The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 28, 1897, Page 2

2 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, JANUARY 28, 1897. CONVICT LABOR COMPETITION Trades Representatives Ask That It Be Restricted by Law. Combat t'e Claim That It Is Not Hurtful to the Work- man’s Interests. Hearing Accorded at Sacramento by the Committee of the L-gis- lature. SACRAMENTO, Car., Jan. 27.—Room 72 was too small to hold the Committee on Labor and Capital and the crowd of persons representing the different inter- ests in the several bills before the commit- tee. Assembly bill 282 was first taken up. It provides that it shall be unlawful for any person confined or employed in any penal institution in this State to engage or be employed in the manufacture of anything whatever that is an article of commerce in this State, except jute bags and broken stone for roads and highways, The bill does not applv to the manufac- ture of any srticle consumed in the penal institution where manufactured. _ Oscar Lewis introduced a substitute pro- hibiting the quarrying of raw material or the manufacturing of any article of com- merce except jute bagsand broken stone for use in country roads only. Mead of Los Angeles smd that it would be better to allow ciyshed rock to be sold to contractors and cities for street im- provement, because such street work would employ a much larger number of laborers than the number that wouid be deprived of work in the stone quarries by virtue of the competition of the prison at Folsom. Powers, an attorney, informed the board that cut stone was being made by convict labor in Folsom for sale to private con- tractors. City Trustee Devine of Sacramento, a stonecutter by occupation. said that if the stonecutters in the Folsom prison would be allowed to supply small dealers in cut stone with material for their work, two stonecutters would be emnployed where only one was employed at present. He argued in favor of supplying municival corporations and others with broken stone for street purposes. It would not be necessary to create a commission to attend to this matter, because Warden Aull and his assistants would be amply sble to take care of it, and to supply Boards of Bupervisors with the informa- tion needed by them. City Trustee Bentiey of Sacramento said that the private quarry at Cordelia could not turn out in one year enou h rock to complete one job of street work in Sacra- mento. That statement was maae by M. McDonald, one of the most extensivecon- tractors in the State. Mr. Thomasson, owner of the Cordelia quarry, said that the capacity of his quarry was 250 tons per dav, while the capacity of the Fulsom crusher was between 400 and 500 tons. He had not sold a quarter as much rock last year as he did the year be- fore. He did not make two months’ run on his quarries during the whole of last year on account of the competition of the Folsom crusher. ‘With regard to the argument that cheap convict-made macadam material would give employment to many more men than were now employed in street work, he said that in his experieoce in quarrying with 100 men he produced a quantity of rock which would employ only ten men to spread on the streets. It would be necessary to put ten convicts at work in order to give one free man employment. on the outside in bandling the material after it left the quarry; so, in order to give ten men work on the streets, the bill pro- posed to throw ninety free quarrymen out of work. The speaker contended that the trap rock taken from the Folsom quarry was not so good road metal as basalt rock, and that the testimony of engineers was that basalt was the best rock for macadamiz- ing. He surprised the committee by stat- ing that owing to the competition of prison labor he would be oblized to ciose his quarry after the termination of his contract with Mr. McDonald. He would lose $8000 per year if he continued to oper- ate his quarry. Mr. Thomason also called attention to the fact that the State did not derive one doliar’s worth of revenue from the rock- crushing plant. The State had donated the power, the plant and the labor, and the Prisou Directors were not allowed to charge any more than the actual cost of the wear and tear of the machinery and the oil used in lubricating the machinery. Oscar Lewis of San Francisco addressed the committee on behalf of the laboring people of San Francisco. He began by saying that the original idea of the Bureau of Highways was in connection with the rock-crushing plant, and it was the understanding that nothing was to be charged for the power or the labor of the prisoners and that the State should charge only 10 per cent above the cost of the wear and tear, the power and the oil used on the machinery, “But it is contended here,” said Mr. Lewis, “‘that because Sacramento, Stock- ton and Marysville are within the radius of cheap transportation from the Folsom quarry the people of the whole State should be taxed 1o support that institu- tion for the benefit of those three cities, The principle is wrong. It is the growing idea all over the States of this Union to confine