The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 24, 1897, Page 14

14 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1897 SCHUSSLER SAYS THE WATER COMPANY MUST GET FAIR RATES Otherwise He Informs Mayor Phelan They May Appeal to a More Powerful Tribunal—Certain Previous Valuations, He Contends, Were Not Capably Undertaken. COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DISCUSSES MAINS, ' METERS AND HYDRANTS AND EXAMINES THE WATER COMPANY’S MAPS. Dr. Clinton Was Forced to Amend an Earlier Resolution and Make the Appointment the Board’s Board of Supervisors met last night to continue the water rates investigation, and Dr. Rottanzi was thereupon appointed to preside. Chief Engineer Schussler and | Attorney Kellogg were both in attend- ance, and the former was again called upon, somewhat later in the evening, to| give evidence, but before this stage was | reached the board indulged in some pre- liminary discussion. ! “What is your pleasure, gentlemen,” | queried Dr, Rottanzi. | Dr. Clinton said he wished to oP‘E!r‘ another resolution in place of that which | “was adopted at the previous meeting, | relative to the employment of experts. .In the latter resolution the word *board”.| had been used instead of “‘committee.” | he present resolution was as follows: | Mayor Phelan was absent when thal hat the committee on water and water supply, if deemed necessary in its judg- ment, is hereby authorized and empowered 1o | *mploy an expert accountant to examine and | report upon the books and accounts of the Spring Valley Water Works Company, and if | deemed expedient said committee is further | empowered to employ an_engineer or corps of ineers to examime into the works and | sources of supply of said Spring Vailey Water | Works, the sources utiiized in supplying the City and County and the capacity of said sources to furnish the daily supply; property owned and not utilized and its valuation, the | condition of the works and a comprehensive | estimate of operating expenses, and the valua- tion of &}l property of the company, includitig | reservoifs, pipes snd mains, with such other iniormgi#ion as may be developed in the ex- nmmml. that may be pertinent to the in- | quirgms to cter, condition and value of | the prgperty belonging to the Spring Valley | . WalerfVorks. | Supérvisor Haskins said the City al-| ready @ad two expertsin its employ, and be thought that that portion of the reso- | lution should be stricken out. Supervisor Britt said he would like to ask if at the last meeting of the board action was not taken on this identical proposition? | Dr. Clinton pointed out that the object | of the present resolution was merely to | correct an error contained in the first. The original resolution conferred power upon the board, instead of the committee, which was absurd. If there were experts in the employ of the City, the committee certainly wouid not overlook them. Britt, continuing, said be was opposed to the resolution. The board was re- sponsible for the action of any expert ap- pointed, and it it were deemed necessary | to make such an appointment the power | | Resolved, should certainly remain with the board, since the responsibility rested with the latier. The fixing of the rates would de- pend upon the recommendatious of the | experts, and he contended that this privi- lege should not be given oyer to any com- mittee. Even asa member of the Water Committee he did not desire to force upon the board any €xpert unacceptable to it. Supervisor Delany thought the resolu- tion premature. The witnesses hitherto examined had given the committee more information than was really necessary, and he held that the investigation should be continued. Seeing that the board was pledged to retrenchment, he was opposed to the creation of new offices, and there- fore to the resolution, Dr. Dodge said that if the report of the experts were 1o be accepted as final he would be opposed 10 any shifting of the responsibility, but if the committee ap- pointed them to obtain information which the committee could not itself obtain, in order to arrive at an intelligent con- <lusion, he could not see where the ob- jection arose to their appointment. The small expense involved, in view of the im- portance of the inquiry, should not cat any figure. He also thought that the ap- pointment should be left to the judgment of the committee, nor did he believe that the board would have any cause to com- plain of its action if this were done. The trouble about the information hjtherto supplied was that it was not just what the committtee desired, and in view of the difficulty experienced in obtaining the in- formation the committes did desire, he did not think that this uncalled-for