The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 28, 1898, Page 6

‘THE SAN MONDAY. FEBRUARY 28, 1808 " JOHN D. SPRECKELS, Proprietor. o0 SOHI D SRHECKELS ol Sl Address All Communications to W. S. LEAKE, Manager. PUBLICATION OFFICE. Market and Third Sts., S. F- Telephone Main 1868. 1AL ROOMS......... .2IT to 221 Stevenson street i Telephone Main 184 FRANCISCO CALL (DAILY AND SUNDAY)Is '"fe.f:?by carrlers in this city and surrounding towns for 15 cents a week. By mall $6 per year. per month €5 cents. THE WEEKLY CALL. ©OAKLAND OFFICE .... Eastern Representative, DAVID ALLEN. NEW YORK OFFICE.. Room 188, World Building .One vear, by mall, $1.50 WASHINGTON (D. C. OFFICE Riggs House C. C. CARLTON, Correspondent. BRANCH OFFICES--527 Montgomery street. eorner Clay open until 9:30 o'clock. 339 Hayes street: open untl! 930 o'clock. 621 MoAllister street; open until 9:30 | c'clock. 615 Larkin street: open untll 9:30 o'clock £W. corner Sixteenth and Misslon streets: open untll £ o'clock. 265I8 Mission street: open untll 9 o’clock 106 Eleventh st open until9 o'clock, 1505 Polk strae: cpen until 9:30 o'clock. NW. corner Twenty-second end Kentucky streets; open until 9 o’clock. AMUSEMENTS. | vention may assemble at a comparatively early date, obin Hood.” 1l We Forgive Her. o.'s Hall-Marino, the Violiz Virtuoso, all—Piano Recital, Thursday even- Olympta, corner M: The Chutes—Chiq! Mechanies’ Pavili Paclfic Coast Joc on and Eddy streets—Specialties. ta and Vaudeville. on—Mining Fair and Klondike Exposition. ey CInb—Races at Ingleside to-day. AUCTION SALES. By Frank Butterfieli—This day, February 23, Orlental Rugs; Sutter street, at 2 0'clock. -This day, February Furniture, at neent & Gallag] 563 Bush street, at 11 0 By G, H. Umbsen— gomery sireet, at,12 o'clock. : By Madison & Burke—Thursday March 3, Real Estate, at 6% Market street. at 12 o'ciock. or- ay, March 7, Real Estate, at 14’ Mont- HE speculative markets of the East began to | STILL BREAKING THE RECORD. | T!cei the strain of the Cuban situation last week, | and during the early part there were several| in stocks and bonds in Wall street, but at the close .a reaction occurred and prices took the up grade again, chiefly under prospects of free importa- tions of gold into the United States from Europe. During all this uncertainty in stocks and bonds, how- ever, the regular merchandising of the country went on as usual ‘without a break. Indeed, the movement of goods was even larger than during the -preceding | week, as was-shown by the increased bank clearings,' which exhibited a gain of 54 per cent over the same | week in 1897, and, what is still more noteworthy, not | a city-of any consequence showed a loss. To realize | what this means it is necessary to know that over | eighty cities and towns report their clearings weekly. Of these eighty cities and towns‘the three showing a decrease from last year were Hartford, 5.9 per cent; | state convention would of course not interfere with | leadership in almost every step that is to be taken. | the nation the Western States add sums sufficient to | | tion imposed upon the people, should it be difficult to Norfolk, 3.5 per cent, and Bay City, Mich., 1 per Practically every city in the country showed a | gain, ‘and the combined clearings aniounted to the | enormous sum of $1,201,874,000. The failures throughout the country last week were | only 183, against 269 for the préceding week, 258 in | the corresponding week of 1897, 271 in 1896, 234 in 1895, and 272 in 1894. The main feature of general trade at the moment is the increased number of mills which are starting up and the:decreaee in the number of men on strike. The | business of February thus far reported is said to be | larger than that of any February in the history of the | country, From Kansas City, which is the most im- portant market for agricultural implements in the country, comes the report that the demand for these goods_exceeds all previous records and sales are | limited only by inability to fill all the orders. Evi- | dently. the farmers of the United States are buying | tools by the wholesale. From the West and South | come advices of an active and constantly increasing | distribation of merchandise. The dry goods trade of | the Atlantic coast has lately been enjoying quite a| spurt, and the jobbing business of New York is re- | ported exceptionally fine. Wool seems to have juieted down again somewhat, ‘but the cotton trade holds its own and rather more. The silk manufacture is reported unusually active. As for iron, this branch of trade continues so lively that the different mills of the country are put to their trumps to fill their orders. In California the outlook has been immeasurably brightened by the recent rains, which have been suffi- ciently copious to almost insure the different crops, except in two or three sections, and even from these no ‘grave reports are heard. The tendency in the leading staples is generally upward, as shown by the advance in provisions, beef, mutton, pork, beans