The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 23, 1897, Page 14

14 THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, MARCH 23, 1897. ALL APPLAUD THE MOVE FOR THE NEW CONSTITUTION The Present Fundamental Law of the State Is Held by Lawyers and Business Men to, Be Responsible for Nearly All the Ills the State Is Heir To. Julian Sonntag Says It Turns Millicns of Money From the State and Keeps Immigrants Away. Henry N. Clement Says It Is the Work of Sandlotters and in Taxing Too Much Instead of Exempting a Little It Has Worked Hardships to All The resolution looking to the calling of a constitutional convention to reconstruct the fundamental law of this State, which was adopted by the Legislature as one of its last and most deliberate acts, finds much favor with all ciasses of people. In- terviews with prominent men, especially the progressive men of affairs in the City, develop scarcely any opposition. Such expressions of opinion as were directed against the measure were based not on the ground that the present constitution is satisfactory, but upon the fear that the convention may be controlied by politi- ans, and that not a better but a worse in- ment be drawn. As against these few doubters, however, the large majority of those interviewed declared, simbly, that in face of such danger the business men | d workingmen—the representatives of best interests of the State—must go on zuard; must meet and defeat it, and must | begin to prepare now for building the best and mosv modern constitution io take the place of tie “worst and most medieval,” es more than that of California. Among those who are particularly pleased with the prospect of a modern constitution for California are the active members of the Manufacturers’ and Pro- ducers’ Association. Julian, Sonntag, president of the asso- ciation, ssid yesterday: *Our constitu- tion fixes upon the State the worst system of taxation that could be could not have been better devised if the intention had been to cripple our indus- tries. I know that this system is respon- sible for driving millions of capital out of the State or preventing its coming here. There is no question in my mind that this is responsible in @ great measure for the flight eastwerd of the men who have ac- cumulated wealth here. In aimost every instance they have quietly soliditied their interests and gone away. ““The constitution was put together hast- ily and has not oniy this misfit taxation system but very many defects. From these defects San Francisco has suf- fered particulariy— saffered irreparabie loss. Oue instance of this we witress vearly in the workings of tho State Board of Equalization. Our whole indastrial system has changed within the past twenty years. We have entered upon new con- Qitions; we have come in.o closer relation- ship with the East: our methods have changed ; our interests revolutionized, and £0 we have got to have laws 10 mccommo- date these changed cond and to get the laws we have a constitution that does | Twenty years ago there did not exist the large industrial and com- mercial organizations that now have a comprehensive grasp and an outiook over the whole world. “These organizations must now get to- not forbid them. e of these characterized | invented. It| gether and go systematically to work toward correcting the fundamental laws of the State. They will be prepared to point out the defects as well as the rood points of our constitution. There may be some good points, but there are many bad one-. ~ It is full of barmful legislation | that bas no business in such an instru. | ment. That is an evil the public will de- | mand to be remedied. Then, too, the | civil service is a necessity of the time | that should be inaugnrated by a new con- | siitution, so that every few vears we would | not pe compelled to undergo the hard- | ship of a political campaign where men are looking for nothing but spol tribute the comparauve lack of | tion to the bad laws of the State. | _“With a modern constitution for the State and a charter for this City evolved from modern progressive ideas, San Fran- cisco would go forward with a speed for which there is nothing in its past to make comparisons. These two things would be a legacy of lasting benefil to be lelt by | this to all future generations. I, for.one, | 2m ready to take my cnances for a new | conatitution.” Harry N. Clement is equally enthu- siastic over the prospects. I saw with surprise THE CALL'S story of how ihe reso- lution for the new coustitutional conven- tion went through. Well, however it happened, it was the bestand wisest thing they did in the whole_session. ent constitution was the result of the sand- lot agitation—practically the work of the sandlotters—and is the very worstin the world. Itisnota fundamental law; itis a hodgepodge of vicious legislation. It so binds and hampers the law-makiug power that