The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 22, 1896, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1896 3 COLLAPSE OF THE ILLINCIS NATIONAL Followed by the Failure of | Three Private Banking Houses. An Enormous Loan on Very| Poor Security Which Led to the Suspension. City and Courty Fuads Tied Up in the Vaults of the Embarrassed Institution. CHICAGO, Irn., Dec. 21.—The closing of an institution which was considered to be the second stongest National bank in Chicago, quickly followed by the failure of three private banking-houses, which did business with it, caused a flurry of excite- ment in financial circles to-day and let to runs on several banks by timid depositors. A flood of rumors relative to other banks and business firms added to the intense nervousness which pervaded all classes of people long after banking-hours and the ciose of the courts. The banks which were closed follow: Nationa! Bank of Illinois, capital $1,000,- 000, liabilities $11,000,000; E. 8. Dreyer & Co.. bankers, mortgage brokers and real estate dealers, liabil s $1,500,000, esti- mated value oi assets $1,650,000; Wasmans- dorff & Heinemann, ban and mortgage brokers, liabilities $416,000, estimated value of assets $550,000; Roseland Savings Bank, Roseiand, Iil., small capital, and assets estimated equal to liabilities. All the private banks that closed their doors closed through the National Bank of Illinois, and the big crash compelled their suspension to conserve their assets and protect creditors. Two private city banks went into liquidation through re- ceivership proceedings in the courts. Reassuring action was taken at a largely attended mieeting ot the clearing associa- tion, which was held after banking hours this afternoon. The following resclution, offered by ex-Comptroller of the Currency E. 8. Lacey, president of the Bankers’ Na- tional Bank, was unanimously adopted: “That the Clearing-house committee, after calling to their aid such other per- sons as they may desire, be requested to formulate a plan which will enable creditors of the National Bank of Iilinois to avail themselves of the offer of the asso- ciated banks to make advances by way of loans to said creditors to the extent of 75 per cent upon properly proven claims.” The chairman of the Clearing-house committee stated that the readiness of the bankers to do this was o evident that it. was not probable any formal organization to accomplish the object set forth in the resolution would be necessary, although the committee appointed will give prompt attention to the duty imposed on them. William F. Dummer, president of the association and vice-president of the Northwestern Bank, read the following telegram which he had received from Comptroller of Currency Eckels, dated Washington : “I have appointed Bank Examiner Mc- Keon temporary receiver of the National Bank of Illlinois and instructed him to publish notice to creditors to prove claims. He informs me that the Clearing-house committee will advance 75 per cent on evidence of claims. Notice will be pub- lished at once, and if claims are proven immediately I shall within thirty days be able to pay a very considerable dividend. 1 appreciate the action of the Clearing- house in offering to advance on such claims.” The decision of the Clearing-house com- mittee to refuse clearing privileges to the National Bauk of Iliinois, and also to re- fuse funds by which the bank could have gone into voluntary liquidation, was chiefly due to the astounding discovery that the bank had loaned $2,400,000 to the Czlumet Eleciric Street Railway Company on its bonds as sole security. This loan exceeded the bank’s capital and surplus. Another account which causea the bank- ers to hestitate was stated to be near $500,000, the debtor being E. S. Dreyer & Co. Robert Berger, the only partner of Mr. Dreyer, is a son-in-law of George Schneider, president of the failed National bank. There were two other big loans, which were considered poor collateral. The necessary sequence to this refusal to lend aid or to continue clearing privileges was that' the big bank on Dearborn street failed to open its doors this morning for public purposes. This was anticipated by the action of theClearing-house commit- tee, but there was a small knot of anxious depositors waiting on the marble steps of the entrance when the big iron screen in front of the doors rolled up at 9 o’clock to admit several clerks. lows: “This bank is in the hands of a National bank examiner, by order of the Comp- troller of the Currency.” This cheerless announcement for devf positors was quickly followed by the post- | ing of notices that ceriain private banks and business firms would clear through other banks or pay checks which had been given Saturday on the suspended insti- tution. The following private and other banks muae their clearances through the Illinois National: E. 8. Dreyer & Co.; Farson, Leach & Co., Garden City Banking and Trust Company, Greenbaum Sons, E. K. Haas & Co., International Bank; Leopold, Mayer & Co., Oakland