in- formation should be taken in favor of the company. The committee had asked specific questions at the beginning of the . investigation, which had not yet been an- swered. Supervisor Britt again voiced his objec- tions to any surrender of the board’s au- thority to the committee in this connec- tion. Dr. Clinton said that the board seemed determined 10 misunderstand him on this point. Theresolution was desi -ned to cor- rcct the earlier one, nor did he want to go _outside the employes of the City in en- gaging an expert. *“It,” continued he, ‘'you are going to emasculate the commit- tee at this stage of the proceedings I de- sire to resign. I do not ask vou to employ an engineer now. It may not be neces- sary. Butilitis, we should be able to do ‘tatonce. Ido notthink 1am egotistical when I say that I believe the board should have sufficient confidence in us to repose this power in the committee,” Supervisor Haskins argued that the power of the board shouid not be segre- gated 1n a committee of five. Supervisor Sheehan arose to ask who had employed the stenographer in this in- vestigation. Dr. Clinton replied that it was custom- ary for the chairman of ihe committee to enzage the stenographer, but that on this occasion the board, with its usual desire jor patronage, made the appointment. The resolution was then put to the vote | and defeated on a division of 7 to 4, De- vaney, Haskins, Delaney, Sheehan, Mor- ton, Britt and Rivers being in the neg- ative. Dr. Clinton then moved that the Com- mittee on Water and Water Supply be empowered, if necessary, to employ an engineer, or corps of engineers, and an ex- pert accountant 1o assist the commirtee in this examination, and that their selection be subject to the approvalof’ the board. The motion carried by 10 to 1, Delaney alone voting in the negative. The clerk read the recent opinion ren. 4 of Exp:rts Subject to Approval. dered by the City and County Attorney in response to the board’s inquiry as to the logality of fixing the rates later than Feb- ruary. The writer stated in effect that though the board might be prosecutea for malfeasance it office should the fixing of the rates be delayed the possibility of such procedure being resorted to could not af- fect the legality of the action or its neces- | sity and that the investigation could be continued up to the last dsy of June. Dr. Clinton said he was pleased to hear this, because as chairman of the commit- tee he would not be ready to offer a report | this month. The more he saw of this question the more momentous it seemed to'him. He had not yet had a chance to visit either the company’s office or the various sources of supply, which was a | duty he hoped the board would assist him | to undertake at an early date. He need not repeat that it was the desire of the committee to deal fairly by both the com- pany and the people. He moved that the communication be received and filed. Dr. Rottanzi from the chair warned the board of the risk it was assuming in de- laying the investigation berond Februars. The motion subsequently carried and | the board resclved itseli into committee of the whole, with Dr. Clinton in the chair. Dr. Rottanzi moved that any report or communication from the company be forthwith read. He believed he made a motion at the last meeting requesting the secretary to supply the committee with a statement concerning stocks and bonds. The clerk said that no communication had been received. Attorney Kellogg informed the board that the secretary would “be sworn to give | the necessary information. Rottanzi preferred to postpone the hearing of the secretary’s testimony and proceed with the examination of Engineer Schussler. He wanted a written state- ment. Mr. Schussler again took the stand and | in- | Superyisor Lackman resumed the | quiry with the following question: “What proportion of the company’s receipts are obtsined from private consumers and irom meter rates and what proportion from special and general rates?'’ The witness said he was willing to give all the information in his power, but asked the commitiee that he might be permitted to finish his answers without | being constantly interrupted, as such in- terruptions interfered seriously with his answers. He could not reply to the above qnestion definitely, but the book- keeper could. He (Schussler) could- only give the total income of the company from private consumers and from the City. In the absence of the bookkeeper the | question was passed over. “What,”” asked Lackman, “was the number of hydrants placed in the City | during the last eighteen months, or from July 1, 18952 The witness thought he could closely approximate the number set in 1895 and 1896. During the second half of 1895 the