and a number of minor articles, while the cereal markets have weakened but little under the influence of the rains.. At present writing the prospects for the farmer are brilliant. He sees before him a reasonable cent. certainty of good crops, and an equally reasonable | Indeed the only | oufldok .of good prices for them. drawback to the general prosperity is the continued stagnation in dried fruits and raisins, the latter hav- Ing made another decline under an almost complete absence of orders. At the same time there is a slow export demand for dried fruits, which, according to those best posted in the trade, if kept up will reduce stocks to almost nothing by the time the new output appears on the market. From this showing dried fruit ‘operators look for as good prices this year as last. The wine industry.is still in an unsatisfactory condition owing to the want of harmony between the different associations, but the wine-makers of the State express their conviction that the trade will right itself before long. This conviction is re-enforced by the fact that shipments of wine from the State to the East, which for a year or more have shown signs of languishing, are again exhibiting an increase. I K —— The prospect of a series of nights unrelieved by street lamps must be depressing to the footpad. He has-been-doing-well in the - glare ‘of the gas, the illumination, bad -as ‘it s, facilitating his work and enabling him to obsérve the approach of ‘the police. Operating in the dark he may nct -be able to dodge so effectively. - Of course. the police Have not been dodging any. : F 2 of TIn case of war this country could send to the front a full regiment of pugilists. They would not .fight much, but discreet officers would naturally use them to.draw the enemy’s fire. The distinguished persons who are ready to act as atbitrators between the United States and Spain THE GOLDEN WEST EXPOSITION. OVERNOR BUDD, in an interview with a G representative of The Call, has announced an intention to address letters to the Governors of the various States inviting their co-operation in the work of preparing for the proposed exposition to be held in commemoration of the admission of Califor- nia to the Union. It is in every way desirable that this should be done. The exposition will fall far short of the opportunity and needs of the time if it is made merely a State celebration. It is designed to mark the semi-centennial of the first notable historic | event of the American development of the whole of the rich region of the Great West, and accordingly all the States and Territories that have been created out of the district ought to be workers in the task of promoting it and sharers in the profits derived from it. As a first necessary step toward attaining the de- sired co-operation of the Golden West the Governors of the different States and Territories will be re- quested to appoint delegates to a_convention to be held in this city, where the whole subject will be fully discussed and a committee chosen to direct its af- fairs. It is Governor Budd's intention to send these letters in a short time, and as a consequence the con- and the joint State project be speedily put forth in a definite form as a movement deserving the assist- ance of all enterprising men. The committee to be selected by the proposed inter- the city committee appointed by the Mayor. Even if | the general direction of the enterprise as a whole is taken by the committee representing the co-operating States, there will be abundance of work to be done by San Francisco. The city will be looked to for It will need a strong and energetic committee to at- tend to its share of the great task, and there will be no lack of employment for any one who is willing to lend a hand and help. The West has a right to look to Congress for a liberal appropriation for the enterprise. Certainly as much should be given for an exposition here as has been given to Omaha for the display to be made there this summer. If to this sum to be appropriated by make adequate exhibits of their respective resources and industries, the success of the enterprise will be as- sured. The outlook that this will be done is now bright, and it is to be hoped the convention to which Governor Budd will invite delegates from other States will be held as speedily as is consistent with a {ull attendance and good results. THE STREET-LIGHTING PROBLEM. T is by no means creditable to the officials of the city that so simple a municipal work as that of street lighting should be a problem impossible of solution. It would seem to be an easy calculation to determine how much money is needed to keep the streets lighted, nor, from the heavy burden of taxa- provide the money required. It appears, however, that the task is too hard for the Supervisors, and as a consequence we are to have lights shut off for a good many nights in each month from now to the end of the fiscal year. In every household in the city the heads of families | have to meet this problem. There are so many