The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, May 15, 1898, Page 13

THE ~ ALAMEDA COUNTY NEWS. FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, MAY 15, 1898 ¢ LETTERS CLEAR P A TRAGEDY | Why James Was Led to| Kill Himself and Wife. All Over the Restaurant in Which the Shooting Occurred. Mrs. James’ Wild Schemes Ended in the Total Loss of All They Possessed. Oakland Office San Francisco Call, | %8 Broadway, May 14. | A bundle of ters which was found | among the effects of the late Morris | James, who committed suiclde in a res- taurant on Ninth street and who at- tempted at the same time to shoot his | wife and another lady, makes the cause | of the tragedy very clear. { It was supposed at the time and was o1 that James was led to act | as he did because of jealousy of his wife. | This is now proved not to have been xhe; reason why he appeared at the restau- rant with his gun, pretending to murder any one he might meet. The letters just | made public show very plainly that James | and his wife owned much property in| Tehama Cou also some in Oakland end San Francisco. The little town | where they lived became objectionable to them on account of gossip, and Mrs. James came to Oakland for the purpose of trading off their country property for | anything she could get in San Francisco, | Oekland or Los Anj | Mrs. James evidently considered every | s made to her, for in | st of last year she wrote every other day, and each | references to Some new | 2 to make them rich. | arted out with_her | he had property which valued a_lead- ing real estate of tnis city at $50,000. | first_trade was for ble piece | property in San Francisco, which, he ght it was her own, she | was carrving a mortgage - could never hope to pay. This derable portion ntered _into > owned for worth $50,000. came dis- d not d out of poorer scious humor ncon. « of m o big trac van be home 20,000 | e Mrs. ot make she was only ded with nearly | aler in town. James found that all she | 1 restaur; . This ormed her husband o have taken in a res- taurant at a small figure that is in a first-class place and the best in Oakland, so 1 am fitting it up some and will open the last of khis week and get it going \d then sell it out. The agent is help- % mg He is painting the boxes. Every- thing s fine. We will ask $1500 for it and I think we can get it. We will put in clar and beer, so we can sell it out, and in a short time I will come home and stralghten things out.”” SURIENICE Jetter tells the whole tale. Tt as follows: ‘Dear Husband: Inclosed find where an_attorney has attach- s and restaurants. 1 have uction, so I don't suppose one cent out of anything You see is please ed all the hous: to sell them at I will ever get at all. So tt is how it ends. n}vx:“ v sition; who is to blame? Nellie J. James."” \:\”f‘nvg d v after the receipt of this let- ter James came to Oakland and in one of the bo: of the restaurant which 3 00 he attempted to ot sell fo ool o te succeeded in hit- murder his wif 7 her twice with bullets; he attempted g e the lady he found with his wife, and finally fired the last shots of his re- volver into his own brain. — e MYSTERIES OF ASTROLOGY. «pr,” H. E. Howland Claims That Mrs. Clara B. Sterling Sought Him. ND, May 14—*Dr.” H. E. How- land, who is charged with fraud by Mr; Clara B. Sterling, denies that he did any thing wrong, but says he left the woman | because of her tongue. | He says Mrs. Sterling came to him and | would like to be Initiated into the She took him out | ries of astrology. | to dinner in t city and in San Fran-| cisco, and it was at her suggestion that the property at Elmhurst was purchased. He being il at the time, she suggested | that it would be beneficial to his health | to live in the country, and he claims that | he put in one-half of the money. A joint ch was placed deed was made out, wh on record. The property consists of three | lots, giving an area of 106 by 132, a cot- | n and orchard. at she became | ching astrol rs away from ared that tage, garde Sut ubsequ: he said ntly th s be jealo and drove his custor 1a u house. Finally he de he wo! leave if she would give him b his | money. He picked up his things and was about to go away when she called an offi- cer and had him arrested. She had him | charged with battery and also with em-| bezzlement, which he deni He claims | tuat the articles which he was about to remove were lent him by & lady who liv on Clay reet. — The Week’s Amusements. OAKLAND, May 1i—Ferris Hartman in “The Purse; be the attraction at| the Macdonough . ter Tuesday night. The Osakland Theater did a big bus ness this week with “rair Cuba.” Monday night they open with *Tris, or the Pet of Lone Pine,” a ¢ interesting mining play. An explo: in the Streny mine | will be one of th tractions. | Iverta Morse, a new mez- | a_musicale at the evening, as ler, tenor; Mi Belle Chamber st, and Willi ¥. Zech, violinis | Oakland News Items. OAKLAND, May 14—Two boys named | Curtis found Carl Stabenow, an old man, | lying in the mud between Howards and | landing y. They managed | him o t saving his life. | e regular Second Ward Republican | ) has been called to meet at Miiton Hal t Tuesday evening. This is one 1 nex of the oldest and strongest organizations of it n the city. This first meeting of the ca gn will be largely attended. H. Row § t inkler, was