convicts to such work and to the production of such things as are used in . the prisons. New York State is now con- fining its prisoners to the manufacture of such articles as are consumed in the pris- ons. “You might just as well come here,’” added Mr. Lewis with warmth, “‘and ask the Btate to furnish the city of San Fran- cisco with a flourmill, so that we could get cheap flour and bread for the working people of that city. So far as the rock plant is concerned at the present time, you have done nothing but exercise your pris- oners. You might just as weil have ex- ercised them in riding bicycles, for it would be much cheaper. You have not, with all this prison labor, earned even a cup of coffee for the convicts. “Let the Btate charge enough for the rock, so that at least the cost of produc- tion, including to some extent the main- tenance of these prisoners, comes back to you; otherwise I don’t see where the tax- payer has any advantage. It is a one- sided proposition.” Walter McArthur of San Francisco was the next speaker. He said that he did not consider tne bill a measure in the interest of labor. The laboring people opposed emphatically any form of prison competi- tion with free labor and drew an arbitrary line at the prison gate. All that was necessary for the mainten- anceof the prisoners should be manufac- tured inside the prison walls, but they should not be allowed to make anything for consumption outside the prison gates. The tendency of the present age was to do away with prison labor, added Mr. Me- Arthur. Beveral of the Southern States bad abolished the system of renting out convict labor because it impoverished the free labor of the State. “If you start prison labor in the produc- tion of raw material for the construction of roads, how can you stop short of put- ting convicts at work in the production of raw materials necessary in other lines of industry? They mignt just as well be put at work in coal mines and in lumber- mills and on the farm to provide wool and cotton raw material. The next prop- osition two years hence might be to em- ploy convict labor in building county roads, and there will be no end to it. By prison labor, if this idea be carried out, the working classes of this Republic will be reduced to a condition of serfdom. Poor working people are those who are injured more by compeiition. “Why not put freemen to work on the rock-crusher?” asked Mr. McArthur. “Supposing that we didn’t have any con- victs? ¥ say that this is a measure to make convicts, and instead of decreasing the taxation for the sipport of penal in- stitutions you will have more penal in- stitutions in the State to support. Assemblyman Canavan asked what should be done with the convicts—should they be idle. “No sir,” replied Mr. McArthur, “you could put them at work making their own clothing and improving prison buildings. 1f omes to a choice between finding work for convict labor or for free labor it is a choice between two evils, and 1 think that free labor should be given work first. If conviets go insane and commit suicide because they have no work to keep their minds occupled, why not keep the lowest freeman from commtting suicide?” Cutter of Yuba remarked that if con- victs made their own clothing they would to that extent compete with free labor. He annoanced that the city of Marysville would require 700 carloads of crushed rock for the street this summer. The putting of this quaniity of material into the streets would employ many men and con- tractors were pledged by 2 bill which has passed the Assembly to pay their laborers on public work §2 per day. Mead moved that the bill and the sub- stitute be referred toa sub-committee of three, with instructions to prepare a sub- stiwate for both, limiting the use of prison- crushed rock to public work. The motion was adopted, and Mead, Canavan and Landsborough were appointed as the sab- committee. a8 U ey BILLS INTRUDUCED. Measures to Receive the Attention of the Lawmakera. SACRAMENTO, CaL., Jan. 27.—Assem- bly bill 396, as amended, provides that every franchise for telegraph or telephone companies, street railroads, gas, elec'ricity or water companies, etc., shall be adver- tised for ten consecutive days in one or more daily newspapers. All bids must be for the payment of a stated per cent of the gross annual receipts of the corporation or person receiving the franchise. No percentage shall be paid for the first five years succeeding the date of the franchise, but thereafter such percentage shall be payable annually, and shall in no case be less than 3 per cent per annum upon such gross receipts, the franchise to be for- feited by failure to make the payments stated in the bids upon which the award was made. After the expiration of the time stated In the advertisement up to which sealed bids or proposals will be re- ceived the board or other governing or legislative body herein mentioned must meet in open session and read the tenders or bids, The franchise or privilezes must then be awarded to the highest biader; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall affect a special privilege granted for a shorter term than two years. 