The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, March 24, 1898, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 1898. SECRETARY LONG - SAYS SITUATION IS VERY CRITICAL Belief at Washington That the Maine Report is very critical, (4 ® © say on what facts his @ Likely to Provoke War. BOSTON, March 23.—A Washington special says: ‘“The situation & said Secretary Long this afternoon, but he would not @ statement was made. L4 There is great excitement at the Navy and State Departments. A & long dispatch has been received from Madrid, but Assistant Secretary & although he hurried © with it to the White House. generally imagined. It is impossible to learn the trutl actions of the navy officials indicate ested in the navy, and there is only at the Navy Department. His succe tive duty. LORCR R RORCR R RCR R R R RCRORORO STATE TROOPS AS VOLUNTEERS, Secretary Alger in Favor of Making Them More Efficient. He Listens With Interest to Congressman Marsh on the Subject. General Miles at the War Depart- ment to Talk About Fortifying Tortugas. Special Dispatch to The Call. Call Office, Riggs Ho Washington, March Secretary Alger’s office at the War Department presented an unusually spect to- A number of mem- bers of Congress called to have a word with the tary, among them being Senators Lodge and Hoar and Repre- | sentative Marsh of Illinois. tepresentative Marsh is chairman of the Heouse committee which recently reported the bill to reorganize the State soldiery to raise its efficiency and to appropriate & million dollars for its support. Mr. Marsh said he had spoken to Speaker Reed recently in regard to the bill and he hoped to be able to call it up in the House for consideration within a reasonable time. During his interview with Secretary Alger Mr. Marsh urged that in the event of hostil- ities, the first recourse of the Govern- ment for soldiers be the State militia, who should be invited to volunteer for the country’s defense. These men, he pointed out, are well organized, well drilled and officered and are in a posi- tion to render very effective service. In view of these facts Mr. Marsh by lieved that it was the duty of the Go ernment to call upon these old soldiers for duty in case they care to volunteer. If any members or officers of the guard | preferred not to enlist because of fam- ily or busin cares and responsibili- | ties, then théir places might be taken by volunteers from outside the service. Secretary Alger was very much in- terested in the arguments made by Marsh, and, while not committing him- | self on that point, seemed to regard | the suggestions made by him as prac- | ticable. Afterward Mr. Marsh called | on President McKinley and repeated the statement he had made to the Sec- | retary. During the morning Secretary Alger | was also in conference with General | Miles, commanding the army, respect- | ing the military occupation of Fort | Jefferson, on Dry Tortugas Island. The | determination to garrison this fort has | been reached by the Secretary after a conference with his aids and the Navy Department officials, and the questions now to be met are those of what im- provements in the fortifications now there may be necessary. Already a contract has been let by the Navy Department for dredging a large part of the harbor of the island g0 as to permit the entrance of large naval vessels, and to-day bids were opened for erecting an immense shed in which the navy will store large sup- plies of codl. It is realized, however, that without very material improve- ments and additions to the fortifica- tions and armament of Fort Jefferson it would be impossible to protect the coal supply from the depredations of a hostile fleet unless United States men-of-war were constantly on hand for that purpose. The armament of Fort Jefferson at this time consists of probably over a hundred old-time | smooth bore guns, which would have to be supplemnted by a number of addi- tional ones of modern pattern and ef- fectiveness. Reports to the War Department show that about 400 men up to this time have been enlisted for the two artillery regiments recently authorized by Con- | gress. About 1600 men in all are re- | quired. Most of the new recrults are sent to join old-established regiments and in many cases experienced men from the latter are detailed for duty at | the seacoast fortifications. PROPHETIC LETTER FROM GENERAL GRANT. He Showed How Easy it Would Be | for the United States to Capture Havana. NEW YORK, March 23.