number was greater than during the first balf, owing to the urgent request of the Fire Department. The company could bardly keep pace with the demand from the department and the board, in addition to which the former would not consent to the hydrants being attached to-6-inch pipes, so that the company had to lay fresh pipe. He believed that the exact number set in 1895 could be obtained from the Fire Department. The total, he | thought, in that year was 3296, though some bad afterward been taken up and re- placed. There were possibly 3000 hydrants now, in round numbers. About 520 or 530 ‘were set in 1895 and from 475 to 490 in the whole of 1896, or about 1000 for the two years. *“The hydrant rate increased from $250 to $5, was it not?” asked Lackman. *‘Yes,” replied the witness, “and upon that we have spent many thoussnds of dollars in accordance with the request of the Fire Department, especially south of Market street.” The City, he continued. has less hydrants, in proportion to the number of miles of pive, than any large city in America. They did not increase as rapidly when the rate was $250?” suggested Lackman. “No,” replied Mr. Echussler, “‘because when the rate was increased we could af- ford to increase the number of mains.” The Board of Supervisors in office in 1895, he said, in order to decrease the water rates on private consumers and to meet the urgent demands of the Chief of the Fire Department, increased the rate from $250 to $5, and thereupon the company went to work and resystematized their main system and placed hydrants thereon. “The lastreport,’’ said Lackman, “‘states that the lowest rate for meters is$2 50. Are there not many consumers who do not use so much water?"’ The witness said he knew nothing about that. But the total revenue from water sales by meter was 221 cents per 1000 gallons; or if one divided all the money received from water rates by the amount of water soid through the meters they re- ceived on an average about 2234 cents, and that was 1dentically the same price, within a fraction, as the total revenue for water sales—viz. : 221¢ cents, Supervisor Britt—Yon said that several changes were made in your water system in the southern portion of the City after the large fire. Are you prepared 10 give us an idea of—to describe and illustrate— the changes that were made there and the size of the mains? Mr. Schussler here produced two large maps showing respectively the entire pipe system of the City and the work done in 1895 and 1896. The pipes mzrked in red, he explained 10 the Supervisors, who crowded round him to inspect the maps, were laid in 1895, and those wmarked in blue in 1896. The pipes in the vicinity of the recent fire were only large enough to supply the wants of ordinary consumers and were rapidly exhausted. ““Who was to blame for this state of af- fairs?” asked the chairman. “The City was to blame,” replied the witness promptly, “for leaving the neigh- borbood unprotected, because they had so continuously crippled our resources we could not afford to lay a larger system.” Blocks of twelve or sixteen inch pive, he added, costa lot of money—something | like $2700 or $2800 at $3 a foot. Hydrants at$250 or $3 a month did not pay them for the trouble and expense involved. If the City would agree to pay them $5 a hy- drant or any fair sum to guarantee them | an income on the extraoutlay then they | could come to an understanding as to how | many hydrants they should put in. A long and informal discussion fol- lowed, in which the witness pointed out the various improvements made by the company in the locaiity outlined by the maps. On Stevenson street, for example, | he cited the new main which is taking | the place of the old 6-inch pipes at the request of the Fire Department. | Mr. Schussler stated that the rates on | water had been gradually reduced from 47.85 cents per 1000 gallons in 1865 to 22.5 | cents in 1896. “When this City has reached 700,000 in- habitants the rate will be about 15 cents per 1000 gallons,” said the engineer, “when there are 1,000,000 people about 13 cents | and when the population reaches 1,250,000 the rate will not be greater than 11 cents | per 1000 gallons.” In reference to some of the possible | sources of supply, Mr. Schussler stated that if the Searsville dam was built and | the water turned on it would furnish about 000,000 galions per day. The system, Mr. | Schussler said, would cost about $1,000- 000. Already $120,000 have been spent on | the dam. Fifty feet is to be added to the | thickness and forty feet to the height, tbus increasing the capaeity tenfold. | In reference to Pescadero and San Gregorio creeks, Mr. Schussler stated that | the two could be made to furnish 18,000,000 " gallons