The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, October 18, 1898, Page 6

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 1898. Sl s Addross All Communications to W, S, LEAKE, Manager. PUBLICATION OFFICE......Market and Third Sts., S. F. Telephone Main 1868 EDITORIAL ROOMS... ..2IT to 22| Stevenson Street Telephone Main 1574. THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL- (DAILY AND SUNDAY) Is served by carriers In this city and surrounding towns for 15 cents a week. By mall $6 per year; per month | 65 cents. THE WEEKLY CALL One year, by mall, $1.50 OAKLAND OFFICE.. veee---+908 Broadway NEW YORK OFFICE. .Room 188, World Bullding DAVID ALLEN, Advertising Representative. WASHINGTON (D. C.) OFFICE.. Rigge House C. C. CARLTON, Correspondent. CHICAGO OFFICE... Marquctte Bullding C.GEORGE KROGNESS, Advertising Representative. BRANCH OFFICES—527 Montgomery street, corner Clay, open until 9:30 o'clock. 387 Hayes street, open until 9:30 o'clock. 621 McAllister street, open untll 9:30 o'clock. 615 Larkin street, open untll 9:30 o'clock. 1941 Mission street, open until 10 e'clock. 2291 Market street, corner Sixteenth, open until 9 o'clock. 25i8 Mission street, open until 9 o'clock. 106 Eleventh | street. open untll 9 o'clock. 1505 Pelk street, open untll 9:30 o'cleck. NW. corner Twenty-second ana Kentucky streets, open until 9 o'clock. AMUSEMENTS Baldwin—""Tove in Harness.” a Columbia—‘By the Sad Sea Waves.” Alcazar—" 'The Wife.”" —“‘Straight From the Heart.” he Circus Queen.” Orpheum—Vaudeville. New Comedy Theater— Where's Matilda?” Albambra, Eddy and Jones streets—Vaudevilie The Chutes—Lilllan Stewart, Vaudeville and the Zoo. Olympla, corner Mason and Eddy streets—Specialties. 044 Fellows' Hall—Masquerade Bail, Saturday, October 22 Sutro’s Baths—Swimming. Rosenthal—Coming in February. Sherman & Clay Hall-First Heinrich Recital Tuesday Evening. AUCTION SALES, By Frank W. Butterfield—Thisday, October 18, Furniture, at | Geary street, at 11 o'clock. | By Killip & Co.—Thursday, October 20, Horses, at corner TRAFFIC IN THE DEAD. 7an Ness avenue and Market streets, at 11 o'clock. | TO say that a thrill of horror went through the | community at the revelations as to an unholy | traffic in skins stripped from the human dead is to state the truth too mildly. The senses protest | against accepting such revolting allegations. Decency | prefers to think that for the sake of sensation a wild story has been contrived with no basis in fact. The | story is literally true and as yet but partly told. | It was with no desire to create a s: ion that The Call set forth the details of the ghoulish fad which | has made women forget the humane impul sup- | posed to dominate them, and become as disgusting | as the hyena gnawing a bone in the shadows of the | cemetery. That any woman who would wear raiment | or ornaments made from human integument is as| offensive in her savagery as the tribal belle decorated ‘with the teeth of warriors or the skulls of babes, is beyond denial. She is even worse, for she has been | reared to be gentle to the living and reverent toward the silent clay. In bedecking herself with gauds from | the cha house she becomes a degenerate, entitled | to no respect, unfit to associate with aaght that is| clean and pure and natural. She deserves to be hissed | from society and have her own hide marred by the | cat-o’-nine tails beyond the possibility of future tan- ning. | The sole object of The Call was to direct attention | to a horrible abuse. There are laws bearing directly on this matter. To the humblest dead there is given the right of sepulcher. Any violation of this right is an outrage, and a wanton violation for the purpose of bedizening a fool is an outrage so gross there can be no shadow of excuse for it. Students and doctors | who connive at it deserve to go to the penitentiary, for society is entailed to protection against such | morally misshapen creatures. | There is hope the exposures thus far made will re- | sult in reform. If they fail to do so there are other facts available still more grewsome and startling. THE LEGISLATIVE TICKET. ] HILE no part or point of the political contest now going on should be overlooked by Re- | publicans and all voters desiring the continu- | ance of prosperity, there are important reasons whyf special attention should be given to the election of | the Republican legislative ticket. As a United States | ’Sena!or is to be chosen this winter, these reasons affect national as weil-as State politics, and involve is- sues of the greatest moment to the country. From the standpoint of a regard for the welfare of | the State it must be clear to all that grave evils would result from the election this fall of a Legisla- ture favorable to the single tax scheme and other | political vagaries of Maguire. The development of | the “wealth and civilization of Caliiornia is largely dependent at this juncture upon the attraction which she offers to capital, to men of enterprise and to thrifty and industrious home-seekers. Radical legis- lation of any kind would seriously impair the reputa- tion of the State in financial'and industrial circles and cause sagacious business men to hesitate before in- yesting