that the City as a single customer paying the light company a quarter of a miilion dollars per annum was entitled to & reduction. The Supervisors will be asked toinsist ona reduction. For Golden Gate Park the jury believes that the sum of $200,000 is ample. Itis taken into notice that the allowance of §$300,000 for the fiscal year ended June 30 last was extraordinary and without pre- oedent. This vast appropriation enabled the Commissioners to complete important improvements of a permanent character. Tpe Grand Jury therefore holds that another appropriation of equal magnitude cannot be justified, but considering that the park is a public resort and recreation ground for all classes of citizens it decided to recommend the liberal allowance of The allowance for the Fire Department as recommended by the Auditor was deemed proper, and so no change in this item of the budget was suggested. The salaries of the Police Department are fixed by law and no reduction in the allow ance can be made. The Grand Jury, however, contenas that the addition of | officers to the force be not authorized. For use of the Board of Education in maintaining the schools the Grand Jury leld that $1,000,000 snould be allowed. This sum is $500,000 less than the Board of Education called for. Some weeks since Thomas R. Ashworth, Superintendent of Streets, presented a modified requisition and the fi:ures then submitted were accepted yesterday. In the matter of charges for telephon- ing, the Grand Jury finds that the sum in | the agyregate is startling and that surely some reduction should be made. It is difficuit to ascertain exactly how much the City pays, as the charges in this re- spect are frequently obscured or covered 1n various accounts of other expenditure. In a general way the Grand Jury finds that clerical salaries are too high and out of proportion to the compensation paid for similar service by private corporations and 1naividuals. For example, clerks of | the Police Court get $200 a month. It was suggested at the session of the iury yesterday that a communication simi- ar to the one sent to County Clerk Curry | should be sent to the Recorder, Sheriff, City and County Attorney, and other heads of degnn.menu. . F. Curry, County Clerk, was_ready to g0 before the jury yesterday and explain in detail the metbods of his official man- sgement, but the members of the jury be- ing engrossed in the work of revising estimates could not hear him. He sent to the Grand Jury the following reply to the letter from that body: SAN Fraxcisco, July 16, 1896. To the Honorable the Grand Jury of the City and County of San Francisco—GENTLEMEN: In Teply to your communicstion of the 14th inst. 1 wouid state that it is impossible to reduce the expenses of this office to the sum men- tioned by you, to wit, $7000 per month, and have the business of the ofice properly con- ducted. Some of the experts who appeared before your body are my personal and political epemies, oue of whom was a County Clerk several years ago, al which time the business of this office was much less than at present. He found it necessary in trring to keep the expenses of the office down to $6000 per month 1o compel his deputies and clerks to accepta less sum for their services than thatallowed by law. His attempt was unsuccessful, result- ing in many suits ior salaries against the City and County, in all of which the plaintiffs re- covered judgment. Another of the experts who appeared before | NEW TO-DAY. Tredronns Jamaica Ginger Corrects all pain- giving disorders of | the stomach—allay- ing Cramps, Colic, Cholera Morbus, and instantly relieving the distress of flatulence, Invaluable in all emer- gencies, A remedy that has been doing good for 75 years, Ask for Fred Brown’s, Sold everyw here, FRED BROWN 00., PHILADELPHIA, was the gentleman whom I succeeded. W¥hen he turned the office over to me the work was behindgn every department. In the pro- bate department the work was six months be- hind. All of the work of the copying depart- ment was behind from the 2d of October, 1894. In the insolvency department the en- tries of final aischarges, etc., were behind in some cases a year. in the criminal depart- ment, in some of the principal cases, the records were very defective, and it necessarily devolved upon ihis office to rectify and com- plete that work. In addition to the work