National Bank; Qak Park State Bank, Roseland Savings Bank, W. G. Stoughton & Co.; Wasmans- dorff & Heinemann, West Side Bank; Siegel, Cooper & Co.’s Bank, Adams’ Ex- press Company’s Bank, cashier checks on Drovers’ National Bank. On the announcement of the Illinois Bank’s suspension from the Clearing- house all the foregoing banks, with the exception of Dreyer, Farson-Leach, Was- mansdorff and one other, at once made other arrangements for clearing. Dreyer and Wasmansdorff’s business passed into the hands of the Security Title and Trust Company as Treceivers. Farson, Leach & Co. continued to do busiuess and John Farson, who is president of the Calumet Electric-street Railroad Company, which secured the enormous loan from the failed bank, said there was no necessity or in- tention to do otherwise. He added that his house would take care of the Calumet Electric through the breakers. 1t is reported that the National bank of Iilinois has about $4,000,000 of its deposits of $12,000,000 and there is general confi- dence that its depositors will be paid in full. The officers and stockholders unite At10o’clock acard | was hung on the grillwork, reading as fol- | in saying so. The last report of the bank issued placed the surplus at $11,000,000; undivided profits $450,000 and total assets, including bonds, §15,046,992. The attempt of the Bank of illinois to realize on the Calumet Electric securities aroused the suspicions of other banks and the investi- gation of the bank’s condition by the Ciearing-house committee followed. The failure wes a great surprise to the public. ‘I'here was no suspicion on the part of the large aepositors that the bank’s capital and assets had been seriously impaired. The heaviest creditors are the municipal corporations, City Treasurer Adam Wolf having $630,000 of city funds on deposit there. The bank was one of five which are de- positories for city funds, and each of the banks take turns by the month in cash- ing city checks. It was the failed bank’s turn to pay out in January. Mr. Wolf said he had no serious concern about the safety of the city money and has received ample assurances from the other banks which hola city money that the corpora- tion wiil not be embarrassed. City Comp- troller Wetherill, who is also vice-presi- dent of the Globe National Bank, expressed the utmost confidence in the city’s ability | to meet all obligations promptly. He declared the city was never in better con- dition financially and the failure would not embarrass it in payvment of interest | money the first of the year. | The West Park board, of which Carl Moll, cashier of the failed National Bank, is a commissioner, has been caught to the extent of $300,000, and a large amount is on deposit with E. 8. Dreyer, who is treas- urer of the pourd. County Treasurer D. H. Kochsperger has $300,000 of county funds tied up in the National Bank, and Fred M. Blount, the newly appointed treasurer of the drainage board, has over $80,000 of dis- | trict funds at the bank, whose officers { were on his bonds. The bank officers were alsoon the bonds of the city and county and West Park board treasurers. The facts that these officials were on the bonds of public officials were strong grounds for other banks to force a settlement. At10 o'clock E. S. Dreyer appeared in the Superior Court, accompanied by bis lawyer, Levy Mayer, and filed a petition ifor the appointment of a receiver. He made his partner, Robert Berger, de- fendant. The court was told the assets { were $1,600,000 and the liabilities $1.350,- | 000; that under the partnershipagreement the business could be closed at any time; but there was disagreement as to the man- | ner in which the concern should be wound | up. Great depreciation in the value of the real estate holdings of the firm is set forth in the bill, and the receiver is asked for to prevent heavy loss. Mr. Dreyer alleged that hisinterest exceeds that of | Mr. Berger two to one, and that by a care- ful handling of the estate it can be made to realize $150,000 more than the liabili- ties. All the allegations were admitted | by Mr. Berger, except that regarding the i comparative interest of the partners. On this showing, Judge Freeman ap- pointed the Security Title and Trust Com- pany receiver for the bank, and its doors were closed as soon as possible thereafter. There was no excitement in the crowd which surrounded the bank building at Dearborn and Washington streets, and there was general confidence among the German depositors that they would get all the money due them in a short time. Dreyer & Co. have been in the banking business for a score of years, and there is no more prominent German-American citizen in Chicago than Mr. Dreyer. During all that time the bank has cleared through the National Bank of Illinois. The first intimation that Dreyer & Co. re- ceived that the National bank might not resume was yesterday, and immediate steps were taken to protect their interests. No preferences, direct or indirect, were given to any one. After the appointment | of the