The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 3, 1898, Page 8

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1898. IMMESHING THE HARBOR COMMISSION Slade Says That Stratton Advised Compromise. New and Important Evidence as to the Slade-Dundon Prof- its on Lumber. Judicial inquiry into the Harbor Commissioners’ methods of doing busi- ness, especlally the lumber business, is | bringing to light some very interesting facts, particularly in the way of en- lightening the people how the State’s money is squandered. Also how cer- tain dealers are favored and how oth- ers are arbitrarily shut out from hav- ing any of the patronage for furnish- ing supplies and materfals. According to the books of the com- mission thousands of dollars were pald out for lumber between the dates of March, 1897, and Janua of this year. Those who have impl confidence in the integrity of all State officials, In- cluding the Harbor Commissione: no doubt believed that the best of mate- rial was purchased at the most reason- able prices. How far they were correct may be judged from several peculiar transactions recently brought to light. As figures speak louder than words the ‘annexed will no doubt open the eyes of the people to the fact that the Com- missioners during the past year have paid more for the lumber than the market prices, notwithstanding the contract they had with S. E. Slade, who represented the firm of Darby Laydon & Co. This is the way the Commissioners audited and paid the bills that run from March, 1897, to the first of the year: Date of bill. March 25, 1 Total $4075 49 April 29, June 24, June 29, Aug. 27, 5403 01 Aug. 31, 1897....ecuvennnnnnnn 5583 18 Nov. 2, 189T.....00eee 452975 Nov. 2, 1897..... . 5201 02 Nov. 80, 1897, 4612 82 Dec. 28, 1897... 3119 18 At the time these figures were being paid for lumber the market prices were much lower, as'shown by the following figures, which are the cargo prices for ATToRN ™My 7 NING BOQKS SutLiyAN THE v SLADE! e 4 MOMENTS CONSULTATION - ordinary or standard sizes, delivered in this clty: Date No. 1. No. 2. January .. .$ 8 00 $600 February . 800 6 00 March . 800 6 00 April . .83 625 May D800 00 Jupe 800 600 July . 800 6 00 August, £00@8 50 6 00@6 30 September . 850 6 50 October .. .10 00 8 00 November . L1100 900 December . L1200 10 00 Some idea of the significance of these figures may be had from the explana- tion of J. F. Clark of the firm of Byx- bee & Clark, who showed that the State paid out from $250 to $4 per thousand feet more than the lumber could have been bought in the open market.” In the first place there is a material difference between No. 1. and No. 2 lumber. The first is the best Douglas fir or Oregon pine, clear and free from blemishes of all kinds. The second is more or less full of seafns, knots and pitch seams and possibly rot. Therefore if the State pays for No. 1 grade and gets No. 2 grade the profit to some one must be large at the end of twelve months. From what the dealers say the bulk of the lumber furpished to the Harbor Commission- ers has been of the latter kind, and the figures show that the best quality was bargained for. In fact, nearly every one who put in a bid did so intending to fill orders with No. 2 material. Some of these facts were learned from Mr. Clark, whose firm put in a bid for the contract on last March. According to the story Willlam Inglis, whose father was on Commis- sloner Colnon’s bond, and offered to get the contract for the firm with the understanding that he was to have a fair commission for the favor, Inglls ‘explained that by virtue of the rela- tionship between his father and Col- non he was able to secure the influ- ence of the Commissioner in Byxbee's fovor. There were many interesting Him to conversations between these gentle- men, and Mr. Clark was informed that while the call for bids was under stood to mean No. 1 lumber, still No. 2 of fair quality was generally delfvered | and accepted. Upon this basis Mr. | Clark put in his bid for $7 40 per 1000 feet. As soon as the bids were opened Inglis saw that he had been “thrown” by his friend. Mr. Clark, in speaking of the delay, said he was sure that the Commis- sfoners had decided to give the con- tract to Slade, but he was determined to put in another bid, and to this end | he wrote the following letter to the Commissioners: SAN FRANCISCO, -March 9, 1898. To the Hon. State Board of Harbor Commissioners, San Franclsco, Cal.