there is scarcely a possibility of mak- | ing a good law that is constitutional. | “For instance take section 8 in refer- |ance to municipal charters. It was amended April12, 1887, and the amend- ment was worse than the original. Then | they amended it again in 1892 without re- lieving the trouble. That section was re- sponsiblo in a great measure for the defeat of ournew charter. The people will not | have a charter that cannot be amended. “] think the people are fully aroused now to the disadvantage of our constitution. They have tested it and suffered under it for seventeen -years now and are thor- oughly ripe for a fundamental law, which | this is not. It coniains the worst system | of taxation that was ever devised. As I said it was the work of the sandlotters. They were so bent on cinching the rich | that they have instead spoiled enterprise | and brought harm to the poor. Instead of exempting a lot of things for their | own benefit and simplifying the tax sys- tem—taxiog tangibles—they involvea and complicated it, loaded taxes on charters, franchises and all sorts of intangible things that cannot be taxed. In so doing | they drove capital out of the State and brought ruin upon tne poor. No moneyed man will ever come to California to invest The pres- | while we allow this tax system to live.” Horace G. Platt, attorney, was oue of the doubters. He said if he been in the Lecislature he would bave voted against the measure for these reasons: “I think the times are too hard. Itisa bad scheme to undertake to change the fundamental law at this time. See how the conventions of the two great parties ran to free siiver. The Republicans had to take that back. The constitution is good enoug:. There aresome things in it that might b= better, to be sure, but others that might be & good deal worse. The times are out of joint now, and I think we should prefer the 1ils we have rather than fly to others that we know not of Every fellow that has a scieme for the betterment of mankind would be up in that conven- tion with that scheme. And if the poli- ticians get hold of it there is no telling where we would land. Until this matter is settled capitul will be wary how it seeks investment here. No, I would have opposed the resolu- tion had { been in the Legslature.” Joseph Leggett, lawyer, sees much to gladden his heart in the molding of a modern constitution. “The Governor does not have to sign the resolution submitting this matter to the people,” he said. “Therefore it is now a law. It must be voted upon some time before the next sitting of the Legis- lature, and if it carries toen the Legisla- ture must make provision for the holding of the convention. The convention must meet and conclude its businesa within one year thereafter, 8o that three years will elapse before the new constitntion which I am sure will be ordered by the people—can go into effect. “That I am heartily in favor of it goes without saying. 1f the thought of the time ripens as rapidly in those threa years as it has in the past three the delegates elected to that convention will know how to write the article on taxation: they will know better than to levy tribute on enter- prise. They will place the taxes where they can’t get away, where they will be readiiy assessable and where the placing of them will do the most good. It is not necessary to say that they will place it allon land vaiues. There need be no fear of the action of the convention. It would be impossible in these days (o {rame such another medieval instrument as our pres- ent constitution to_ serve as the funda- mental law of an anligntened people.’” H. L. Pleece, representative of the Inter- national Bricklayers’ Society in the late Labor Congress, also looks with . great favor upon the movement for a new con- stitution. He said: “There is no doubt that the convention will make a much better constitution than we have at present. 1t coula not be worse. The present constitution is now twenty years old. No people ougnt to live under & constitution longer than ta The world moves, and what ma; been just the thing twenty nece: nrilv‘om of tune with the spirit of to-day. ‘e need a new constitution, and I am glad we are to get it."” H. D. Wagnor of San Jose, in the City yesterday, was much _interested in the DProspect of a change. He said: ““The increasing number of amendments being offered to the constitution is alone sufficient to indicate that the instrument isall at fault witn the spirit of the time. i chafes. It will be modernized, and I say, ‘Speed the day.’ : Mayor Phelan had read the article in THE CALL of yesterdny containing an ac- count of the passage of the resolution in the Legislature last Wednesday, but he did not care to express a set opinion for publication without further consideration of the matter. He was asked what amend- ments to the constitution he would favor, and he replied that, perhaps, the most important ones in his estimation were home rule for cities, life tenure of faithful public servants; larger powers to munici- palities looking towara municipal owner- ship of public utilities aud the engrafting of the civil-service system upon munici- palities. With reference to the single-tax propo- sition the Mayor said ghat he had not yet committed himself to it, but Was now seriously studying the matter. “Real estate pays about 90 per cent of the taxes,” he said, ‘‘so the change to the single-tax system would not be such a violent one as some of the others which might be made by a constitutional con- vention.” Superior Judge Tarroll Cook was of the opinion that if the peopie would return to the old constitution of twenty years ago it would probably be better for the whole it e SiR g A ““The prasent constitution is not so good as the old one’” added the Judge, ‘‘but we have settled it in the courts after twenty years of trial and the people Lave become accustomed to it. Business af- fairs have been shaped by it, and the evil effects first following its introduction huye passed away. Itis not a good thing to have a new constitutional convention, It is likely to cause a violent disturbance in the business world and to upset things generally, and the only good it does is to give the lawyers more business. In addi- tion to all that, it is a tremendous ex- pense to the taxpayers.” City and County Attorney Creswell had not given the matter that considera- tion to which it was entitled, but, speak- ing on the wing, he thought that consti- tutional amendinents were ill considered, and usually proposed to meet some end, and not always by those who do not un- derstand the question in its broadest ap- plication to municipal and . govern- mental needs. Tinkering with the consti- 1ution was a dangerous matter at best in his opinion, but there were, no doubt, <ome amendments that would be pro- ductive of considerable good. An inter- mediate Court of Appeals would be an. in- novation greatly to be desired, a court such as exists in the United States courts, to lighten the onerous burdens on the shouiders of the Supreme Court. The mission of such a court would be to dis- ose of many cases which now go t3 the Eupreme Court, and thereby lessen the vexatious and costly deiays with which litigants are now unavoidably harassed. In many classes of cases the intermediate court would be the court of last resort. City and County Treasurer Widber had not thought much upon the subject, but would be in faver of changing the consti- tution of the State 0 s to give San Fran- cisco local self-government. Laws and systems which might work well in country districts with a small and scattered popu- lation would be very unsatisfactoryin a City like San Francisco, where the popula- tion wax large and dense. s 3 Mr. Widber found during his experi- ence in the Treasurer's office that the present mode of collecting property taxes and allowing rebates is verv faulty, being cumpersome and unnecessarily expensive. It had besn already condemned by the Grana Jury and the county officials, all of whom to a unit were opvosed (0 1t. Assessor Siebe talked very freely on the subject. There was much room for re- in the constitution, he said, but tue olid reform was the single tax. longer I am here,’ added Mr. “the more convinced am I that ttie single tax is neces-ary. The present method of assessment is a farce, because in the great majority of cases all property is not given in to the Assessor in the statements, and it is next to impossible for him to find it. There are honorable exceptions to the rule, however. One is Claus Spreckels, who eave in his state- ment two years ago $1,000,000 in cash to be assessed for the purpose of being taxed. This was the highest money assessment I ever had from any single individual. If he hadn’t given 1t in to me I never could have found it. Last year he gave in §278,000. I am lut-sfiei that there are other individuals who had just as much money, but I could not get the evidence. “The single-tax system would largely reduce the expenses of my office. Under the present svstem anybody can get the better of the Assessor by concealing per- sonal property, but land can always be found. My office, were it not for the cost of collecting personal property taxes, could be run for $30,000 less. Then there is the annoyance and the temptation that is laid before them to commit perjury making their statbment. “Then, again, especially in the case of people who have personal property unse- cured by real estate, you have togoto a dozen times in the attempt to collect from them. It is all rightin the country, but we' have 30,000 people in this City from whom we have to collect this tax. “The law says that I shall seize the identical property I assess. Now, it is next to impossible to collect from ships if they did not wish to