their capital or making their homes here. When in addition to these reasons drawn from con- siderations of local affairs there is taken into account the importance of electing a stanch supporter of the administration and the great policies of sound money and protection to succeed Senator White, the high importance of electing a straight Republican legisla- tive ticket must be apparent to all. Until the Senate is Republican by a safe majority the government of the nation will always be uncer- tain. Great policies cannot be carried out if the Sen- ate is antagonistic to the President and the House of Representatives. California is counted on to do her share toward providing a Republican ‘majority in the Senate by the election this winter, and she must not fail to fulfill the high expectations of the nation. Recognizing the importance of the issues dependent upon the Legislature, the Republican convention has put forward a ticket of great personal strength. The candidates chosen are men who merit the suffrages of their fellow-citizens by character as well as by the fact that they represent Republicanism. They deserve support on the ground of individual ability and in- tegrity as much as upon the ground of their political affiliation with the party of conservative government and public prosperity. The ticket stands for a sound, business-like, eco- nomical management of the affairs of California and the election of a stanch Republican to the United States Senate. Republicans, independents and conser- vative citizens of all kinds should see to it that every man on it is clected. | and increasing the pay of its members. | are misled to their detriment they will vote down this Barclay Henley will, perhaps, catch the Mexican vote, but this is not large. If really pining for office he should try for it in our sister republic. INDECENCY SHOWS THEIR DESPERA- TION. EFOULED with the mud of the political pool in which they wallow, the active forces of Phe- lan are striving to bespatter the opposing can- didate. They see him gaining strength, the chances of the Mayor daily waning. Where once they ha arrogant confidence they show fear. They still haastl has only published Maguire’s speeches on and bluster, but in all they say there is a hollow in- | ject, and conclusions fairly deducible ther_elmm, sincerity. Failing to find argument they resort to | must refer Mr. Pomeroy to Judge Maguire as abuse, falsehood, spying—the methods of the sneak. It | is well for decency that they should have done this. | The spectacle is not pleasing, but the effect will be to | make Patton’s victory more pronounced. The time | has passed when vilification from characterless sheets | run by men of shameful and unclean records can in- ‘\ jure the citizen against whom their forces may be | directed. Since the nomination of Patton, particularly since the fact has been apparent that he was to sweep from | place and power Phelan, the Committee of One Hun- | dred and the iniquitous practices which have made of the Mayor a political boss, the Republican candi- | date has been dogged by Examiner spies, of whom | one is a sneak thief, who was exposed by this paper | less than a year ago. In the candidate’s ordinary course | about the city some of these precious creatures have | been always at his heels. They have fol- lowed him to his office, his club, his home. They have noted all whom he met, and, when unable to get | an ample ear close to the conversation, have imagined a conversation. They have distorted every remark, every act. They have set forth no truth. And every lie has added to Patton’s strength. They cannot see | this. They are blind with rage. The mud they try to | throw clings to their own fingers. | Naturally the Bulletin echoes the words of the big- | ger and possibly more yellow daily, but this circum- stance is only of interest in demonstrating that cer- | tain beasts of prey are imitated in their well-known kabit of hunting in pairs. | Phelan knows that the tide is against him. He isi directing a fight which is marred and weakened by ! the very bitterness of it. This is apparently his idea of what a fight should be when his political future is | at stake. It is for him an unhappy conception. The indecency of desperation may delve in muck until the counting of the last ballot, but it wins no triumphs, and it injures only the cause it represents. he Call does not wish to be understood as advo- cating the propriety of any man’s going into a saloon at 2 o'clock in the morning or any other hour. Neither does it believe in telling him that he shall not, nor in any other manner interfering with his Ii it did it might ask where on | Devisadero street the Examiner's candidate for Mayor was at the hour it charges, as if charging a dire offense, that Mr. Patton was taking a drink. This Mr. Patton was on his way home | after a day of hard work. He had a right to be tak- ing a drink, or a lunch or a cigar. Possibly the Mayor | had an equal right to be on Devisadero street. At‘ least nobody has called his right into question. | | Tgan of the Phelan Democracy are illustrated in the ardent support it is according to constitu- tional amendment No. 7 (known to the statutes as | Assembly