— Gentlemen: Our bid under date of March 2, to furnish you with lumber, not having been accepted by vou, we hereby withdraw the same. As new bids have been called for, we desire to make you a new offer, and hereby agree to furnish you with pine lumber such as you have been using for repairs on your wharves along the city front for $8 per 1000 feet, board measurement, delivered. Hoping to be favored with your busi- ness, we remain, dear sirs, Very truly yours, BYXBEE & CLARK. This letter was in line of the propo- sition to work in No. 2 lumber, for the writer stated that he would furnish “'such as you have been using for re- pairs on your wharves along the city { front.” Byxbee & Clark’s last bid was | an offer of $8, and the other bids ranged down to $7 40 per thousand, excepting Slade’s, which was “at the | market price.” The latter was accept- | ed. Upon this Mr. Clark said: “It is well understood that while the con- tract calls for the best lumber, the quality known as No. 2 is furnished. | So vyou see by taking second-class lumber and paying more than first- class prices there was a loss to the State of from $2 50 to $4 per thousand | feet. Even first-class lumber at the prices showed by the Commissioners’ bills would make the amounts paid for lumber more than the market prices, as contracted for in Slade's bid. It was our first bid that set the price on lumber for the first four months, and then the Commissioners began to pay more and more for what they got.” It will be noted in the table of mar- ket prices given that prices took a jump between September and October. This was caused by the lumber combine agreeing on fixed prices on October 23, | but at no time since the beginning of last year have the market prices been more than $12 for No. 1 and $10 and $11 for No. 2. Still the State has been | excessively paying several dollars per thousand for lumber that the dealers say is rated as No. 2. Mr. Laidiaw of the Bibbs Lumber Company declares that the contract en- tered into with Slade is no contract at all. He says that the law requires the price of the article offered to be given, or for a stated time or for a fixed amount of material. He said: “By this | slipshod contract, if it can even be | called such, the State has been filched | out of thousands of dollars. There are | plenty of dealers who would have fur- | nished the best of lumber at the ruling prices of the market and still the State would have been better off in a finan- cial way. It is a belfef that many thousands of feet of lumber have un- necessarily been purchased, for new lumber is called for every time a lit- tle patching is necessary. The ques- tion is what becomes of the old lumber which comes from the sheds and fences | that are being torn down all of the | time?"” i el 1 SLADE ON THE STAND. | Admits Having Compromised With | the Pacific Company. | Tt is a good deal like pulling an ele- phant’s tusk with a cotton thread to place the facts of the rottenness and culpability of the Harbor Commission on the records of Judge Belcher's court. Just the same, link by link has been welded the proof of the manipulation | by the Dundon-Slade jobbers of a | robbery contract system, which never could have been established or fostered | without connivance and collusion. It is worth while recording that with the notable excepti6bn, which will be cited in full, and a few briefly worded outbursts, Mr. Stratton yesterday took his battery of objections in out of the wet. S. E. Slade, the side partner of P. F. Dundon, was on the witness-stand the larger part of the day, without show- ing any indication of recovery from the stroke of Colnoncitis which at- tacked him yesterday immediately af- ter he had taken oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. He “didn’t know,” he *could guess,” he did know a few things, but they were “secondary and hearsay”; he was "‘not a good witness,” and alto- gether the playful aptitude of his fail- ure of memory and want of knowledge was interestingly in contrast with the more morbid dumbness and dullness displayed by other witnesses who are in the harbor contract “push.” Slade set out by startling the court and the attorneys of the Paraffine Company by explaining that he had found one of the missing books. For a moment it was thought that the wit- ness had decided to remember and to