thrown from his cart this morning by being hit by an ic ca He sustained a prained nd was treated at the Re- | 1l. He was then taken th street, | > minary building, a land- | mark on_Telegraph avenue, is being torn down. It badly damaged by fire about a vy ago, which accounts for | the present action. The grounds will be cut up_into building lots. “Lord Cyril Athol” refused to allow his preliminary hearing to proceed in the Police Court to-day, owing to the absence | of his attorney. It was continued until Monday, the day originally desired vy the court but refused by the defendant. | | shell to local socie | ser | of Dr. Stebbins, published this morning. | SPOILED BY THE WEATHER Fabiola’s Friends Parade in a Heavy Rain Storm. Ladies Not Unanimous on the Propriety of Racing Benefits. | Dr. Dille Amused at the Way the Prayer of Rabbl Levy Was Ignored. Oakland Office San Francisco Call, 908 Broadway, May 14. Fabiola Day has passed. It was spoiled by the rain. Whether the financial end of the day has been damaged by the stormy weather or not will be known in a few days, but the parade was killed off al- most entirely. The day was to have been a day of dis- play, and society had decided to appear in all the beauty and gayety of summer dre and be-ribboned horses and car- riages, but by noon the rain commenced to fall and did not cease until midnight. The controversy over the advisability of the Hospital Association accepting the gate receipts from the racetrack is mnot vet ended. There are many who believe that the heavy rain was a sign of dis- pleasure, especially as the day has been both condemned and recommended to di- vine favor by prominent divines. Rabbi vy, in an _open letter, asked for God's sing on_Fabiola D: while Drs. Dille, and Horatio Stebbins have publicly ared that no Christian should take part that would tend to swell the coffers, even for charity. | ev. Dr. Dille, whose printed prelude | last Sunday night proved such a bomb- | ¢, was asked to-day If | thought Providence had purposely | against the success of the day | any he worked by_making it stormy. “I cannot help being a little amused,” | he said, ed by ‘that charity should be so treat- | the elements, T am not going to t it was a direct intervention of but certainly the man who | prayed for God's blessing on the day | must be grievously disappointed. “I have letters from three of the ladies | on the directory of Fabiola, assuring me | that they approve of my stand, and many | prominent people all over the State have | me letters couched in the same spirit. s particularly pleased with the letter Iw “Now, then, I would like to tell you one | of the many incidents that have come to my notice in regard to the race track. | There i{s a young lady in Berkeley who is a pupll of a San Francisco art school. ‘'or several weeks she was supposed to be going to San Francisco every day, but when the time came to pay her bills she was forced to confess that the money had gone Into the race track coffers and that she had been a daily attendant at the racing. She said that she was fully aware ness of her conduct, but that of the fooli once she started betting she could not restrain her passion. These are my ar- guments.” —_—e—————— Three Rails to Be Used. OAKLAND, May 14.—The narrow-gauge ratiway will not be entirely abandoned | in this city. The road over the new bridge | will have three rails, and this will be | carried from the mole to the Fourteenth Street depot. The local trains will be composed of broad gauge cars, but the freight work will be done on the narrow gauge tracks. The reason given for this is that the city’'s franchise precludes a complete change. Excursion trains for | befere Judge Ellsworth for trial. the Santa Cruz Mountains will also be run into this city on the narrow gauge track. S S A SUNDAY’S x&ss MEETING. OAKLAND, May 14.—George D. Gray will preside at to-morrow’s Red Cross meeting in the First Presbyterian Church. It will take place at 3:30 p. m. and be addressed by Mrs. Charles Webb How- ard, Mrs, Sarah Sanford, Hugh Cralg, William N. Friend, Willlam R. Davis, James S. Stevens, Chaplain Clark, A. H. Elliott and Hon. Frederick S. Stratton. Already some unscrupulous persons are taking advantage of the generous spirit prevailing and are making collections for their own benefit under the cloak of the Red Cross. No solicitors have been ap- ointed, nor will be until further notice. he enrollment blanks indorsed by Miss M. E. Babson, which, when signed, call for §1 are the only forms of solicitations yet undertaken, excepting the gentlemen's finance committee. rhis is composed of a number of well-known men, with John A. Britton as chairman. They are solieit- ing from the banks and other corpora- tions, and to-night report 3800, with a certainty that on Monday when tm turn it over to the ladies it will be $1000. Further acknowledgments of donations are to be made to Mills College, $25 more, 100 altogether; Miss Horton's School, $10; %/lrs. J. A. Folger, $10; Mrs. Charles Webb Howard, $10; L. A. Booth, $25; a friend, $10; F. W. Smith, $150; F. B. Ginn, $100; L. Barker, $50; in small subscrip- ong; $IGLA0T. | & - dolmldee 1 MINER WANTS 10 MAKE MONEY Evidently Thinks Brierling Is Anxious to Become a Manager. Proposes All Sorts of Wagers to Work and Walk Fifty Miles. Oakland Office San Francisco