The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 14, 1896, Page 9

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 1896. WAR AMONG THE LOCAL AGENCIES Mercantile Concerns Act Like the Insurance Agents, AND CUT RATES BADLY. The Fight Was Started When One Company Was Re- organized. WHY A CIRCULAR CAME OUT. Trouble Arose Through the Changes and Scme Ugly Things Teveloped. I Toe mercantile agencies have been en- gaging themselves in a merry war for a month or, more, so that in their circles nowadays the condition of affairs is sug- gestive of the recent conflict among fire- insurance companies when rates of insar- ancs were reduced 75 per cent. With the mercantile agencies special inducemenis have been offered to get business, and it may be said that old rates no longer pre- vail. These agencies go along so'guietly that their existence is scarcely known outside the commercial community, and yet they employ large forces of men and women gatherirfg, compiling and distributing statistics and information on the condition of business enterprises, the standing of mercantile firms and the general status of trade and commerce on the Pacific Coast. From this it may be seen that the volume of their own business is considerable, and indeed an important factor in the econ- omy of commercial affairs. Their contracts with business houses &nd bankers for supplying information in Btatistical ana other forms upon trade conditions and upon private houses are | taken as a reflex of the business of a com- munity. So the agreements that have been signed since the fight began have been talk of employes in the different agencies and of those men directly inter- ested outside the agency offices. It was stated by a representative of one of these agencies that contracts were writ- ten for two and a half years ahead at greatly reduced rates. Under ordinary circumstances contracts would be made for six months, a year, or any time over a year, at schedule rates. The yearly contract, however, was usually considered long enough, so the extension of timeata low rate was a genuine sur- prise. Bradstreet’s claimed that there really ‘was no change i theirmethod of business with regard to contracts, only that the volume of business was increasing. Dun & Co. were making a vigorous bid for new business, and this, it was said, if not directed at the Pacific Coast institution, Pickens, Fulton & Co., would have the effect of cutting into their business in the future. In fact, several contracts have been dated six months ‘hence, so that when existing contracts shall then have expired the rival house will be astonished to find that vart of its businessisin an- other’s hands. About six weeks ago there was a change in the ageney of Pickens, Fulton & Co. 1t seems that under the former manage- ment this well-known concern was not wholly successful in a money-making point of view, although it gave an excellent service and amply satisfied its patrons. The old officers retired, new directors took their places and the institution was prac- tically reorganized with George F. Neal, the publisher of the Commercial News, as president. This put the agency on a sound basis, but rivals took advantage of the change to secure contractsata time when the state of affairs was not thorough- ly understood. From it, too, the war began for business and a new agency on a small scale was started by two former employes of the reorganized agency. This further com- plicated matters in a certain measure, and in the beat of the fight some state- ments were made reflecting on Pickens & Co. Letters said to have beer: written by & pariner of the new local concern to mer- chanis were found. They contained dam- eging statements which were promptly me The result was that Pickens & Co.’s es in Los Angeles, Portiand, Seattle, Tacoma and in other Northwestern cities were notified and circulars sent to sub- scribers to the agency on this coast and in the Kast. These circulars were dated August 10 and mailed yesterday. They are as follows: exs, FULTON & CO. (INCORPORATED), COMMERCIAL AGENCY, orner of Pine. 5C0, Aug. 10, 1896. It has come our knowledge that certain former employes of this company are circu- 1ating false and malicious reports Jdetrimental 10 our interests. In order to correct the mischief intended by these partics and {or the information of our patrons, we deem it necessary to say that cer- 1ain changes have recently teken place in this company, which have added new life to the concern, its new president being George F. Neal, who, for the past eleven years, has been manager of the Commercial Publishing Com- pany of this City. and throngh whose efforts ihat company has been placed in the enviable osition 1t bolds to-day. New capital hes een brought in and the company is now ona souna financial basis. Mesers. William Fulton and Goeller are still connected with the company, doing, if such a thing could be, more than ever for the furtherance and sdvaneement of its interests. F. C. Matthews, who has been connected with the company for the past seventeen years, dur- ing the last eight of which he has had entire management Ot the reporting department, still