nights in the year, so much light will be needed each even- ing, and the cost per month will be so much. In every family not wholly destitute provision is made to meet this charge, and as night succeeds night the family home is duly illuminated. Every Supervisor, whether of the average caliber or below it, can solve the problem for his own home, but when he meets with his fellow Supervisors and proceeds to act for | the city at large his brain seems to give out some- where and then to the annoyance of the public the lights give out everywhere. There are people who talk of municipal ownership of water works and lighting plants. They fondly be- lieve the Supervisors could take hold of the business’ of those works and operate them with success. To these people the failure of the Supervisors to properly manage even so small a thing as street lighting when they have none of the bother of running the plant will doubtless appear as a direct evidence of diabolism. “The devil is in it,” they will say when they go out some night and find the streets unlighted, and they wili add, “He delights in darkness and has put up this job.” The general mass of citizens, however, will not have to lug in the personality of Satan to explain the situation to their understanding. It is but another of the thousand evidences of administrative incompe- tence that is the bane of American municipalities. If the thing were not of such common occurrence and so similar to the results of equal incompetence 'in the management of all kinds of municipal work there would be something almost startling in the fact that a city as rich as San Francisco, having all the ap- pliances of modern science and art at command, can- not keep its streets lighted. As it is the darkness will simply give occasion to a few more crimes than usual; life and property will be a little less safe; there will be some grumbling and some swearing at the Supervisors, and then, with our habitual American toleration of official misconduct, we will let the thing pass and wait for the coming of the new fiscal year. It is a familiar saying that every community has as good government as it deserves. San Francisco ‘can have a competent municipal administration when | she chooses. Our citizens have only themselves - to blame if they permit incompetents to attain office and control civic affairs, and so long as we walk willingly | in such political darkness it is hardly to be wondered that occasionally the incompetents turn off the lights altogether and leave us in physical darkness as well. A man who has been convicted of obtaining money by false pretenses may of course reform, and yet he should hardly be chosen stenographer of a police court until he had had ample opportunity to de- monstrate that all the pretense had been knocked out of him by his experience there in an unofficial ca- pacity. If Mr. Lynn of Oakland is so sure that he is crazy he assumed unnecessary risk in- making*a desperate attempt to escape from jail. One of the privileges freely granted the lunatic is that. of shooting his wife, ~as Mr. Lynn has done, yet he deliberately puts him- sclf in the way of being suspected of sanity. People coming to the coast for the purpose of reaching the Klondike must beware of local thieves. 1f robbed before they set sail they will miss the op- portunity of freezing along the northern trails, nor ever know the joy of a gum boot diet. e If Weyler should prove to be the wretch . who caused the blowing up of the Maine and be executed W could with good taste wait until a request had been made for their services. for it, the fact that a great loss generally causes a small gain would once more be demonstrated. 1 IN SAN FRANCISCO. MR. TOWNE R..TOWNE of Duluth has received the wel- /\/\ come which San Francisco gives to distin- guished visitors, even when they come to mar the joy of a general prosperity by the utterance of a long drawn'tale af woe. He was met at Metropolitan Temple by an audience large enough to comfortably fill the building, and comparatively few persons left during his address. His well turncd periods were cheered at appropriate points, and he was encouraged to talk until the approach of bedtime near the middle of the night. Mr. Towne will deceive himself, however, if he thinks the welcome accorded to him by the audience at Metropolitan Temple signified any sympathy on the part. of San Francisco with the crusade he is preaching. Metropolitan Temple does not hold a very large gathering. When any discussion is held there on a subject that really interests the people of San Francisco the hall is crowded to the doors. The assembly overflows the auditorium. The very stair- ways are thronged, and not even standing-room awaits the late comers. The absence of any crowding at the meeting on Saturday night is itself an evidence that the great mass of the people of San Francisco felt no interest, not éven that of curiosity, in the cause of the distinguished orator from the zenith city of the unsalted seas. As a matter of fact