receiver, many generous offers came from New York and other cities. Otto Wasmansdorff, senior partner of the other banking firm, filed the bill for the appointment of a receiver soon after | the Dreyer proceedings. Judge Freeman at once granted the petition and named the Security Title and Trust Company as receiver, issuing an injunction in both cases restraining any one 1interested from interfering with the assets or receiver. Wasmansdorff & Heineman stood high in the community as private bankers. The firm was established on the West Side more than twenty-five years ago. Germans did business chiefly with both the private banks. The Wasmansdorff estate will require conservative and cau- tious handling to pay dollar for doliar. Of their liabilities about $200,000 is for | savings deposits. Dreyer & Co. had no savings deposits. The misfortune which has overtaken both the banking firms is the cause of general regret and sympathy. Mr. Dreyer came to Chicago more than thirty years ago from Germany. The Roseland Savings Bank, which is situated in the small suburb of Roseland, near Pullman, peopled largely bv Hol- landers, did not open its doors for busi- ness this morning. Fred Wiersma, who owns the bank, posted a notice that the bank would not open to-day. The an- nouncement drew a crowd, but there was no scene of excitement. The depositors, who are mostly poor people, were assured they would get their money as soon as money was received from the National Bank of Illinois. The bank was estab- list:2d about two years ago. Farson, Leach & Co. are the chief own- ers of the Calumet electric road, which is 2 new and extensive enterprise, em- bracing several towns southeast frcm Sixty-third street. The loan of $2,400,000 obtained from the National Bank was used to build and equip the road, which is now in full operation. The heaviest run on city banks during the day was directed at the Garden City Banking and Trast Company. This with- stood the attack of 200 anxious depositors, | and to-night gave out the statement that they were thoroughly prepared to pay everybody who wanted money to-morrow, although they believed the worst was over. The bank has $2,000,000 of deposits, but the savings department is not large. | There is a large amount of county money | there. | The uneasiness on the partof bankers and depositors has been ageravated lately by the numerous failures of building and loan associationsana the exposure of their financial rottenness. Lyman J. Gage, president of the First National Bank, said concerning the Na- tional Bank of 1llinois: “Itis better that such an institution shouid be pushed to the wall instead of continuing and spread- jing out. If there is one black sheep in the flock that is no indication that all are the same color. The fact that there is one liar is not sufficient assurance that we all are liars. It is true we expected the election of McKinley would bring good times ana stable financial conditions in its wake. There is no reason as yet to doubt that relief. McKinley’s adminis- tration, or rather his election, cannot pre- vent results of mismanagement. Nothing can secure a situation in which bad loans and. bad management are at fault. It would be unjust to say that the tempor- ary disquiet is confined to jall the banks dependent on and clearing through the National Bank of Illinois, because there are some sound banks among the number which survive the ordeal. It cannot be denied that these failures will have a dis- couraging effect. They cer'ainly will not be conducive to any good. There is some- thing gained, however, by the fact that such an institution is out of the way.” POISONEG BY THE WHOLESALE. Men Who Drank a Peculiar Compound Used- as Whisky Either Died or Became Insane. SISTERVILLE, W. Va., Dec. 21.—8ix- teen men were poisoned Saturday night in the Benwood oil field, in Monroe Zounty, by drinking a substitute for whisky, and the latest reports from there show that four of the men are dead, two are maniacs with no hope for their recov- ery and three are in a critical condition. The remaining victims are seriously ill, but will probably recover. The early reports were that the bever- age was a home-made one, of alcohol and flavors, and sold among the men by ped- dlers. This is not true. Itwasacommon beverage, sold in a prohibition commun- ity and composed of alcohol, cinnamon and sugar, put up in two-ounce bottles and supposed to be diluted with half a pint of water before using. The liguid was sold by a local grocer, but the label does not indicate by whom it was bottled. That which was sold Saturday evening was from a newly opened box, and it is supposed an error was made by the per- sons who bottled it. It has not been de- termined what the poison was. The Monroe County authorities are making every effort to discover who is to blame. A post-mortem examination was made upon one of the bodies yesterday and the organs were removed for analysis. The law provides a very severe penalty for any person selling a beverage not being what it purports to be. Among