know something, but his examination had scarcely begun before the expecta- tion vanished. He stated that the so- called firm of S. E. Slade & Co. began Some years ago as an incorporation. | It was merged into the incorporation of | Wood, Slade & Thayer, which was | Succeeded by the incorporation, S. E. | Slade & Co. When asked why he didnot remember about the Wood, Slade & | Thayer Incorporation while on the | stand Tuesday, as soon as he could | swallow the lump that jumped into his | throat he sald he did not recall that he had denled {ts existence. f “The year of 1894” wasasnearasSlade | could fix the date at which the Wood, | to the firm as a plurality. the date of the last meeting of its di- rectors. Z “Were you not the vice-president?” asked Judge Belcher. “Yes, sir.” “When did the directors hold thelr last meeting?” “Some time in 1894,” replied Slade, smiling benignly on the court. Judge Belcher nodded his head and looked off into space reflectively. Slade thought somebody ought to be questioned who had better knowledge of the subject than he had. He had testified with refreshing positiveness and unhesitation that he was the only | member of the firm of S. E.| Slade & Co., but had not discip- | lined himself to think and speak | of the firm’'s business as his personal affair throughout the affair. This un- | conscious declaration led him unguard- | edly and constantly into speaking of Stratton Seriously Objects. “our business,” and otherwise referring “You say you are S. E. Slade & Co. yourself; what do_you mean by ‘we’ and ‘our?" " asked Judge Cope. The witness thought it sounded bet- ter. For the same euphonious reason he had adopted the title of S. E. Slade & Co. Counsel for the Paraffine Company then called Slade off the stand to at- tend an examination of the books. The latter were almost under the hand of G. F. Wright, Slade’'s attorney, who | rose to his feet at the corner of the jury | box nearest the witness. When Mr. | Sullivan started to turn the leaves of | the first book he took up Slade, acting under the advice of Mr. Wright, | stopped him. The following legal cross- fire resulted: Mr. Sullivan: Is there anything in that | book you won't let me look at on this | page? I was looking at a page and he covered it up. George T. Wright—If your Honor please, it might be appropriate to sug- gest at this stage of the examination of the witness that I appear here to repre- sent Mr. Slade. The witness is summoned here and, of course, he occupies a dual | capacity. First, there is the duty he owes to the court to tell such facts as may be pertinent and material to this inquiry; second, there is the right which is due and owing to him to preserve his business secrets from the prying eves of a business rival. So that Mr. Slade’s po- sition in this matter may notbe misunder- stood in any direction, I will say that Mr. Slade is here and Is perfectly willing that your Honor shall look over every page of the books which he has produced here in evidence. Not only that, but he is willing to submit to you any scrap of paper or any document which he has in his office, whether it is correspondence of 2 business nature or of a private or fam- ily nature. But he certainly insists upon his right here in the production of his books, to his claim to consider inviolate his transactions with other people than the Board of State Harbor Commission- ers. He is perfectly willing to exhibit to counsel any scrap of those books which throws any light on the dealings with the Board of State Harbor Commission- ers, but he insists that counsel here have not the right of an inquisitorial nature, under the mask of a subpena duces te- cum, to go into his private accounts and reveal his private business transactions. 