1t continues: Section 2. Every person, COmpany or -cor- poration to whom a franchise to operate an electric street railway, or to erect poles, wires or conduits for the transmission of electric power is granted, may, in addition to the re- quirements enumerated in section 1, be re- quired to light the stfeet or streets upon which the car tracks are laid, or along which the poles, wires or conduits are rum, or such part of such street or streets as the Board of Supervisors, Common Counell or other legis- lative or governing body granting the iran- chise may direct. Sec. 3. No {ranchise now existing or which may hereafter be granted shall be renewed by the Board of Supervisors, Board of Trustees, Common Council or other governing or legis- lative body above described, nor shall the ex- tension or renewal of thesame be advertised or offcred for sale by such governing or legis- lative body until within one year ifom the date of the expiration of the existing fran- chise, unless the existing franchise is first surrendered by the holders thereof. . Sec. 4.-Any member of any Board of Super- visors, Common Council or other governing or legislative body of any county, eity snd county, city, town or district of this State who, by his vote, Violates or attempts to Vio- Iate the provisions of this act, or any of them, shall be guilty of & misdemeanor and of mal- feasance in office, and be deprived of his office by the decree of & court of competent jurisdic- tion after trial and conviction. There are two bills with reference to property set apart in probate casez. No. 488, by North of Alameds, provides that: When property is set apart to the use of the family, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter 1,f the decedent left a widow or surviving husband aud no minor chila, such property is the property of the widow or sur- viving husband. If the decedent left aiso a minor child or children, the one-half of such property shall belong to the widow or sur- viving husband, and the remaiuder to the child, or in equal shares to the children if there be more than one; [in which cases the property shall constitute a homestead of five thousand dollars if the surviving husband or wife is the head of a family, as defined in the Civil Code; otherwise of one thousand dollars.] If there be no widow or surviving husband, the whole belongs to the minor child or chil- dren [in equal shares.] It the property set apart be a homestead selected from the sepa- Tate property of the deceased, either in his lifetime or by the court after his death, the court can only set it apart for a limited period, to be designated in the order, and the title ‘vests in the heirs or devisees subject to such order. The other is also by North of “Alameda and numbered 489. Itis a copy of the first with the exception that the clauses in brackets are omitted. Emmons’ bill—486—creating a Board of Warehouse Commissioners fills seven- teen pages. It provides that within twenty days after the act takes effect the Governor shall appoint thres Warehouse Commissioners, to hold office for four years, at a salary of $1800 per annnm each. They shall appoint & secretary at a salary of $3000 per annum, and they shall be lowed for office rent, furniiure and sta- tionery §1200 per annum and $6 each per day traveling expenses while absent trom Ban Francisco on the business of the — s ASSEMBLYMAN SOWARD, the Author of Mining Bills Galore. commisston. The office shall be in San Francisco. Section 6 prescribes the duty of every owner or lessee, etc., of every public ware- house in the State to furnish the commis- sion, under oath, a statement concerning the condition and management of his business as such warehouseman. One of the Commissioners at least, once in six months, shall wisit each county in the State in which there is a warehouse and personally inquire into the manage- ment of such warehouse business at an expense of $6 per day for traveling ex- renses, Tue Commissioners shall have the power to cancel warehouse licenses for cause. The bill defines a public warehouse as “a warehouse in which grain is stored in any form, or in which property of any kind is stored for a consideration.” Each warehouseman must take outa license from the commission and give a bond in the penal sum of $:0,000. Each warehouseman shall also kecp posted up in the business office of his warehouse in a conspicuous place a statement of the amount of each kind and grade:. of grain (when graded) in store in his ware- house at the close of business on the pre- vious Saturday, and shall also on each Tuesday morning render a similar state- ment under oath to the commission, But this isnotall. Says the bill: They shall also be required to furnish daily to the same Commissioners a correct state- ment of the amount of each kind and grade of grain (when graded) received in store in such warehouses on the previous day; also the amount of each kind and grade of grain (when graded) delivered or shipped by such warehouseman during the previous day, and what warehouse receipts have been