the dead is William H. Price, a wealthr farmer, on, whose farm are oil wells bringing him in an income of $500 a week. He was not a drinking man, but had met some friends and took a drink of the stuff while negotiating an oil deal. Charles D. Sibert, a butcher and grocer doing business at Darden, Ohio, was an- other victim. He was in the oil field, looking for an investment. The other two men who died after drinking the liquid are Thomas Clegg, an oil-well driller, en- gaged by the Kisher Oil Company and foreman of that company working the Benwood field, and ‘Harry Roth, a driller employed in the field. Clancy Clegg, a brother of Thomas Clegg, is in a critical condition, and there is no hope for his recovery. Henry Boone, a cook in one of the boarding shanties in the oil field, drank freely of the liguid and in half an hour be was insane. He tried to kill himself and others, and had to be bound hand and foot. A tramp. whose name is not known, accepted a treat from a well-driller and was soon as crazy as Boone, He is now under restraint and in a pitiable condition. Three others are known to be so ill that doctors have no hope for their recovery, but their names are not given. S OVERRULES THE GOVERNOR. Decision Relating to the Squabble Over a Brigadiership in the National Guard of lowa. DES MOINES, Iowa, Dec. 2L—The Iowa National Guard trouble reached a critical point to-day. John R. Prime, twice elected brigadier of the First Brigade and each time counted out by Adjutant-General Wright, who finally issued a commission to Colonel James A. Guest of Burlington, won an important point. He had applied for a mandamus to compel Governor Drake and bis ad- jutant to issue the commission to him. The defendants demurred and claimed the civil courts had no authority over mili- tary elections and that an order against the Governor could not be enforced be- cause he could not pardon himself in case any penalty were intlicted. The ruling on this demurrer was handed down to-dey. The court says first that the evideace shows that Prime was rightfully elected and counted out; second, that the Governor must have the commission is- sued to him; third, that the court will en- force its orders ana that the Governor cannot except himself from liability if he violates the law. The statute provides that guardsmen shall elect their own officers, and to contravene this in one case is to allow all of them to be appointed instead of elected. The court concludes that the commission must be issued. It is expectel the Governor will stand on the demurrer and appeal. Guest is now in command of the regiment. - sl R MASKED MEN LOOT A TRAIN. Three Daring Robbers Hold Up a Southern Pacific Train and Rob the Ex- press Car. SAN ANTONIO, Texas, Dec. 21.—Three masked men last night held up westbound express No. 20, on the Southern Pacific Railroad, near Comstock, twenty miles west of here. It is said that they secured 3 money packages from the express com- pany’s safe, but it is not known how large asum they azgregated. None of the pas- sengers were disturbed, the robbers de- parting on horses after going through the express car. ALMOST L HIS BRIDE. But the Operation Was Successful and HKolloch Will Be Happy. NEW YORK, K. Y., Dec. 21.—A re- markable courtsiip will be closed in Brooklyn to-morrow nizht by a romantic wedding. The bride, a pretty, dark-haired just been operated upon for ap- itis, and the officiating clergyman will have to stand by her bedside. The girl is Frederica Sterling Massey, the daughter of the late Police Justice Massey. Her fiance is John K. Kolloch of Portland, Or., & young man who was graduated from Armherst College two years ago. Kolloch went to the West and settled in Portland, Or. He will probably arrive in Brooklyn to-day. The day alter the invitation were issued, about a week ago, Miss Massey became ill and an operation was decided upon. Dr. ‘W. L. Bull of New York performed the operation successfully and the girl is now recovering. The condition ot the bride prospective, however, would not allow of a church wedding, and the invitations were canceled. The ceremony will be per- formed privately. Kolloch does not know yet how near he came to losing his bride. ——————— Boys Make Money Selling Xmes News Letter to-day. San Francisco News Company, 210 Post street, and office, 53 Kearny street. ——— Bryan in Chicago. CHICAGO, Iin, Dec. 21.—William J. Bryan arrived in the city from Lincoln, Nebr., this morning and was met at the station by a number of friends in this city. Cheers were given as the silver candidate and party took a carriage and were driven to a hotel. JUST A SOUTHERN PACKHC FIGHT None but the Monopoly’s Agents Talk Against San Pedro. Engineers Hood and Corthell Appear Before the Harbor Commission. Declare That Mr. Huntington Has Only the Pcople’s Welfare at Heart. LOS ANGELES. Caw., Dec. 2L.