amendment No. 34). This amendment proposes not only to set up a new system for the con- | summation of legislative jobs in this State, but it | provides for extending the sessions of the Legislature | The latter, | indeed, is the real purpose of the attempted change. A scheme by which the State’s biennial solons are to | be given more time in which to pass bills is lugged in to conceal it. Several times already the people have voted down | constitutional amendments designed to increase the pay of members of the Legislature, and unless they | personal liberty. is a free country. VOTE IT DOWN. | HE tax-eating tendencies of the Third-street or- The logic of the history which has been made | one. in this department of constitutional legislation is that the people of California consider sixty days a suffi- cient time in which to transact the business of the Legislature, and that they do not want to pay for any longer period. The chief end of the existence of the Democratic organ, however, is to fasten tax-eaters upon the treasury. The genius of its party consists in multi- plying the number of those who live upon the public. Its candidate for Governor has held office all his life, and his followers are made up of office-seekers. It is not unnatural, therefore, that it should be found sup- porting a constitutional amendment which proposes to waste more public money under the pretext that a change in the method of legislating at Sacramento will improve the quality of our laws. Constitutional amendment No. 7 increases the duration of legislative sessions from sixty to seventy- five days, and adds about $20,000 to the cost of the biennial assemblages of our lawmakers. No provision is made in the amendment for electing better men nor for improving the character of the jobbers and schemers who lead those now elected into temptation. There is simply a proposition to add $20,000 to the legislative expenses of the State on the flimsy pretext that a change in system will affect a change in legis- lation. Notwithstanding the specious pleas of the Demo- cratic organ, the people should vote this amendment down. No good can be accomplished by its adoption. On the contrary, a great deal of evil may result from dividing sessions of the Legislature into two parts. If bills are introduced and thirty days are allowed to elapse before they are considered, during which time members may “consult” their constituents, the lobby- ists will make better use of the vacation than the peo- ple. .They will gather their forces for the final pull and will do their bribing all over the State instead of in the Capitol at Sacramento. In no event will the people gel anything out of such a scheme. The amendment is merely a job for picking their pockets, and they should not be misled. by the Democratic organ into voting for it. — Althotigh the charge that Kelly is running Repub- lican politics is untrue, he would mot be any more disreputable a leader than Andy Lawrence, who is running the Mayor, the latter being this year the Democratic party all by himself. e Cheering word has been received that the health of the Chinese Emperor is good. For a man who has died by various methods from poison to burning oil this may be regarded as remarkable. Philippine insurgents are reported as insolent and likely to make trouble. A duty of Uncle Sam's will be to make this trouble mutual. | the wages of labor is something | proposition the destruction of property in which the | be made industrious, unselfish, moral and upright by LAND CONFISCATION. R. POMEROY, who speaks for the Single | Tax Society of Alameda County, has made | complaint in these columns of misrepresenta- ‘| tions of the single tax theory, which have apppeared | in The Call. Mr. Pomeroy is feeling so badly about this that he issues a challenge, to all and singular, to | discuss the subject with him. Inasmuch as The Call that sub- we the proper person to respond to his challenge. Mr. Pomeroy says that Republican sing!e-taxcrs are compelled this year to vote against their party. This is no news to The Call. We said early in the campaign that every Republican single-taxer would vote for Maguire. They know just where they are and just what they are doing. They_pay JUI?gc Maguire the back-handed compliment of impeaching his truthfulness and candor in saying that land con- issue in this campaign. If Maguire tell the truth why should such Republicans as Mr. Pomeroy vote against their party? We don't intend tc be harsh when we say that they vote for Maguire because they know he does not tell the truth. Not long ago The Call drew the fire of an anar- chist, Mr. Preble, who declared himself for Maguire on account of his speech in favor of anarchy and its devotees and apostles. Yet Maguire wili no doubt deny that his views in favor of anarchy are an issue in this campaign. But the anarchists seem to think that he would not tell the truth, for they support him. Mr. Pomeroy, who is supporting Maguire because he does not believe what he says, offers to prove eleven propositions relating to the single tax—that it would: First—Cheapen land. Second—Would encourage industry. Third—Discourage speculation. Fourth—Raise the wages of labor. Fifth—Increase the earnings