—The remark- &ble disclosure is made by Leslie’s Weekly in this week’s issue that on April 30, 1883, General U. S. Grant wrote to General Adam Badeau telling how easy it would be for the United States to capture Havana by a combined at- tempt by our land and naval forces. In this letter, which is printed in fac simile by Leslie’s Weekly, General Grant says that “The hostility of the native population to Spanish authori- ties would make this (the capture of Havana) a comparatively easy task for any first class power, and especiaily for the United States in case of war with Spain.” ! of State Day will not make its contents known, There are persistent rumors that the re- port on the Maine is much more likely to provoke war than has been The writer has the authority of an official very near the rank of Secretary Long for saying that it will be difficult to avoid trouble after the report is made public. Secretary Long stated that there is no disposition on the part of the department to reflect upon Admiral Sicard by relieving him from e duty in command of the North ard has the entire confidence of the President and all who are inter- The Secretary s in poor health for some time past, and he was gi on shore with the hope that he would mend sufficiently to resume ac- r has not been decided upon, and no announce- ment will be made in that connectton until the report of the Board of Survey appointed to investigate his case is made. w gress would be sufficient and the Pre: dent should be Is More Than h or falsity of the rumors, but the that they feel the greatest anxiety. Atlantic Squadron. Admiral v the most friendly regard for him vs Admiral ard has been n two weeks' leave @ P O e e S T T T T T PN 10 REORGANIZE AMERICA™S ARMY Committee of the House Ready to Submit Its Report. 5 What Will Be Necessary to| Put the Army on War Footing. Definition of the Rights of the Chief Executive in Time of | Trouble. Epectal Dispatch to The Call. WASHINGTO March 23. — The army reorganization bill was adopted unanimously to-day by the House | Committee on Military Affairs, and was subsequently reported to the House. In passing upon the measure the commit- tee has disposed of a very significant point as to the President’s functions in | war time. There was a long discust on | over a proposition to insert in the bill an express provision which would per~ mit the President to increase the army forces immediately in case of a sudden | grave emergency. It was pointed out that no President ever would take ad- vantage of such a provision and that :nt Lincoln had set the and his action had been justif sequently. It W felt by some where the necessity for hasty action as great subsequent approval of Con- that given some warrant for such a step with a requirement to se- cure the approval of Congress at the earliest moment practicable. The dis- cussion was not on party lines, but the | | Republican members of the committee differed among themselves as to the wisdom of enlarging the President's functions in this respect or to have them remain in statu quo. It was, however, concluded that it would be best to allow the conditions to remain unchanged and the commit- tee inserted a provision modifying sce- tion 2, to make previous Congressional action more binding, allowing the es- tablishment of the third battalion war formation only upon the declaration of war by Congress or a declaration that war exists. The committee in its report cites of- ficlal reports as showing the increase of the commissioned force of the line of the army needed to change it from a peace to a war footing and puts the enlisted strength at 104,384 men, an in- crease of 78,954 men, an equivalent of 66 regiments of volunteers of 1200 men each. To properly officer these regi- | ments would require - 66 colonels, 66 | lieutenant-colonels, 198 majors, 792 captains, 924 firstlieutenants and792sec- ond lieutenants, the pay aggregating $4,939,800. To officer the same number of troops under the nrovision of this bill in time of war would cost as fol- lows: One hundred and lieutenants, cavalry; ants, artillery; 84 second lieuten- ants, artillery; 50 captains, in- fantry; 60 first lieutenants, infan- try, and 350 second lleutenants of infantry; their pay aggregating $1,078,- 600. This, the committee concludes, ef- fects a saving In organization of $3,850,- 200 per year. A NEW FEATURE twenty second 84 first lieuten- IN THE MAINE CASE. % WASHINGTON, March 23.—The remark attributed to Admiral Sicard at Key West | yesterday to the effect that the case of | the Maine was perhaps the most peculiar | in the history of modern times is inter- | preted here as clearly indicating that the direct responsibility for the explosion cannot be placed. During the progress of the investigation the law officers of the | Government have been giving the legal | side of the case their close attention and | the statement is made that the case of the Maine is, indeed, most peculiar. The | records, it is said. do not show that ever before, in the intércourse of nations, has 1 of one power been destroyed in waters of another without the cause of the disaster and responsibility be- ing known beyond dispute by any other nation. If the Court of Inquiry has found, as is generally believed, that the respon- | ibility for the loss of the Maine cannot | \)l(: definitely located, the fact will present a new feature to the long list of other- wise similar disasters. i S A Probably a Canard. NEW YORK, March 23.