Mr. Towne came to tell us a twice-told tale. The people heard all the arguments of the free silver advocates two years ago, and after hearing them rejected them. Every development which has occurred since that time has attested the wisdom of the vote of 1896, Signs of reviving pros- perity became manifest the day after the election, and since then the country has moved steadily for- ward until at present it has attained a condition of industry, commerce and finance that assures the wel- fare of the people so long as that condition remains undisturbed. Mr. Towne has nothing new to say for the simple reason that nothing has taken place since 1896 to fur- nish new facts on which new calamity arguments can be based. The logic of events is on the side of the gold standard. Factories closed during the free trade regime have been reopened, idle workingmen have found employment, the consuming power of the peo- ple has increased, farmers are receiving better prices for their products, mortgages are being paid off, our exports are rising in quantity and value, and the revenues of the Government, thanks to the Republi- can tariff, are rapidly approaching an income that will be sufficient not only to deiray the expenses of the nation, but to pay off the debt accumulated during the operation of the Democratic tariff. Free silver is virtually a dead issue. Eloquent men may go about the country delivering lectures on the subject, but their words are received by the people as funeral orations. Mr. Towne might as well try to summon spirits from the vasty deep as to endeavor to call up again the ghastly phantasm of Democratic folly that affrighted the timid in 1896. The American people are honest, and they have common sense. They will not pay off their just debts, either public or private, in 50-cent dollars, neither will they vote to accept such dollars in payment for their own wages or for the hard-earned savings which they have invested in banks, building and loan associations and.other in- stitutions of the kind. S San Francisco should extend a liberal patron- age to the entertainment given at the Mining Fair this evening for the benefit of the families of the heroes of the Maine. This is the duty of the day. San Francisco has undertaken to manifest the ardor of her sympathy with the sufferers from the dread | disaster in Havana harbor, and the manifestation must | be made worthy of the city and ot the cause. The people can with confidence give freely to this charity, since they are assured the fund raised by the entertainment will be distributed at once among those for whom it is intended. This is no yellow journal scheme for advertising itself and obtaining money to be held in trust indefinitely. It is designed for the immediate relief of the stricken families of the heroic dead and will be applied to that purpose with | promptness and dispatch. The entertainment provided for the occasion will in every respect repay the attendance of all, but that is but a minor consideration in the matter. Rich as are the exhibits that have been made at the fair of our golden resources and industries of wealth, the finest exhibit to-night will be that of a patriotic people re- sponding to the call for relief for the loved ones of the brave sailors of the nation who died so suddenly and awfully at the post of duty, leaving their families in many cases almost destitute. of the means of sub- sistence. San Francisco has taken the lead of American cities in the performance of this necessary work of patriotic relief, and the leadership should be made sufficiently brilliant to attract emulation elsewhere. If our people respond liberally to-day a movement will have been started which will result in obtaining for the widows and fatherless of the sailors of the Maine a sum suffi- cient to assure them from want and wretchedness which now threaten some of them. To-accomplish that is an object which certainly appeals to the best instincts of generous hearts and the response should be liberal. Let the people bear in mind that all the money raised at the fair is for immediate relief; it is not a trust fund THE DUTY OF THE DAY. O far as they can afford to do so the people of PRESIDENT DOLE'S LETTER. E print a letter from President Dole of Hawaii -in which, in the form of a denial of what The Call has said about the agreement between the United States, Japan and Hawaii, in his relation thereto he remains silent as to the intended effect of that agreement upon annexation. The Call did no more than print the day's news in giving currency to the agreement The annexation press did the same and hailed it with pleasure as removing an obstacle to the ratification of the treaty. As it seemed such an important matter in their estimation The Call war- rantably inferred- that it did not come to pass during President Dole’s presence in Washington without his knowledge and a manifestation of his interest in it. We understand him now to deny both knowledge and interest. = g May we say, also, that he intends to deny approval of it? It has not proved the help to annexation that was expected. Indeed it added to the unpopularity of that policy, and President Dole’s denial of respon- sibility for it will be a boon to the annexationists who are compelled to throw off as a burden that which they so recently boasted as a benefit. It is a pleasing surprise that from the wreck and debris of crashing institutions pronounced unconsti- tutional there arises, still firm and self-confident, enough courts to do the pronouncing. FRANCISCO CALL, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 1898. © 6 K610 X 1 1 Y RO KE U © NOVIDUAL THOUGHTS. 