Call, 908 Broadway, May 4. Since Assemblyman Brierling lost $0 trying to prove that his butcher boy could not walk from San Jose to Oak- land immediately after his day's work was done, and without any rest, he has learned that there are others who are anxious to walk for money. It is very evident that some of the people who are willing to wager money with Mr. Brierling on the result of a test of their endurance consider the As- semblyman quite a nice fellow to do busi- ness with. His butcher boy, Gorman, ex- perienced no difficulty in walking the dis- tance in fourteen hours, instead of twen- ty-four, and now comes R. B. Bears, a burly miner of Calaveras County, who submits the following proposition: SNELL MINE, Calaveras County, May 10. Editor Call—Sir: I notice In your paper a walk for & wager between Assemblyman Brier- ling and Richard Gorman. I will agree to come to Oakland and stay one month, do no train- ing, and work in the shop of Mr. Brierling free of charge, do the same work as Mr. Gorman, | and walk the same distance in 17 hours. If win the wager 1 will then complete it in 1 hours, This must be for & sum of money no | Jess than $500. Then if I am successful I will agree to com- plete the distance in 12 hours. I am a miner, and all the walking I do is to my work and three miles a . B. SEARS. back, which constitutes about day. Yours respectfully, R —_————————— Husband’s Letters in Court. OAKLAND, May 1i—Constable C. F. fVeldon, who' levied an attachment upon the trunks and papers of “Br.” H. E. Towland, has been served with a sub- pena by District Attorney Snook, to bring all of the letters in his possession into court. This is done to secure evidence against the man in the case of felony now pending. It comes up on June 1 An of- fice boy is the complaining witness, and it is claimed that some interesting affairs will come to light if the letters are read in court. | said. SMALL WATER FRONT VICTORY Pierhead Lines Will Not Be Changed by the Engineers. The Peculiar Brock Petition Fails to Accomplish Its Purpose. Other Tactics Will Have to Be Put in Use to Disturb the Property. Oakland Office San Francisco Call, 908 Broadway, May 14. The War Department has decided that the pierhead lines of Oakland harbor shall not be changed. This decision disposes of the petition of the C. C. Brock Company, which set forth that the interests of shipping would be best served by disturb- ing the present lines and surveys. Major Heuer of the United States En- gineer's office received information yester- day that the Secretary of War had sus- tained the opinion of the local Govern- ment engineers, which is favorable to maintaining the existing conditions. The War Department states that it has care- fully considered all the arguments sub- mitted, including the stenographic report of the statements of the Brock Company and the city of Oakland, and there is no reason for making the change. This de- cision is final as regards lines. The Merchants’ Exchange and the Board of Trade and the City Council are greatly gratified at the result of their labors, as they put in strong protests against the proposed change. The people of this city were not consulted when the petition was drawn up by the Brock Com- pany, and as Oakland is the party most directly interested there was more than a suspicion in the minds of merchants that there was a power at work not apparent on the surface. It was only after some days that this city learned that a petition had been filed. It is the general opinion among those conversant with water front litigation that the attempt to have the pierhead lines changed originated in some quarter where there is a desire to disturb the status of the water front cases now in the courts. If the Government could have been induced to make the change it would certainly have been an advantage to the water front company, and would have operated against the interests of this city. Attorney W. R. Davis, who appeared before the engineers in the interest of this city, is gratified at the result. ““This decision of the Secretary of War puts an end to this kind of business,” he “Hereafter, people that are anxious o get away with the water front will have to adopt new tactics —————————— Lowell High Takes First Place. OAKLAND, May 14.—The twenty-five mile relay bicycle race of the Academic Athletic League was held on the San Leandro road this morning for the second time. The Lowell High School of San Franeisco captured the trophy. The Oak- land Central and High came in second and third respectively. Time, one hour eighteen minutes fifty-six seconds. The Oakland High School held the lead until the beginning of the fourth relay, when their man failed to make connections. The time lost then lost the race. Délegates to the Federated Clubs. OAKLAND, May 14.—Mrs. Alice W. Bunnell, the retiring president of the FEbell Society, and Mrs. E. Southard have been chosen delegates to the National the pierhead | records | their lot on the corner of Santa Clara | thereon a flag of suitable size, ;;vhl(‘h will Federation of Women's Clubs, which will meet soon in Denver, to represent the Ebell Soclety. Mrs. Blizabeth Fish and Mrs. John Russ are the alternates. The offlcers of the soclety, as changed at yes- terday’s meeting, are: President, TS, A. . Bishop; first vice-president, Mrs. Prentiss Sel second vlc%pre!ldent, Mrs. W. A. Childs; treasurer, Mrs. E. W. Owens; secretaries, Mrs. L. F. Cockroft, Jgn;i Henry Wadsworth and Miss Jennié uff. o ENCINAL YACHT CLUB. | Opening Day Under Discouraging Weather—The Evening Enter- tainment All Right. | ALAMEDA, May 14.