1f your Honor will indulge a few refer- ences— The court—There is no doubt about that. It is not necessary to cite any authorities. But this {s not a production of books for examination by a business rival; this is a production of books for the counsel on one side of the case to examine with re- spect to matters under inquiry. This in- quiry is not intended to be and cannot be, in fact, an exposure of the business secrets of Mr. Slade to business rivals. Mr. Slade has submitted to the court his books; he is here in obediente to a subpena, and the books under his charge are being examined by counsel, and not by a business rival. There Is no risk of exposure of business secrets. The counsel will not be permitted to inquire or examine into business se- crets that are not relevant to the inquiry here, but merely as touching the facts that' do relate fo this inquiry. If it is necessary to make any exclusion from the courtroom, you can have that exclusion, if you are afraid that the secrets of his books will be exposed to ears that are hostile. But there is no intention so far revealed on the part of counsel for the laintiff to examine further than the ssues of this case may fairly warrant, and certainly none will be granted. Mr. Wright—If vour Honor please, T have a case here that seems to throw some light upon the question. I must confess that I found considerable embarrassment in finding so little in the law on the rights of a witness under a subpena duces tecum. Mr. Sullivan—Before counsel proceeds to any argument, I suggest that It is a| very unusual proceeding for a witness subpenaed.in a case, to appear in court with an attorney to represent the witness. That is certainly an anomalous proceed- ing. Witpesses are not entitled to appear in" court and state their objections through counsel. The only counsel in this case authorized to speak under the law are the counsel for the plaintiff and the counsel for the defendants. If during the course of the examination of the witness improper questions are asked it is the duty of counsel representing the defend. ants to make the proper objections. Those objections may be made by counsel rep- rs-en!ln" the defendant, and by none other. It is our duty then to answer those objectlons. If your Honor would allow one witness to appear in court ac- companied by an attorney every witness in a case can come in here with an attor- ney. ¥he Court—TI think the statement of Mr. Wright {s sufficient. I am entirely ] Slade & Thayer Co. ceased to exist, or satisfled that it was made in the proper | spirit; but I cannot listen to his argu- ment. Mr. Wright—No extended argument. I almply ‘want to call your Honor's atten- lon— Mr. Sulllvan—Counsel has no standing here at all. Mr. Wright—I have no sfanding except that which courtesy of counsel and the discretion of the court will give me. The court—Hand me the book and I will examine it. The book is handed to the court, after which counsel and the counsel in the case confer at the bench. Mr. Wright—If your Honor please, Mr. Slade is perfectly willing to submit to your Honor's suggestions in the matter and allow counsel In the case the fullest latitude in the examination of the books, under their promise, of course. Mr. Stratton—If your Honor please, I would like to have it appear on the rec- ord that which was suggested by the court, which, with permission of counsel, I might state. That is this: In so far as any objections have been made to_ the inspection of the books, it has not been made upon other than legal grounds by the Board of State Harbor Commisssion- ers, which of course I will formulate in a proper objection hereafter. But the ob- jection was’altogether by counsel for Mr. Slade as to the inspection of his business secrets, and he stated to the court in my presence that if counsel would give their word that which they saw there which did not relate to this case would not be divulged, he was perfectly willing he should take those books and make a thorough examination of them. I would like the record to show that, in order that it might not be inferred indirectly or otherwise that the Harbor Commisssion- eres were objecting or were in any way a party to the refusal or the objection of the witness to produce tnose books. Mr. Cope—We would like to know {f Mr. Stratton does or does not object to the introduction of this testimony. Mr. Stratton—I will make a legal objec- tion that anything that is in the book, or any entries in the books, not made by the board or with their knowledge and con- sent, Is not binding upon them. That, of course, I have a right to make, for the reason that I would not be here in the capacity of attorney and permit incompe- tent and secondary evidence, as I take it, subject, of course, to the views of the court, and upon that predicate a find- ing by the court as to fraud or collusion, when the acts as to which that proof related were without the knowledge alto- gether of the defendants in the case. That is the position I have taken all along in the case. Mr. Cope—If