here- tofore pertormed, by this department, by an act of Congress passed March 23, 1896, the peusion egent can no longer attest vouchers, thereby greatly increasing the work. The work in the judgment departmeut was also some months behind in recording and entry of judgmends. Old records belonging to this office had to be removed {rom the old City Hall and_from s storeroom in the basement of this building, and bad to be properly indexed, classified and distributed, thereby entailing extra work, which work is still in progress. Under thé new fee bill the work of this office has been greatly increased. As an example of the extra work performed during my aaminis- tration I would state that in the copying de- partment during my first fifteen months I' did more work than my predecessor did in his en- tire term. One of the most important duties connected with the County Clerk’s office, and which had been to & great extent neglected by the former administration, wss the collateral inheritance tax, an act passed March 23, 1893, and which requires the County Clerk toTeport every three months on all estates on which he has reason to believe & tax under this act is due and pay- able. - = During’the two years of the former adminis- tration there was collected, according to the reports {urnished the Treasurer {rom this office, less than £19,000. Under my adminis- tration there has been collected, according to my reports furnished the Treasurer, over $150,000, and there is due and payable over $250,000. . 1 have also been obliged to revise all of the reports furnished the Treasurer by my prede- cessor. During the past year the ordinary fees collected through this office amount to $82,- 713 50, the collateral inheritance tax amounts 10 §74,321 31; total receipts $157,034 8L The total disbursemests of the office, including salaries, transcripts on apoeal, stationery and supplies, amounts to $134,165 50, showing a balunce of $22,260 31. This is the first time in the history of the County Clerk’s office that a balance has been CLAUS SPRECKELS 15 HOME AGAI. About to Begin the Erec- tion of a Beet-Sugar Refinery. HAS BOUGET PATENTS. will Conéume 3000 Tons of Beets Worth to Farmers $12,000 per Day. THAT SHARP - STICK STORY. He Says That It Was Invented by Some Enterprising Newspaper Man. Claus Spreckels is at home looking as | fresh and vigorous asa young man just | out of school. The man who inaugurated the San Joaquin Valley road and who] Wwhere her resoarces entitle her to be. Some day it will do that, ] am sure—even though I may not live to see it. For the present I would like to see the people move in the enterprises I have mentioned, and not lag behind, leaving me to carry the load alone. If the moneyed men of the State would invest it in enterprises Eivlng employment to the people and making a reasonable return, ~ they could help amazingly toward the good work of dis- pelling the so-called hard times. That indeed is all that 15 required to put hard times to a sudden rout.” Mr. Spreckels said he could not say just where the factory would be located. A number of practical guestions entered into the main question of the location and these could not be answered off-hand. Being asked what he had to say about the Valley road, Mr. Spreckels answered: ““Only that it seems to be moving along finely. " I have only retarned to the City afew hours. 1have had much to attend to, but from what [ have seen and heard concerning the road I am much gratified. It seems to be progressing quite as well as could be expected. Oh, we will have s railroad doing business down the valley pretty soon. There is no reason to ques- tion that.”” ‘*And about that sharp stick which you are going after Steve White with ?” Mr. Spreckels laughed. “*Oh. I am really not responsible for that story,’” he said. “Yes, I understand that some such tale was sent out here, but I can’t be respon- sible for any language an Eastern news- &.per man chooses to put in my mouth. Vith regard to politics I have only to say that I have confidence in the people of the United States. We have had an experi- ence. Itisa great teacher. The majority of the voters of the Nation are not fools. McKinley will be elected.” A BETTER FRUIT MARKET. J+ H. Flickinger Returns From the East and Reports Good Prospec s. J. H. Flickinger of San Jose, who is ex- teasively interested in the fruit