retains that position, being further ad. vanced to the office of secretary. All of the old employes are retained, with the exception of two reporters and one sten- ographer, and the places of these parties have Déen filled bymorecompetént people, In ad- dition to this there has been a considerable {ncrease in the working force, 5o that to-day the same is larger and more efficient than it has everfbeen. @ This has already resulted in the office being complimented on the improvement in the o lce rendered, and within the next three Tonths we will guarantee our reports to be better than any heretofore issued. To satisfy any doubt that might arise as to this state- ment, we will be pleased to have our patrons carefully compare our present reports and service in general with that which has been rendered heretofore. Our law &nd collection department con- tinues under the charge of our attorney, Wil- liem Rigby, who hes been associated with us for the past six years. While we are willing to extend to competi- tors the utmost fair play and all the business they may he able to maintain by fair means, we yet ciaim the same treatment from them, regretting, however, to say that it has not been granted for some time past. Thanking you for past patronage, soliciting » continuance thereof, and assuring you of our best efforts to give you every satisfaction in regard to business intrusted to us, we are, tfull yours respectfully, Prcxexs, Fuiros & Co. GEo. F. NEAL, President. Developments are being watched by the nuomey.p:xd it has been stated thatif the embittered fight should bring to light any furtber wrongs & suit at law will be the result. Four Cases of Suicide. .oroner Hawkins held inquests yesterday on theYodies of Jobn Sopher, Charles D. Kenni- son, Jesse Franchey and A. J. Bretonnel. Ver- dicts of suicide were returned by the juryin gvery instance. Sopher first shot his wife and then killed himself. Young Kennison grew despondent over some trivial matter and blew the top of his head off with a shotgun, Franchey turned the gas on and Bretonnel sent a bullet through his brain because his wife refused to ive with him. THE SERVICE EXTENDED Examinations Ordered for Certain Val- uable Positions in the Internal Revenue Office. The first result locally of the new ciyil service law is seen in the following notice 1ssued Wednesday : UNITED STATES CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATION, The United States Civil Service Commission has ordered that an examination be held by its local board in this City on Saturday, Sep- tember 19, 1896, commencing at 9 o'clock A. ., for the grade of Clerk, Deputy Collector, Storekeeper, Gauger and Messenger in the In. ternal Revenue Service. Only citizens of the United States can be examined. The age lm- itations for this examination are as- follows: Clerk, 18; other positions, 21 years of age. No application will be sccepted for this examina: tion unless filed with the undersigned, in complete form, on the proper blank, before the hour ot closing business on Monday, Au- gust 31, 1896. Applications_should be filed promptly, therefore, in order thattime may remain {or correction it necessary. The commission takes this opportunity of stating that the examindtions are open to all reputable citizens of tne United States who may desire to enter the service, without re- afliliations. All such citizens are invited to apply. They shall be examined, graded and certified with entire impartiality and whol,y without regard to any consideration saye their efficiency, as shown by the grades they ob- tain in the examination. For application blanks, full instructions and information relative to the duties and salaries of the different positions, apply 10 . A. FLETCHER, Secretary Board of Examiners, Civil Service, Appraisers’ building, San Francisco. When these vacancies are filled every position in the Internal Revenue Office except that of Collector Welborn wili be under civil service. Itisexpected that the department at Washington will in a few days order examinations in every branch of the service at this port for such posi- tions as are not already under the law. DISFIGURED FOR LIFE. Willimn Kass, an Employe of the Southern Pacific Company, Injured by a Derrick, William Kaas, a laborer employed by the Southern Pacific Company in the yards at Channel street, had a narrow es- cape from being killed yesterday after- noon. Kaas was working a derrick in remov- ing from the cars heavy pieces of iron which are to be used on the new Spreckels building, Third and Market streets, when by some means or other the hook of the chain while ascending canght him on the right side of the neck, tearing it and his | cheek and eyebrow open. He was taken to the Receiving Hospital in the patrol wagon in a semi-conscious | condition, and it topk Drs, Kearny and Maher over half an hour to stitch and dress the jagged wounds. After fully re- covering consciousness Kaas said that he did not know how the accident could have happened. He just remembered being struck by something and that was all Kaas is_an unmarried man, 45 years of age, and lives at 137 Clara street. e has been in the employ of the