your Honor please, of course this little speech of Mr. Stratton is very neat in its way, but it seems to us it comes with very bad grace after his making objections to the inspection of the books heretofore when the court ruled that we had a right to inspect them. If he wants to make an objection it is his privilege. He has a right to make any objection that he desires to make. We expect the court to rule according to legal principles, and we suppose that all his objections are legal objections, or what he regards as legal objections. he has any to make we would like to have him make them before we go into the matter. Mr. Stratton—The time has not come now. There is another time. Mr. Cope—Then I don’t see that the Stratton Tamely Objects. time had come for Mr. Stratton to make a speech. Mr. Stratton—It was proper, because the court and ourselves have reached an agreement which was not in the record. Mr. Cope—We say Mr. Stratton had nothing to do with™ the agreement that was made. It was finally directed by the court that the attorneys in the case, together with Slade, should examine the books during the recess hours. Slade deliberated quite a while on the stand before he answered ““Yes” to the inquiry as to whether P. F. Dundon was a member of the firm of Darby Laydon & Co. “Why do you hesitate?” asked Judge Cope. “Because,” was the complacent reply, “because I only know from hearsay.” He admitted that Dundon was his partner in the San Franclisco Timber Preserving Company. He did not know whether articles of co-partnership had been flled. Each owned half.. The right to the patented process they use was bought from Curtis & Isaacs for $500. He could not positively say as to the amount of business they transacted with the board. Slade’s knowledge of the business of the “San Francisco Company” part- nership and of the creosoting process which he manages was also pretty much from “hearsay.” He knew some- thing in a general way about the pro- cess, but he was not an expert. 5 While Slade was testifying that the ‘company’s” expert was the foreman; | that he didn’t know his name; that he didn’t know the man; that he éidn’t know why he knew the foreman was a creosoting expert, Judge Belcher, Wwith eyes riveted on the facial move- ments of the witness, was a study in the physiology of attention. After the testimony of Granville M. Stewart of the Pacific Pine Company, showing that the four suits of the lat- ter company against the Harbor Com- mission to restrain them from paying the exorbitant lumber bills of S. E. Slade & Co. were dismissed as the result of a compromise - in- tended to allow the Slade com- bine to continue their extortions, Slade could not dodge corroboration of | the evidence. He admitted that the “Pacific Pine Company permitted us to receive our pay from the Harbor Commission. By receiving a portion of ‘the—" he continued, and, re- gathering himself, “By our buying a portion of the lumber from them—one- half the lumber we used, the cases were dismissed.” He knew nothing about the Darby Laydon terms of the compromise, although he admitted having made the arrangement on the part of the Slade Lumber Company. Mr. Stratton was acting as the at- torney for the S. E. Slade Company While its interests were involved in the litigation of the Pacific Pine Lumber Company against the Board of Harbor Commissioners. Slade testified that Stratton’s advice to him was that his right to collect from the State was very doubtful for If | the reason that he (Slade) had fur- nished lumber in quantities, for which the price exceeded $3000, and it was by reason of that advice of Stratton’s that Slade made the compromise with the Pacific Pine Lumber Company, by which it was agreed that the Slade Lumber Company should purchase half of all the lumber it should fur- nish to the Board of State Harbor Commissioners from the Pacific Pine Lumber Company, and that the Pa- cific Pine Lumber Company would dis- miss its suits against the board and make no opposition to the payment of Slade’s bills, which amounted to over $10,000. Howard C. Holmes, chief engineer for the board, proved to be a very straightforward and intelligent wit- ness. It would seem that counsel for the Paraffine Company overlooked an important point Mr. Holmes might have determined. He affirmed that the ten pounds of creosote to the square STRICKEN CONg g T oV 40 SLA foot of