canceled upon which the grain has been delivered on such day, giving the number of each reeeipt and amount, kind and grade of grain (when graded) received and shipped upon it; also, how much grain, if any, was so delivered or shipped, and the kind and grade ot it (when graded) for which warehouse receipts had not Dbeen issued, and wnen and how such unre- ceipted grain was received by them, the aggre- gate of such reported cancellations and deliy- ery of unreceipted grain corresponding in amount, kind and grade (when graded) with the amount so reported, delivered or shipped. They shall also at the time report what re- ceipts if any have been canceled and new ones issued in their stead as herein provided for. And the warehouseman making such state- ment shiall in addition furnish the said Com- missioners any further information regarding receipts issued or canceled that may be neces- sary to enable them to keep a full and correct record of all receipts 1ssued and canceled and &l grain received and delivered. The commissioners may appoint as many inspectors of grain as the pubiic business may in their judgment require. They shall also appoint a public weigher for each public warehouse in the State. The inspectors and weighers shall have power to fix the rate of charges for the in- spection and weighing of grain, which revenue ball provide the compensation of the weighers ana inspectors. Section 34 provides that each warehouse- man must during the tirst week in June of each year publish in one or more of the newspapers (daily preferred)a schedule of rates for the storage of grain or other property in his warehouse during the en- suing year. | The Committee on Public Morals have in hand Mr. Ennis’ bill 408 amending the act for the protection of children. It pro hibits any minor under the age of 18 years fiom being permitted to remain in any place where spirituous or malt liquors are sold or given away or in any . dancehouses and concert saloons. Section 3 of the act is amended as follows: Sec. 3. Any child, apparently under the age of 18 years, that comes within any of the fol- lowing descriptions named: (a) That is found beggipg, or receiving, or gathering alms (whether actually bagging, or under pretext of selling or offering for sale anything), or being in the street, road or pub- lic place for the purpose of 5o begging; gather- tving alms, any home or settied place of abode, or proper guardiauship, or visible means of subslstence, (c) Thatfs found des.itute, either being an orphan or having a vicious parent who is un- dergoing penal servitude or imprisonment. (d) Thst frequents the company of reputed thieves, or prostitutes,or houses of prostitu- tlon, or assignation or dance houses, concert saloons, theaters and varieties, or places specl- fied in the first section of this act, shall be ar- rested and brought before a court or magistrate. When upon examination before a court, or magistrate it shall appear that any such child has been engaged in any of the aforesaid acts or comes within any of the aforesaid descrip- tions such court or maglstrate, when it shall deem it expedient for the welfare of the chlld, may commit such child to an_orphan asylum, sooiety for the prevention of cruelty to chil- dren, charitable or other institution, or make such other disposition thereof as is now or may hereafter be provided by law in cases of vagrant, truant, disorderly, pauper or desti- tute children. ASKING FO MILLIONS. Appropriation Bills That Would Insure « Treasury Deficit, SACRAMENTO, Uar, Jan, 27.—Sen- ator Voorheis of the Committee of Finance reported to-day in committee that an examination of Senate bills from 1 to 41 inclusive disclosed the fact that the amount of money involved in these ap- propriations was $3,242,809. This, added to the estimate of Controller Colgan, which placed the amount of expenditures for the coming fiscal years at $10,939,960, and with other expenses, including the university tax, would bring the entire sum asked for to $14,302,769, and is far in ex~ cess of the sum produced by the assessed valuation of property, which is only $12,605,930. REDUCED FARES O STREET CHR San Francisco Delegation Favors the Proposed Enactment. Ex-Mayor Sutro’s Attorney in Vain Declares It an I justice. The Lawmakers From the Metropolis Consider the C meiery Question. SACRAMENTO, CaL, Jan, 27, — An old-fashioned meeting of the San Fran- cisco delezation of the Senate was held this evening to consider cemetery clesing and reducing street railroad fares. Sena- tor Mahonay, chairman, presided, and had a greatdeal of trouble in restraining Senator Braunbart from elogquent out- bursts. Martin Kelly, president of the Good Government Club, was a spectator. The substitnte for Senate bill 230, which allows sixty tickets to be purchased at 23§ cents each and compels street railroads at certain towns to carry passengers for 234 cents fare, provoked the discussion. Major McKinney, attorney for Adoiph Sutro, opposed the bill. He said it cost §1 a trip for every car run from the end of the Satter-street road to the Cliff and return. The road, he said, would