3 o o BY A MODEST CRITIC. o (-3-3-3-3-3-3.3-3-3-3-3-3-2-2-3-2-1] Before the issuance of the order which compelled the reticence of naval officers anent the Maine horror, Ad- miral Bunce, than whom there is no more respected officer in the marine branch of the national service, prac- tically indorsed what appeared here a week ago, viz., that it is possible we may never know what the initial agent was that Qestroyed the ship; if we ever do, the probabilities are that we shall learn only when what is left of the hull has been raised and inspected by ex- perts. The finding of unexploded ex- plosives means nothing; it is no clew Whatever, and the EXaminer’s silly story about the cap of a torpedo being found in what remains of the battle- ship is twin to other lies which have appeared in that paper. This was told in an attempt to prejudice local opin- lon, and in an attempt to show that the Maine was destroyed by an “anchored torpedo.” If the faker only knew some- thing about buoyant mines it would have suggested that part of the case of one had been found in the Maine. This hint had better be watched closely, for it will possibly be cooked anew by some ‘“commissioner” as a spectal dis- patch. f=gegeg=$u] The Havana calamity, it may seri- ously be hoped, will not prove an un- mixed evil. That it has drawn express attention to our national defenses is one of the balms that may help to soothe bleeding hearts. The nation is all too prone to sleep in the proud safety which matchless natural re- sources provide. Knowing that we are practically unconquerable, we invite se- rious annoyance by carelessness that approaches neglect. General Miles’ statement of the condition of the de- fenses of New York is not exaggerated; that able soldier sees things as they are and is not afraid to tell the truth. Not only do we need trained men to man guns, fortifications in which to mount cannon, ammunition that can be depended on and a perfected system of land defense, but the navy should be strengthened so that we may in the very near future efficiently protect our coasts, as well as our slowly but surely growing commerce. It may be pre- sumed, too, that this serious easualty will open eyes before blinded to the stu- pidity of attempting to make empire while the whole of the present seaboard | is so open to attack. In Frederick W. Lawrence the Ex- aminer once had a “commissioner” to Cuba. This person should never have been heard of were he not his brother's brother. But he is, and so he is per- mitted in the weekly edition of the orpimental screed to say whathe thinks he knows of “Torpedoes at Havana.” “I have heard it stated,” says the youth, “by Spanish naval officers, that there is not a spot in the entire harbor | large enough to accommodate an ordi- | nary-sized ship that is not protected | by a torpedo.” Exactly, enfant. You | are a pocket edition of Jullan Haw- thorne—you believe all you hear—you know nothing yourself—you are of the supine of the earth. Listen to the \| dolt (He is talking of firing a buoyant mine of electricity from the shore): “‘Of course no one except the high offi- cers of the Spanish army and navy knows the secret of where the torpe- does are located, or has any knowl- edge of the manner of working the ap- paratus, so that any torpedo at any particular spot may be exploded with- out exploding all of them.” It is no part of the duty of this paper to edu- cate the Lawrences, but the merest tyro in torpedo defense should Kknow | how securely buoyant mines electrical- ly connected are locked against inter- ference from outsiders. Current is not generated by imagination—no, not even when so red-eyed as that of the Ex- aminer’s commissioners. A dynamo might be called in to assist! Generally speaking, submarine de- fense (s intended alone to prevent en- trance to harbors; not for the destruc- tion of ships therein. Mines are laid in navigable channels—not in anchor- ages. The idea of Havana being “sown” with torpedoes is fit for the conception of a child-like and bland mind—the mind of an Examiner com- missioner. _As pointed out a week ago, much force attaches to the question as to whether the Maine was anchored on ground usually used for that purpose. If Captain Sigsbee was compelled to moor at a buoy, that one fact would excite grave suspicion, but until it is known with certainty it is fair to dis- miss the possibility from the mind. It is an