company for the past nine years. He will bear the scars for life. JOHN M, SHATH HOAORED Farewell Panquet Tendered on the Eve of His De- parture. Members of the Masonic Fraternity Bid Adieu to a Popular Past Master. A farewell banquet was given Wednes- day to John M. Smith, past master of Ex- celsior Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, by members of Excelsior Lodge and by other friends. Mr. Smith is going to Chi- cago to accept a responsible position, and will take up his permanent residence in that city. The desire to give him a good “send off” occurred to his friends, and they arranged an occasion which was very enjoyable for all concerned. Mr. Smith has reached a high rank in Free Masoury, having at- taned the thirty-second degree. Repre- sentatives of the lodge, chapters, com- manderies and the Grand Consistory were in attendance. Those who were present were: J. M. Smith, C. P. Overton, | Henry Burner, M. Ryan, R. T. Loughery, George Tashiera, C. L. Patton, 8. H. Per- kins, M. J. Savage, Robert H. Country- man, W. G. Brown, V. G. Overton, Mr. { Humphreys, Mr. Chapmaa, C. G. Kenyon, A. E. Buckingham, T. E. Smith, W. T, Perkins, G. H. Pippy, A. G. Schetzel, J. J. Stofen, W. N. Brunt, J. W, Nash, W. A. Doud, A. 8. J. de Guerre, F. C. Van Schaick, A. B. von Wefelsburg, L. A. | Murch, W. A. Halsted, C. W. Coulisk. George Armstrong, S. H. Da s, Mr. Beck, Dr. Bunker, J. G. Conrad, R. 8. Polastri, Mr. Schetterley and H. j. Owens. During the evening speeches apt and witty were made by the Masonic brethren. There were responses in behalf of Excel- r Lodge No. 166, F. and A. M., the rand Consistory, San Francisco and Cali- fornia chapters and California and Golden Gate Commanderies of Knights Templar. C. P. Overton acted as toast-master. The expressions of regret at the early departure of Mr. Smith and of hopes for his continued successin his new field were many. Mr. Smith is well known by busi- ness men, having been prominentiy con- nected with the Great Northern Railroad Company as its agent in this City, and he is widely known and popular in other connections. He is one of the most papu- lar members of the Masonic craft in Cali- fornia. In Chicago he will be connected with the insurance busine: A TRICK THAT FAILED. Albert Hamilton, Known as Little Sandow,” Nearly Fooled Judge ' Low With a Fit. | Albert Hamilton was convicted yester- day by Judge Low of disreputable conduct and was sentenced to thirty days in the County Jail. Hamilton, before sentence was pro- nounced, created a sensation in court by going off into a fit. He flopped around the floor Iike a fish when newly caught. His eyes rolled in his head and every muscle in his body seemed to be twitching. The Judge took pity on him and was about to discharge him when an old Eentl_emnn stepped forward and said that amilton was arrested in Oakland on & simiiar charge. When the officer placed him under arrest he went into a similar fit and the complaining witness took pity upon him and made the -officer release him. Hamilton afterward boasted of how he was able to fool people by going off in a pretended fit. This was enough for the ‘.iludge and he sentenced him to thirty ays. hen Hamilton was removed to the City Prison he played the same trick, but it brought forth no sympathy for bim. Hamilton is knowan as the *Little San- aow,’”” and was at one time in the employ of a bicye's company on McAllister street. —_——— A Diamond Ring. Charles Steidle, clerk, was arrested yester- day morning on & warrant charging him with misdemeanor embezzlement, but was released on $50 cash bail, The complaining witness is A. J. Eaton of the Occidental Watch Company, 24 Post street, who aceuses him of embezzling & diamond ring worh $25. gard to race or to their political or religious (- A Corner in the Government Indian Supply Warehouse at 33 Washington Street, in Charge of Colonel John Lane, Who Was a Classmate at West Point of General Custer. SEEKING TRADE OF INDIAN AGENCIES, Competition of Portland Merchants With Local Firms. A SCHEME SUSPECTED. The Purchasing Depot Might Be Moved Away From This City. BIG BUSINESS PROSPECTS. Supplies for 12,000 Indians on Farms and in the Schools of Five States. This year for the first time in the four- teen years that a Government Indian sup- ply warehouse'has been located 1n San Francisco, an effort has been made by an- other city to bid in competition with local firms upon the various lines of merchan- dise furnished to the Indian resevations and schools in the different coast States. Portland merchants have entered the field and have obtained contracts for several lines of goods, having underbid their rivals here. “Their orders amount to but $1500 out of atotal of $75,000 expended by the Govern- ment at this supply depot, but the move is significant. Portland is nearer tban San Francisco to the great body of In- dian agencies on this coast—the agencies of Washinzton, Idaho and Oregon. It might only be necessary for her mer- chants to persuade the authorities at Washington of this fact, show their bids and then ask that the depot of supplies be moved, or & northern branch be created. When it is borne in mind that the success- ful bidders must at their own expense send the goods to this warehouse for in- spection and then off again for distribu- tion, and that the northern merchants may even lose money on their present venture, the supposition is strengthened that they have plans for the future. 