of capital invested in industry. Sixth—Reduce the California farmers’ taxes to a quarter of the present tax they pay. Seventh—Prevent one man living off another’s labor, except by charity. Eighth—Destroy monopoly. Ninth—Abolish the “lobby.” Tenth—Raise the wages to the full product of labor. Eleventh—And could not be shiited. We admit the first proposition. Judge Maguire says it will instantly destroy all existing investments in land. This being true, land will not have any price. If its present owners are instantly divested of title, as Maguire says they will be, they have nothing to sell, and of course it is worth nothing. Robbing men in this State of property valued at $716,000,000 may tend to encourage industry, since they will have to seratch somehow to make good the loss of their land investment, which is to be “instantly | destroyed,” according to Maguire. That it will raise | that can only be As a general fiscation is not an proved or disproved by the fact itself. wages of labor have been invested, directlyor through | savings banks, which hold for their depositors equities in real estate, will tend to demoralize in- dustry and wages. That wages can be raised by the | destruction of property in which capital is invested and that the earnings of capital can be at the same time increased is a proposition that ought to go into Max Nordau's “Paradoxes.” Equally paradoxical is SAYS THE LORD MAYOR LIED. That and Other Serious Chafges Made Against the Plug-Hat Boss by Dr. J. F. Gibbon. To the Editor of The Call—Sir: We are on the eve of an election for city officers, and it is the duty of every citizen 'wno favors reform and good Zzov- ernment to show the wrong acts of any candidate who is unworthy of public confidence. Did James D. Phelan make a good Mayor? I propose to show where he dia not. A resolution of intention was passed by the Board of Supervisors to pave First avenue with bituminous rock and artifictal stone sidewalk full width from Golden Gate Park to the Government reservation, nearly a mile in length. The job was protested against by all of the property owners with one exception, an estate that had millions to pay for the doing of its lot. The protest defeated 1t for a time, but that did not deter the jobbers from trying agalin. It was again protested against on the ground that it was premature, there being vegetable gardens, cow pasture, three or four cheaply constructed houses on the line of it, no sewers, gas or water pipes laid, and If done as proposed would have to be done over again at the expense of the property owners or by the city. Having no confidence in the Beard of Supervisors to do justice to the prop- erty owners of this town or any other, I called on the Lord Mayor and said: “Mr. Phelan, I came to oppose a jobbers’ job. We voted for you and depend on you to protect the property owners of this town from jobbers. From the way street work is rushed through it appears that the street contractors and pav- ing companies own the Street Committee.”” He said: '“Name them.” can’t,” I sald, “but you watch them and you will soon find out. The street con- tractors and paving companies have their agents out like a lot of leeches to find property to fasten on and to draw money from the owners.” He sald: “Wouldn't it enhance the value of the property?” I said no; besides many of the property owners are poor widows and orphans with mortgages on their lots, and this expensive pavement, if put down, would be equivalent to confis- cating their properties. He told me he would look into the matter, and when I called again he assured me that he would be satisfied with blue rock macadam and artificial stone walk four feet wide; that would answer all purposes and for vears to come, and that he would oppose the bituminous pavement. Soon_after my interview with the Lord Mayor I was agpmached by _two men. One sald he represented the Pacific Paving Company, who always ~did firs class work, and the contract was likely to go to Bingham, who hadn’t a reputa- tion for doin 0ood work and if I would sign for his company to do the work it would be wel (fi)ne. 1 told him it was a *‘job.” The Mayor would not approve it and I would not pay for it. The object in having the other man present who said not a word was to see if I dropped a word committing myself to his company to do the work and hoid me for its payment. Bingham, the man condemned for doing bad work, was really the one the contract was awarded to by the board and assigned by him to the Pacific Paving Company to do the work, which was done, Bingham being their agent. In a few days the same men called on me again and told me that Mayor Phelan had signed for the bituminous rock pavement and artificial stone walk full width. f told them I would not believe it, as Mayor Phelan assured me he would have no other but viue rock macadam. called on Mr. Phelan and asked him did he sign the First avenue job, and the answer was he did not know as there were so many things that came up for his approval and he did not remem- ber whether he signed it or not. I said that it was very queer a. matter of so the proposition that exempting improvements, per- sonal property, mortgages, moneys and credits and | railroads