—A special cable dispatch from Madrid to a morn- ing paper says that Blanco has re- signed his position as Captain-General of Cuba, and Lieutenant-General Wey- ler is preparing to leave for Havana to' succeed him. Weyler openly states that he has orders from the Minister of War to be prepared to start for the West Indies on short notice. i hna s Big Contract for Ammunition. DERBY, Conn., March 23.—L. I Driggs of the Driggs-Seabury Gun and Ammu- nition Company stated to-day that his company had received a half-million dol lar order from the Government for am. munitions is said, will be a unit. SAGASTA GAINS PUBLIC FAVOR Every Prospect That the Next Cortes Will Be Liberal. What the War Fever in America Has Done for Spain. It Will Be a Perilous Choice When the Issue is Finally Made. Special Dispatch to The Call. NEW YORK, March 23.—A Washing- ton special to the Herald says: Accord- ing to information received here theag- gressive and warlike spirit in the United States has had a most unex- pected and probably decisive influence on the elections about to take place in Spain. Premier Sagasta is assured be- yond all doubt of continuing the prag ent Cabinet and having behind it an overwhelming Liberal majority in the Cortes. This is a reversal of all indications | three weeks ago, when the old Cortes R R R R R R R R R R OB R R RN RORCRCY olved. The agasta re.':tme,; enting the present government | n, has gained accessions irnmi all quarters, for the war issue has ob- literated the usual party controversies and has placed the Sagasta Ministry in the aining the honor and Ev attitude ler party, representing has lost the for- spect it presented a few | ago. In the opinion of Spanish | entatives here 4 Liberal victory dy assured. This condition promises important results both in Spain and the United States. In Spain the hazardous condi- tion of the Sagasta Ministry in the last year will be exchanged for one in which the Liberal Ministry will be powerfully intrenched. With a Liberal Cortes the Sagasta policy will have | free rein for the st time since that venerable leader has returned to power. The effect of this will be speedily ap- parent. The Cortes will be called to- gether soon after the election. This will be necessitated by the serious rela- tions with the’ United States, and be- sides it is essential that the annual budget shall be passed by July. With a Liberal majority there will bs no apprehension as to budgets, and whether it be a war loan, a naval ex- tension or an increase of the army that the requirements of the moment de- mand, the ministry and the Cortes, it the military classes midable week: On affairs in the United States, so far | as they relate to Spain and Cuba, the | effect of a Liberal Cortes will be most | important. The largest prospects for | pacific settlement have come thus far from the Liberals. General Weyler and the reconcentrados were the pro- | ducts of a Conservative ministry and Cortes. General Blanco, the abolition of the reconcentrados decrees, autono- | my and the release of all Americans imprisoned in Cuba were the products of a, Liberal ministry. By the sams | standards, the continuance of Liberal rule give basis for pacific compro- mise and adjustment, while the return to Conservative rule would create a breach, making a settlement appar-~ ently impossible. The approaching Spanish crisis prom! to exceed in gravity any that | Spain has met in many years. If the | Sagasta ministry, is called upon to choose between war with the United States and reparation for the Maine disaster, or American intervention in Cuba, or American recognition of Cu- | ban independence, it will be a perilous choice for any ministry. It wiil be in effect a choice between war abroad ana war at home, SAYS 1S DOCTOR BETRATED 1Y A Sensatlonal Case on Trial in the Courts at Los Angeles. George Meyer Wants Damages in the Sum of Twenty Thousand Dollars. Special Dispatch to The Call. LOS ANGELES, - March 23.