established principle that war- ships must, wherever possible, depend on their own. moorings, and, presuming the Maine did this, her destruction by a buoyant mine is extremely improb- able. 1 of location, this bit of circumstantial evidence cannot be overlooked. The latest phase of the Hawailan “situation” is the proposal to attach these islands to this State as a county! Infatuation on any project equal to this is, I believe, unique. Does Cali- fornia ask the admittance of the rab- ble of the inhabitants of the islands to her citizenship? Must this State ac- cept a proposal that increases her re- sponsibilities and. gives no adequate return? In the defense of the Unlon of States California will never rank second, but why the group of Hawaiian Islands should be saddled on us (if the country is bent on getting them by hook or by crook) heaven alone knows. If fourteen men having an interest in San Domingo can get tools enough to grab the reins of government of that republic, and for pay will offer the whole territory to us, will Pennsyl- vania accept the gift, or shall we make that other negro land a ‘“county of California.” California neither wants Hawall nor its semi-barbarous popu- lation. There {8 under consideration a char- ter which will possibly be the future organic law of San Francisco. Judg- ing from action already taken it is proposed to make the Mayor (yet to be) much of an autocrat. With a percep- tible example in evidence, and one that should teach, the freeholders will act wisely if they deny to the city's chief official inordinate power. Despite his politics, no man has been seated In the mayorial chair with rhore acclaim than Mr. Phelan. Few who go into politics have either his education, his money or his one-time repute for com- mon sense. Yet, hoping, it seems, to get the help of ‘a newspaper in his ambitious flight for the Governorship If her commander had no_choice |’ he indorses each scheme that this par- ticular paper tries to foist on the pub- lic. Given appointive power in degree -he would doubtless have the whole staff of some journal in municipal of- fice of some kind. Mr. Phelan’s name is to be found as a committeeman on almost every trothless project that has been evolved by the Examiner. He should have a higher idea of his of- fice than he has; he should try to make of himself a dignified leader of the people and not a cat’s-paw for a newspaper. Possibly he does not un- derstand that the public is gradually, but steadily, being undeceived as to the character of the journal for which he is ever ready to stand sponsor, but the breaking of the dawn of intelligence will come some day. The awakening will be somewhat rude, too, for those who worship at the altar of yellow journalism, a fact to which Mr. W. W. Foote could testify if he cared to. Zola has “gone to his reward,” an- other example of the apothegm that those who have talent and misuse it occasionally meet stern justice. That many papers sympathize with the fa- mous writer is no proof of the fnjustice of the punishment meted out to him. The French nation has no wish to dis- cipline those who do no wrong, but Zola, having erred grossly, is properly compelled to suffer. It is given to no man, no matter how able, to dictate to a people. France, through two juries, has declared Dreyfus guilty, and that must suffice. In any event, Zola was unfitted to champlon the cause he es- poused. In other hands an attempt to get a rehearing of the traitor’s case might have had a better chance of suc- ceeding, though it may well be doubted. The Academie has spoken in no uncer- tain way the opinion of educated men of Zola’s moral. “Too much Johnson,” says the Chron- icle in discussing the well-known Con- gressman’s speech in the House the other day with reference to the pro- posed annexation of the Hawaiian Isl- ands. There can never be too much of the class of talk which this stalwart Republican gave his co-legislators an opportunity to hear. The man who can rise above partisan and local {ssues, above the reprehensible, but all too common, desire for immediate popular- ity shows one of the distinguishing marks of the statesman. “I trust God,"” said Mr. Johnson, “that this question will not be made a party issue.” In- deed, it is to be hoped not. That so serious a matter as altering what has been the clear-cut policy of the nation for a century should be decided on party lines is a staggering proposal. This s not a question of protection or free trade; of bimetallism or monome- talllsm. It is a proposal to snap in twain traditions which bind us to a principle that has brought prosperity that is unequaled. Mr. Blerce, having ceased to write paragraphs for the Examiner, has turn- ed his attention to political econ- omy. “Money,” he explains, “is not wealth.” I agree, but what is wealth? The word has puzzled many of us. It means, as a noun, nothing apparently. I move its expungence from the lan- guage except when desired as an adjec- tive. NOTE FROM PRESIDENT DOLE. He Takes Exception to Certaln