piling, which is the quantity | used under the San Francisco Com- Ipany's contracts, is an experiment, though the fourteen pound, sixteen pound and eighteen pound injections have proved successful, according to quoted experience and his own observ- ations. It is fairly well known that the San Francisco ten pound creosote piles on the water front are a failure so far as successful resistance to the limmoria and teredo are concerned. In reply to direct questions Mr. Holmes stated that 10 per cent of the San Francisco creosoting had proved vulnerable and was a failure. It was not shown, however, whether the estimate of the percentage of destruction represents a relative part of all the piles placed dur- ing the comparatively brief period the San Francisco Company has en- Jjoyed the especial favor of the board in the matter of experimentation, or a relative part of the first batch driven. That is to say, the success or failure of the San Francisco ten pound creo- sote piles can only be fully determined by ascertaining the percentage of loss discovered in the first batch of piles placed since they are of longest period of trial. This is the esssential element in deciding the question, and if the 10 Stratton Silently Objects. per cent destruction of all the piles placed is discovered to be confined largely to the piles first placed it throws a different light on the value of percentage testimony in this in- stance. This is asserted to have been the last of several devices to shut out the Par- affine Paint Company, though they of- fered the lowest bids on all the classes of the specifications; and to glve not only the contract for the Green street wharf supply, but the pile supply, for a year to the Dundon-Slade Company. The Paraffine Paint Company had the right of a creosoting process, but no plant, though they had provided for the purchase of one at an outlay of $25,000, to be removed to San Francisco in the event they secured the contract. It would require two weeks or longer to re-establish the plant. Their inten- tions and the adverse conditions they had to contend with, not to mention B PADMIRING the imvestment required were well known. They could not offer proposals under this penalty clause for two mani- fest reasons. First of all, they could not deliver creosoted logs in the ten days specified, though they could per- form the Green street contract in forty days. hyh: Holmes testified in substance that the multifarious charges in the specifications, which plaintiff avers were repeatedly made to favor the San Francisco Timber Preserving Com- pany, were inserted in obedience to instructions from Chairman Colnon, who is executive head of the commis- sion. The injection of the new and ob- noxious clause in the third set of speci- cations, described as a penalty clause, GT.WRIGHT, ‘\TTOQ w, For O+ SLADES DE was also ordered by Chairman Colnon and framed by Attorney Stratton. In this lurked a large-sized nigger. Bond was required in the amount of $10,000 for the faithful performance of contract. The successful bidder was required to furnish piles at the rate of twenty a day after notification for de- livery, and forty days were allowed for the completion of the Green street wharf work. A penalty of $50 a day was to be paid for every day of failure to deliver piles, beginning with ten days after notification. It was further provided that the board reserved the right to annul the contract after the first day of delay, and that any pend- ing suit against the contractor would not interfere with the right of the board to terminate the contract. It was openly threatened that if they secured the contract the Dundon com- bination would institute a restraining action, hanging up the performance of the contract indefinitely. Then the board could come in with its penalty of $0 a day, and the very | first day past the ten within which it would be impossible for the Paraffine | company to begin delivery annul their contract. As stated, Mr. Holmes put this | clause, proposed by Mr. Stratton, at- | torney for Mr. Slade, a half-owner in | the San Francisco Company, in the | specifications, on the order of Chair- | man Colnon. Mr. Holmes further testified that the | building contractors always supplied | piles before Mr. Colnon became a mem- | ber of the board. The board had two inspectors, supposed to test the San Francisco Company Dpiles who never had