—George Meyer, an elderly German, will endeavor to secure $20,000 from the well-known wholesale firm of Haas, Baruch & Co., for damages he received from what he claimed was an injury given him as a result of the carelessness of the firm's employes. Meyer alleges that as he was walking on Los Angeles street he fell into and down an unprotected and unguarded elevator shaft of Haas, Baruch & Co. As a result of the fall he received severe injuries. In this. connection Meyer makes an al- legation of treachery against a local phy- sician of repute, Dr. Carl Kurtz. He al- leges that Dr. Kurtz, under misrepresen- tation, secured his signature to the fol- lowing document which defendants will introduce in the case: “Received of Haas, Baruch & Co. the sum of $25 in full satisfaction and dis- charge of all injuries of every kind, na- ture and description sustained by me by ng fallen down their side- wa evator sha near Aliso, and this to be a rel full of all claims of every kind, and description which I have against said firm.” This is signed by Meyer, with Dr. Carl | Kurtz as witness. The case is now on | trial before Judge Shaw and a jury in the Superior Court. It will be hotly con- tested. _———— CRISPI CENSURED BY ITALIAN DEPUTIES Arraigned Because of His Connection ‘With Bank of Naples Scandals. ROME, March 23.—The Chamber of | Deputies to-day adopted by a vote of 27 to 7 the committee’s report recommend- | ing *political censure” against former Premier Crispi, who has been accused of complicity in the Bank of Naples scan- dals and of illegal trafficking in decora- tions. He will not be prosecuted. Before the vote was taken the Minister of Justice, Signor Gianturco, said the Chamber could arraign Signor Crispl after a sentence from_the court of ces sation, but_could not initiate a prosecu tion and_thereby forestall judicial pro- cedure. The resolution of Signor Rova- sendas, favoring arraignment, was there- upon rejected by a show of hands. Another resolution declaring that the facts found in the investigating commit- tee’s reports were common law offenses and proposing that the accusations should be referred to the judicial authorities was also rejected by a vote of 104 to 108. The report of the committee was then adopted. S e Barrett Succeeds Gird. SACRAMENTO, March 23.—Governor Budd to-day appointed Adjutant-General A. W. Barrett as a member of the State Board of A‘fincultnre, vice Richard Gird, term expired. |of the new sea-going battle-ships: | tools for.yards and dock shops, $6750. | made for Puget Sound Naval Station, ARMY AND READY FOR WAR IN SHORT ORDER The President Puts a Most Signifi- cant Question Long and diger. BOSTON, March 23.—The Journal to-morrow will publish the fol- lowing Washington special: President quested Secretary Alger and Secretary Long to inform him what is the earliest date on which the army and navy can be put on a war footing. This is the most significant step which has been taken since the It is the first formal intimation that war Cuban crisis became acute. was threatening and close at hand. sive or defensive action. cure the necessary ammunition for MONET FOR NAVAL NEEDS What the Appropriation Bill Carries for Pacific Coast Points. Mare Island Fares Well at the Hands of the Com- mittee. There Is Not Likely to Be Any Cut- ting Down Under Existing Circumstances. Epeclal Dispatch to The Call, Call Office, Riggs House, ‘Washington, March 23. The following provisions contained in the naval appropriations bill report- ed to the House are of special interest to Mare Island and the Pacific Coast: New drydock at the navy-yard, Mare Island, to cost when completed not ex- ceeding $825,000. Following is the text of the clause providing for the construction of one “One and not more than one of the aforesaid vessels shall be built on or near the coast of the Pacific Ocean or in the waters connecting therewith; | provided, that if it shall appear to the | satisfaction of the President of the | United States from the bidding for | such contracts when the same are open | and examined by him that said vessel | cannot be constructed on or near the coast of the Pacific Ocean, at a cost not exceeding 4 per cent above the lowest accepted bid for the other battle-ships, he shall authorize the construction of | said vessel elsewhere in the United States.” Other items in the bill are as follows: For the erection of a smokeless powder factory, $93,727; for the purchase and manufacture of smokeless powder, $250,000; navy-yard, Mare Island, Cal, for one clerk at $1400; one writer, at $1017 25; one foreman mason, at $6 per | diem; one foreman laborer, at $5 50 per | diem; one pilot at $4 80 cents per diem; one draftsman at $5 per diem; one mail messenger, at $2 per diem, including Sundays; one messenger, at $2 per i diem; one messenger and lamplighter, at $2 per diem; one electrician, $1200 one clerk, at $1200; one clerk, at $1400; one messenger, at $600; one writer, at $1000; one writer, $1017 25. For general storehouses, Mare Island, two bookkeepers, at $1200 each; two