per day. In answer to a question from Mayor Phelan, who bad comein in the mean- | time, Mr. Schussler stated that the Cal- | averas lands and water rights had cost | about $1,000,000 and the possible supply | is about 28,000,000 to 30,000,000 gailons per | day. e oust it property on Stockton and Geary streets on which the company | is now erecting its new offices was stated by Mr. Schussler to be $475,000, $120,000 for | ihe lot and about $355,000 for the building. | Mayor Phelan wanted to know whether | the Spring Valley Compeny had not dis- | couraged the establishing of small private | water plants. | Mr. Schussler said that he knew noth- ing about the matter, that he had heard more about such mastters in the City Hall | than in his own office. Mayor Phelan asked how much money had been spent by the company in im- proving the plant since 1890. Mr. Schussler gave the figures for the new construction account, which includes land purchased for reservoir sites and otber purposes. The figures were then given as follows: $637,454 18 683,198 70 28, ee... 83,169,400 68 Then the Mayor asked that the reports of Engineers von Schmidt and Dunn on the value of the works in 1590 be incor- porated in the report of the proceedings. Von Schmidt estimated the value of the plant at §$13,642,000 and Dunn at $13,313,- 504, making the total value according to the experts and the figares previously given about $16,811,400. Engineer Schussier objected to these figures on the ground that the proper value of the properties was not knowr to the engineers, and also on the ground that large properties were left out of the es- timate. “Well, we are the judges,” said the Mayor, *‘we_consider the value of your plant for the purpose of fixing rates.’”” “If you would transpose that word *fix- ing’ into ‘reducing’ you would do better,” retorted Schussler. “Oh, we are the judges,” said the Mayor. | “Ifyou are poor judges then we will go to law about it,”” answered the engineer. | “*You have got to give us fair rates on our | investments and running expenses. We will have fair rates or we will have some one greater than the Board of Supervisors step in.”’ Mayor Phelan accused the company of inflating the value of the bonds ot the company from $7,000,000 to $11,000,000, but was checked by Attorney Kellogg, who insisted that nosuch thing had been done. The committee then adjourned until 7:30 o'clock on Thursday evening. THE BIG ROAD RACE. Associated Clubs’ Twenty - five - Mile Event Will Be Held >unday. Tue road-racing committee of the As- sociated Cycling Clubs has decided to hold the annual twenty-five-mile event, which was postponed from Washington’s birth- day, owing to the bad condition of the roads around San Leandro, on next Sun- day, the 27th. A two weeks' postponement was first | contemplated, but the roads have. dried idly that they will be in excellent condition by next Sunday, and it was thought best to hold the race then and have it over with. There are over 100 men entered, and it would hava been hard to have held them all in training for an additional two weeks. The imperial Cycling Club’s ten-mile event, which was scheculed for next Sun- day, will therefore be put over until March 7, and the members have been so notified. There will be a big entry list of crack riders for the Santa Rosa meet next Satur- day. In the professional events particu- larly will be seen the speediest fisld of starters ever gathered together at a Cali- | fornia meet, and the amateur events wiil include all the crackerjacks in that class. A special round-trip rate from this City of $150 has been secured, and the visitors from here musi take the 7:30 A. x. Tibu- ron ferry, and will get back about 90'clock Saturday night. A Planet Visible at Midday. The planet Venus may now be seen in broad daylight. Her apparent position 18 about 45 degrees behind or eastward of the sun. She willbe at the meridian at exactly 3 o'clock this afternoon and at an aititude of about 6314 degrees. Her present diameter is 27 seconds of an arc. It will gradually increase until April 26, when it will have become 60 sec- onds, or'the maximum, Venus reached her reatest eastern elongation about midnight of ‘ebruary 15. She is now apparently approach- ing the Sun, and on April 26 will be betneen the earth and the sun. THEY maki pecinlty of Bank Stock paper: thas the water-mark. Mysell-Rollins, 22 Clay* Suggestions From the New Burlesque on “The Prisoner of Zenda,” to Be Presented by the Concordia Club Next Saturday. 