Editorlal Utterances of The Call. To the Editor of the San Francisco Call—Dear Sir: My attention has been called to two editorfal articles pub- lished in your issues of February 5 and 10, and entitled “Is It Dole’s Hand?” and the “Japanese Race,” which, by innuendo and indirection, announce to the public, that an agreement has been entered into between the United States, Japan and the Hawalian Gov- ernment, by which the Japanese Gov- ernment has withdrawn its opposition to the annexation of Hawaii in con- sideration of the extension of the priv- ilege of naturalization in the United States, to the Japanese. These ar- ticles also suggest that the negotia- tion of this scheme was the subject of my visit to Washington. I wish to say that there is no founda- tion of fact in.the proposition which these editorials announce, or in any part of it. SANFORD B. DOLE. Cal., San Francisco, 1898. COLLECTED IN THE CORRIDORS A. J. Hammond is at the Palace from Los Angeles. A. W. Baker of Red BIuff is a guest‘at the Baldwin. Mr. and Mrs. B. H. Pitts of Seattle are at the Baldwin. A. D. Shepard of Los Angeles Is staying at the California. H. T. Spalding is registered at the Palace from New York Professor E. H. Griges is registered at the Grand from Stanford. J. J. Richardson and wife of Davenport, Iowa, are at the Occidental. T. J. Houghton, a mining man of Placer- ville, is at the Lick .with his wife. A. B. Gillett and wife of Hartford, Conn., are among the late arrivals at the California. Bank Commissioner H. W. McGee ar- rived from Los Angeles last evening and went to the Lick. John Morris arrived at the Occldental yesterday from Chicago; he is accom- panied by Mrs. Morris, Al Primrose, the minstrel, is at the Baldwin with several members of his troupe. They arrived yestérday to open at the Columbia at the conclusion of the Marie Wainwright engagement. February 23, At one of the prominent down- town hotels a number of old sea captains daily congregate and OOOOOOOOOS o o ACOUPLE OF o o WONDERFUL o o BIRDS. o while sipping 000000000 0. their toaates pass the time In telling one ‘another stories that, to say the least, are remarkable. They are all proficient in spinning a yarn, but Captain Wainright of the good ship Speke, at present in the harbor, is & wonder in that line, and no matter what story is told he always tries to go it one better. Yesterday afternoon the old shell backs had gathered as usual and were recounting experiences of their early da; when the Black Ball packets were the swiftest things on the Western ocean and when the mates used to call. the watch to shorten sail with an oath and a belaying pin. Captain Munroe had the floor and had just launched into what promised to be a thrilling tale with “I remember when I was second mate on the bark Rattlin, bound from Pernambuco- to Port Said,” when he was Interrupted by ‘Wainright, who sald: *“My canary, ‘Bandy,’ 18 the most wonderful bird that ever trod a perch. When I was-leaving thre ship this morning I sald ‘Bandy, whistle “Home, Sweet Home," ' and start my butts if the little fellow didn't pipe up and whistle the song so naturally’that T thought the wharf was my own garden and went up to a woman who was stand- ing there and tried to put my arm around her walst, thinking she was my own wife.” “Yes, T have seen you make that mis- take before,” put in Captain Stan Wil- liams, ‘“only on the other occasion you mistook a young woman for your daugh- ter because a theater band was playin ‘Poor Old Dad.’ Some day those llttlh errors will bring you into court. But speaking of birds, your canary can’t even travel in the wake of a mocking bird I have, let alone running aleng side. Why, that bird can do about everything but talk. I took it to see the Bostonians, where it picked up the anvil chorus, which it now whistles with such perfec- tion that the iron rust drops off the ship’s sides and I don't have to put a single man to work to get her ready for paint- ing.” Dr. Maitland of Los Angeles is a guest at the Palace. D. Casper is registered at the Grand from Elko, Nev. John F. Clark of Boston arrived at the California last night. Charles A. Swisler, a big politiclan of Stockton, is at the Grand. George Fletcher, a mining man of Grass Valley, is at the Palace. J. D. Carr, the Salinas capitalist, staying at the Occidental. J. S. Cralg, a hotel man of Woodland, is at the Grand with his wife. George H. Cowie arrived last night from Stockton and is registered at the Occl- dental. C. F. Romaaka arrived on the overland last evening from Milwaukee and went ta the Palace. CALIFORNIANS IN WAS!"HNGTON. WASHI.GTON, Feb. 27.