pay, but they gen- eraily pay. We go to the books at the Custom-house to assess shipe, but when we go.to collect they are off in some other part of the world. *If & constitutional convention should be decided upon by the peopie we could get together and suggest such reforms as our experience has taught us are neces- sary. I think the sentiment of the people is in favor of a new constitution.” Tax Collector Block was not prepared to express a decided opinion on_the subject, but he was in favor of amending the con- stitution, allowing special legislation in the ciue of the City and County of San Fran- cisco. “‘The collection of taxesin this City is of such magniiude and the system is so dafferent from what obtains in the coun- try that the same rule cannot be applied to both. Under the present constitution we cannol make a special law for the City and County of San Francisco. It is a good thing to prohibit special legislation, but it is a little unfortunate thatv the same revenue laws must apply generally throughout the State. “The constitutivn should be amended,"” continued Mr. Block, “so as to give municipal corporations of a certain popu- lation the exclusive right to collect their revenues in their own way and not allow the Legisiature to have anything to do with it. Assessments should be regulated in the same way. If we could elect a con- stitutional convention consisting of men of integrity and knowledge and business requirements and who are familiar with the needs of the various counties and muni¢ipalities of the State it would be a good thing to have such a convention,” Police Judge Carapbell favored the call- ing of a convention. “There should be,” he said, “'a change in the constitution, so as to allow metropolitan_cities to frame their own government. Thers are other instances in which we must have special legislation.”” Chief of Police Crowley said that it would be a very good plan to call a consti- tutional convention, for the present con- stitution had not given satisfaction to the people. A PONIATOWSKI WAS IN TROUBLE Shanghaied on Board the British Ship Lis- more. The Cousin of the Prince Had to Assist the Ship's Carpenter. Came Bick to San Francisco on the Vessel and Then Suddenly Disappeared. The British ship Lismore is getting more thaa her share of houor and glory. The first load of redwood that will go up the Clyde to Glasgow will go away from bere on her, and on ber last voyage a cousin of Prince Poniatowskiserved before the mast and made three tables that the captain has now aboard us souvenirs. He would not sell them for any money, but it the Prince wants a specimen of his cousin’s handiwork he can get it by applying to | Captain Ferguson, on board the British ship Lismore. Captain Ferguson’s strange experience began in Portland, Or. Sailors were very scarce at the time and biood money was plentiful. When the vessel was in the offing the mate went to Captain Ferguson and complained that one of the crew was no sailor,and asked to have the vessel puc sboutand a mansecured in his place. The sailor came aft and complained that he bad been shangbaied and aemanded his liberty. The vessel was under way, how- ever, . and as time and tide wait for no man, ‘the unfortunate landsman was car- ied to sea. When the Lismore was well out to sea Captain Ferguson sent for the man and found that he was a second cousin of Prince Ponigtowski, and that after leaving a theater party he had wandered around theslums and was drugged. The next thing he knew was when he awoke at sea NEW TO-DAY HAIR HUMORS Ttching, irritated, scaly, crusted Scalps, dry, thin, and falling Hair, cleansed, purified, and beauti- fied by warm shampoos With CUTICURA SoaP, and occasional dressings of CUTIOURA, purest of emollients, the greatest skin cures. (Gticura Treatment will produce a clean, healthy sealp with Inxurlant, Justrous hair, when all else fails. Sold throughout the world. PoTTR DEUG AXD CHEX. Coxr., sole Prope., Boston. 07" How to produce Luxuriant Hair," mailed free. SKINS ON FIRE ™7 censrisiisne™ and found himself in the dress of a sailor. T had no means of telling whether he was a sailor or not, and neither could I tell whether his story was straiznt or not,” said Captain Ferguson yesterday. ‘‘He had the bearing of a gentleman and his hands looked as though he had never | done any hard work. As I had paid an advance for him I had to get some work for his pay, so I put him at the carpen- ter's bench. *‘One day I had him removing some par- titions in the after-cabin and 1 was lying on one 6f the settees reading. Suddenly | Poniatowski turned to me and said: ‘Cap- tain, I can tell what you are thinking | about.’ I wasabout to order him out of | the cabin when he said again: ‘Don’t think I'm crazy; [ assure you Iam speak- | ing the truth.’ I looked at the man for a minute and then asked brusquely, ‘Well, what was I thinking about? ‘You were thinking how much more comfortable it would be to have a table near that lounge on which | to put your lig t, your books, your chart | and your pipe, and I can make you one.’ “The man was correct in every detail and I was dumfounded,” continued Cap- tain Ferguson. *“When I recovered from my surprise I told him to go ahead and make the tables, and there they are. He made thres of them, and you can see for yourself that they are weil finished. On our arrival in San Francisco last Decem- | ber Poniatowski disappeared and I nave | never seen or heard from him since.” The tables in question are handsome af- fairs. The tops are from the oak paneiin, of the partition wall of the after cabin an | the legs are of Oregon pine, very beau | fully carved. One thing Captain Fergu. | son is sure of, and that 1s, that whaiever gave Portland a wide berth on his way to the East. The Lismore is loading in the stream, and took the first part of her cargo from | the steam schooner Weeott yesterday. | Some very handsome redwood is going into the hold, and Captain Ferguson says if he can scare up anotter cousin to a Prince, even if he be shanghaied, he will have some more tables made. SHE OOULDN'T SUE. Rosalie Davey Not Permitted to Re- cover Damages. The Bupreme Court handed down a de- cision yesterday sustaining the nonsuit granted in 1he lower court in the case of Rosalie Davey against the Southern Pa- cific Railroad Company. The appellant bad sued for damages sustained by her, irom having walked one night into an un. protected culvert, formerly protected, on the railroad’s right of way on Stanford street, in Alameda County, but her plead- ing bad not been made in conformance with the facts presented, and for that reason she was nonsuited. In the deci- 8100 this explanation occurs: “It is judicial action and not judicial Teasoning or argument which is \ne sub- ject of review, and if the former be correct We are notconcerned with the latier. This principle must result 1n sustaining the ruling in que:tion. While it is matter of regret that the plaintiff may be debarred by the predicament in which the case is found from having her facts submittad to 8 jury, yet primarily the fault lies with her. ~ For these reasons the judgment and order must be affirmed.” Van Fleet rendered the decision, with Harrison, Temrle, Garoutte and McFar- land concurring and Chief Justice Beatty dissenting. G P o Women’s Federation. The Women's Federation held its annual election of ofiicers yesterday with the follow- ing result: President, Mrs. Eva L. Bates; first vice-president, Mrs. Dr.T. B. Janes; second vice-president, Mrs. . K. Stevenot; recording secretary, L M. Kim corresponding sec- retary, Mrs. H. L. Howard; financial secretary, Mrs. D.R. Farr; treasurer, Mrs, S. B. McCoy; audiior, Mrs. J. Rinner; sdditional members for the’ cxecuiive committee, Mrs. A.T. dan, Mrs. 8 J. Phillips and My, K. —————— ivorce Suits Filed. Sults for divorce have been filed as follows 3 Allce T J. Sullivan against Eugene Sullivan, or cruelty; Adelaide Kuight against Jose Knight, for crueity. o o N ———— JEWELRY store, 57 Third, removed to 303 Kearny. Large siock of diamonds, watches, etc. | bas become of the shanghaied sailor he | 00D FOR THE CRAPE-EROWERS Wine- Makers Decide Upon an Important Step Forward. Prices Likely to Rule Firmer, Owing to Storage and Protecticn. Interest Cut Down—Prospects of Re- munerative Figures for the ’96 Crop. At the meeting of the board of dire tors heid last Monday, the presi- dent of the Wine-Makers’ Corporation was instructed to appoint a commit- tee on storage whoss duties would be to provide accommodations in San Francisco for the wines of those members requiring early delivery. On this com- mittee the president appointed Directors P. C. Rossi, B. W. Paxton and Horace B. Chase, who are now engaged in consider- ing the different propositions made to the corporation for this purpose. The numerous brick buildings bordering on and near the railroad south of Brannan street afford ample opportunity for select- ing a valuable site for the new warehouse. Many applications have been received wherein desirable properties are offered at a rental of from 3 to4 per cent on a reason- able valuation of the same. Large tanks will be pluced in the ware- house selected, and cooperage for such purposs can now be had at a cost of one cent per gallon, and the storage expéns: as computed by the committee, will figure much less in San Francisco than it now costs the wine-maker in the country. Such storage in possession of and under the immediate control of the corporation improves the value of this ‘security to such an extent thata much more liberal advance can ve made on the wines and the interest charges still further reduced. The corporation has during the past year cut the interest down from 10 to 8 per cent, and will by this means be able to carry the