—The as. sembly room in the Chamber of Com- merce building was packed with people this forenoon long before the hour for opening the discussion in the great harbor contest. Capitalists, bankers, brokers, manufacturers, wholesale and retail mer- chants and a sprinkling of politicians made up the crowd of interested specta- tors. The members of the board, headed by Admiral Walker, its president, filed into the room a few minutes before 10 o’clock and took seats behind a long table in one corner of the room. Promptly at 10 o'clock the president rapped for order and stated that it had been agreed among the leaders of the two factions that the speakers for Santa Mon- ica should be teard first; that they would be obliged to present their case in full, or, at least, lay the whole groundwork in their opening statements; that the advo- cates should not be interrupted while ad- dressing the board, but that at the close of each aadress questions might bs put to those who had occupied the time of the board. With this Admiral Walker an- nounced the commission’s readiness to hear the case for Port Los Angeles (Santa Monica). Cnief Engineer Hood of the Southern Pacific introduced E. L. Corthell, another Southern Pacific engineer, who opened the debate in behalf of Mr. Huntineton’s private harbor scheme. With a huge map of the coast line, showing both ports in front of the board, Engineer Corthell be- gan his opening statement. He referred in a modest way to his labors as an engi- neer in the past and the fact that he had been before the Senate Committee on Commerce several times respecting har- bors, breakwaters and marine stations generally. Two years ago, at the 1nstance of this Senate committee ana President Huntington, he had visited this coast with a view of making an impartial inves- tigation of the two ports regarding which there existed such a wide and apparently irreconcilable difference of opinion. He came without prejudice and without any actnal knowledge of the real situation. His investigation had completely con- verted him to the side of the site where Mr. Huntington had built his long wharf. Comparing notes with the Southern Pa- cific, the discovery was made that they agreed exacily respecting this important matter, and thereupon President Hunt- ington had ‘‘retained” the engineer in his services. Inthe great contest Mr. Corthell explained that he (the speaker) had again been “retained,”’ from which it may be mn- | ferred that those who shall espouse the cause of the Southern Pacific in this fight are neither hirelings nor employes, but the great ‘‘retained.” Owing to his former investigation “in behalf of ocean commerce,” Engineer Corthe!l regarded the present as in the nature of ‘‘a perscnal privilcge" in being permitted to present to a board of fel- low-engineers his opinion of the two har- bor sites. The speaker embarked on an elaborate explanation of the legislative tribulations regarding these ports, when he was called to order by Admiral Walker, who requested him to confine himself to a discussion of the merits or demeriis of the two ports, ‘With a bulky roll of typewritten memo- randa the speaker reviewed the history of marine engineering for several years, and vraised the new or contract system very highly. He referred to San Diego, where the contract system had not been em- ployed and where the original work would have to be done over and over again. This port was, he said, just like San Pedro, in that the sand would be constantly washed into the harbor and would of course have to be as constantly dredged out. He as- serted that it was commerce only which was sought to be accommodated by this large expenditure of money—it was not to be spent for a coast defense. He laid great stress upon the fact that Port Los Angeies was so much nearer to S8an Francisco, from which point the coast traffic proceeds this way. He found much encouragement in the fact that Mr. Huntington’s long. wharf had weathered the gales and the undertow in Santa Monica Bay for three years and was still there. As to objections to a de- tached harbor, such as was proposed at Santa Monica, he had founa many exam- ples of such harbors both in Europe and America. The speaker quoted copiously from Senator Frye's several speeches in Con- gress on the subject, which had agreed in a marked degree with his own views, He took pains to ridicule the people of this city and of Southern California generally for attempting to dictate to Congressin a matter which concerned the commerce of the whole world. Summed up, that por- tion of his argument amcunted to just this: *The California public be d—d.”” San Pedro, said Corthell, would do for local traffic, but never could be made to answer the purposes of general commerce. The remarkable pitch into deep water at San Pedrq was the cause, the speaker de- clared, of the destructive swells there. San Pedro wus compared to Brito, the Pacific end of the proposed Nicararuan canal, with the advantages in favor of the latter. Santa Monica Bay was extolied because of its gradual slope 'into deep water and for its protection from winds from every point of the compass. Hesav insurmountable obstacles in the way & commerce at San Pedro in the moist lands and the fact that the terminal railway had monopoly of the only available space for railway tracks and docks. rofessor Davidson was quoted in extenso regarding the sand drift along the coast, which would soon cover any breakwater at San Pedro. 