10 COST ALMOST THREE THOUSAND The Concordia Club to Give a Grand Entertain- ment. John P. .Wilson and William | Lorraine Have Joined Hands. ,"Z nda’s King,” a Rollicking Bur- lesque, the Resu't—G -orge Lask Is Stage Director. The Concordia Ciub will on Saturday evening next present an original bur- lesque on “The Prisoner of Zenda” en- titled, “‘Zenda's King, or a Misfit Mon- arch.” The “book’” was written by John P. Wilson, who was o long identified with the Tivoli, and the music by William Lorraine, & young composer, who first made himseif popular by his well-known “Mollie Newell.” Tne libretto is very | | funny and the music excellent, and it is a safe wager that this entertainment will outshine anytaing ever given by a private orgamization in this City. Special scenery is being painted tor it and handsome cos- tumes specially designed. George Lask of the Tivoli is staging the affair. The prima donnas (Leon Greencbaum and Milton | Bremer) are on speRking terms and the | burtesque is progressing swimmingly. ‘Ihe first scene is laid in the woods Puritania with an inn in view. The actis opened by a soldiers’ chorus, “The Royal | Guards of Puritania.” Colonel Blotz en- | tersand informs them that King Ruled- | off is to be crowned on the morrow, but | that Swatz Mike (Black Michael) is plot- ting for the throne. They all swear alle- | gience to Ruledoff and exeunt. Biack Mike | with his two minions Bluster anc Buster make their appearance and he sings, Am the Heavy Villain of the Play,” and does a dance, after which the minions disappear and Antwinette (a Chicago ad- venturess, who has previously been mar- ried to every man in tbe play) makes her entrance. Sheand the viliain plot deep plots and resolve to buy some **knock-out drops” and thereby dispose of Ruledoff. Antwinette hies to the drugstore to. pro- e the deadly potion, and Black Mike hies to the nearast grocery-store to buy hls. he King is heard outside to singa drunken song, and enters in a glotious state of intoxication. He calls loudly for the barmnaid. Antwinette comes in, and after handing him the drug recognizes in him one of ber former husbands, and makes a hurried exit. The King, after drinking amply, becomes delirious and sees visions. “Don’t you see them?"”’ he moans; “‘the angels round the top of THE CALL build- ing.” fuusur and Buster enter and carry him off to a place of safety. Fritz and Colonel Blotz next They have discovered the disappe: of tue King and are considerably worried, knowing that Black Mike is next of kin, and will reign if the real King cannot be found. They are in the denths of despair, when Razzle Dazzle, a tramp, rides in on a small velocipede. He bears a startling resemblance to the King. ‘‘Hold, an ideal The tramp ‘shall im- personate the King.” Without further adien they proceed to shave Razzle Dazzle, who loudly protests, but ou wveing told that he is handsomer than before Le becomes satisfied. Exit all 1o have a drink on the new King. A wild blast of music announces the ar- rival of all concerned to hear the procla- mation Black Mike bas E{NF"'d' telling of the disappearance of Ruledoff ana his (Black Mike's) succession to Lhe throne in consequence. He winds up by asking all those in favor of his reigning to say L L%e." All shout “aye.” riumphant entrance of Razzle Dazzle as the King. He divests Black Mike of the royal toga, crown and scepter, and in- forms those present that he has opened a keg of beer at his own expense, and in- vite all to haye some. They do =o, and the first act closes there. The second act opensin the throneroom of the palace and the choras singing a drinking song. The bogus king enters with Colonel Boliz and Fritz, who are trying to teach him courtly manners. Biack Mike enters unobserved by them, shaking his fist as they wend their way off center. T. Willie Dare-Devil runs in'and intorms Black Mike that the real King is confined within the walls of Zenda. Mike sees a ray of hope and dispaiches William to do away with tbe king for good. The crowning of the bogus King is next on the programme and the soldiers as- semble for the event. Then foliows grand processional entrance of Razzle- Dazzle leaaing the Princess Cayiar, who is heavily veiled. Razzle places the crown upon his bead and says a la Chimmie Fadden, “Me and Napoleon always does our own crowning,” after which eloquent burst of language the soldiers back out, leaving the king and the princess alone, He proceeds to court her, as per Uolonel Blotz’s instructions, and upon removing her veil *'to gaze into the windows of her soul” starts back in horror, for the prin- cess is a fright. He says he thinks he will take a stroll, but on being confronted by pistols by Blotz and Fritz changes his mind, comes back and sings a topical song. After divers tendernesses she de- varts. Blotz enters and tells him of the real kinw’s discovery. “We will lose our heads and maybe our jobs.” The roar of a cannon is heard without and