from taxation, representing as they do $615,- | | 344,846 of the assessment of 1894, while country land | was valued at $417,437,352 the same year, will reduce | the tax on the country land to one-fourth what it is | now. As well say that if two men are carrying a load | of 1000 pounds, and one steps out and leaves it all on | the shoulders of the other, it will then weigh only 250 / pounds. The sevehth, eighth, ninth and tenth propositions are all withinvthe dreamy realm of prophecy. We can deny them just as easily as the land confiscators as- sert them. They are based on the theory that man is the creature of statute and not natural law, and can an act entitled an act, regardless of the element of personal character. The eleventh proposition that a tax on land, which Judge Maguire says will “instantly destroy” private ownership, cannot be shifted, is no doubt true. Neither the tax nor the land would move. The shiit- ing would be left to the land-owner, when, as Maguire says, he is “expelled from the land he claims by its lawful owner, society.” This is not intended as a discussion of the funda- mentals of land confiscation, since our sole interest ir Mr. Pomeroy's letter is his intention to support Maguire because he believes he is not telling the truth. PRICE OF A WIFE. UCH ado is being made over the circum- /\/\ stance that Howard Gould is likely to forfeit $5,000,000 for his temerity in having married the woman of his choice. In reality there is no oc- casion for fuss. He can forfeit this sum and still have remaining more money than, in all probability, he can intelligently handle. He will have left 3 sum at least equal to the sum he must relinquish. There is a false idea as to the value of money in itself. When a man is engaged in big enterprises where a vast capital is necessary, perhaps $10,000,000 would be preferable to half as much. The case of young Gould is different. The money he possesses was made by the skillful and unscrupulous Jay, who began his career by larceny, and to the end of ‘his days never permitted himself to be hampered by any- thing akin to honesty. He was as truly a gambler as Soapy Smith, although in a measure lacking the fine sense of honor which was Soapy’s distinguishable trait. If Howard has an ambition to gamble on a scale of equal magnificence, of course he will miss for a time the money the will of his distinguished father calls upon him to relinquish. Otherwise, he can let it go and be none the worse off. ‘When a hungry man sits down to a feast he satis- fies the pang of famine, and however much may be left on the table is a matter of no consequence to him. It is the same way with money, or ought to be. Human desires cannot go beyond a certain point, and that point having been attained, any further am- bition is mere selfishness. There could not be a more foolish passion than that for heaping up gold beyond a hoard which may be profitably expended. If Gould'’s wife costs him only $5,000,000, and is the wife he wants, she is cheap at the price. When an officer of a United States cruiser is re- fused landing in the Philippines without having first secured the permission of Aguinaldo it is time for that fake ruler to be jerked out of the executive chair and lambasted with a leg of the same. Loy Colonel Berry seems to have an almost unequaled facility for getting into hot water. great importance could go through his office without his knowledge. He touched the call-bell and Mayor had signed, an: iis hired mi d the answer was he did not know. appeared, and he was asked if the I said it was funny that jobs of that magnitude, nearly a mile in length, involving thousands of dollars, could go through the Mayor’s office without either of 1 was requested to call in a day or two and would get an anything about it. answer. them knowing Being suspicious that they were trying to deceive me, I called in four or five days, and when I opened the door the Lord Mayor's secretary saw who was coming and put a scowl on lis face, as he didn't want to see me. him did the Mayor sign the First avenue job. He paused and sald yes. both knew that the job had been signed when I called before, but th T asked s. Now ried the politician’s dedge by trying to lie out of it. Mr. Phelan hobnobbles with the mil- llonaire Crockers and owners of the old racetrack property ut down blue rock macadam costin orphans were saddled with the costly bituminous avenue and allowed them to foot, and the poor widows an First 7 _cents per fronting on and artificial stone sidewalk. Now why didn't he treat us all alike? Now, I don't charge Mr. Phelan with making any money out of such jobs, as he is not interested in that way, but it is done to help him, politically, as he is ambitious to be a great man, to be Governor, Senator, etc. It matters not whether an official, be he Mayor, Supervisor, etc., injures a community by money or for his acts for olitical purposes, ft amounts to the same thing, and of the two the trusted p(rllll('rnn is the worse, as generally the man that takes the bribe is al- ways suspected. In all his appointments the best men G iy The dear people were not considered in selecting the com to frame a eharter, etc. keep him politically. mh?ee of