—The rainy weather ; to-day acted as a decided dampener on | the opening day of the Encinal Yacht Club. There were a number of visitors, however, and the indications are for a successful season. The rain did not affect the evening's performance at the club- house, however, and there was a large gathering of members and their friénds. An impromptu vaudeville performance was given, which was participated in by‘ Dr. Bertrand, Dr. J. G. Humphrey, Billy Hynes, Harry Malloon, Captain Leal, Wil- | liam O'Brien and others. F. R. Zeal gave some stereoptivon views and Yanke's or- chestra furnished the music for the sing- ing, and afterward for dancing, which | was participated in by most of those present. A Strange Proceeding. | ALAMEDA, May l4.—Another step in the ante-matrimonial woes of Heinrich | Schmlidt and Mrs. Sophia Kammerer has been taken. It will be remembered that the not at all youthful couple obtained a marriage license and made a date for the performance of the ceremony with Justice Morris one day this week. But the lover came not on the appointed hour, and subsequently Schmidt said the affair was off because Mrs. Kammerer wanted him to deed all his property to her before the ceremony was performed, | and this he was too shrewd to do. Butf | an arrangement of some kind must have | been entered into, as the transcript of | shows to-day that instead of Schmidt deeding to his bride-elect she | has deeded property to him. Whether they are married or not 's not known. Schmidt took the license away from Jus- tice Morris and has remained very much in the background ever since the flasco of the other day. Patriotic Knights. ALAMEDA, May 14—The Knights of | Pythias have decided to erect a pole on avenue and Oak street, and will raise be donated to the lodge by J. Barber. This flag will be kept floating “for two years or the war,” or at all events until peace once more reigns. There will be | appropriate ceremonies when the banner is raised. —_— HONOR FOR A BRIGHT STUDENT. George D. Leslie '98 Awarded the Le Conte Memorial Scholarship. BERKELEY, May 14.—The Le Conte memorial fellowship for the coming year was to-day awarded to George D. Leslie, who will graduate next Wednesday from the college of social sclence with the de- gree of Ph.D. The award was made by the Le Conte memorial fellowship com- mittee, consisting of Professor Joseph Le Conte, Professor W. E. Ritter, W. Davis, Bisie Lee Turner and Herl Dam. Leslie is considered one of the brightest and most conscientious students at the university. He has completed the four vears' course in three years, after com- pleting a three years’ high school course in two years. He will pursue advanced | graduate study in history, politics and economics. His is the first case of a stu- dent, not specializing on science, receiving the Le Conte scholarship. — eee—— CLASS PAGEANT POSTPONED. BERKELEY, May 14—The rainstorm played havoc with the annual class day exercises at the university to-day. In spite of a_threatening sky in the morn- ing, the class pilgrimage to the various points of interest on the campus took lace, but shortly after noon the rain egan to pour and the grand Chinese P‘Efifflnt and class dispensation that were to have been held in the amphitheater on the hillside had to be postponed. The celebration will take place next Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’'clock. R. bert CHARTER IS DENOUNCED | BY CITIZENS Munsell Chase Shows W eak Pointsin the Organic Law. Supervisors and Special Classes Have Un- bridled Power. Rulers May Decide What Laws May Be Submitted to the People. FAIRNESS BUT PRETENSE. Many Reasons in Detall Why the Proposed Instrument Is Full of Defects. At a meeting of the Civic Rights League last night, at which Rev. J. E. ———— e ADVERTISEMENTS. 66 77 99 FOR GRIP Colds that hang on. Dr. Humphreys’ Manual, 100 pages, given free at all Drug- stores, tells all about the treat- ment of disease with Humphreys' Specifics. A cloth bound copy in white and gold mailed free. “T7"* checks the Grip and breaks up Colds that hang on; 25¢, all druggists. Scott presided, definite steps were ta- ken to oppose the proposed new char- ter. An address livered by J. views were so unanimously i sed. It was decid- ed to familiar the public with Mr. Chase’s views, which were adopted as those of the league, and to this end it | was agreed to circulate the address in | pamphlet form and otherwise. Following is the text of the address on the subject was de- | Fellow-citizens of San Francisco: In a | few days you will be called upon to adopt | or refect, as the fundamental law of your | city and county, the charter prop the Freeholders 2 s s It is a_voluminous document, requiring long and exhaustive study in order to ar- | rive at anything like acurate knowledge of its provisions, and, along with a few things that are commendable, it contains a multiplicity of provisions that are in- | congruous with a democratic form of ! government and that are subversive of much that is best in present institutions. ‘We therefore ask that you carefully con- sider the