wine-maker at 7 per cent. Since the announcement of this pan by the corporation there nave come to it a flood of applications from large deale: in the East who desire to handle the co poration’s wines as soon as they are et them in shape for shipment. A prom- inent dealer of iormer days, whose tra issomewhat contracted, has offered his premies at a nominal cost and services in vreparing the wine for marl No action of the corporation has met with such strong and unqualified appro- val by the members as this, and they have indicated their pleasure and rejoicing at what scems to be a probable breaking away {rom the bondage of yeas gone by. 1t is not the wish o’!ha «irectors to en- gage in the wine business, but this pro- teciive measure is likely to invite one step further, which would mean the whols sale marketing of their own goods. The strong determination of the corporation members to is sell their wines at not less than 20 cents per gallon, und this, re- enforced by the proposad addition to the duty on wines, whereby the protection is raised from 30'to 60 cents Jor galion, in- sures remunerative figures for the '96 crop. This doubling of the duty, as annonnced in the tariff bill now before the House, is the occarion for great rejoicing among both the wine makers and dealers. UNDER AMERIOAN COLOBS. A New Law Relating to Registering Vossels Once Foreign. The Collector of Customs yesterday re- ceived instructions from the Department of Navigation at Washington relative to the registering of vessels sold to foreign- ers. Under the old law no vessel that had peen made in the United States and carried the American flag and then sold to foreigners, or carried a foreign flag, was entitled to be re-registered upon again becoming the property of an American; and furtber no vessei was entitled to be registered if owned in whole or in part by any citizen of the United States who usu- ally resided in a foreign countrs. To this there was an exception in favor of United Stutes Consuls and members of firms or houses of trade of citizens of the United States. The new law is of much importance and reads as follows: That section 4165, R. €., be snd is hereby amended to read as follows : Section 4165. A vessel registered pursuant tolaw which by sale has become the property of & foreigner shall be ontitied to & new register upon afterward becoming American property, nnless it has been enlarged or un- dergone change outaide of the United States. FIGHTING THREE SALOONS “Irish Tavern,” “Bay View” and “The Shamrock” Condemned as Notorious. Respectable Residents Just South of the Park Will Have No More of Them. War to extermination has been opened by the respectable residents of Sunset Heights upon an oversupply of unrespeoct- able saloons in that little district just south of the park and adjacent to the Olympic Club grounds. Recent developments brought on a cli- max. There are six saloons. Three of them have not vparticularly offended. The “Irish Tavern,” the “Bay View” and “The Shamrock,” however, are doomed, if the protests of the householders of the neighborhood can vrevent the renewal of their licenses, all of which expire in April. A week azo Sunday the propristor of the “Irish Tavern,” one Patrick Furlong, was arrested for inhumanely riddling a dog with bullets and then having it lubbed to death. He had wantonly made a target of the animal; had tled it in the road, and had taken five shots at it from a distance of thirty feet. Yesterday be was found guilty of the charee by Judge Campbell and was fined $100, with the alternative of 100 days in juil. On Sunday last the proprietor of the Shamrock was arrested for selling liquor tominors. The arrest was made at the instigation of R. A. Tuttle, who has a lit- tle home in the neighborhopd. It was be that pressed the charge of cruelty to ani- mals against the propietor of the Irish Tavern. Immediately after this latest offense Mr. Tuttle drew up a petition and yesterday in a short t'me obtained the signatures of over twenty property-holders. who, with himself, wiil appeal to 1 pervisors not to_reissue 1 three saloons. That his fearls not an enviable one may be inferred from the fact that forty women property-owners in hearty sympathy with the movement were afraid to sign the petition lest they might be made to suffer from the element of ‘which, particularly on Surdays, they are in constant dread. ———— IF your printer can’t get the “Genuine Bank Stock"” paer, send to Mysell-Rollins, 22 Clay.