2 President Huntington had agreed, the speaker said, to supply every facility for any number of competing iines to his wharf. He referred to J. M. Crawley of the Southern Pacific respecting the time saved as between Santa Monica and San Pedro on all business from San Francisco, which was declared to be a full day. “ Mr.Corthell referred constantly through- out his long address to various exhibits, books and charts, which, he reminded the board, it bad 1n its possession. He said if San Pedro was selected Santa Monica would still do the business anyway. The engineer finished his address at noon. Tunen Engineer Hood introduced Judge K. M. Widvey to speak further for Santa Monica, but the Judge pleadea a surprise and asked to be excused at that time. Then ex-Senator Cole, who several broad acres near Santa Moni was introduced and ai once challenged Engineer Corthell’s statement respecting the people of Los Angeles. The Senator said this fight was the concern of the Peoble Liere more largely than anywhere else, and he rapped the Chamuer of Com- merce over r.heinnckles for espousing San Pedro’s cause, stating if that port were selected the commerce through it would &ont through the Santa Ana and San rgonio canyons to the East and thus leave Los Angeles “'side tracked.” The Sen- ator was growing eloguent on this point when Admiral Walker reminded him that these were matters which the board could not consider. The speaker then assailed what he calied *“Wilmington Harbor,” and said the awiful sou’easters, which mariners on this coast so much dreaded, had a clear sweep into this bay. The San Pedro and Cahuenga mountaing, he de- clared, were a complete protection for Santa Monica Bay. Engineer Hood here got restless, called the Senator down and took the floor him- self. Hood ridicuied the whole proceed- ings as uncalled for, and said that he was astounded when he heard that this learned board proposed to hear a!l that might be said on this subject. He would havedone it differently—how he did not say. He said that “‘we’” had tried San Pedro to “our” heart’s content and had given up; had started a wharf and spent much money, but discovering that no good could come of it had quit and called off “our” men. Later he had fortunately 2und this lovely, placid cove in Santa Monica Bay end had construcied the great wharf, which, without protection of any kimnd, promised to stand for ages. The time for adjournment arrived while Hood was talking and the board promised to listen to his conclusion to-morrow, when he will be followed by other ‘‘re- tained”’ gentlemen of the Southern Pa- cific Railroad Company. s BRAVES DEATH BY DISEASE. Dr. Pow-ll Inoculates Himself With Tuberculosis Germs. LO8 ANGELES, CaL., Dec. 2L — Dr. Thomus Powell of Missouri gave remark- able experiments to a party of doctors to- day. He aiarmed some of the physiciang present by injecting bacillus tuberculosis and bacilli ciphtberial into himself, ap- pearing to take them without evil effect. He also injected some bactina sinto two guinea pigs, which will likely die. Dr. Poweli says he has a remedy of his own for preventiing such dis:ases. To-morrow he will inject spulum from a woman dying irom consumption into himseif. it R e Worry Leads to Swicide. LOS ANGELES, CaL., Dec. 2L.—M. K. Fiood, & blacksmith, shot himself in the stomach yesterday and died this after- noon. He was demented. He came from Indiana four years ago, settling at Clear- water, this county. Yesterday he was on a visit to J. V. Gordon in this city. It is said he was worried on account of his having made a mistake when he procured his marriage license. He toid the clerk that he was born in Ohio, instead of In- diana. He had been asking continually lately whether they could prosecute him for that. —_——— Federal Grand Jury Indictments, LOS ANGELES, CaL., Dec. 21.—Indict- ments were to-day filed by the Federal Grand Jury against Captain J. F. Janes, editor of the Non-Partisan, for mailing obscene literature; Harry Miller, the stage-driver between Los Alamos and Lompoc, who robbed the mailpouch while carrying it between the two post- offices, and John Clark and Frank Hen- ning for counterfeiting silver half-dollars. e e Electric Lane to Verdugo Park. LOS ANGELES, CaL, Dec. 21.—The officials and stockholders of the Terminal Railroad have determined to electrocize the Glendale branch of the road. This means the substitution of electricity for steam as 8 motive power between Los An- geles and Verdugo Park. This project is of vast interest to the people of Glendale. s Arrested After a Chase. LOS ANGELES, Oan, Dec. 2L.—A young man giving his name as Sam Mc- Clune and claiming to haye just arrived irom San Francisco was arrested after a chase to-night on a principal street for snatching a Woman's pocketbook. T Found Dead in Jail. LOS ANGELES, Can, Dec. 2L.