business, CLAUS SPRECKELS, WHO HAS JUST RETURNED FROM EUROPE. turned into the treasury, making it a contrib- nllng office, and not in any wise responsible for the high'tax levy of last year. I consider that the business of the office and the rights of litigants and attorneys require the number of clerks now emvloyed by me. Should the business of the office decrease 1 will lessen my force of clerks accordingly. Respectfully submitted, C. F. Cvrry, County Clerk. _The foregoing ietter did not change the views of the Grand Jury. The members adhered to the proposition tnat $7000 a month was sufficient to run the office. ana therefore recommended that the Super- visors should allow that amount and no more. STABBED BY A GIRL. Frank Johnson, a Colored Man, Beltl. and Kicks Three Girls, and One Retaliates. Frank Johnson, a colored man, livingat 1015 Mason street, was at the colored people’s picnic at Shell Mound Park yes-' teraay. He was accompanied by Florence Mowe, white girl; Lulu Banks, a colored flrl, and two other girls, one known as argey, a white girl, and the other a col- ored girl. Johnson was ina fighting humor all day, and late last night on the way home with the girls from the ferry be began to strike them. At Fifth and Market streets he knocked Margey down and kicked her. Then he struck Florence, and Margey got behind him and stabbed bim in the back and on the left cheek with a pen- knife. _This infuriated Johnson, and he was kicking and striking Luiu Banks when Policeman Crackbon, who was attracted by the crowd, came upon the scene. The three otber girls had disappeared, and Crackbon took Johnson to the Re- ceiving Hospital while Corporal Geimann, who was also attracted by the crowd, took charge of Lulu. Johnson's wounds, which are not rerious, were attended to by Dr. Thompson, and he was locked up in the City Prison on a charge of battery pre- ferred by Lulu. The girl was detained until Margey, the girl who did the stab- bing, can be found. 2 e Mrs. Haskins’ Deposition. Mrs. Elizabeth Haskins spent nearly all day yesterday in the notary's office listening to the taking of her deposition preparatory to signing it. Attorney K. B. Mitchell was pres- ent long enough to ask that the notary attach a certificate of his protest ageinst the closing of the deposition before the Judge of the Su- perior Court had passed upon the disputed questions. stands at the head of half a dozen other big enterprises in this State entered his office yesterday morning, drew his long- vacated chair up to his long-unopened desk and resumed the direction of his big affairs as though there had been no inter- ruption whatever. But there were very many interruptions after that. Friends learned that Mr. Spreckels had come to town on the flier the night before, and there was a con- stant procession of them in and out of the back offices shaking hands and congratu- lating him upon his safe return and the happy effects of the journey so apparent in his sprightly appearance. Mr. Spreckels returns full of hopeful an- ticipation and big _enterprises for the future. He remained in his office all the morning rapidly acquainting himself with the status of his affairs. At noon he took lunch with some friends at his club, and returning remained at his office till to- ward sundown. ‘When seen for a few moments during the run of callers in the afternoon, Mr. Spreckels found time to say: “Yes, I am back at work again. I have bad not only a yery pleasant outing, but it has not been without its profitable side. You may say that my trip has determined me in mylpurpoae of building a beet-sugar factory. I shall begin the construction at once and by this time next year 1 expect it to be in full operation, employing 500 to 600 men directly in therefinery and giving an impetus to the growing of sugar beets all over the State. It will be a big thing for the farmers, giving them a ready mar- ket for a profitable product. My plans contemplate a refinery that will consume no less than 3000 tons of beets per day. At$4 a ton this contemplates the distribn- tion among the farmers of the State of the neat round sum of $12,000 a day. 'The journey was taken almost solely with the purpose of studying the beet sugar industry at its best development at its bome in Europe,” continued Mr. Spreck- els. *‘Ivisited many of the biggest and most modern refineries in the world where they are to be found in France, Germany and Ausiria. 