several balis roll across the stage. Black Mike snd Razzle engage 1n mortai combat. Mike is about to slay Razzle, when the princes< rushes in between them, exclaiming “Kingor no king, I love bim!” Mike is about to ascend the throne when the soldiers rush in and say, “King Ruledoff is at the gates of the palace.” Black Mike is condemned to have his bead put under the pump. He faints at the trough of water and is car- ried out by Bluster and Buster. Thus the burlesque ends happily for all concerned, the clever skit winding up with a medley of popular songs put to nursery rhymes. It will, indeed, be a grand affair, costing $3000, and he or she may coun: himself as fortunate wno gets an invitation. WANT A NEW AVENUE Sunset Club Wants Nineteenth Avenue Opened From the Park to Ingleside. The residents of that section of the City lying south of Golden Gate Park and west of First avenue, who designate their ter- ritory as “Sunset Valley," claim to be in sore need of improvements. The first and most important of the many evils com- plained of is the entire lack of sewerage in that section. To remedy this a petition was drawn up at a meeting of the Sunset Improvement Club at H strest and Ninth | avenue last night, which was signed by all the members present. This will be presented to the Supervisors at their next meeting on Monday afternoon, request- ing that a sewer be constructed from First to Twentieth avenue over the following line: Along J street to Tenth avenue; thence along H street to Eighternth ave- nue, terminatingat Twentieth avenue and I street. Tkis, if done, will, it'is claimed, carry off the refuse from the Almshouse, which is permitted tolodge in a foul pond in the sandhill south of the inhabited portion of the valley. The next request that will come from this ciub will be to have Nineteenth ave- nue opentd from the park to Iugleside. The Spring Valley Water Company has promised to deed a strip of its land to the City for that purpose. A resolution was introduced by James Kavanagh requesting that the pound limits be not extended to this section at present. A STRIKE THREATENED Employes in the State Printing _ 0 fice Have Not Been Paid. District Organiz:r H. H Watts Wil Go to the Scen= of the Troub'e at Once. A telegraphic aispatch received by TmE CaLy from its special Sacramento corre- spondent stated that the printers in the Btate Pringing Office will go out on a strike to-day. A strike would clog the work of the Legisiature and cause great trouble for the State’s law-makers. Such a.thing as a body of union workmen blocking the work of a Legislature by a strike has no precedeat in the history of the United States. District Organizer H. H. Watts of this City, whose district takes in California, Arizons and Nevada, will leave for the scene of the trouble to-day. The cause of the troubie, Mr. Watts states, is that the printers have not been paid for their services for the past six weeks, and urless they force the Legislature into providing for their money by appropriation, they may be left out altogether. From what can be learned the difficalty is caused by a difference of opinion be- tween Governor Budd and State Printer Jobnston. The Intter asked for an appro- priation of $75,000 to properly conduct the office, but after tue bill reached the Gov- ernor’s Lands hie blue-penciled or vetoed | the measure. Two other bilis appropriat- ing money for the State Printing Office have been placed on the shelf, and mean- while 350 attaches of the office have been wondering when and how they will be paid. Asitisexpected that the Legisla- ture will come to an a journment on or about March 13 the printers decided to iorce the issue. . Mr. Watts, in discussing the situation, stated that he does not believe that the men will go out on a strike to-day, for it would be a violation of the International Typographical Union’s rules. Before a strike coull be legal, under union rules, the men would have to obtain the consent of the International Union’s officers, who are in Indianapolis. ¢ It is possible, but not likely, that the men may walk out on their own responsi- bility, butin such a case they could not look to the union for support. THE BUSY BURGLAR. A Rooming-House on Grove Street and Van Ness Avenue Entered. A burglar entered the rooming-house of Mrs. Cook, Van Ness avenue and Grove street, Monday afternoon and broke into ihe rooms occupied by J. Baldwin, using a false key. Baldwin left his rooms about 1 o’clock and returned about two hours later, when he discovered that some one had been there before him. Among the articles stolen were two suits of clothes, a clock, a razor, & revolver and a valuable valise, which fortunately was empty. - Suit Against Red Men. Joseph 8. Schuster has sued Pacific Stamm No. 78, United Order of Red Man, for $300 said t0 be due for funeral benefit on sceount of the death of the late John Schuster. ‘time and suggested that the jurors read NEW TO-DAY—DRY GOODS. NOVELTY e BLACK GOODS! SPRING 1897. Our importations of NEW BLACK DRESS FABRICS are now ready for inspection. The styles are the most elegant we have ever shown and are the production of the best manufacturers. SPECIAIL! 