as- sistant bookkeepers, at $720; one re- ceiving clerk, at $1000; one shipping clerk, at $1000; one bill clerk, at $1000; one clerk, at $1000; one assistant clerk, at $1000. In Yard Pay Office—One writer at one thousand and seventeen dollars and | twenty-five sents. Fifty thousand dollars is appropri- ated for repairs and improvements of the construction plant at Mare Island. Also the following for Mare Island improvements: For storage shed for lumber (construction and repair), $28,000; coal cylinders, $43,000; extend- ing quay wall, $30,000; shelter roof for boats, §14,300; plumbers, tinners and paint shop (construction and repair), $22,500; bathhouse at United States re- ceiving ship Independence, §1621; wash- house and drying room United States receiving ship Independence, $3000; wharf at United States receiving ship Independence, $2800; extension of oil- house, $8600; sidewalks and roads, $7000 extension of electric system, $15,001 The following appropriations are | Washington: For electric light plant, | $9800; extension of water system, $400 steam capstans for drydock, $632 steam engineering shop and boiler house, $56.000; continuing clearing, grad- ing and stumping, $6000: oilhouse, $170 dredging, $20,000; establishing tele- graphic_ communication, §4000; quay wall, $25,000; in all $132,832. Repairs to | at Puget Sound Naval Station, Wash- | ington, $20,000; machinery plant, na- | val station, Port Orchard, Washington, machine tools to fit out plant for re- pairs of engines, boilers and so forth, of United States naval _vessels, $30,000; coaling wharf at Japonski Island, Alaska, $5000. Ten thousand dollars is appropriated for the repairs of marine barracks at the different stations, Including Mare Island, Bremerton, Washington and Sitka, Alaska. o AP A ST S Of Interest to the Coast. WASHINGTON, March 23.—Representa- tive de Vries appeared before the Com- mittee on Appropriations of the Senate to-day and urged that a provision be in- corporated in the sundrycivil bill for a restraining dam on the Yuba River. Pensions: California — Original, Paul Howard, Lone Pine, $19; William F. Mills, Columbus, $8. Reissue, George I. Merri- mann (dead), San Jose, $24. exican war survivors, increase, George W. Hamlilton, Newbury Park, $8 to $12. Oregon—Additional, Charles B. King, Yoncalla, $§ to 813 _Original widow, Susan Zeigler, ..alsey, $8. Washington—O Thomas A. Jones, Sherman, $6. Increase, Jonathan Johnson, Mineral Falls, 36 to §8. Original Jane E. Carr, Spanway, $. navy is encouraging. With the navy it is now a matter of days. haps within a week ‘everything may be in readiness, either for offen- A longer time for preparation would put the gervice in a more satisfactory condition, but everything is now al- most ready for an immediate emergency. The army is not quite so well off, said Secretary Alger. It is a mat- ter of time to get in place the great seacoast defense guns and to se- of preparation is making great strides. The Secretary of the Navy reported to the President that a most important step had been decided upon. able to buy the tcrpedo-boat destroyers which it needs, and the admin- jstration had determined to take advantage of the provision of the law which permits the drafting of the revenue marine by the navy. | 4444444444444+ 444 4444444440444+ and improvement of construction plant | grgensl{grfi.& widow, l NAvy to Secretaries McKinley has formaily re- The response from the army and Ter- large guns and small, but the work The Government has been un- @ @ kS @ @ @ @ @ S @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ® @ | @ ® + MUNICIPAL CORRUPTION The City of Philadelphia | Has a Great Public Scandal. One of the Councilmen Con- fesses That He Accepted a Bribe. Denies at First, but Cannot Take Oath When Pressed by the Court. Spectal Dispatch to The Call. PHILADELPHIA, March 23.—What promises to develop into the ugliest po- litical scandal ever inflicted upon this city was revealed in court here to-day, when cne member of the Council con- fessed the acceptance of a bribe; an- other was accused of a like offense and two others were charged with offering the bribes. The whole affair grew out of the or- dinance offered in Council to lease the city water works to the Schuylkill Water Company and the,alleged at- tempt by Nelson G. Green of New York, representing the company, to ob- tain a favorable report from the water | company by the payment of between | $15,000 and $25,000. During the recent consideration of the bill in Common Council- Walter G. Stevenson, a mem- ber of that body, charged that $7000 had been offered him by Peter B. Smith, a member of the Republican City Committee, to vote for the bill. A council investigation committee was appointed and is still