lose money if the fares were reduced. He citea the Castro-street line, which did not pay at first, and was constructed only when the Crockers were assured that the mone would come back during the closing years of the fifty-year franchise. “Great injustice would be done to cut the fare now,” saitl the major. The sentiment of the delegation favors the passage of the bill. The bill has been recommended *‘to pass,”’ and that order was not changed. Senate bill No. 306, prohibiting the burial of the dead within the corporate limits of any incorporated city after the year 1900, called out animated talk. Mr. Hubbs, president of the Richmond Improvement Association, spoke in favor of the bil. He gd%e to each member of the delegation a printed copy of Mayor Phelan’s message, favoring the closinz of cemeteries. This gave ex-Supervisor James W. Burling an opportunity to say that if Mr. Phelan had made, before the election, the declaration in favor of closing the cemeteries he would not have been elected. Burling said there was no demand from residents of San Francisco in favor of closing the City cemeteries. The agita- tion, he asserted, came from the syndi- cate of San Mateo cemeteries. They wanted to break up the cemetery business in 8an Francisco. President Fletcher of the Point Lobos Improvement Club presented a petition signed by 1400 residents of San Francisco against the passage of the bill. In view of the importance of the sub- ject and the fact that several San Fran- cisco members were going on the Southern California junket further consideration of the cemetery bill was deferred until next Wednesday evening. The Senate committeé to count the bal- lots in the Hall contest will not meet urtil to-morrow morning. e S UE SPEAK FOR FEEE CUBA. Populist Orators kaise Thedr Foices in the Legislature, SACRAMENTO, Car., Jan. 27. — The Populists declared war on Spain this morning and recognized the independen ce of Cuba, butowing to the defective quality of their ammunition—it being composed chiefly of compressed wind and fusion gas—no harm was done either to Spain or the United States. ‘The harmless explosion of bottled venge- ance was set off by Assembly joint reso- lution 17, reported from the Committee on Federal Relations, relative to the struggle of the people of Cuba fora fiee and inde. pendent Government. The resolution was to the purport that it would be better for the Congress of the United Btates to act in the matter as its best judgment might dictate. Burnett, a Fusionist from Paso Robles, rwho had not been heard irom very often during the session, took the floor and made a speech, which from the manner of its delivery must have been a studied effort. He was in a high state of indigna- tion and punched and cross-countered and uppercut the air with vicious lunges of his right fist, He said that the atti- tude of the United States was a disgrace and th’t the method of warfare adopted by 8pain in the wholesale murder of men, women and children, and the wanton de- struction of property, was such as should provoke the decided and immediate inter- vention of the United States. He there- fore offered a substitute resolving that we extend the warmest sympathy to the ' people of Cuba; that the time tiad long since passed when this Government should have acknowledged the independ- ence of Cuba; that the methods pursued by Spain in ber efforts to subjugate Cuba, including wholesale murder, outrage and pillage, called for immediate action on the part of this Government, and there- fore the Coneress of the United States was requested to acknowledge the independ- ence of Cuba. North of Alameda expressed the hope that the belligereat substitute would not pass. There were likely to be many changes in the Cuban sitaation before Congress took up the matter, and it would be more prudent, he thought, to trust to the discretion of the Representatives in Congress and not hamper them with war- like resolutions from afar. Populist McClellan from- Hanford made 8 warm speech in favor of Burnett’s sub- stitute. Valentine (R.) of Los Angeles spoke in favor of the original raport of the Committee on Federal Relations. Matters of legislation should be left to Congress, he said. Melick (R.) of Los Angeles said that he paid a visit to Florida not long ago and thero learned of the frightful atrocities committed by the Spanish troops ipon Cuban men, women and children, but the Legislature of California was so far away from the scene of action that it was fair to presume that Congress knew what was best to be done and could be trusted to do the right thing when the time came, The Populist substitute was avalanched beneath opposing votes and the report of the committee was adopted. —_— FOE BETTEX HIGRWAXS. Three Bills Providing for an Extensive System. SACRAMENTO, Car, Jan. 27.