followng objections to it: First—It is too long. It is longer than the Magna Charta and Bill of Rights of Great Britain, the Declaration of Ameri- can Independence, the consti United States and the State of California all combined. This great length is un- necessary and dangerous, for the greater the length of a document the more like- linood there is that some mischievous omission or insertion of a phrase or word may have been made, accidentally or otherwise. An instance of the injurious effect of length may be found in section 1, chapter 1I, article II. The Board of Supervisors is’ granted power “to ordain, make and enforce within the limits of the city and county all necessary local, police, sanitary and other laws and regulations.” This is a full and complete grant of power in the express terms of the State constitu- tion, and any further detail of what the Supervisors may do is entirely unneces- sary, if not perniciou: But the charter as proposed goes on through thirty-four other subdivisions to provide that the Supervisors shall have authority “to reg- ulate and control for any and every pur- pose the use of the sireets, highways, public thoroughfares, public ' places, al- leys and sidewalks of the city and county,” etc., etc., each subsequent sub- division being a special enumeration of power already granted in the first sub- division and repeated in subsequent divi- sions of the same section. In law, special enumerations of power granted have the effect of nullifying all general grants except as to powers spe- Gifically enumerated. Hence, in this sec- tion we may reasonably expéct to find, if the charter is adopted, serious if not fatal restrictions on the power of the Super- visors, and it matters not in the result whether this failure to grant proper au- thority is an oversight or intentional. In either case, the effect is the same. Second—The charter contains mischiev- ous restrictions on the legislative duthor- ity. The most serious of these is that provision known as the “dollar limit” (Section 11, Chapter I, Article 1II), a provision never before placed in the or- ganic law of any city or State. We want good government. We want it at the least possible cost, but good government we should be resolved to have be the cost 9 cents or $1 05 in the $100 val- uation. The dollar limit provision in the charter is almost certain to prove detri- mental sather than beneficial to the city’s best interest, and, therefore, should never have been proposed, and now that it is proposed should serve to defeat the docu- ment containing it. ‘With the dollar limit in the organic law, tax reform will be out of the question, for it will be absolutely impossible to obtain sufficient revenue without keep- ing in vogue the pernicious poil tax, and all forms of inquisitorial business ' and personal property taxes. The present cost of munlcrpa administration is about $4 900,000 annually. Of this, under the dollar limit, it will be possible to obtain from | Humphreys' Medicine Company, New York. land, houses and personal property about $3,000,000 on the present valuation. The re- ;mmnlng $1,400,000 must come from other | city. sources, From where? In proposing this re the property owning c as] a speclal exemption their favor. {imes of public need every citizen can bear arms is compelled to do so. matters not that he may be under or over the usual enlisting limit, every man Who has hands to hold a gun and éyes to | Soe an enemy, and feet to get about on | must place his life in jeopardy that the property of his fellow citizens may_be Protected. Yet property demands 'ihat only $1 in $100 of valuation shall be taken to tarry on the necessary business of the Wherein is the justice in this? Phird-In pretending to promote it ef- fectually precludes the possibility of ad- Jous ownership of public utilities. vantageo! it ticle XII (Acquisition of Public Utili- 3:&) provides that 15 per cent of the rs shall have power to ini- te a proposition looking to the acqui- Hate 2 P a public utility, but leaves with the Supervisors the power of determining what proposition shall be submitted to | the people. (See sectlon 3 of article XIL) By the provisions of this section 15 per cent of the voters can require the Super- visors to submit the question; Shall we buy the Spring Valley Water Works? But_the question as submitted may be: Shall the city of San Francisco pay $30, 000,000 for the Spring Valley Works? Or, if the people petition for the submission to popular vote of the question: Shall the city proceed by original construction to own and operate water works? the Supervisors have power, under the char- fer, to submit the question: Shall the city qualified_vote: build a water work system to cost $35,000,- | 0007 In either case the people would vote no, and the only inconvenience the Spring Valley Company would have experienced | would have arisen from the necessity of “convincing” the Supervisors to submit the question as the company wished. But suppose the first election results in the people voting to buy, or build water works, a second election must then be held to vote the bonds for the purpose, and at this election two-thirds of the persons voting must favor the proposi- tion or it falls. What likelihood is there that under these circumstances any pub- lic utility will ever be taken under