at work, but District Attorney Graham promptly took up the case, and Smith was held in $10,000 bail, and to-day’s sensational developments came at his hearing be- fore Judges Gordon and Bregy, of the Common Pieas Court, who sat as com- mittig magistrates. Councilman L. J. Walker declared that he and Councilman Edwin E. Smith had each accepted $500 from Councilman Charles Seger to vote for the bill in committee. He also averred that Councilman J. E. Byram had previously offered him §5000 to vote for the bill in the chamber, but he had refused the money and voted against it. Stevenson, in consequence of whose accusation the bill was indefinitely postponed, was the principal witness to-day, and he repeated his story with- out change. Smith entered a denial, but was held for trial. Councilman Walker was very nerv- | ous when called as a_witness. At first he said he did not know Green, had accepted no money and knew of none having been accepted. Judge Bregy then said to him, im- pressively: “With God as your judge, were you offered any money?” Walker hung his head and after a moment'’s silence replied, ‘“Yes, I was,” and he named the man by whose per- | suasion he had fallen. The money, he | said, was paid in Councilm.n Seger’'s saloon, and he had seen Councilman | Edwin Smith receive the $500 at the same time with himself. During the proceedings District At- torney Graham asserted: “I know | $25,000 was spent to get the bill through the committee, and I want to know who got it.” The court will resume the investigation next Monday. SEVENTEEN CLEAN SCORES. Result of the Second Day’s Shooting | hastily called and Mr. Burchaell pre- | wealthy pioneer farmer of the West Side, | | council on Monday was to consider an at Long Branch. LONG BRANCH, N. J., March 23.—The | weather to-day was much better than the | shooters had vesterday at the opening of the sixth annual shooting tournament of | the Interstate Association at Elkwood Park. When the adjournment was an- | nounced, seventeen men out of 100 stood | straight with twelve Kills each in the | American handicap. The following men | had scored twelve kills, which was the highest possible, wher, ihe shoot was ad- journed: Dr. J. L. Williamson, Milwau- | kee; J. A. R. Elliott, Kansas City; C. A. | Young, Springfield, O.; O. W. Ritchie, | Pa: B A Leach, Trippe, 8! ;B n Dyke, Dayton, N. J.; T. A. Marshall, Keithsburg, TIL; *“Walters, Long Branch, N. J.; D. Fulford, Utica, | . Y.; U. F. Bender, New York City; | Frederick Gilbert, Spirit Lake, Towk: . W. Loomis, Omaha, Neb.; “Sporting fe,” Philadelphia; G. H. Plerce, Jersey ty; J. B. Savage, New Haven, Conn.; Jim Jones, Philadelphia; F. Schwartz Jr., Bridesburg, Pa.; W. W. Wagner, Wash- ington, D. C. MURDERER CRAEMER'S SENTENCE COMMUTED Life Imprisonment With an Oppor- tunity to Appeal to the Su- preme Court. OLYMPIA, Wash., March 23.—Governor Rodgers to-day commuted the sentence of Henry Craemer to life imprisonment. The commutation gives him an oppor- tunity to appeal to the Supreme Court. His attorneys claim to have new evidence which will show his innocence. Craemer mcn?v’llctflc}, {]01’ thedmm;gle({ of Mrs. ppin: eller and cl n night of August 13, 184, e FLORAL FETE WILL BE HELD San Rafael Ladies Report in Favor of the Car- nival. Successful in Their Canvass of the Town to Gain Co-operation. Ten Thousand Club Officials at Once Begin the Work of Prep- aration. Special Dispatch to The Call. SAN RAFAEL, March 23.—The com- mittee of ladies having in charge the work of canvassing the town to ascer- tain the sentiment regarding the hold- | ing of a flower carnival, met this morn- ing, with Mrs. A. W. Foster in the chair. The ladies were most enthusi- | astic over the result of their labors and reported that they had met no opposi- tion whatever. On the contrary, they | had found everybody in full accord with the plan, so it did not take long to prepare a report to Chairman Bur- chaell of the Ten Thousand Club recommending that the carnival be pro- ceeded with and that it be held an May 6 and 7. The ladies’ committee will meet again in a day or two and take up the matter o!r; ?elvcflng a Queen and Grand Mar- shal. After the ladies had made their re- t a meetin~ of the executive com- ttee of the Ten Thousand Club was sented the report. It was adopted with great enthusiasm, and the members began at once to arrange for the affair | by appointing various committees, in | vhich they shared the preliminary work between the prominent ladies of | this city and the male citizens. Orange, white and green were adopt- ed as the carnival colors, and head- quarters was secured in the Central | Hotel building, which will be opened to-morrow. A secretary will be pro- vided, and the rooms will be tastefully fitted up for the convenience of the ladies. C. B. Tidball was appointed of- ficial decorator and assistant manager, and upon him will fall the heavy work of preparing for the fete. The choice | is an excellent one, as Mr. Tidball has | had large experience in such matters. A meeting of the Ten Thousand Club was called for to-morrow night, and next Monday the executive committee | will meet with the ladies’ committee, | when definite plans will be arranged | and a programme agreed upon. KASSON’S WIDOW SAYS SHE IS CHILDLESS Disastrous Day for the Putative Son and Daughter of the Dead Rancher. STOCKTON, March 23.