8an Francisco has never got all the Indian trade within her power. The In- dian appropriation bill amounts to about $7,000,600 a year. Of that sum about $5.000,000 is expended for supplies of all kinds. The main Indian supply warehouse is situated in New York City. A very large branch is maintained in Chicago. From these two goes the great volume of goods for the Indians. At Chicago this year 480 firms bid on the supplies to be furnished. Clothing, dry goods, boots and shoes, blankets, books and some other things are supplied to the Pacific Coast States by the Eastern bureaus. A great deal of these goods for the coast States could, it is said, be furnished at a less cost by California merchants were an effort made to convince the Commissioner of Indian Affairs of (he fact. Colonel John Lane, chief of the local temporary Indian supply warehouse, at 33 Washington street, thinks that ii cloth- ing, blankets, shoes and such supplies were all awarded here, along with those already on the list, there would be all the way from $250,000 to as hifih as $500,000 or more a year spent at this point by the Government. alifornia blankets are known to be better and cheaper than East- ern blankets, and it is asserted that just as good and as cheap farm wagons are made in this State as are made in the East. But some goods can be furnished more cheaply l'}y'he East, notably medi- cal supplies. Then again, the Govern- ment gives preference to shoesanhd har- ness made at Indian training schools. The records of this year’s bids show that San Francisco merchants can beat the Easterners on groceries. The contract for beans was let on a bid by a local firm of 1.14 cents a pound. Last year the lowest bid for beans at_Chicago was Azg cents a pound. On coffee, teas and beans San Francisco merchants ought to be able, Colonel Lane thinks, to underbid the Eastern merchants of both the New York and Chicago depots of supplies. : This year eighty-one Ban Francisco firms bid on supplies—nineteen more than last year—and five Portland firms entered the competition. The Oregonians took everything in the crockery line. Four im?ectors acted as judges of the samples, all of which were oniy numbered and were otherwise impossible of identifi- cation. Carroll G. Cambron was inspector of groceries, Arthur McLea of leatherand harness, Charles P. Osgood of hardware and miscellaneous goods =nd C. F. Boyd of paints and oils. he grocery supplies are coming into the warehouse, and as soon as they shall have been compared with the samples they will be shipped to the sey- eral reservations and other supplies will come in. It will take uutil October 1to receive and ship away the different lines of goods, which will amoant to over 500 tons of stuff. There are three big Indian agencies in California—the Mission of S8an Bernardino County, with about 2000 Indians, and the Hoopa Valley and Round Valley agencies of Northern Califarnia, each with about 300 or 400 Indians. Oregon has probably 5000 Indians, and Washington "perhaps 4000. The Nez Perces in Idaho may num- ber 1700, In addition to all these San Francisco is the main source of supplies for the Yuma Indians of Arizona, ! charge of the warehouse here for the last three years, is a resident of Spokane, Wash., but for many years has been well known to all the Indian reservations of the Far West. By tacit consent he is the arbiter and judge whom the Indians seek when he visits the reservations. He is the son of Mujor-General_JDsegh Lane of Mex- ican War fame, the first Territorial Gov- ernor, later the first United States Senator from Oregon, and subsequently candidate for Vice-President on the Breckinridge and Lane ticket in the field when Lincoln and Johnson were elected. Colonel Lane was graduated from West Point in 1861 and soon after entered the Confederate army.. He served at Savan- nab, but latterly under Lee in Virginia. “Poor Custer was a born artist,” said the colonel, as he watched the prog- ress of a sketch of the interior of the warehouse, ““but in our classgof fifty-two at West Point was nulber 52 in drawing. I remember one of the last days at the academy. All the drawings were fastened round the room for inspec- tion by visitors. & “Another fellow and I had stepped in to have a look at the work of our classmates, when we heard some one coming. It was a lieutenant; he was_a ladies’ man with three young ladies. We dodged into the trophy-room to wait until they should go. We heard them admiring Custer’s work. Then we heard the lieutenant say: ‘But just come down here if you want to see real art,” and he brought the girls down to the end of the room, right near our door, and pointed out my drawing, that of Jobn Logan, now a lawyer in Virginia, and the work of a fellow from Georgia named Willis. The poor fellow was killed in the war. The girls almost screamed with laughter. I could have kicked