public control except the corporations become more generous than in the past? As conditions are the city can secure control _of public utilities by condemna- tion and appropriation, but under the pro- posed charter this méthod i3 cffectually one away with, inasmuch as it is speci- ally provided that the method for acquir- ing such utilities shall be by purchase or by original construction. AS a first-class humbug we commend this charter in its | provisions relative to the acquiring of public_utiljties. Fourth—The proposed new _ charter makes of the Mayor a veritable Czar. He is authorized to initiate policies and veto legislation, to cut down appropriations, to refuse the ratification of contracts, to reject items of account, and besides his legislative functions he will have dis- cretionary power to appoint and remove the officials who are the nominal heads of government. Moreover, he is authorized to suspend the very elect of the peopie. He appoints and will control the election FROM HIGH ART DOUARD REMENYI, the eminent | Hungarian violin virtuoso, is another great artist who has condescended to join the procession of those who have lately flocked to the vaudeville ranks. He will make his debut therein on Sunday evening at the Orpheum, and the master of that king of instruments will undoubt- edly electrify his hearers as he has in the past. The distinguished musician, who ar- rived Thursday from St. Louis, said yesterday: “Yes, I have decided to make my entry on the vaudeville stage, and I must say that the con- sideration is such a large one that I could not very well refuse to do so. And why not? I am sure the people who frequent vaudeville performances are appreciative of good music. I will appear in my violin selections at one of your theaters, and I must say that I am glad to be with you once again. It has been said that vaudeville per- formances are attended by a more cosmopolitan audience than I have been in the habit of playing to hereto- fore, but this will not alter my fixed rule to play only musical compositions of the highest class. I shall endeavor, if necessary, to educate and elevate my auditors to the high standard of musical art which it has ever been my ambition to attain, and I trust that I have not lost any of the power I for- merly possessed to accomplish that praiseworthy result. I still have my ‘Stradivarius’ with me, and isn’t it a beauty?’ and with that Remenyl grasped his beloved instrument, which he fondled as one would a baby, and with a few deft touches of his bow he evolved such delicious strains as un- questionably stamp him one of the greatest violinists of the age. TO VAUDEVILLE, officers and is responsible for an honest counting of the votes, and, in fact, he will have control of 83 per cent of the en- tire expenditures of the city government. It is thought by many that the one-man government has resulted well where it has been tried. Such is not the case. There is not a single case where large owers have been conferred upon the Mayor that evil results have not followed. The power has been as often abused by the Mayor as has any power possessed by the Supervisors, and the experience of many cities has proven that there is more probability of electing a bad Mayor than a bad Hoard of Supervisors, some of whom have invariably proved honest. All that the machine has to do is to concen- trate its energies upon the election of a Mayor and the machine is in control. If a good man is a candidate, then it has to find a second or third good man who will consent to run and divide the honest vote, at the same time concentrating the vote of the “push” upon the candidate who will be subservient to the wishes of the jobbers, Under a storm of public excite- ment Seth Low was elected a model Mayor of Brooklyn. He was followed by Whitney, Chapin and Moody, who were creatures of Boss McLaughlin. For eight years the city was d?pe«l in corruption, waste, inefficiency and extravagance. In Boston, Mayor after Mayor has been elected only to disappoint the hopes of the municipal reformers. The public debt has increased, employes were hired at more | than market wages and the greatest frauds in executive contracts have been perpetrated by the Board of Public Works. In Cleveland the concentration of power has not been followed by the adop- tion of business methods. In Cincinnati Boss Cox rules_the Mayor. Philadelphia under its Czar Mayor has the worst mu- nicipal government in the United States. Civil service rules are a dead letter. The city is controlled by politicians, who live on patronage and are corrupt and ex- travagant. In Quincy the author of the autocratic charter admits its failure. Under a simi- lar charter the Mayor of Indianapolis re- moves and appoints office-holders in his own interest. At the first election under the autocratic charter of Greater New York Boss Croker of Tammany secured the election as Mayor of his man Van Wyck, who has the distribution of pa- tronage valued at nearly $100,000,000 an- nually. Under a similar charter Oakland has as black a mayoral scandal as ever disgraced any solid eight or nine in the history of this city. (See editorial in Ex- aminer of April 2) In San Jose like re- sults have followed from the adoption of a one-man government. Boss Rea’s man was elected Mayor at the first election held under it and now