50 pieces 44=Inch - BLACK FIGURED DRESS FABRICS, in an elegant variety of designs, 75 pieces BLACK PIREOLA CLOTH, in a 75c a Yard. good assortment of styles (both figured and striped), full 44 inches in width, $1.00 a Yard. 12 pieces 44=Inch BLACK PIREOLA CLOTH, all elegant designs, $1.50 a Yard. Samples of above goods sent free to any address. TELEPHONE GRANT 124, 111, 113, 115, 117, 119, 121 POST STREET, ILLRESS CALSES A SHORT DELAY The Craven-Fair Struggle Goes Over Until Monday. Delmas Was Anxious for Trial at Once, but Pierson Was Sick. Cooney’s Attorneys Decide Not to Introduce Any Evidence in ! His Defense. The fight between Mrs. Nettie R. Craven | and the Fair bcirs opened yesterday morn- ing mn court, but only for a time long enough to inform Judge Slack that Attor- ney M. M. Pierson was sick and that an adjournment until Monday was in order. It was Pierson’s partner, R. B. Mitchell, who brought this news to court. Mitchell said Pierson was seriously ill and pro- duced a doctor’s certificate to corroborate his woyds. He thought an adjournment for two weeks would be the proper thing. Attorney D. M. Delmas was for an im- mediate trial. As the representative of Mrs. Craven he was tired of delays and postponement. “We were told a week 8go,” said Dolmas, “that there would be no further delays. Mr. Pierson anyhow, as I understand it, is not the leading counsel on the other side.” Mitchell, in reply, said Pierson had spent tke past fifteen months in studying up the law in the case. His illness was unavoidable. Garret McEnerney chipped in to say that as th re was a triul going on at present it would hardly be worth while 10 begin the case this week. Judge Black finally agreed to let the affair go over until Monday next. In Judze Cook's court the Cooney case was called to allow his attorneys to an- nounce what plans they had matured for his defense. Attorney Reday thought there was no evidence against the notary worthy of the name, and informed the court ‘that no evidence would be intro- duced in his client’s behalf. Attorney Reddy then proceeded to recite legal au- thorities in support of his contention that Cooney should be discharged, aiter which the court announced that a decision would be rendered this morning. In the afternoon Judge Cook laid the matter before the Grand Jury. He said the case was taking up a great deal of his the testimory for themselves. KARNS WAS CONVIOTED. Caught With Counterfeit Nickels in His P ion and Unable to Explain. ‘William A. Karns, who was arrested in Stockton on December 12 Iast on a charge CASTORIA For Infants and Children. of counterfeiting and having spurious coins in his possession, was convicted in, ‘lhe United States District Court yester- - ay. Karns put up a very weak defense, being the only witness called by his attorney, A. P. Van Duzer. He testified that he had caught a woman living in the house where he boarded making counterfeit nickels and had warned her against the practice and had taken her tools and ma- terials from her to prevent her from get. ting into trouble. This he said accounted for the spurious 5-cent pieces found on him. He could not explain why he had not destroyed the stuff or turned it over to the officers. Tne testimony produced by Becret Service Agent Harris and elaborated by the questioning of Assistant United States District Attorney Bert Schiess- inger was strong, and the jury brought | in a verdict of guilty after a short delib- eration. — e o o Will Be in May. A meeting of the delegates appointed by the various organizations ot San Francisco to assist in the preparations for the coming Car- tvalof the Golden Gate will be held in the ssembly room of the Californis Hotel, Bush street, above Kearny. this evening. In deference to the wishes of the Native Sons of the Golden West, as expressed by & delegation of the grand officers, the date of the carnival has been ohanged to the week commencing Monday, May 3. The promises of heagty co-operation made by these gentlos men_inspire the committee with greater hope for its ultimate success. NEW TO-DAY] Hello, Sir! Mr. Grocer— Of “Trophy") give me a can, sir! Nothing else will answer? No, sir! H. Nordman. Vice-Pras, A. Berteling. Pres. o 3ce. Nordman, Trean (Formerly 427 Kear; —HAS REMOVED TO— 16 KEARNY STREET 2. [ |