thatlieu- tenant ciear out of the building. “Poor Custer,” repeated the colonel, ‘‘he was without exception the greatest caval- ryman America has ever had, but daring, impetuous when he once got into the sad- dle, always at the front, and brave; his bravery was the cause of his awful death. There “are very few of that old class left. Colonel Babbitt, up at Benicia Barracks, and myself are the only ones on this coast.” SPIRITUALISTS T UNITE The People’s Society Preparing for the State Con- vention. An Interesting Entertainment Held at Scottish Hall Last Evening. The interest among local spiritualists in the welfare of the recently formed Cali- tornia State Spiritualists’ Association is unabated, and the organizations not already affiliated with that body are pre- paring to do so. The People’s Spirttualistic Society hela an open meeting to this end Wednesday at 111 Larkin street, and the hall was crowded to the door. The gathering was composed largely of believers in the phil- osophy, but many strangers to spiritual- ists’ belief were present. Mrs. Mary Drynan, the president, presided, and Mrs. Wren, the secretary, was at her post. The principal features of the evening were songs, recitations and addresses, and the programme was long, consisting of over twenty numbers. The address of welcome was made by rs. M. J. Hendy-Rodgers, the pioneer of spiritualism. In her remarks she recited the progress made in spreading the belief from the first of the Rochester rappings to the present, and she dwelt with much feeling upon the necessity at the present time of all spiritualists forming under a more central union. Mrs. Drynan made a few remarks, stat- ing that the society of which she is the president is very desirous of affiliating with the State organization by representa- tion at the State convention of spiritual- ists. As all such steps require money, and this is no exception, the necessary fnds maust be raised. Later in the evening a number of donations were made by fhe audience, and three-quarters of the amount necessary was raised. Mrs. R. Cowell of 414 East Sixteenth street, Oakland, also delivered a spirited address upon the same lines as tae presi- dent. 4 Mrs. Stewart, an_elderly lady who has been in the spiritualistic rankssince child- hood, read an interesting paper upon the necessity of organization. The others who assisted in the enter- tainment were: Mrs. Winters, piano solo; Mr. Cartwright, songs; Mrs. Eilis, recita- tion; Mr. Sutherland, song; Emily Wal- lace, song; Mrs. Tully, song; Mrs. Pam- erin, song; Mr. Mineo, song and auto- arp solo; and address by Dr. John Temple. The president urged all mediums de- siring to join the society and be recognized by the convention to send their ordination papers to the secretary, Mrs. Wren, Gl A R TALKING POLITICS. The Civic Federation Will To-Night Discuss an Independent Ticket. The Civic Federation will meet this evening in the assembly-room of the Mills building, when an important report will be submitted by the committee on polit- | ical action. - " This commiltee is composed of George T. Gaden, C. B. Perkins, Richard Lambert, D. Gilbert Dexter and Wallace Bradfora, At a meeiing of tbe executive council of the Civic Federation it reported in favor of decisive political action in putting up a ticket independent of all political parties in the coming election. There was con- siderable difference of opinion, however, about the advisability of going into the political arena, some meminn of the ex- ecative body maintaining that the Civic Federation could better serve its purpose in other directions. OMmccount of the divergence of opin- ions it was decided to submit the matter Colonel John Lane, who has been in | to the federation at to-night's meeting. \ - PLENTY OF BAGS FOR THE FARMERS, San Quentin Will Sell Them at the Same Price— $4 20. MUST OBEY THE I.A!N’. No Chance of Disposing of the Sacks Under the Category of “Furniture,” SAYS TRE ATTORNEY-GENERAL His Opinion on a Request of the Directors Seeking to Evade the Ostrom Act. The following is the reply of the Attor- ney-General to a communication from the State Board of Prison Directors to the State Board of Examiners in relation to the sale of jute bags manufactured at the San Quentin Prison: 8aAN FrANCISCO, Cal., Aug. 6, 1896, State Board_of Lzaminers, Sacramento, Cab— GENTLEMEN: Lam in receipt of your favor of the 4th inst., inclosing & communication from the State Board of Prison Directors *‘request- ing the Siate Board of Examiners to make an order for the sale of grain bags” under the provisions of an act entitled “An act author- 1zing the State Board of Examiners to sell old furniture and all material belonging 10 the State ang not required for public use,” ap- proved March 31, 1891 (Stats. 1891, 452). In reply to your request for an op!n(clli,‘(l) upon the power of the board to sell such bags under the provisions of the act in question; and (2) as to whether or not an_act entitled “An act fixing the price and conditions of sale at which jute goods shall be sold by the State,” approved February 27, 1899 (Stats. 