—Three bills of probably as great importance as any that have been introduced this ses- sion are: Assembly bill 596, introduced by En- nis, defining . a great system of State highways. The highways provided for in the bill are the main lines of travel, and traverse every county in the State. They touch every county seat, and every town in the State of 1500 or more inhabit- ants is connected by means of them. It is a system that it may take a number of years to construct, but if finished it will give California one of the greatest systems of highways in the world, excelled only by thos: of a few European countries. These State highways are, however, only the main lines of travel. The other roads of the State are still left under county jurisdiction, Assembly bill 595, introduced by Enni provides for the levying of an ad valorem tax of 23¢ cents on the §$100 of assessed valuation of all property of the State for the constiuction and maintenance of the great system sf State highways outlined in the preceding bill. Assembly bill 597, introduced by Clark, provides for the creation of a department of highways to manage the Stats highways and to give advice to local officials when they request This department would take the place of the Bureau of Highways, which goes out of existence in April. These bi.ls are companions and are de- pendent upon one another, It was found necessary on account of constitutional re- quirements to put the matter in separate bills rather than in one as first intended. e IN THE UPPEE HOUSE. Passed and Those Introduced During the Day. SACRAMENTO, CAv., Jan. 27.—In the Senate to-day the followjng bills were vassed: To prevent the adulteration of honey; appropriating $10,000 for a State exhibit at the Tennesses exposition; Bert’s bill increasing the term of Police Judges from two to four years. This afternoon Larue’s bill relating to the adulteration of wine was partly read {for a second time 1n its amended form. The Committee on Swamp Lands recom- mended the passage of Senate bill 298, providing fcr an auditing committee for the Board of Public Works. Senator Wolf introduced three bills, one calculated to protect trademarks and two regulating the issue of search warrants. The resignation of Senator Chapman as a member of the Election Contest Com- mittee was received agd accepted, on Senator Seawell's representation that Mr. Chapman was too ill to attend to his duties. The appointment of Chapman's successor will be made to-morrow after a Republican caucns on the matter. Kobinson’s Mining Bill Favored. SACRAMENTO, CAL., Jan. 27.—Assem« biyman Robinson’s bill, requiring mining companies working under a bond or trust to file with the County Recorder a bond of $5000 as security for the payment of laborers and materials which may be used in the development and working of those bonded mining claims will probably be favorably reported upon by the Commit- tee on Mines and Mining Bills —_—— Juvenile Attaches Organize. SACRAMENTO, CAL., Jan. 27.—The juvenile attaches of the Senateand As- sembly have organized a soc al club and have elected the following officers: Louis J. McCall, assistant sergeant-at-arms; J. KElliott, assistant secretary, and Robert Stack, messenger. Signed by the Governor, ' SACRAMENTO, Can, Jan. 27.—The Assembly bill (No. 10) extending the time for the redemption of lands sold for un- paid assessments in the irrigation dis- tricts was signed by the Governor to-day. SI. LOUIS IDLE 4ARMY, Expected That 30,000 Will Parade on Washington’s Birthday, ST. LOUIS, Mo., Jan. 27.—It is expected that Coxey’s call for a paxade of the un- employed on Washington’s birthday will be answered by the 20,000 idle men in St. Louis. The central body of the Knights of Lubor has appointed a committee to ar- range for the parade in bebalf of that or- ganization. Itisstated that the Knights of Labor number 5000 members in St. Louis, and the American Federation of Labor claims 25,000 men in the 200 unions athliated with it. Out of a total of 30,000 men belonging *o unions it is estimated that 6000 are unem- vloyed. Besides this army of idle trade unionists it is estimated that there are over 15000 unemploved clerks and un- skilled Iaborers mot connected with any organization. —_—— BLUOODY BATTLE IN BRAZIL. Religious Fanatics Engage the Troops, Wath Dive hesulte. NEW YORK, N. Y., Jan. 27.—The H r- ald’s special cable from Buenos Ayres says: A battle took place yesterday be- tween DBrazilian troops aund religious fanatics in tue State of Babia, Brazil. The Herald’s correspondent in Rio Janeiro tel- egraphs that the loss of the combatants on both sides was 250 killed and 300 wounded. The fanatics lost forty men killed. - e ames Deadls Explosion n a Colliery. PITTSBURG, Pa., Jan. 27.—Reports of an explosion of mine gas in the Hurst colliery near Smock station, in the Mo- nongane.a Valley, have reached Pittsvurg. Two persons were killed outright and seven badly injured. l N CENSORSHIP FOR SUFFRAGISTS Western Women Defeat the East in a Convention Battle. Equal Franchise Will Be Pushed in California and Other Western States. Many Addresses and Other Matters B:fore the National American Suffragists DES MOINES, Iowa, Jan. 27.