1 became convinced that it is the thing for California. I have pur- chased a number of patents on the geez processes and am ready to get into the manufacture on a large scale. ‘“‘Indeed,” continued Mr. Spreckels, ‘‘there is no reason why California shoula not manufacture the sugar for this big Nation of ours. If the people will only stir themselves, this State would take its place in the front rank of all the States, | Baturday. returned last night from the East, where he has spent three months in studying the condition of the fruit markets. He says that generally speaking the old stock of dried and canned frui‘s has been pretty well used up. The resuit is that there will be a lively demand for this year's crop, which he asserts will be much smaller than that of Jast year. He thinks that California fruit will find a ready and favorable market awaiting it in the East, particularly since the damage to the fruit crop in the Northwest. ‘I traveled round all through the East,” said he last nigit at the Palace, “‘and everywhere I found a strong sentiment in favor of McKinley. Not until I got back here to San Francisco to-day did 1 find a LDemocrat who reaily had sand enouch to declare boldly that he thought the Demo- crats could win . this year. He said, ‘I know Bryan 1l be elected and I'd like to place money onit’ 1 told him that I would very willingly accommodate him immediately, and then he said, ‘Wait un- til the Populist convention is over.’ I re- piied that I woula continue to be willing and for any amcunt that he mlght wish to place, and T gave him my card.” ——————— Board of Erin. The regular monthly meeting of division 4, 4. 0. H., Board of Erin, was held on Mon- day evening at 338 Day street and the follow- ing officers were elected: Daniel Ward, presl- dent; Dauiel Ahern, vice-president; P. H. Campbell, financial secretary; J.J. Suilivan, recording secretary; P. Dugan, treasurer; board of trustees— Thomas Slavin, James O'Neill, Charles Doran. The officers were in- | stalled by County Delegate John McCartney. - —— The Horse Stumbled. Frank Somers, 544 Castro strect, 8 teamster in the employment of Thomas Sullivan, up- holsterer, was driving along Montgomery ave- nue Wednesday evening, when his horse stum- bled and he was thrown from his seat, striking the ground with his head. He was taken to the Receiving Hospital, where two lacerated wounds in his uulr were stitched and dressed. o He was semi-cons feared that Bl TR S e ———— New Mining Company. La Jolla Gold Mining Company Was yester- day incorporated by B. Vennekohl, Frances L. Wilson, John M. Wilson, W. A. Brooks and Jonn Wilson. The capital stock is $250,000, of Which $1600 has been paid in. —————— Look Out for Tt. The fortieth anniversary number of the News Letter! Chock full of meat for men, not milk for puling babes. Appears on Price 10 cents. COHEN PROVED FALSE TO FRIENDS The Well-Known Collector NEW TO-DAY—DRY GOODS. ) BARGAIN-DAY SPEG Disappears Very Sud- denly ! WITH HIS CLIENTS CASH Many Patrons of the Agency Now Wonder How They Were Duped. HIS WAYS OF TURNING MONEY. Once a Member of the Legislat}lre. Richard Cohen Is Now Hiding From Detectives. Another collector has strangely disap- peared, and, as usual, with his clients’ money, from the business commumty of San Francisco. In this particular instance the man who gathered in other people’s money for pay gave himself up to alaborof love for a lone time immediately prior to his departure for virgin fields. He simply surpassed himself in indusiry, so far as collecting money and manipulating prop- erty went, but he quite overlooked the in- cidental matter of making an accounting to whom he was responsible, and so ended his career in this City. This collector, who was so unkind as to thus slight his patrons and friends, is Rich- ard Cohen, who was once a promising and prominent young man, with friends and influence to back him. So he gradually worked up a lucrative business, and han- dled large sums of money. Of late he occupied rooms 3and 10 in the Murphy building at Market and Jones streets, and it is said his business war- ranted him in maintaining two large of- fices. Those who had dealings with him were given no cause to complain of his methods, much Jess to entertain mistrust | or suspicion of him. His offices had all the appearance