1893, ), isin conflict with the provisions of section 2, of article X, of the State constitution, 1. I am of the opinion that any attempt of the Board of Examiners to dispose of the jute goods manufactured at San Quentin would be a mere evasion of the actof 1893, above re- ferred to, which fixes the price and conditions of sale “at which ‘jule goods shall be sold by the State,” and which 1s the only authority under which jute goods can be soid by the tate. The act of 1891, authorizing the State Board of Examiners to seil old furniture, etc., is as follows: The State Board of Examiners are herehy an- thorized to sell, when in their judgment they aeem it advisable, the old furniture and all other useless material belonging to the State for State_purpos:s and pay th into the Siate treasury o the oredis md. ¥ It is perfectly manifest that grain-bags manufactured by the convicts of San Quentin n‘relnei:.her “‘old furniture’’ nor “useless mate- rial.” 1 inclose a copy of an opinion rendered by me to the State Board of Prison Directors on the 2d of last December, relative to their powers and duties in the sale of jute goods under the Act of 1893. 1 can add nothing to what I said in that letter, nor can I advise anything but a strict compliance with the law, even though such compliance may work ap- parent hardship in the management of the State Prison. If the law is faulty it must be corrected by the Legislature, and not other- wise; for, as was well said by Jusice Bronson, in the case of Waller vs. Harns, 20 Wend. (N,Y.): “Courts cannot correct what they may deem either excesses or omissions in statutory provisions without the danger of doing vastly more mischief than good." Iam further of the orinhm that the Actof February 27, 1893, “fixing the price and con- ditions of sale at which jute goods shall be sold by the State,” is not in violation of the provisions of section 2, article X, of our con- stitution, but_is directly in accord with sec- of the general tion 6 ot article X of the constitution, which, is as follows: After the 1st dav of January, 1882, the labor of convicts shall not be let out by contract to any person, copartnership. company or corporation, and the Legisiatare shall by law provide for the working of convicts for the benefit of the State. Respectiully, W.'F. FI726¥RALD, Attorney-General. COPY OF A FORMER OPINION. ¢ SaxN FraNcisco, Dec. 2, 1895. To the State Board of Prison Directors, Califor- nia—GENTLEMEN: Iu reply to your request for & construction of an actentitled “An act fixing the prica and conditions of sale at which jute o«fs shall be sold by the State,” approved February 27, 1893, and to your quesiions (1) s to whether or not your board has the author- ity under said act to sell jute bags manufac- tured at the State prison to manufacturers of sugar, and (2) whether or not the limitations as 1o number prescribed in said act for the sale of “'grain bags” apply to the sale of bags man- ufactured for other purposes. First—I am of the opinion that ‘‘jute todx.i" manufeetured at the State Prison can be xold at the price prescribed by the act to any ‘‘ac. tual consumer,” who will make the aflidavit required by section 3 of said act; and that, .lamugh the act gives precedence to the farmers of the State over all other persons in purchasing *‘grain bags” it nevertheless con- templates that jute goods can be sold to other persons who are *‘actual consumers’ within the State, and it places no limitation upon the class of consumers to whom sales may be made. Second—I am further of the opinion that the llmihuofl‘r to lnu:,l‘nber p‘mch.:i' bed |;y zg-t‘-io; applies to the sale of “grain ’’ only; but, in .gx; event, if your board should unanimously determine to make a sale in excess of those limitations the act confers upon you the au- thority to do so, provided that sufficient grain bags are retained to fill the orderson hand and to supply the demand of the farmers, Respectfully, i 'W. F. FITZGERALD, Attorney-General, The foregoing opinion was rendered by the Attorney-General in reply to a request from the State Board of Prison Directors to the State Board of Examiners to au- thorize them to sell the grain b“i now on hand at San Quentin Prieon without the restrictions placed upon their sale by the law known as the Ostrom act. Speak- ing of the matter one of the directors said: The bags now left at the prison are not old stock, but on the contrary have all been man- factured within the past year, and even if they had to be carried over until next season would then be just as fresh and newly-made as any Calcutta which may imported. The prospect for their sale this year may best be arrived at by a close scrutiny of the robeble requirements by the farmers of Cali- fornia for this year’s crop of grain. During the "season of 1895 there were shipped from San Francisco to the interior of the State about 25,000,000 of grain bags. This quantity constituted the needs of the State for 1895. The grain crop of this year is admittedly larger than thatot 1895, and therefore a larger quantity of bags ought to be required this year than last. Howeyer, according to the best data which can be obtained, shipments 10 the interior during this year to date, August 7, are only 20,269,000 