—There was a bombshell in the Kasson estate casé this afternoon, which seems to settle the con- troversy. The suit is being brought by an alleged son and an alleged daughter of old George Kasson, who was a and left an estate worth over $15 The defense called the former Mrs. Kasson to | the stand a witns She swore that | she was the wife of Kasson, and last saw | him in 181, when ne visited her in St. Louis. She swore that she never had a child by Kasson, but was married before | and had one child, who died. The old | lady said she was divorced from Kasson, she thought, but she was not cross-exam- | ined, because she was ill, and will be called again. SAYS GOLD IS PILED UP LIKE CORDWOOD. Wierd Story a Dawson Resident Tells in a Letter to a Friend. SEATTLE, March 23.—One of the most remarkable statements that has come down from Dawson is contained in a let- ter written by Willlam Emerson. He was formerly from Everett, this State. He urged his friend, Charles Manning, to hasten to the north. An extract from the letter reads: “There is enough gold piled up in the barracks here to fill a wood rack 24 feet long 4 feet high and 3 feet wide. Joe Barrett of Snohomish recently took out $13,000 from twenty-four pans of gravel. His claim is on Honanza Creek, a short distance below Discovery.” DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE TO BECOME PREMIER. LONDON, March 24.—The Daily Chron- icle says:* We learn that the long Cabinet intimation that the Marquis of Salisbury, of his own desire, acting under medical advice, had determined to resign both the Premiership and the Foreign Secre- taryship. Our news is obtained from a source usually trustworthy, but the crisis may take a few weeks to develop, the Queen being abroad. Lord Salisbury's Successors are almost certain to be the Duke of Devonshire as Premier and Ar- thur J. Balfour as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, pRIRIEIS R s VICTORY FOR MRS. YOELL. SAN JOSE, March 23.—Mrs. Emily C. Yoell, wife of Capitalist J. Alexander | Yoell, was to-day granted her discharge as an insolvent debtor. Her petition in insolvency, which was filed nearly a year | ago, showed her liabilities to be about | $20,060. She had no assets. Considerable | of her indebtedness was on indorsed notes | of her son, Attorney J. H. Yoell. There was a strong objection made to her tak- ing advantage of the insolvency proceed- ings, the creditors alleging her husband was of great wealth, and because of his financial standing she had obtained credit. A few months ago Mrs. Yoell sued her husband for divorce, alleging great cru- elty, extending over a period of thirty years, but a compromise was effected and the case dismissed. L SACRAMENTO, March 23.—A large number of prominent citizens met to- night at the Golden ragle Hotel for the purpose of forming an organization for the protection of the Statetextbooksystem and also for the purpose of furthering the renomination of A. J. Johnston, who is known as a friend of the system, for State Printer. Hon. F. Dray was elected chairman and an executive com- mittee was appointed to formulate plans for carrying out the objects of the meet- ;n%i The name ggfir}!ed‘ for the organi- ation was the ‘ornia Stal - o te School: I S Croly’s Condition Improved. SACRAMENTO, March 23.—Charles Le Roy and James Searight, the murderous burglnut, vlv;res thln‘ afternoon held to answer to the Superior Court of ,000 each lolle robbing !;“J;g:n:‘:gl The condition of E. J. Croly, ‘Who was shot by one of the burglars, R &l is greatly T e The fac-simile signature of is on every wrapper _of CASTORIA. l MARIN WANT) ~THE DRYDOCK Site at Point San Pedro Offered to the Navy Department. Capital Location for the New Structure Authorized by Congress. It Is Well Guarded and the Fresh ‘Water Prevents Invasions by Teredoes. Special Dispatch to The Call SAN RAFAEL, March 23.