of those used by a pros- perous well-to-do man; they were nicely furnished, had a fine safe, shelves of books and similar evidences of comfort combined with stability. As for Cohen himself peo- ple looked upon him as & fixture in the place. But they little thought that Cohen was spending his nights in convivial pleasures, and altogether too frequently indulged in intoxicating liquor. Not once did it cross the minds of Cohen’s patrons that the trusted collector | would do such a thing as gather their coin and immediately proceed to scatter it with bibulous companions. So he had their confidence. About eight or ten days ago their dream | of security was rudely shocked when Cohen failed to appear as usual at his office. At first his clients tried to con- vince themselves that he had gone into the country for a short vacation, but as days passed without the least sign of him they grew suspicious, and each one made | an investigation for himseif. This was after a sign, ‘‘to let,”’ appeared uvon the | door of the office of Richard Cohen, col- lector, and the furniture and fittings had been carted away. In the last few days several instances of Cohen's transactions have come to light. Those who are directly interested look for many more developments of a similar na- ture, but none of the duped clients can even conjecture what nulber of people are sadly disappointed over the sudden disappearance of Cohen. He collected for Ewell’s dairy, and is said to have taken at least $300 of collected milk bills, so that the dairy is now mak- ing a canvass of its customers to learn where it stands. Krug & Co., the Mission malthouse men, held a judgment against somebody for about §100, which thev gave to Cohen for collection. The story goes that Colien sold the judgment for $30 and retained the money. Attorney King, in the Chronicle building, was interested in a case in in- solvency, and is now eager to find the missing collector in connection with the case. ‘When the newspaper syndicate was sell- ing 1ts encyclopedia here Cohen purchased | aset. He paid an installment of $1 and | sold the books. The syndicate has a de- tective at work seeking to find the where- | abouts of ths collector who resorted to the old game of selling property bought | on the rental plan. i Last January Cohen bought a handsome sate from the Hall Safe Company, leasing it with the provision that he couid buy it on installments, the first of which would be due in April. He never paid a dollar on the safe, but sold it along with his | furniture to a young business man who | had known him intimately for years. He explained that times were dull with him and he was forced to give up his office and seek other employment. Almost on the same day Cohen disposed of the furni- ture and books to two different parties and got the money from both. It was then that acase of first come first served, for ihe second and third man found nothing when they went to Coben’s office prepared to move the things. The safe company took a hand and claimed the mucn-sold safe. Of course under the circumstances it was folly to attempt to hold possession of the property, which was accordingly relinquished by all pur- chasers. The men who were caught in this deal are most bitter in their com- plaints against Cohen. These are only a few of the cases so far known 1n connec- tion with Cohen’s grand finale, but it is said there are several more of a like char- acter. It was discovered yesterday by those who are hunting for the absconder that his letters have n inclosed in large en- velopes addressed to *'Otto Eikelmann, Virginia City, Nev.,” and from this it was believed that Eikelmann was aware of Cohen’s whereabants. The letters have been sent by Cohen’s friends from here. Eight or ten years ago Cohen was very popular about town—a bright, intelligent oung fellow, with friends on every hand. i{e was then elected a member of the State Legislature by a large majority. Since then he was collector for the Col- lier Book Company, but got into difficub ties with that firm, from which he was saved by the timely aid of relatives. His father, now dead, was at one time a wealthy and prominent man in San Fran- eisco, and from him Cohen inherited the influence he had among a large circle of business men. s SACRIFICE SALE PRICES The crowd-bringing BARGAINS that are making our GREAT JULY SACRIFICE SALE OF ALL SPRING AND SUMMER GOODS so universally popular are ,fto-day re-enforced by the following ! { POWERFULLY ATTRACTIVE VALUES! 