—Tkree busy sessions were held by the National American Buffragists to-day. The fore- noon was marked by a sharp clash be- tween the Eastern and Western delegates, in which the West came off victorious. It arose when the report of the committee on campaizgn conditions was called for by Anna L. Diggs of Kansas, a Populist and co-worker of Mary Ellen Lease. ' Mrs. Diggs was not present, but had sent her revort. It stated that Republicans and Demo- crats were firmly set against woman suffrage and there was no hope of friendly action by them. The Populist party con- tained the greatest proportion’ of advo- cates of suffrage, but the party manage- ment -had set its face firmly against any- thing that would jeopardize the indust emancipation for which the party is work- ing. s Diggs recommended that political work be placed 1n the hands of the women affiliated with the dominant parties in the several States. As to Kansas she said since the defeat of the suffrage constitutional amendment in 1894, the cause was hopeless there. The report did not please the conven- tion and after it had been referred to a committee for consideration, a resolution was presented providing for censorship of all reports before they were read to tne convention. The Eastern women favored and the Western opposed it asbeing un- democratic, and the Westerners won the aay. “The report of the treasurer showed a favorable condition of affairs witn finances in good condition. Nineteen States were represented in tha convention, entitled to cast 225 votes. The committes on plans for work rec- ommended that it be pushed 1n Western States, especially Oalifornia, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and lowa, and that efforts in other States be abandoned for the time being. A proposal to remove National head- quarters to New York came from one branch of the committee and other like proposals from other members. This will be fougkt out later. The afterncon session was devoted to memorial addresses on departed mem- bers. The evening séssion was of greatest pub- lic ‘interest and was largely attended. Addresses of welcome were made by Gov- ernor F. M. Drake of Iowa, Major John MacVicar of Des Moines, Rev. H. O. Breeden and Mrs, Mattie Locke Macomber for.the woman’s clubs of Des Moines, and Mrs, Adelaide Ballard of Hull for the Towa Federation of Woman's Clubs. Susan B. Anthony responded with an | address in which she expressed confidence in the immediate future of the movement and especially in the outlook in Towa. The leading address of the evening was by Carrie Lane Chapman Catt of New York, which closed the programme. She spoke of the furure of the movement. THE BLIZZARD STILL BLOWS. Generous Aid for Chicago’s Suffering Poor. Cattle Perishing by Scores on the B:g Plains. CHICAGO, Irv., Jan. 27.—Ther® was an appreciable moderation of the temperature in Chicago to-day, but zero weather and below was the best that could be had, and the same is promised for to-morrow. The record for continuous temperaturs below zéro for this city was broken to-aay by & run of eighty-four consecutive hours from 1 A. M. January 24 tolpr M to-day, at which hour the zero mark was officially tecorded on the Auditorium tower. Duriug the previous twelve hours of the day the thermometer had ranged between 4 deg. and 1 deg. below zero. At 2 o’clock this afternoon 1 deg. above zero was re- corded, and the same temperature con- tinued for three hours; then zero weather and below returned, with the prospect of colder weather to-morrow. Snow fell lightly all day and into the night, being driven by & wind, which made the fine snow a source of great dis- comfort. The drifts caused the snowpjows and street-cleaning wagons to reappear. The police continued their effective work of providing instant temporary relief to the thousands in want. Twice as many cases were attended to as yesterday, the total number’ of persons given food, clothing and fuel being estimated at 10,000. The letter-carriers are aiding the police |in finding the deserving cases in their districts. The Mayor’s fund now amounts to $50.000 including the value of supplies. Aboat $30,000 cash has besn received by the treasurer alone. Many thousand dollars have been given in the last three days for distribution, apart from the Mayor's police relief scheme, a result of his proclamation. JACKSONVILLE. Fra., Jan. 27.—At 9 o'clock to-night the mercury bad fallen to 29 degrees in Jacksonville, with a west wind and a barometer of 30.12. This indicates that North Florida will experience a freeze. As the trucking in- terests of the northern portion of the State are meager no great damage is expected. 8T. LOUIS, Mo., Jan. 27.—There is but sight relief to-day from the cold wave: At 10 o’clock this morning the thermom- eter was 4 degrees above zero. The rail- roads are beginning to suffer from the storm. Nearly all trains are now arriving from one to ten hours late. It is estima- ted that 30,000 persons are destitute 1n this city. DENISON, Tex., Jan. 27.—Prominent stockmen in Indian Territory and the Panhandle report that the recent blizzard has resulted 1n the death of thousands ot cattle on the range. Itis the first time in years that the large watercourses were frozen over. OMAHA, Nesr, Jan. 27.