had any experience with manufac- tured or creosoted piles. Occasionally as engineer for the board Mr. Holmes had tested piles by Boring, and found a few not sufficiently creosoted. Once in sawing several long piles it was dis- covered in the cross sections that they were not adequately treated and they were sent back to the company for re- treatment. WILL NOT ATTEMPT T0 COMPETE Southern Pacific to Take No Part in the Promised Rate War. The Gain on Alaska Would Not Com- pensate for Loss on the Local Traffic. General Passenger Agent Goodman, of the Southern Pacific, arrived in the city Tuesday evening from Chicago, where he has been attending a general meeting of the different traffic managers, called for the purpose of coming to some agree- ment regarding through travel from the East to Alaska. Mr. Goodman, when seen yesterday in his office, had nothing to say concerning the matter that has not already been published in The Call, further than to state that the Southern Pacific would not reduce its rates any more than is neces- sary to absorb the extra steamer charges from San Francisco to Puget Sound ports. “The northern lines have started the ball rolling,” said Mr. Goodman, ‘“and tickets have been sold, second-class, from Chicago to Seattle and Vancouver for $25, the regular rate belng $51 50. “Of course this is directly against the agreement entered into bK the different lines; but if they break their compact I know of nothing that can restrain them, unless it be the interstate law, which for- bids discrimination, and that can do noth- ing with the Canadian Pacific, which runs on British territory. “Of course, we could cut rates also if we wished, but it would not pay us. With the cut and the absorption of the steam- ship rates, we would lose more on our regular business to the coast than we could possibly make through any ex- pected travel northward.” Unless some definite agreement is soon arrived at between the different trans- continental lines, it looks ve: much as if the bulk of the travel will roll over the northern lines, which will force one another to carry passengers for practically nothing if they once start slashing. —_———— William Austin on Trial. ‘Willlam Austin, murderer of James Fannon, was placed on trial before Judge Wallace yesterday. The killing of which Austin is accused occurred on the morn. Nameline TheModen STOVE POLISH. Producesa JET BLACK enamel gloss. Dustless, Saving. 5 and 10 cent boxes. Tryltonymgdemm. J: L: PRESCOTT & CO., NEW YORK. ADVERTISEMENTS. B e e U ing of November 15 last in a saloon &t Ja‘ckson and Kearny streets. .The pris- oner and his victim had been drinking and quarreling, and finally Austin dreg- a knife and stabbed Fannon to: deat The prisoner will plead self-defense. —_———— THEODORE FIGEL'S JURY. H. Harms sgle—?ed Out of a Venire of Fifty—Nine Men in the Box. Another furor, - in the person of H. Harms, was accepted yesterday to try Theodore Figel for the murder of Isaac Hoffman. Talesman after talesman was examined and excused. Nine men now occupy the jury box, but it i8 thought that several days will pass before three more are found acceptable to both sides of the case. M. Frank, 8. Asch, Charles Wetmer, H. W. Scanlon, W. B. Isaacs, C. Dogeloh, 8.. C. Dutton, F. S. Butler, 8. E. Coffey, M. C. Laske Swertfigher, H. E. Coffey, M. ¢ Taskey, Max olf, H. Burkhart, W. E. Furguson and J. W. Cudworth were promptly excused on various grounds. At 4 o'clock all talesmen pres- ent ‘had been examined and an adjourn- ment was taken until 10 o’'clock this morning. —_—e———— In the Divorce Courts. Julla Hendrick was granted a divorce from Lyman Hendrick yesterday on the ground of failure to provide. Annie P. Humphréys was granted hes application for divorce from Chastien Humphreys. The decree was issued on the ground of defendant’s habitual intems pérance. The plaintiff was allowed to re« sume her maiden name, Julia Roberts. Annife B. Oswald was granted a decrea of divorce from John A. Oswald on the ground of infidelity. - ‘Willlam G. Schur was given a divorcs from his wife, Mary A. Schur, on the ground of desertion. Judge Hebbard granted Eva Ross a di- vorce from Hugh Ross on the ground of desertion. The defendant in the action was ordered to pay his wife alimony in the sum of $30 a month. —_——— Charged With Burglary. Nat Wall, a waiter at the Hotel Savoy, was arrested yesterday afternoon on a