bags (Including nearly 3,000,000 of San Quentin manufacture) or about 5,000,000 less than were usea during 1895. Unless the grajn erop should turn out much below the estimates made all along dur- ing the season, the farmers of the State will therefore require at least 5,000,000 bags more than they have been supplied with so far. The visible stock lable to supply this probable demand was ollows on August7: In San Francisco's warehou: In City stores... ..... At San Quentin Prison. Atotalof....... ‘This quantity is just aboutenough to supply the demand which ought to exist if the re- quirements are as large as they were in 1895, and all reports receiyed this year pointtoa larger yield of grain and therefore the need of s larger quanticy of bags. It is a matter of fact that the price at which the prison bags were sold this year—$4 20 —exerted a powerful influence upon the market and kept the price for Calcutta B‘il at about the same figure, and the farmers of the State have reaped tne sole benefitof the low prices which have prevailed. The States of Oregon and_ Washington were tully supplied this year by direct {mportations from Calcutta, and importers and dealers were therefore confined to the California trade, where the San Quentin bags dproved tobes most important competitor, and virtually con- trolled the market as far as prices were con- cerned. Farmers, however, do not appear to ap- preciate this influence as they ought, and while they acknowledge that they derive the benefit of the competition, ana that the bags manufactured at the prison are of a superior quality, they prefer in most instances to pur- chase the Calcutta bags, even at a higher price, as_they can obtain them much easier, their sale not being hampered bx any restrictions, deposits, affidavits, etc., such as are 1m by the law upon the sale of prison bags. As will be seen by the opinion of the Attorney-General, the provisions of the law must still be followed in_the disposal of the prison bags, which, Warden Hale states, will be sold for the balance of the season at the same price as heretofore— FJECTED LATE AT NIGHT. Woes of a Sick Stenographer Whose Landlord Was Hard Hearted. K. 8. Mallory, who describes herself as an expert stenographer and typewriter, has brought suit agaicst William Kropt and Catherine Kropt, his wife, for $2000 dam- ages. The defendants keep a boarding and lodging house at 218 Turk street at which Miss Mallory resided up to August3of this year. On the evening of the day men- tioned Miss Mallory, sick and tired, went to her room and had just retired when, apout 10 o'clock, so she complains, the defendants woke her by a continual noise and broke into her room. Once inside they inreatened her, and finally closed the folding bed in which she was and jammed and hart her so as to compel her to arise partially clothed. She was then forced to pack her belongings and leave the house. The vplaintiff further alleges that she was forced to wanaer about the streets until midnight before she found shelter. For all of which iil treatment she asks that $2000 damages be awarded her. PLAVRS MO SIRGERS, Jottings Made in Front of the Footlights of This City. The Curtains Rise Nightly Upon .a Temptirg Variety of Well- Staged Attractions. “The Masqueraders” is drawing fine aadiences to the Bsldwin Theater at every performance. The card scene brings out recalls every evening. The play is charm- ingly staged, with scenery and costumes on a fine scale. Viola Allen, William Faversham, Robert Edeson, Annie Irish and the remainder of the cast appear to advantage. The last performance of “The Masqueraders” will be given Saturday night. That will be the farewell night, a Iso, of the Empire Theater Company’s engagement. Next Monday night “The Gay Parisians,” which comes direct from Chicago, where it closed recently a run of 100 nights, will be produced. The com- ny includes W, J. Ferguson, James O. arrows, Charles B, Wells, W. R. Shirley Sadie Martinot, Mrs. E. J. Phillips_and Margaret Gordon. The advance sale of seats begins this morning. Chauncey Oleott is singing every night in “The Irish Artist” at the California Theater and will continue throughout the week, Ile has an excellent support and the performances are made particularly leasant by Mr. Olcott’s ballads. Next Kiouunv evening *“The Minstrel of Clare” will be put on. Tuesday evening a testi- monial ~benefit will be tendered the Olympic Ciub. Seats are now ready. At tife Tivoli Opera-house last evening Balfe’s ever DoPuIlr ballad opera “The Bohemian Girl”’ was rendered. Miss Katherine Kreig made her first ap- pearance as Arline. Miss Kreig possesses an_excellent weil-trained soprano voice and has successfully appeared both in Germany and this country in ' various prima donna roles. The cast_also in- cluded Bernice Holmes, Jobn J. Ratfael, Martin Pache, Richard Karl, Edward Torpi. Next week Verdi’s ever popular opera “Il Trovatore'’ will be presented. On this occasion the well-known contralto, Miss Flora Finlayson, formerly of the Bostonians and Lillian Russell;0Operajcom- panies, will make her first appearance as Azucena. Mme. Nataliand Nina Bertini Humpbreys will alternate