* ATTORNEY KNIGHT FLITS EASTWARD Follows Charles L. Fair to the Wiles of Gotham- Town. A Journey for Health That Ia- cidentally Had Other Ot cts. Talkative Pecple Say the Lawyer and His Client Are Avoiding the Grand Jury. Attorney George A. Knight isoff for New York and Philadelphia. He left sud- denly Sunday night, and beyond a de- claration that ‘“urgent business has called bim East” his most intimate friends know nothing definite of the objects of his mission Enst. The Grana Jury will convene to-day to further investigate the charges of con- spiracy and forgery which the Fair chil- dren have been assiduously circulating against Mre. Nettie R. Craven and the so- called pencil deeds for the past few months. As it happens, these matters were officially brought to the notice of the Grand Jury by Charles L. Fair shortly after he securea Notary James J. Cooney’s arrest on a charge of perjury in connec- tion with the acknowledgments on the deeds. There was some hesitancy on the part of the jurors to act in the case, as another phase of it was about to be tried in tne civil courts. Young Fair, how- aver, was persistent. He secured the good services of Captain Lees, and atter much worry ana lobbying he managed 1o get the jury to consider the evidence brought out 'in” the preliminary examination of Cooney. All this was six weeks ago, and when the jurors were ready for action Fair sud- denly left the City. There were those who wondered why the young millionaire should hurry away from the City when his presencein the inquisitorial chamber would have seemed consistent, in view of his many efforts to force his litigation against the pencil deedsinto a criminal prosecution. But young Fair explained all theselittle discrepancies very readily. He was in poor health, he declared, and needed a change of climate and scenery. He thought recreation awaited him in the spot where Ponce de Leon had formeriy sought the fountain .of youth, and be would spend a_couple of “monts in i 1 Al is was, of course, natural. Fair left ostensibly for the tarpon banks and the land of the alligator, but he must have changed his mind on the road. At any rate, instead of going to Florida, the young millionaire and his wite brought up w New York. To a man in poor health the climate of the Eastern metrop- olis, especially in winter, is rather trying. Fair's ailment, however, was of that kind that hehas found life at the New Nether- lands very agreeabls for the past month, and he has thus far survived the nerve- harrowing noise of Broadway without showing the least signs of discomfort. And he has decided to remain there for another month at least, let thetarpon and alligator complain as they will. Now it happens that hisattorney follows. him. It was Knight who really advised the plan .of throwing the Fair case into the criminal courts, much against the NPW TO-DAY—DRY GOODX, 20 GREAT LEADERS!, In inviting an inspection of our magnificent display of New Spring Styles and Novelties we offer AN EXTRA INDUCEMENT TO AN IMMEDIATE CALL in the shape of the following choice lines on sale AT BARGAIN PRICES TO-DAY! COLORED DRESS GOODS! 25C—Two cases 40-INCH ALL-WOOL FANCY CHECKED HEATHER SUIT- ING, fine va.ue for 50c, will be placed on sale at 25¢ a yard. 50c—Th ree cases 40-INCH ALL-W NEW SPRING CHECKS, in a great va- riety of styles and colorings, Worth 65c, will be offered at 50c a yard. SILK DEPARTMENT! 22000 yards 20.INCH COLORED JAPANESE SILE, evening shades, will be placed on sale at 20c a yard. $1.00 2 pieces BLACK BROCADED DUCHESSE SATIN French manufac- ture, regular price $1 50, Will be placed on sale at $1 a yard. SKIRTS, SUITS AND SHAWLS! Q5 ¢—LADIES MIXED KNICKERBO. KER DRESS SKIRTS, lined and bound, C™ Valus for $150; Special Ssle price 95c each. $4.9 _LADIES CHEVIOT SERGE SUITS, fly front, jacket lined all throngh with silk, wide skirt lined and bound, colors navy, green, tan, gray, black and cardinal, va!ue for $750; Special Sale price $4 95 suit. $1.0(—ELEGANTLY EMBROIDERED SILK CREPE BREAKFAST SHAWLS, B bordered with siik fringe, coiors blac pecial Sale price $1 each. and slate, vaiue for $3; pink, white, blue, creme, cardinal LADIES’ KID GLOVES! 70c—1™ dozen 3-CLASP CHAMOIS § IN GLOVES, in natural and white, regus lar value $1, on special sale at T0c a pair. $1.00~% dozen %CLASP PIQUE KID GLOVES, embroidered backs, In dark, o medium and tan shades, also. biac! on special sale at $1 a pair. $I 51 )—87 dozen 16-BUTTON LENGTH UNDRESSED KID GLOVES, in white, . repular value $2, on special sale at $1 50 a pair. NOTE.—Every pair guaranteed and fitted to the hand. LACES! LACES!- [5c—220 pieces BUITER AND IVORY ORIENTAL LACE, 6 to 9 C™ regular price 25c, will be offered at 15c a yard. LACES! inches wide, EMBROIDERIES! EMBROIDERIES! I5c-—100 pieces CAMBRIC GUIPURE EMBROIDERY, regular price 25¢, will ba offered at 15c per yard. LADIES’ TTUSLIN UNDERWEAR! I5C—LADIES' MUSLIN DRAWERS, yoke band, finished with cluster ‘of tucks, will be offered at 15c. 25¢—LADIES CHEMISES, made of heavy muslin, yoke will be offered at 25c. finished with cording, WC‘LADIES’ GOWNS, made of heavy muslin, lined back, yoke of fine tucks and insertion, will be offered at 40c. MEN’S FURNISHINGS! 