—Kor several days the mercury has been from 10 to 15 degrees below zero throughout Nebraska. There are 500,000 sheep being fed in Ne- lsnow. braska at present, and many have been lost from severe cold. YANKTON. 8. Daxk., Jan, 27 —Reports are meager from the catile ranges of this State. The losses along the Missour! River will be heavy. The weather in that. section has ranyed from zzro to 36 below ever since Friday., The snow is the deep- est for many years, and the cattle are able 10 find grass only in such exposed places as the ground has been blown bare of ‘Worse still, the rivers are frozen solid. COLLISIONS «uST MONEY. A Million Dollars Paid for Atlantic City Disaster Claims. CAMDEN, N.J., Jan. 27 —That a rail- road collision is costly as well as ais: trous has been demonstrated by the amount of money which the railroads, the West Jersey and the Philadelphia and Reading have paid out as a consequence of the Atlantic City disaster, when forty-four persons were killed and a larger number injured last summer. It has cost the roads thus far nearly $1,000,000 to settle claims for damages and all the cases have not been settled yet. The accident was caused by a Reading fiyer crashing into the West Jersey excur- gion, on which were-the Order of Red Men returning from a day’s outing at the sea- shore.- : One of the latest claims to be settled is that of Mrs. Samuel Mita of Bridgeton. She brought suit tor §90,000 for the killing of her husband and daughter and the in- jury to herself and son. The road has seitled with her and the amount is seid to have been $30,000. Suicide of a Bank (ashier. LEIGH, Negg, Jan. 27.—Frank G. Les- pa, cashier of the Clarkson State Bunk, Ciarkson, Nebr., has committed ‘suicide. No reason has deveioped. he lately sold his interest in the bank. —_— e NEW TO-DAY. W CHARLES SCHILL, Residing at 262 Eighth St, S. F., Relates the Story of His Cure. BAN FrANcIsco, Cal., Jan. 14, 1897, I, Charfes Schill, aged 30, residing at 263 Eighth street, desire and am THANKFUL To testify to the benefit and cure that I have experienced Dby trcatment at the STATE ELECTRO-MEDICAL INSTITUTE, corner of Powell, Market aud Eddy streets. For four years I have been ailing with ner- vous debility and heart and stomach troubls, which greatly hindered me in my work asa teamster, the business I have pursued for the past seven years in San Francisco. Isuffered with pain and oppression of the chest and stomach, shortness of breath, flatulent dyspep- sia and palpitation of the heart, and after ex- ertion would feel weak and nervous. On Janyary 4, 1897, I applied FOR Treatment at the Institute, where DR. W. K. VANCE made a careful physical examination, found that my heart and stomach were both disordered. Iwas placed under treatment and at once began to improve rapidly and feel like A New man. The doctor applied electricity aud presoribed certain electric fluids for internal use, also magnetic oil for external application. These remedies combined bave had a magical effect, and now, on January 14, I can truthfully say that my henlth is fully restored. I am VERY THANKFUL FOR SUCH A RAPID CURE Which enables me to pursue my daily work without experiencing any exhaustion or wear- iness, Imayadd that I derive decided bene- fiv from wearing an Electrical waist appliance prescribed by Dr. Vance. (Sigmed) CHARLES SCHILL. This marvelous electro-medical treat- ment is crecting a tremendous sensation among the people of this coast because of the remarkable cures it is dsily effecting, and for this same reason it is stirring the medical world as no discovery of recent years has stirred it. There has not been a single failure to cure in any case Where the treatment has been given. x RA EXAMINATIONS. If you - are sick or ailing, if you want to kuow what is the matter with you, and if you want to be cured, you should resort without delay to the STATE ELEC- TRO-MEDICAL INSTITUTE. The Insti- tute TREATS AND CURES Diseases of tue Heart, Brain and Nerves, Blood Dis- eases, Rheumatism, Cancers and Tumors, Catarrh, Kidney Diseases, Throat Dis. eases, Stomach Diseases, Diseases of the Liver, Bowel Diseases, Eye Diseases, Ear Diseases and ail Diseases of Men and Women. WRITE if you cannot call at the In- stitute. Describe your troubles by letter and the doctors will advise you what todo. Strictest confidence observed, THE NEW CURE FOR ALL DISHASSS. STATE ELEGTRU-E]IGAL INSTITUTE Locat -d at the Co-ner of Market, Powell and Eddy Strests, ENTRANCE 3 EDUY STREET, San Francisco, Cal. NASAL ISA LOCAL DISEASE piLY'S W and s the result of colds ‘and sudden climatic changes. “;l'hil remedy does not con- 0 mercury or injurious drug. ) e ELY’S CREAM BALM - L‘.‘.‘.‘:h“;‘:‘:‘.;.&’x'y“’.'::u‘é‘.'.; G e s B_f).olznuu ruggists, Or by mall; samples 100 by ELY BROTHERS, 56 Warren street, New York it e SR NI DY Tuk DR. MCNULTY. "HIS WELL-ENOWN AND RE TN A TR IABLE Ol o es of Me only. Manly Powerrestored, Over years' experience. Send for Book, free. Patients cured at Home. Terms reasonable. Hours, o to3 daily;8:30 t08.30 evigs, Sundays, 10to 12. Consulta- tionfree and sacredly confidential. Call or address P. ROSCOE McNULTY, M. D., 26 Kearny Street, San Francisco, BALA \