—Senator Per- kins returned to-day from New York, where he attended a conference of ship- ping men. L. D. Rawlins of Los Angeles is at the Ebbitt House. NEWS OF FOREIGN NAVIES, The French cruiser D’Assas has had & new set of boiler tubes put in, although the ship is only one year old. With the new tubes the boilers developed 8000 horse-power under naturaldraught, speed- ing the vessel at the rate of 18 knots and consuming only 191 pounds of coal to each horse-power per hour. in . The French navy will shortly be repres sented in China waters by four armored ships, Vauban, 6208 tons; Bayard, 6011 tons; Bruix and D'Entrecasteaux, ar- mored cruisers, of 4754 and 8114 tons re« spectively. The crulsers will consist of Duguay-Trouin, 3593 tons; Jean Bart, 4109 tons; Descartes, 2990 tons; Pascal, 4015 tons, and Eclaireur, 1769 tons, and the gunboats Surprise of 627 tons and Lion of 503 tons. Rear-Admiral de la Bonninierre de Beaumont, who served as captain on the station fn 1895 during the Tonquin war, is to be promoted to vice-admiral and will have charge of the new squad- ron. At Kronstadt plans have been prepared for the construction of a depot for the storage of “matsut,” or liquid fuel. The tanks in the depot will have a capacity of 17,000 tons and in the building of these tanks old marine boflers will be utilized. A special fron vessel of 1000 tons is to be constructed, fitted with requisite appa- ratus for the transportation of the pe- troleum fuel from the shore to the ships. The Admiral Grieg, a coast defense tur- ret ship, is having tanks fitted in her coal bunkers, and when the Admiral Vrakin- opp returns from China she will undergo similar alterations and will also be fitted with new boilers, the present ones having been thirteen years in the ship. China’s navy building abroad since the peace with Japan includes two torpedo cruisers, Feiying, 850 tons and 22 knots speed, built at Elbing, Germany; Feiting, of 1000 tons and 21 knots, built by Arm- strongs, both of which vessels have been delivered; three protected cruisers of 2850 tons at Elbing of 2950 tons and 19% knots speed, one of which has been launched; two protected cruisérs of 4300 tons and 24 knots speed at Armstrong's, one of which, Haiyung, which means the wide ocean, is launched. Of torpedo- boats, two of 24 knots are building at Schichau, Elbing, of 130 feet length; two at Vulcan, Stettin, of same speed, but t feet longer, and four 32-knot torpedo-boac destroyers of 19 feet are building by Schichau. No armored vessels of any description have been contracted for, but these five cruisers, two torpedo cruisers and four torpedo-boat destroyers, the completions of which are near at hand, would be valuable additions to any navy, as they are unusually fine and speedy vessels. At the Portsmouth dockyard eight ship« wrights on piecework made frequent com= plaints to the yard authorities that the wages they were able to earn were in- sufficient to support them, but no atten~ tion was paid to their complaints. As a last resort they addressed a respectful communication to the Admiralty explain« ing their grievances, and this brought forth a letter from the Admiralty to the admiral superintendent ordering the dis<« charge of four of the men because they had dared to write direct to the Admir+ alty. There is great public indignation in Portsmouth over the affair, and a publia meeting was held at which a resolution was passed by acclamation censuring tha Admiralty for summarily discharging tha four men and thereby interfering with workingmen in their right of free speech and combination. The First Lord of tha Admiralty had denied that the men earned only 8 shillings ($2) a week, but did not deny that they were unable to earn adequate wages. Several members of Parliament have taken an interest in tha affair and the Admiraity will be called upon to exfilaxn its outrageous treatmeng ot the workmen. . Cal. glace fruit 50c per Ib at Townsend's.® —_——————————— Special information supplied dally ta business houses and public men by tha Press Clipping Bureau (Allen’s), 510 Mont- ' gomery street. Telephone Main 1043 * ¥ —————————— Britain has sixty-five square miles of colony to the square mile of her own area; Holland, b4; Portu<al, 20; Den- mark, 6.30; France, 1.90; Spain, .88 square miles. “Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup” Has been used over fifty years by millions of mothers for their children while Teething with perfect success. It soothes the child, softens the gums, allays Pain, cures ‘Wind Colie, reg~ ulates the Bowels and is the best remedy for Diarrhoeas; whether arising from teething or other causes. For sale by Druggists in every, part of the world. Be sure and ask for Mrs, Winslow’s Soothing Syrup. 25c a bottle. —_———————— CORONADO.—Atmosphere is perfectly dry, soft and mild, being entirely free from the mists comman further north. Round trip tickets, by steamship, including fifteen days® board at the Hotel del Coronado, $65; longer stay, $2 50 per day. Apply 4 New Montgomery street, San Francisco, or A. W. Bailey, man- ager, Hotel del Coronado, late of Hotel Colo~ rado, Glenwoad. Springs. Colorado. —_—ee———— A woman ‘5 feet in height should weigh ‘about 100 pounds; 5 feet 1 inch, about 106 pounds; 5 feet 2 inches, 113 pounds; 5 feet 3 inches, 119 pounds; 5 feet 4 inches, 130 pounds. ADVERTISEMENTS. ", Hot tea biscuit, made in perfection with Royal Baking Powder. They melt- in your mouth,