one hundred were not considered, but men who would Did he invite the various repre- sentative bodies of the city to send or appoint delegates? Oh, no, but he appoint- "d notorious politicians to do political work for ed notorious p by denouncing the railroad. Spring Vallor Wwatee ame by playing to the gallery. ‘ompany , gas and other corporations, when he is a big corporation himself. him. He plays the confidence He O Yar as to criticize the Supreme Court because It did not do the Lord May. B Mading. The way to do with the would-be oligarchist is for the voters to rela: gate him by their votes omy. 1appeal to my on November 8 to his club library to study bt friends and the friends v political econ of good government to vote for Charles L. Patton, who is not a politician, but is a man whom the gé‘o le may G BlgON. trust to do justice to all. * Respectfully, J. F. A PLEA FOR SANTA CRUZ. SANTA CRUZ, Oct. 13, 1898. Editor Call—Dear sir: In view of the fact that it has been widely published, through a misapprehension of the truth, that this city has been saddled with a debt of from half to three- quarters of a million dollars by a re- cent decision of the United States Cir- cuit Court, we deem it our duty to call your attention to a few facts concern- ing the financial status of this city and to respectfully solicit you to give cur- rency thereto through the col\;lmr;‘s of sour paper, at least to so much there- zfm:;s !:H!I)l tend to correct (hsi‘ t&hsne and rts recently circulate il XepO‘v. H. LAMB, Mayor, W PRINGLE, H. RANDALL, JACOB LEIBBRANDT, J. B. MAHER, Councilmen. The actual indebtedness of the city of Santa Cruz at the present time is $155,- 293 14. This debt was incurred in the con- struction of a system of water Works, an electric light system, sewers and es. brllgs 1894 the city Issued refunding bonds to cover the then existing debt. These bonds were purloined, without rendering the city any value, and the payment of these refunding bonds has been refused and will be resisted to the last. An adverse decision affecting a portion of these bonds in the United States Circuit Court gave rise to the erroneous reports complained of. The tax rate In this city since the construction of the water works in 1890 has averaged $1 42 on the $100, on an average valuation of $3,687,535. Out of this has been paid the interest on the debt and a sinking fund of $15,000 a year. Santa Cruz levies no merchant’s li- cense. It maintains a free library of 10,000 volumes. It has eightv-four electric street lights. Water is practically free for domes- tic use and for irrizgating lawns and gardens. The pressure is sufficient to throw water over the roof of the high- est building in the town. JINGLES AND JESTS. “There's a man who has had many a narrow esca&; from being shot.” “Indeed! as he one of the Rouih Riders who rushed up that hill at Caney?” “No. He was an Adirondack guide for nearly three weeks.’—Chicago News. Young Lawyer—The verdict is a dis- appointment. "My client gets § cents dam- ages. %‘flcnd—And I suppose that, like the average legal cormorant, you'll grab the whole thing.—Puck. Pastor—Have you seriously considered the great question of life, Mary? Girl Parishioner—None of the young men has asked me yet, sir.—Truth. ‘Wife—Who was that who called? Husband—One of my tenants called to P me his rent. ?%ld he pay 1t?” “Then why do you look so gloomy?" “He didn't say a word about wanting £15 or £20 worth of repairs.” “What of it?" “That shows that he is going to leave.” Tit-Bits. . At the Chamber of Commerce Harry Rigdon introduced his uncle from the country to Billy Montgomery. Billy—What's the matter with the old gentleman? He looks exhausted. Harry—Why, he's been running after moving vans all day. Thouéht they were circus wagens.—Cincinnati Enquirer, Smithers—Why don’t you run for School DlBrectar. vaml‘lwn’ R rown—Well, you see, sir, there is the farm to look after, and the work on the 0ads, the timber to cut, the strong party eeling, my views on the educational ques- tlon, my tax theory, my ideas of the money problem, and then, besides—my wife wants to run.—Harper's Bazar. “I don't mind these new reform ideas of the Emperor,” said Li Hu ang pensively; but—" s p. ?Z".‘"' yellow “You resent the loss of “T could go without them. I don’t want rt to deco- jacket and peacock feathers sy Sl e rat a unch an z ister is what mulzl my re-:fit.men{.'ag_ ‘Washington Star. * QUESTION OF A FREE MARKET Editor Morning Call—Gentlemen: On | the subject of a ‘“free market” permit me to make a statement of facts apper- taining thereto, with which probably neither you nor the press nor public are generally familiar. » There never was and never can be a more free market than San Francisco has enjoyed for several years past. Any farmer or producer of any kind can to- day market his own goods at any land- ing in this city, free of cost, and is by law exempt from paying any license; any person wishing to purchase a sack of potatoes or a sack of beans, or even a watermelon, can go to Jackson street wharf and buy the same from the pro- ducer, and has no toll or other charges to pay. It is difficult to see how any- thing could be more free than it now is. The bottom fact is that one