rules the roost. Fifth—The pretense that the charter gives the people power to ifitiate amend- ments to it is false The method of amending, as of making charters, is fixed in the State constitution and cannot be changed by charter or by general law. Hence if you adopt this charter in order to amend it you will have to: First—Elect ten Supervisors and a Mayor, or, without the Mayor, fourteen Supervisors, who will propose the amend- ment to the people. Second—Secure & favorable vote of at least three-fifths of the persons voting at an election—a thing almost impossible of accomplishment; and Third—Secure the approval of both houses of the Legislature. These three conditions can never be ful- filled. fellow-citizens, you do not want a form of government in which the determination of nearly every ques- tion of policy and right is vested in one man. But you do want a simple, straight- forward charter vesting all authority in a Board of Suvervisors sufficiently large to render it practically impossible to cor- rupt it, and each member of which is re- movable at the will of his constituents. el SR HITTING THE CHARTER. Continental League Makes Further ‘Exposures of the Proposed Law. The executlve committee of the Conti- In conclusion, nental League makes further inroads into | the *“all powerful fangled charter.” The following resolution was unani- mously adopted at a meeting of that body held last night: Whereas, The new charter, under the title of “Civil Service Reform, Article XIII:" pro- vides for ‘the appointment by the Mayor of three Civil Service Commissioners, whose joint fixed calaries, with thefr clerk, amount to $6000 per year; incidenta! expenses, suc. as assist- ant clerks, janitors, printing, stationery, rent, fuel, light, “etc., will amount to $6000 more: ‘K,&‘Bl P)ém;nses in one year not less than $12,- . and in ten vears it will amoun than $120,000; therefore, S Resolved, That the members of the Conti- nental League are opposed to creating more useless offices, notably sinecures as these, and charging the amount to the already oyer burdened * taxpayers, especlally as the same service is now performed by the heads of the various departments, with better results and without any expense whatever to the city. Any three citizens selected at random can per- form all the work required of these superflu- ous commissioners in twelve days in any one year, and any ordinary clerk, when made chief examiner, aided by the other examiners to be appointed by these exalted commissioners, can perform all the work required of them In thirty days in the year, working three hours per day. "This work, if contracted for, would not cost the city more than $300 per vear. And vet our young, esteemed, Inexperienced Mayor has been fretting and stewing for nearly two years and using the courts and all the power at his command to remove a few over- worked clerks employed by the city in order to economize in favor of this useless expense bP(“n'I.]S;' it g'l\fis the Mayor the power to ap- point his relatives or partisans i these sinecures. > 2 gt t would have been of far greater Impor to this community If the freeholders Tad meo vided for a commission of three eminent phy- sicians and made it their duty to discover soma fhecific for, the cure of that tertible disease e chicken disease wi many elected officers, i and one-sided new Saturated with conceit and their own jm- FROM SAN FRANCISCO TO DAW DIR Capacity 1500 tons. ‘Which has been lately renov: dations, equal to any passen er steamer knots per hour, connecting at 435 passengers. "‘hthls steamer is fitted with 1260 horse hour. River navigators. or Fort Selkirk. " passengers via the Banner line. Rates as low as an of baifage. Cabin and table unsurpassed. Sailing date of other steamers to be named later. For tickets and freight and full information, call 18 AUCTION SALES. EDWARD S. SPEAR & CO, AUCTIONEERS, 81 and 83 Sutter Street. Telephone Main S181. Magnificent and Genuine Louis XVI, Louis X1V and Henri II FURNITURE. ETCHINGS By O. DE ROCHEBRUNE. A. BRUNER, DE- BAISNE, CHARREYRE and LEFORT. WORKS OF ART In _BRONZE and MARELE, VENETIAN, FRENCH, ITALIAN and GERMAN FURNITURE and UPHOLSTERY. PLEYEL CONCERT GRAND PIANO FORTE. Will be sold Catalogue, MONDAY and TUESDAY ..May 16 and 17 At Residence, 2108 PACIFIC AVENUE, Commencing each day at 11 _o'clock. FOR PARTICULARS SEE CHRONICLE. NOTE—The above elegant collection of genu=- ine antique goods is the finest ever offered at auction in this city. A large majority of the goods have been in Mr. Coutelle’s family for nearly 200 years and the balance has been collected by him at various periods in Europe. The goods will be on exhibition Saturday and Sunday afternoons, May 14 and 15, from 2to 5 p. m. Admission by card, which may be obtained at our offic. EDWARD S. SPEAR & CO., Auctioneers, 31-38 Sutter st. P. J. BARTH, AUCTIONEER. TO-MORROW. ~MONDAY, MAY 16, 188— On the ‘Premises, 475 GUERRERO ST., At 11 O'clock a. m. THE SUPERB FURNITURE And carpets of the above elegantly furnished residence, without limit or reserve. For parti- culars see Chronicle. SPECIAL AUCTION SALE AT 1012 HOWARD STREET. MONDAY, May 16, 1838, at 11 oclock, We will sell the entire contents of above livery stable, consisting of Horses, 1 Hack, Buggles, Wagons, Harness, etc. SULLIVAN & DOYLE, Live Stock Auctloasrs. Office, 