15 ¢—200 dozen MEN'S 4-PLY CUFFS, new shapes, sizes 10, 1034, 11 and 1134, regu- C ™ lar price $1 50 a dozen, will be offered at 5¢ & pair. '00_‘72‘ dozen MEN’S, BOYS’ AND LADI solid opera shades and fancy figured S’ ALL-SILK WINDSOR SCARFS, in s, assorted light and dark colors, reg- ular price 25¢, will be offerea at 10c eaca. 25¢—% dozen ALL-SILK SCARFS, in Tecks and Four-in-Hands, made of extra fine quality of swivel siiks, satin lined and in an assortment of new colors, extra good value for 50c, will be offered at 25¢ each. UNLAUNDERED WHITE SHIRTS, made 30c—51 dozen MEN’S AND BOYS with double backs and re-enforced linen fronts, regular price 50c, will be offered at 30c each. 35¢—MEY'S HEAVY UNDYED MERINO UNDERSHIRTS AND DRAWERS, C shirts_fancy silk stitched and drawers with taped seams, regular value for 65¢c, will be offered at 35c each. MURPHY BUILDING, Warket Street, Corner of Jonss, an Francisoco. e T — wishes of the many other lawyers inter- ested in the bonanza millions. It was Knight who planned the Grand Jury coup, and now it seems rather curious that at the very moment when his pres- ence is needed here he feels it incumbent to have business East. Knight, t0o, is not in good heslth. Of Iate he has been subject to headaches and sucb like, and possiblv u course of sprouts on Broadway and Chestnut street will t an improvement. efll‘: the m‘;lntime the Grand Jury will have to worry along without young Kair and his lawyer. “A SUBDUED MILLIONAIRE." That Was How the Late Jacob Ward Smith Described Himself. The will of-Jacob Ward Bmith was ad- mitted to probate yesterday in Depart- ment 9 of the Superior Court. The deceased was at one time a well- krnown and wealthy resident of the Terri- tory and State of Nevads, having gone to the Comstock prior even to its territorial organization. He was a noted member of the first State Legislature of Nevada. He was an active and enterprising man, but in late years suffered from reverses of fortune and became, as he desciibed him- self, *'a subdued millionaire,” although be had bright hopes of rich results from certain ventures which he bequeathed to is widow and second wife, Mary B. Cald- well Smith. Smith was first married to Miss Nettie Kemp of New York, by whom he had three children, now full grown and resi- dent in the East. By his second wife he had one child, Percival Ward Smith, now about five years old. Tue estate is to be distributed among his children. The first wife is to receive $L. When the will was presented there was some doubt as to ils validity because there was testimony to show that the tor was mertied to his second wile after the making of the original will. On further questioning by Judge Coffey, Mrs. Mary Smith testified that the de- cedent said when signing the second writing, which was on the reverse side of original will, that he intended it as codieil to his will.” For this reason the court decided that this was a republication of the orginal will subsequent to his second marriage and that the entire instrument was vaiid in all respects. The valus of the estate depends on the outcome of some exten- ‘e mining ventures. ———— DIED IN A BATH Sudden Demiso of Robert Taylor From s heumatism. Robert Taylor of 512 Oak street died sud- denly at the Harbor View baths yesterday of heart failure. Mr. Taylor was a sufferer from rheumatism, and on the advice of friends went to the baths for relief. He had just entered the tub when he was overcome by an acute attack and died®be- fore relief could be summoned. Mr. Tay- lor came to California from Massachusetts in 1859 and for the past twenty-five years has been connected in_a business way with the drug firm of Redington & Co., 23 Second street. He leaves a widow, two daughters and three sons. His brother, J. Taylor of the Boston Globe, had just arrived in the City on a visit. NEW - TO-DAY. LEVIN BROS. (Incorporated), LEADING CASH GROCERS, 1324-1326 Market Street and 134 Sgt_:h Street. REDUCTIONS FOR TI'E WEEK. -$1.10 regular 25¢ 175 Best Family Flour Sa ck.. Weisbarden Preserves, Jar. - gallon §2 25... Whisky, Bourbon or Rye (5 ;e.lrs’old) Regular $3 50. $2.50 Gal. ine,Regutar $1 50 9 5¢ Mzine Sweet Sugar Regu- =~71c Tar 12250, w74 Can Fanen’s F. Brand Covf Oysters, 7;5 Can Dozen 90¢ 4 1bs 25°¢ Eastern Boneless Codfi: Free to All, Royal Dutch Cocoa. Telephone South 292. Send for Monthly Price List. All goods shipped free within 100 miles. Wrights Indian Vegetabls Fills Are acknowledged by thousands of persons who have used them fox over fortv years Lo cure K HEADACHE, GIDDINESS, CONSTIPA- TION, Torpid Liver, Weak Stomach, Pimples snd purify’ the biood. Crossman's Specilic Mixtors Wiih tais remedy persons can cure tbemselyes without, the least exposure, change of diet, or change in application to business. The medfcine contains pothing that1s of the least injury to tha constliation. Askyour druggis: for it Price, §1, . Imported Italian Lucca Oil, Regular $1.50 01d Portand Sherry W. gallon........ { —— — Pr