in- dividual has been working up this free market scheme and playing upon the word “free” for his own aggrandize- ment, representing himself to be a farmer. He has been doing this for some years past, and hopes ultimately to get the scheme through and possi- bly secure a position to wear a uniform and sell watermelons, etc. It is true that the Legislature enacted a law which was approved by the Governor on March 29, 1897, looking to the estab- lishment of a free market. This was done under a misapprehension and by gentlemen who had no knowledge of the exact situation in this city, and is a law which would bé more honored in the breach than in observance. Your article of yesterday in The Call indicates that you are not familiar with the facts, You say that “the inter- ests of a large number of business men now engaged in handling the farm produce consumed by the people of this city are opposed to change of system, and their influence has been exerted to nullify an act of the Legislature.” Per- mit me to say that you are mistaken. I am as well acquainted probably with the partles you refer to as any- man possibly can be. I have never yet heard any of them object to the estab- lishment of a free market. In fact, down town among the men handling produce the whole thing is looked upon as a huge joke, and as a matter which is not of sufficient consequence to war- rant opposition. It is not difficult to understand that the farmer shipping produce to this market must of neces. sity have somebody to look after his Interests. If you will take the mani- fests of the fruit boats of this city, by which conveyances the larger portion of the fruit and produce comes to mar- ket, you will find that during the fruit season there are from 100 to 150 ship- pers per day; that the average ship- ments of each do not exceed say twenty packages per day; that the average price of the twenty packages will not ?u:eed $10 per day, for the sale of which he producer pays to the commission man a commission of, at the highest, 8 per cent—that is to say, 80 cents. This 80 cents pays for the sale of the goods, guarantees the payment of the money, returns the empty packages, and all other expenses. No farmer who has g0od sense would ever come down and pay his fare both ways on a steamboat and spend his time during the harvest time to save 80 cents per day. The best evidence of this is furnished by the fact that when the party who Wwishes . to wear brass buttons and shoulderstraps communicated with the farmers of the interfor a year or more ago, out of all the number of producers In the river section above referred to, he got only two or three answers, and that at the meeting held at the Cham- ber of Commerce in this city only two or three interfor farmers showed up. The free market system as proposed by the individual referred to is wholly impracticable in this: The larger por- tion of the produce of the fruit section comes from the rivers, all of which ar- rives by the three lines of steamers— 1. e, two Stockton lines and the Sacra- mento line. A considerable other por- tion comes by the Southern Pacific Railway. The Southern Pacific depot is at Fourth and King streets. The steamers land all the way from Mar- ket street wharf to Jackson street wharf. It would be utterly impossible to bring the receipts by r at Fourth and King streets in conjunction with those at the water front until there is a marginal railroad built along the water front, if ever such shall be done. The scheme is wholly and entirely im- practical, and was devised and is be- ing fostered only by certain parties who are looking for jobs. 3 It is to be regretted that Thne Call should advocate this free market ques- tion. I know that a little investiga- tion will convince any person that we have now as free a market as any on earth, and that the proposed scheme of a neéw building with a set of officers is simply one gotten up and maintained by parties who are out for When, as proposed and promis cific street wharf shail be set aside ex- clusively for the produce business, the question of a free market will be solved without any expense to the State. Yours truly, JOHN F. ENGLISH. San Francis October AROUND THE CORRIDORS M. M. Odell, an extensive cattle dealer of Bakersfleld, is at the Russ. Frank Golden, the well-known Nevada cattle man, is at the Grand. W. B. Storey J., Chief Engineer and General Superintendent of the San Francisco and San Joaquin Valley Rail- road, is expected In town to-day. The party of National Educators who have been doing Monterey and vicinity passed through the city yesterday on thelr way to Berkeley, and left for Portland on the evening train. J. A. Fillmore, Manager of the South- ern Pacific, has gone on an inspection trip to Los Angeles, whence he will re- turn in a few days. Aug. Schenenburg, C. P. Till and Aug. Schnelder, a party of Swiss civil engineers, who have been visiting many points of interest in this country, in- cluding Yellowstone Park and Yosemite Valley, are recent arrivals at the Russ. Captain F. W. Dickins, assistant calef of the Bureau of Navigation, Navy De- partment, having completed his prelimi- nary work in connection with the estab- lishment of a naval training station at Goat Island, leaves for Washington, D. C., to-morrow morning. He reports his arrangements generally as very satis- factory, matters being now in good shape to proceed with the plans and specifica- tions. The establishment of the station on this coast is a pet project of Senator Perkins, and it was due to his efforts that an appropriation was made by Con- gress to carry out the work. CALIFORNIANS IN NEW YORK. NEW YORK, Oct. 17.