—Gus Cohen, who has wealthy relatives in San Francisco. was found dead in the city jail to-day. He had been arrested on a minor charge. Heart disease caused his demise. BLIND WARDS LIVE HIGH. Exn.mmers Refuse. to Pass Food Bills Submitted by the State Home. SACRAMENTO, Carn.,, Deec, 21.—“It is an insult to require me, H. T. Emeric, Fish Commissioner of the State of Cali- fornia, to procure vouchers for the amount of my bills contracted during my trips over the State. Iam or should be exempt from so doing and if my oath, which is made to the authenticity of all my claims presented against the State, is not to be believed then am I not fit to hold the State office do.” Such was the gist of a letter received by the secretary of the Siate Board of Exam- iners. Mr. Emeric had presented con- tracted bills for $4830 without attached vouchers and they were mot allowed. Until he procures and forwards the neces- sary vouchers his aceounts will be short exactly $48 30. The authorities of the Home for the Adult Bhina failed to get their monthly claims allowed, owing to the fact that they seemed to have gone ahead regard- less of price in ordering supplies. While potatoes were.a drug on the market at 60 cents a sack they were paying $1 50. One hundred and fifty-three pounds of turkey, purchased for Thanksgiving cheer, cost 21 cents per pound, while in every other lo- cality in the State, except in the store which supplied these birds, they could be bought by the flock or single bird for from 14 to 18 cents a pound. Fresh fish from the near-by ocean cosi 10 cents per pound, while over 100 miles inland the same arti- cle cost a dtate penal institution but5 cents. They paid 40 cents per dozen for bhen iruit, while all the inmates of other State institutions had to subsist on 25-cent afgs, To such an extentdid their liber- ality carry them that a professional nurse was allowed to submit a bill for thirty nights’ service at the modest recompense of $4 28 per night. Superintendent John Hays will be re- quested to submit his supply contract to the board for examination, and will prob- ably be afforded 2 more than cordial wel- come at some future meeting of the board by Governor Budd when the latter finds time to interview the superintendent. AR, ACQUITTED AT HILLSBOKO, Lawyer Steeves Found Not Guilty of Complicity in the Sayre Murder. PORTLAND, Or., Dec. 21.—Xenophon N. Steeves, the Portland lawyer, was ac- quitted at Hillsboro this morning of the charge of complicity in the murder of George W. Sayres, a well-known citizen here, two years ago. It was Steeves’ sec- ond trial. On the first trial he was con- victed and sentenced to fifteen years in the penitentiary and to pay a fine, but the Supreme Court granted s new trial and a change of venue to Washington County court. “Bunko” Kelly, 'the notorious sailor boarding-house keeper, with whom Steeves was implicated, was convicted of murder in his case ana sent up for life. g Killed in a Runaway. SAN DIEGO, Car., Dec. 2L—L. M. Wil- letts, a well-known rancher of El Cajon Valley, was found dead by two Mexicans this afternoon on the road four miles south oi El Cajon. Itis believed that Willetts’ team ran away and he was thrown out of the wagoen. Children Cry for Pitcher’s Castoria. UTAHS ELECTION DECLARED VALID Unanimous Opinion Handed Down by the Supreme Court. Oficers Chosen by-Ballot on Neo- vember 3 Are Entitled to Seats. The Act Regulating Elections in the State Heid to Be Consti- tutional. SALT LAKE, Urag, Dec. 21.—The Su- preme Court of this State this afternoon handed down a unanimous opinion sus- taining the validity of the late election in Utah, The election was contested princi- pally on the grounds that the acts of the Legislature regulating elections had not been properly passed, for the reason that the minutes of the legislative bodies did not show that they had been passed by an |aye and no vote; also that the acts were unconstitutional because they did not fully conform to the State constitution in regard to the Jorm of the Australian secret ballot system under which the election was held, and that the use of party em- blems on the batlots was illegal. The court held that the enrolled bills signed by the presidents of both bouses and the Governor was the best evidence that they had been properly enacted; that the baliot system was secret, the method providing for tracing ballots be- ing only applicable to fraudulent ballots, and that party emblems on ballots were proper. The decision is a most important one. If the court had held otherwise Utah would have lost her Presidential vote, had no Representative in Congress, only ore United States Senator, no State Legislature and the county officers elected would have won a futile victory. NEWS OF MARE ISLAND. Falling Off in Available Funds for the Yard—Christian Endeavorers Entertained. VALLEJO, Can., Dec. 21 — Available funds continue to shrink at the navy-yard, owing to increased expenditures at the Eastern yards. The result will be another reduction in the force of mechanics, prin- cipally in the department of construction and repair. A number of young ladies and gentle- men, members of the Christian Endeavor Bociety, visited the receiving-ship Inde- pendence yesterday afternoon and assisted Chaplain McAllister in conducting reli- gious exercises. The chaplain will leave on the first of the year to revort for duty on the cruiser Brooklyn. While at the yard he has endeared himself to the ap- prentice boys. The Petrel is being fitted out for duty on the China coast. It is expected the little gunboat will leave the yard mn two or three weeks. It basreceived a thorougn overhauling and is as good as new. There is some talk that the Adams will NEW YO-DAY. =N, ASTONISHED! 