327 Sixth street. portance, they aim to dispiay it by trying to change the customs and laws of the country by compelling _the people, their superiors, to humiliate themselves by undergoing a non- sensical examination for a simple position. If the applicants for examination were al- lowed in return to examine the commissioners the people would soon discover the farce of these examinations and discontinue them, for the commissioners would be made the laugh- ing stock of the community. The object of the competitive examinations is not to procure more competent employes for the city, but to prevent the office holders elected from being importuned for a political position. They forget that before election on their bended knees they importune all the voters individually or collectively to vote' for. them, and resort to every means honorable or dishonorable known to the science of politics to_procure their election. These would-be boss rulers know or should know that in this republic every American citizen that has arrived at the years of dis- cretion and graduated from the grammar gchools Is just as competent to hold any elec- tive position within the gift of the people of| this clty as they are and no American mechanio, or clerk who has any self-respect and values| his liberty and the privileges guaranteed to| him by the constitution since the birth of tho nation, if he stops to consider the matter will vote to adopt a new charter that degrades him and his children by compelling them to undergo a competitive examination while it exempts another class holding higher positions from any examination whatever. And no party can afford to disfranchise its advocates and friends in that direction when| it becomes known and is made apparent that, the object is to establish a life-holding class| in the civil service in this republic. If this| charter is adopted our boys who do the fight- ing and return maimed and disabled will be told the civil service positions are all ta'ten for life, there is no room for you. If th obnoxious doctrine is forced upon the pao at a special election called for the purpose people will soon demand that a limit of ti be fixed by law for all employes in the c service. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. AMOS CURRIER, Chairman. FRANK D. WORTH, President. HAMILTON J: RIGGT Secretary. B POOR MEMORIES. Two Chinese Native Americans Not Acquainted With the Hills of San Francisco. Chow Hing Suey and Chow Gum Choy were before United States Court Commis- sioner Heacock yesterday on a writ of habeas corpus, they having been denied the right to land by the Collector of the Port. They claimed admittance to this country on the ground that they were born in San Francisco and went to China when they were only 7 years old. Al- though they had traveled from the steamer to the County Jail on Broadway and thence to the Appraiser's building, they were unable to say whether the streets of this city were level or hilly, All that they could remember was that it rained here sometimes. The Commissioner announced that he would report to the court in favor of the deportation of the applicants, e Died on a Car. A man who is supposed to be named P. O’Connor died on Potrero streetcar No. 1123 last evening about 9:30 o'clock. He got on the car somewhere in the Potrero, and when the car reached Market street and turned to go back he remained in his seat. H. Webster, the conductor, was unable to arouse him and at Third and Harrison _streets the passenger was found to be dead. Officer P. K. O'Keefa took the body onto the sidewalk and noti- fied the Coroner. A butcher’'s hook with the name of P. O'Connor in account with George Rauber was found in the man's pocket, and entries in it Indicated that the dead man was a saloon and lodging- house keeper. 13 i a Advances made on furniture and planos, with or without removal. J. Noonan, 1017-1023 Mission. ADVERTISEMENTS. NORTH BRITISH-AMERICAN C0., LIMITED. The Banner Line! SON CITY AND FORT SELKIRK ECT. FIRST SAILING DATE JUNE 14th, THE POPULAR O CEAN STEAMER “CLEVELAND,” Accomm odations for 3 passengers. ated and elaborately fitted for passenger accommo- on the Coast, of guaranteed speed of 14 t. Michael with the Floating Palace of the Yukon, S. S. MARY ELLEN GALVIN. Length 200 feet, beam 40 feet, draft 18 inches. Will comfortably accommodate power engines, 10,000 candle power search- , electric lights throughout, hot and cold water service all through the boat, ladles’ and gents' baths, steam steering-gear, smoking room, besides mosquito-proof windows and doors. hall, comfortable Speed, 20 knots per piano, social The construction of this steamer has been supervised by experienced Yukon Special attention has been paid to the selection of only first-class Yukon pilots, so that those procuring passage are assured of earliest possible arrival at Dawson MR. PAT GALVIN, president of the company, has established warehouses and trading posts at different points on the Yukon River for the accommodation of y other competing first-class line, with a liberal allowance “on or address 305 MARKET STREET, J. G McCALL, General Passenger and Freight Agent, 46 MARKET STREET, ONE BLOCK FROM FERRY. PAT GALVIN, President. J. C. BESLEY, Traffic SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. TELEPHONE DRUMM 8§ JOSEPH BELL, Vice-President.