—G. Dunsmore of San Francisco is at the Girard; H. Sum- mers of San Francisco is at the Hoff- man; Mrs. B. Priest-Fine of Oakland is at the Manhattan. MEN ARE BUT MEN. Though lifted high above the common mass To some amazing helght of wealth and power, Men are but men; They strut the stage of life one fleeting hour, Perform their little part, then quickly pass From mortal ken. Ambition grasps the rod of sovereign rule, And puny minds demand divine esteem— So proud and great! Their pride is but the frenzy of a dream; Their greatness sinks to open ridicule, Or bitter hate. One npation trembles at the despot’s frown, And bends the servile knee to handsel gain— Manhood debased; Another holds the despot in disdain, His mummied form the pageant of the town— A King encased! Kaiser, or King, or Czar, or what you will, Bishop_or Pope, or lordling proud and gay— Whate'er we be, We still are men, sprung all from common clay, And common heirs to every natural fll— -One race are we! Not empty titles, worn by lords or Kings, Not proud distinctions, meaningless and wain, In Church or State; s But depth of heart, and breadth and power of brain, And honest fellow-love—these are the things That make men great —George Whitman, D.D., in N. Y. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. TO PRESERVE EGGS—S., City. Any- thing that will exclude the air from eggs will preserve them. The :gx- may be covered with suet, or dipp in milk of lime, a solution of gum arabic or any non-smelling varnish that will make the shell air tight. THE ADMINISTRATOR—Mrs. A., North Branch, Mich. A. C. Freese, the Public Administrator, was granted special letters of administration on the estate of the late Dr. Bruno de Freye. Subsequent- 1y there was filed a petition for the grant- ing of letters to Mrs. C. S. Towle of Mon- terey, as next of kin. IN THE NORTHWEST-G. A. M, City. This department will not advertise the business of any firm, and for that rea- son respectfully declines to_give the ad- dress of any one in the Northwest en- gaged in the freight business. There are a number of firms in this city engaged in that business where such information can be obtained. RISING FROM THE RANKS-H. D. C., City. A private in the regular ser- vice of the United States may at any time file an application for examination for a second lieutenancy. It is not a prere?ulane that he should be a gradu- ate of West Point or any other academy, but he must, on examination, develop the same qualifications that are required of a graduate of West Point. POEMS—E. B., San Jose, Cal. There have been millions of pcems and so called poems that have been presented to the world and it is not to be expected that one individual can know all such by title. In books in which are preserved the best of these, the index is made up by the first line of each poem and not as a rule by title. Correspondents who desire to know who is the author of this or that poem should, in their letters of inquiry, furnish the first line of the pro- duction. RULES FOR DEBATERS—G. C. M., Fairfield, Cal. The best rule for one who is to take part in a debate to follow is to read all that he can on the subject chosen for debate, and in tnat way gather such information as he can for and against, and then make up his argument for the side 'of the question he assumes. He should do his own thinking and not ask a newspaper to “furnish a few good pointers and ideas to make strong the side I have taken.” The debater shouid always use his own thoughts and not those of another. —_—— Cal. glace fruit 50c per Ib at Townsend’s.” —_—— Examiner. Special information supplied dally to business housc: and public men by the Press Clipping Bureau (Allen’s), 519 Mont- gomery street. Telephone Main 1042, Paints, brushes, canvas, panels, plaques, tracing cloth, blue prints—everythine L paint with and to paint on. We are head- quarters on architects’ "and draughts men’s_supplies of every description. San- born, Vail & Co., 71 Market street. . *“Ha, ha!" said the villain. ‘“He shall not escapé mo;” Having, by 'these phrases, established’ his identity, he continued: “T have bribed his valet to set his watch ahead hailf an hour. He will put on his evening dress at half past five. A; Fe will be ruined! Rulned:” ~indtanniois ————— Through Tourist Car to St. Paul, This car Is nicely upholstered in leather, leaves every Tuesday night. no change. Goes via Shasta route and Northern Pacific Rail- way. The scenic line of the continent. Tick- ets on sale to all Eastern cltles at lowest rates. T. K. Stateler, general agent, 638 M: Ban Frano arket st., —_———— For a tonic for nervous and dyspeptic e nothing equals Angostura Bitters. Genml:- Dr. Siegert's—imported from South America. fore retiring at night, and see how will sl IR i S %p and hoy oy you _will