—A great effort is being made to have the ary- dock to be built on the Pacific Coast located at Point San Pedro, about three miles from this place. Congress within the last two weeks passed a bill pro- viding for the construction of a large drydock on the Pacific Coast, to cost $825,000, and Marin County wants the structure erected within its borders. John A. McNear. a brother of George McNear, the grain merchant, and the owner of 1600 acres of property near San Pedro, has offered to give to the Government a site near Point San FPe- dro for the drydock. The advantages of the locality are unquestionably fine. Not only is the place a sheltered one but it is also far enough inland to be protected. In the event of war a hostile ship would have to pass through the Golden Gate and pass Alcatraz and Angel islands befors it could reach the drydock. At the wharf there is a depth of 40 feet, which gradually increases to 100 feet about 80 feet out. The excellent facilities for anchorage are put forward as another point in favor of San Pedro. There is an entire absence of ter- edoes because of the fresh waters from the rivers flowing past the place. Piles erected twenty-five years ago at the point are still intact, the salt water in- sects not venturing in the fresh water to carry on their work of devastation. The necessity of dredging is done away with. This is considered a big item, as the dredging at Pinole Point, where, it was suggested, the drydock might be built, would cost in the neighborhood of $200,000. Telegrams and letters by the score are passing between Washington and this place. The chances of securing this big Government station are excel- lent, and if success crowns the efforts of the people of Marin County an elec- tric railway from San Rafael to Point San Pedro 1 be constructed. WATSON OF GEORGIA IS OUT OF POLITICS Declines the Gubernatorial Nomina- tion Tendered by Populists of His State. NEW YORK, March 23.—An (Ga.) special to the Heral ys: E. Watson, late Populist Vice-Presidential candidate, will, editorially, in a signed statement in his paper to-morrow. -an- nounce his declination of the nomination for Governor by the Populists of Georgla, and, at the e time, his withdrawal rom the political field and his return for all time to the practice of law and litera- ture. This announcement comes from the manager of Mr. Watson's paper. He said_to-night: “Mr. Watson has declined the guberna- torial nomination unanimously tendered him by the Populists of Georgia. While he is still a firm believer in the Popuilst creed, he can see no hope in the near future for the masses, owing to the dis- ruption in reform forces caused by the attempt_at fusion. »r. Watson retires from politics finally, as he will announce to-morrow, and will 'devote his time to the law and to writin| Californians in Washington. WASHINGTON, March 23.—Mrs. G. A. Batchelder and J. C. Stedman of San Francisco are at the Riggs House. R. A. Perry of San Francisco is at the Raleigh. GRAND. The vigor of man. But unless properly guarded it gets to be unreliable. Take the man who indulges in too rich food; who eats and drinks to excess. He finds spots before his eyes ; he has a liver that is out of order. He finds his system running down, and then he sees that he is no longer what he was—a full-powered man. He gets disheartened and discouraged. He is always “down in the mouth,” and he is afraid to assume his regular duties for fear of failure, and it may be that he is conscious that he cannot per- form them at all. What can he do? If he will but seek the path to life, strength and fine vigor, it may readily be found. “Hud- yan" not only shows the way, but places the feet on a straight path that leads to renewed vitality. How many men have this story to tell2 Hundreds upon hundreds in this State alone. Atlanta Thomas f-tetetetatetutogatatatataiatuciatettete] Flabby skin and no digestion. Always discouraged. Then *‘Hudyan.” Spirits brighten up. Power, vigor and life return. {=feieetaietetuiateintauiataiagaintatal fpt=setaiat patal The great work that is accomplished by “Hudyan" is this: It places the man on his feet in the full power of the man he was a few years ago, and a few years before he began to abuse the priviieges with which he was endowed. You must not eat too much, you must sleep enough, and you must use all your functional rights sensibly. But should you err, or have erred, your strength is in no danger of extinction. Ask the Hud- sonian doctors to send you quite free of cost circulars and testimenials telling you all about what “Hudyan" has done and is doing in all parts of the Union. Ask for doctors’ advice, too, for that is likewise free. If you happen to have biood taint in any form get 30-Day Blood Cure™ circulars. They cost nothing, either. The cure in your case is assured you if you are treated. “Hudyan does not know a single failure; ‘nor does “30-Day Blood Cure.” HUDSON MEDICAL INSTITUTE, STOCKTON, MARKET AND ELLIS 8T8., San Francisco.