'LADIES’ SHIRT WAISTS! At 20 Cents. LADIES’ SHIRT WAISTS, laundered collar and cuffs, in fancy checks and stripes, will be closed out at 30c each. At 835 Cents. LADIES' LAUNDERED SHIRT WAISTS, in all fancy shades, regular price 75¢, will be closed out at 35¢ each. At SO Cents. { LADIES’ SHIRT WAISTS, in heavy percales, stripes and checks, bishop sleeves,reg- ular price $1, will be closed out at 50c each. At 758 Cents. LADIES’ SHIRT WAISTS, in all fancy shades, bishop sleeves, made of good percale, regular price $1 50, will be closed out at 75¢ each. At $1.50. 2 LADIES’ SILK WAISTS, in light shades, lined all through, regular price $5, will be closed out at $1 50 each. MUSLIN UNDERWEARI1 At 25 Cents. LADIES’ MUSLIN DRAWERS, made of heavy muslin, finished with tucks and em- broidery, will be closed out at 25¢ each. At 835 Cents. 2 LADIES GOWNS, made of good quality muslin, lined back, tucked yoke, will be closed oat at 35¢ each. At 835 Cents. LADIES’ CHEMISES, made of heavy muslin, yoke of embroidery, neck and sleeves finished with edging, regular price 60c; will be closed out at 35c each. VEILING! VEILING! VEILING! 158 Cents a ¥Yar At . THREE-QUARTER WIDTH CHENILLETTE DOTTED TUXEDO VEILING, regu- lar pric reduced to 15¢ per yard. i At 20 Cents a Yard. THREE-QUARTER WIDTH CHENILLE DOTTED TUXEDO VEILING, regular price 30c, reduced to 20c per yard. At 25 Cents a Yard. BRUSSELS NET BORDERED VEILING, black, navy and brown, embroidered with white, regular price 65c, reduced to 25¢ per yard. At 25 Cents a ¥, THREE-QUARTER WIDTH CHENILLE DOITED price 40c, will be closed out at 25¢ per yard. ard. TUXEDOQ VEILING, regulsr At 25 Cents a Yar DOUBLE-WIDTH CHENILLETTE DOTTED TUXEDO 50c, reduced to 25¢ per yard. At 50 Cénts a Yard. CREAM CHANTILLY BORDERED VEILING, dotted and figured, regulsr price 90c, reduced to 50c per yard. RIBBONS! RIBBONS! At 10 Cents. No. 22 3-INCH DOUBLE-FACED SATIN RIBBON, assorted colors, value 30c, will be closed out at 10c a yard. . VEILING, regulsr price At 10 Cents. No. 30 4-INCH DOUBLE-FACED SATIN RIBBON, be closed out at 10c a yard. LADIES’ KID GLOVES! At 85 Cents. LADIES' UNDRESSED KID GLOVES, 8-button length, tan and mode shades, broken sizes, worth $1, will be closed out at 35c e pair. > At 865 Centss. LADIES’ 4-BUTTON KID GLOVES, in white, with black embroidered back, worth $1, will be closed out at 65c a pair. At 65 Cents. LADIES’ 5-BUTTON KID GLOVES, indark and medium tan shades, worth $1, will be closed out at 65¢ a pair. At 75 Cents. LADIES’ 4-BUTTON ENGLISH WALKING KID GLOVES, embroidered back, all celors and black, worth $1 25, will be closed out at 75c a pair. sorted colors, value 35¢, will |HOSIERY AND UNDERWEAR SPECIALS! At 124 Cents a Pair. CHILDREN'S BLACK RIBBED COTTON HOSE, double kuees, heels and toes, reduced from 20c. 12% Cents a Pair. HOSE, double heels and toes, Hermsdorf black, reduced At 8O Cents Each. BOYS' NATURAL GRAY SANITARY WOOL SHIRTS AND DRAWERS, non- shrinkable, reduced from 85c and 9.c. ® At 75 Cents Each. LADIES’ NATURAL GRAY SANITARY CASHMERE WOOL VESTS, high neck, long sleeves, drawers to match, reduced from $1 25. : At LADIES’ BLACK COTTON from 20c. CORSETS! CORSETS! . At 60 Cents. LADIES' SATEEN CORSETS, extra long waist, two side steels each side, guaranteed perfect fitting, black and drab, regular price $1, reduced from this saie to 60c. BOYS’ AND MEN’S FURNISHINGS! At 12% Centms. 75 dozen SOLID-COLOR COTTON SOCKS, in brown, tan and mode shades; also FASHIONED SEAMLESS NATURAL GRAY WOOL HALF-HOSE, usual price $2 per dozen, will be closed out at 1234c. At 258 Cents. 120 dozen BOYS’ CHEVIOT CALICO AND PERCALE lar price 35¢, wiil be closed out at 25¢. At 85 Centms. 95 dozen MEN'S CAMELS' HAIR UNDERSHIRTS AND DRAWERS, Shirts sizes 34 to 46, Drawers 30 to 42, regular price 65¢ each, will be closed out at 35c a garment, At SO Cents. 55 dozen SANITARY NATURAL GRAY WOOL UNDERSHIRTS AND DRAWERS, all sizes, regular price $1 50 a suit, will be closed out at 50c a garment. WAISTS, sizes 3 to 12, regu- £ STORE OPEN SATURDAY EVENING. MURPHY BUILDING One of Cohen’s nc'?uninhnm remarked yesterday, when giving the reason for his ' downward run: *“His ruin was attributa- ble to drink.” l Marke Sireet, carmer of Jongs, BSAIN FRANOISOO.