charge of burglary. The complaining witness 1s W. W. Funge Jr., a traveler for an Eastern house, who is a guest at the hotel. On’ Monday Funge went to take a bath, leaving the door of his room unlocked. He noticed Wall outside his door, and when he returned $28 had been stolen from his. purse, which he had left in the room. Wall confessed to taking the money, and begged Funge not to prose- cute him. —ee Dragged and Kicked. James Tracey, a boy 12 years of age, met with a serlous accident yesterday afternoon. He was exercising a horse be- loniging to his father in a vacant lot on Harrison street, near Eighth, when he fell off. His foot caught in the stirrup, and he was dragged along .the ground for about fifty yards before he was re- leased. The horse’s hoofs struck him on the jaw and back of the head. He was taken to the Receiving Hospital, where Dr. Thompson, after an examination, thought that his skull had been frac- tured at the base. His parents live at 215 Dore street. ADVERTISEMENTS. Annual Sales over 6,000,000 Boxes BEFLLAS FOR BILIOUS AND NERVOUS DISORDERS such as Wind and Pain in the Stomach, Giddiness, Fulness after meals, Head- ache, Dizziness, Drowsiness, Flushings of Heat, Loss of Appetite. Costiveness, Blotches on the Skin, Cold Chills, Dis- turbed Sleep, Frightful Dreams and all Nervous and Trembling Sensations, THE FIRST DOSE WILL GIVE RELIEF IN TWENTY MINUTES, Every sufferer will acknowledge them to be A WONDERFUL MEDICINE, BEECHAM'S PILLS, taken as direct- ed, will quickly restore Females to com- plete health. They promptly remove obstructions or irregularities of the sys- tem and cure Sick Headache. Fora Weak Stomach Impaired Digestion Disordered Liver IN MEN, WOMEN OR CHILDREN Beecham’s Pills are Without a Rival And have the LARCEST SALE of any Patent Medicine in the World, 25¢. at all Drug Stores, STATEMENT OF THE CONDITION AND AFFAIRS OF THE Liverpool and London and Globe INSURANCE COMPANY, o F _Liverpool, England, on the 3ist da: December, "A. D. 1596, and for the §-e§§ ending on that day, as made to the Insurance Commissioner of the State of California, pur- suant to the provisions of sections 610 and §11 of the Political Code, condensed as per blank furnished by the Commissioner. CAPITAL ASSETS. Real estate owned by company, 5,077,781 88 ns on bonds and mortgages 8,229,575 08 Cash market value of all stocks and bonds owned by company ........ 31,422,612 61 Amount of loans secured by piedge of bonds, stocks and other mar- ketable securities as collateral. Cash in banks Interest due and accrued on all 2,325,080 63 2,667,269 85 409,524 60 Premfums in due course of coile 1,633,853 09 4,582 04 Annuities, life and rev terests purchased by the com- pany .. 2,042,718 73 Deposits an Tosses ... 256 54 Total assets ...... & 713,535 02 LIABILITIES. Losses adjusted and unpaid, losses in process of adjustment or in suspense, losses resisted, including expenses $ 643,735 00 Gross prem n " ning one year or less, reinsurance per cent; gross premiums on fire risks running more than one year, reinsurance pro rata......... 5,033,508 25 Amount reclaimable by the insured on_ perpetual fire insurance poli- cles 331,218 48 Liability life department 30,052,329 90 Cash dividends remaining unpal 12,810 00 All other demands against the pany ... weeaeee 85,90 08 ‘Total llabilities . . $36,904,593 63 INCOME. Net cash actually received for fire premiums -..$ 7,784,175 04 Received for interest and dividends on bonds, stocks, loans and from all other sources weeee 964,844 58 Total income . -++$ 8,729,020 52 EXI Net amount paid for fire losses......§ 4,139,550 16 Dividends to stockholders 1,283,829 00 P;ldkor allowed for com: g rokerage ... 1,105,; Paid for salaries, fees and T g charges for officers, clerks, etc.. 623,365 18 Paid for State, national and local 169,635 08 605,861 75 "Total expenditiires .. S8 8,077,846 97 Fire losses incurred during the year 4,199,550 48 RISKS AND PREMIUMS, o All other payments and expendi- tures ... Fire Risks. | Premiums. Net amount of risks| written during the, year oo 'sz.m.smmino‘m,m L] Net amount of risks expired duri th e! .| 2,247,943,825] 11,431,739 44 -| 2,045,554,885| 9,906,579 85 JOHN M. DOVE, General nager. Pt T."I. ALSOP, Buh-ulnnrs!l'-u. P ubscribed and swi i day of April, , et h"‘:".“:fna S .“nl United States Vice-Consul at Liverpool. CHARLES D. HAVEN, RESIDENT SECRETARY. Mm‘,'o.mm‘ B, 8. P