1t's amazing, the number of fake sales and mis- representation now going on. But youw'll have money by keeping away. ROOS BROS., 27-37 Kearny Street, Offer special inducements this week in Holiday Gifts. A few House Coats left, were $5 and $6, now $3. 1000 others, also Bath Robes, Gowns, etc. Prices reasonable. Little Boys’ Suits, neat, $1.50. Boys’ Reefer Suits and Cape Overcoats, good styles, $2.50. Boys’ Long Pants Suits and Ulsters, up to date, $4.50. FINE CLOTHING A specialty with us. None else- where so good. Men’s All-Wool Suits and Overcoats, perfect fitting and extra value, $7.50. Men’s All-Wool Trousers, best values ever offered, $2.50. Full Dress Suits for swell occa- sions, $30. Cost $60 at tailors. Beautiful Holiday Neckwear, 25¢ and 50c. Fancy Embroidered Night Robes, 50c. Pajamas, Gloves, Handker- chiefs, etc., at low prices. Ladies’ Hats from 50c¢ up. Men’s and Boys’ Fedora Hats, 95¢c. All the latest blocks in hats, same quality as at hatters’, for one-third their regular price. f RS 33335 5T FEARy The way we flll Christmas Mail Orders wiil please vou. REMOVAL NOTICE. IERCE & €O, GENERAL WESTERN Agents National Cash Register Co., have re- moved their offices from the Chronicle bldg. to rooms 313 and 318. Parrott bldg., opp. Balawin Hotel. Tel. South 103, be used ior a naval training-ship until such time as the Pensacola isready for that duty. J. 8. Holden, who was chief boatswain's mate on the Charleston at the time of its first going into commission, recently re- ceived a commission in the navy as a boatswain. AL Do g S Body Found Near Chico. CHICO, CaL., Dec. 21.—Deputy Coroner Burroughs to-day received a telephone message from Nord stating that the corpse of a man was found on Montgom- ery Island, in the Sacramento River. The Coroner went to the river and brou:ht the body to Chico. It was identified this even- ing as thatof John Rustell, late of Sacra- mento. _— Becomes Nerada’s Legal Adviser. CARSON, Nev.,, Dec. 21— Governor Sadler to-day appointed James R. Judge successor to Attorney-General Beatty, who died recently. Mr. Judge has been for some time acting as the Governor's private secretary, and has always been a prominent Democrat. NEW TO-DAY. “No tricks of the trade” in Jrophy Baking Powder —except the secret how to make it per- fectly pure— without starch and . drugs— while keeping the strength unimpaired. s Tillmann & Bendel, Mfra. GREAT MY NEDICI Which is an external and internal Temedy without an equal. NOT A NEW PREPARATION, BOT ORE THAT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF OVER A QUARTER OF A GENTURY. Thousands of persons all over the United States gratefully praise Dr. Mar- tin’s Pain Curer-and are never without it. The Curer is free from all injurious and poisonous properties, and is en- tirely vegetable in its composition. It tones up an\d“strengthenl the system, purifies the ‘blood, expels bad matter from the organs of the body generally, promotes digestion, regulates the appe- tite and secures & healthy state of the system and its various functions. Taken occasionslly as a proventive of disease, it keeps the mind cheerful and happy by promoting healthfal action of the skin, heart, lungs, stomach, pancreas, ‘bowels, lizer, kidneys, bladder, spleen, spinal co*™2mn, and the whole nervous system. It is also especially slways ‘WOMAN'S FRIEND, and is unequaled FORTHE PREVENTION AND CURE —OF— Rheumatism, Neuralgia, Pains in General, Bowel Complaints, Dys- pepsia, Dysentery, Cholera Mor- bus, Diphtheria, Sore Throat, Pneumonia, Diabetes, Nervous Complaints, Disease of the Stom- ach and Bowels Generally, Liver Complaints, Kidney Complaints, Sciatica, Lumbago, Oolds, Coughs, Local and General Debility, Head- ache, Earache, Toothache, Slck- ness inStomach. Backache, Burns, Swellings, Boils, Sores, Ulcers, Colic, Cramps, Sprains, Eraises, Scalds, Wounds, Costiveness, In- digestion, Skin Disenses, Exces- sive Itohings and many other complaints too numerous to name here. In a word, the great Pain Curer of the Age is an unequaled family remedy. Price: 25c, 50c, $1.00 per Bottle, L._CALLISCH, Wholesale Agent for the Pacific Coset, San Jose, Cal. For sale by all druggists. The trade x}]@)lled by Redington & Co., Mack ; MAI?},% : § | 2 E udrelgier € alichacie Sun A z“"rlnfihco. 00090800 OF THE PALACE HOTEL. Direct Entrance from Market St, OPEN UNTIk MIDNIGHT. ;