in_the role of Leonora, Sig. Fernando Michelena will be the Manrico and Sig. Maurice de Vries the Count de Luna. G On Monday evening next at the Colum- bia Theater the original performance on any stage will be given by the Frawley Company of Hilary Bell and Ramsay Morris’ new play entitled “The Social Trust.”” Great interest is manifested throughout the United States by the pro- fession, and especially the dramatic critics of the Fast, on acccunt of this production originating on a San Francisco stage, and the fact that it is by two such prominent authors. The story is founded upon inci- dents connected with the famous cordage trust, the downfall of which stirred the whole financial world. “The Two Orphans” holds the boards at Morosco’s Grand Opera-house. This is the third week of James M. Brophy. Per- formances every evening and Saturday and Sunday matinees, Professor Grae- ber’s Mandolin and Guitar Club plays at every performance, Immense audiences are in nightly at- tendance at the Orpheum. Among the attractions ere T. A. Kenn-dy, bypnotist, who makes lots of fun, the four Nelson sisters, Black Patti, Biondi, Techow’s cat circus and vaudeville. This_evening and every night this week Conn_ Fredericks will give a sensational bicycle performance at the chutes. Mr, Frederick coasts the chutes on a safety at 10 p. M. merry-go-round for cnildren adds to the general merriment. A concert takes place every afternoon and evening at the Sutro baths, which are open from 7 A. . until 11 ». M. Want Regular Inspectors. Hereafter every Chinese journeying to Puget Sound peirts will be subject to inspection by the Chinese Bureau. In the past this has been done by officers working under the Surveyor. Mr. English yesterday asked Collector Wise to take charge of the business because the traflic has assumed such proportions as to take up altogether too much of the time of the Deputy ll;lu'uym‘ and those working directly under m. WILL THE CITY PAY ITS DEBTS? Creditors Will Ask the People to Help Them Collect. NO AID FROM! COURTS. Over $200,000 Worth of Sup- plies Used, but Legally Repudiated. 5 BECAUSE TAX LEVY WAS LOW. Appeal to the Legislature to Grant an Election to Vote $8,000,000 Bonds. N The merchants of San Francisco, to whom the City owes $210,000 for goodsand supplies ordered, furnished and consumed when there happened to be insufficient funds in the treasury to pay for them, are going to appeal to the people to see that the just debt is paid. First a committee of merchants will go before the State Legislature and ask that a special election be beld In this City for the purpose of voting bonds to pay the City’s standing indebtedness and also to provide certain improvements that the public are very eager to have. J. P. Le Count, chairman of the credit- ors, is at the nead of this movement, and he has, through the secretary of the Board of Trade, sent out notices calling all the City’s creditors to a meeting to be held at the Board of Trade next Monday alternoon at 2:30 o’clock for the purpose of discussing this new plan and appoint- ing a committee to go before the Legisla- ture. For two years Mr. Le Count Las tried to get satisfaction from the courts. The claims have been presented in the Superior Court, in the Supreme Court and to the Board of Supervisors, but at each place he has been told that the State constitution does not take cognizance of City debts incurred in excess of the tax levy. Now the people of San Francisco are to be asked if they will see just debts repudi- ated because of a technicality of the law. Mr. Le Count feels confident that the people of S8an Francisco will not willingly acquiesce to such an injustice. Where law does not avail he feels that equity must. “‘They ordered the goods; they needed them,’” he said yesterday. ‘“We provided them and they used them. I am trmly convinced from my numerous conversa- tions with business men that the sentl- ment is in favor of paying the debts con- tracted by the City. “The amount of claims for goods, wares and merchandise is about $211,000. Contract bills for that year and the year previous amount probably to $150,000 more. I think that a special election would be constirutional and that bonds to the amount of $8,000,000 or $10,000,000 could be voted in either silver or gold. Then the debts could be paid. Then Market street could be paved and other improvements made that are now dependent upon an uncertain tax levy.” NEW TO-DAY. Bedroo_n_l Suits. Bedroom suitsrightly bought are for yourself and the next genera- tion-—-but be sure you get the right sort. A skip here and there in the making doesn’t hurt the looks much-- you’ll find them out quick enough in the wearing. This picture and price may hint at others. - Solid oak, carved and polished. Cheval dressing bureau—large glass. The few that are left, $23, With a worldful to men- tion, prices are all we can give: Oak suit—$125, was $200. Oak suit—$95, was $135. Oak suit—$30, was $40. Maple sutt—$40, was $52. Birch suit—$135, was $175. ‘White and gold suit—$90, was $125. ‘Walnut suit—$§95, was $120. C‘rpets . Rugs . Mattings CALIFORNIA FURNITURE COMPANY (N. P. Cole & Co.) 117-123 Geary Street.