The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 5, 1899, Page 6

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1899 TUESDAY... JOHN D. SPRECKELS, ress &1l Communications to W. S, LEAKE, Manager Proprietor. PUBLICATION OFFICE. . . Market and Third, S. F. Telephone Main 1868, EDITORIAL ROOMS .217 to 221 Stevenson St. one Main 1874, Deltvered hy Carriers, 15 Cents Per Week. Single Coples, 5 Centx. Terms by Mail, Including Postage: DALY CALL (including Sunday), one year. .86.00 By Single Month. One Year OAKLAND OFFIC +...008 Brondway C. GEORGE KROGVESS, Manuger Foreign Advertising, Marguette Build- ing, Chicago. NDENT: .Herald Sguare NEW YORK CORR C. G CARLTON.... NEW YORK R PERRY LUKRENS JR. .. ribune Bullding O NEWS STANDS . 0. Ne Co.; Great North. House; ditorium Hotel. NEW YORK NEWS STANDS: Waldorf-Astorin Hotel; A. Brentano, 31 Union Square; Murray Hill Hotel ol ern Hotel; Frem WASHINGTON (D. €) OFFICE. . Wellington Hetel J. L. EAGLISH, Correspondent. BRANCH OFFICES—327 Montgomery street, cor- 200 Hayes ner Clay, open until 9:30 o'clock. street, open undil wireet, G135 Larkin 9130 o'clock. 1941 Mission 1 10 o'clock. il 9 o'clock. L 1 Charity Fund of the Associated ay afternoun, December 14. le every afterncon and Ellis streets—Specialties. Coney lsland. Day, Market street, Dear n Mateo County—Races. AUCTION SALES. Ty B Watkine—This day 11 o'clock, Horses, at 1517 p Wedr secember §, at 11 o'clock, Horses ridge & December 12, at 12 the re-examination of and with the attempt of 1 appropriating $115,- s the ma report of canal and its wch report raises a new question entirely The French has studied the track of the severe earth- be well worth examina on. s and commends profound disturbance which of Leon and Granada. The re- Nicaragua route lies on that irac- is easily seen t a canal within the line of juzke disturbance is in peril of destruction 1 parts of it as to render investment in its con- f course there may be noth- but this should be re the very imposing sum necessary Perhaps this French report lead to a proposition that we purchase tion, he ork. a surprise to those unfamiliar with and with the extent to which the Three thousand men are now and if increased to a force of twelve nd the work can be completed in ten years. es and statements are correct it likely that the construction will be pletion before we get started on the the rate we are going now. Walker's commission has informed our cannot report until December, ning can possibly be nearer m this time, whith exhausts one- ime estimated for completing the Panama 1t is understood th t Mr. Hepburn admits that no prospect of his bill passing at this session, not probable that there will be any action of the report of the Walker commission. probability that before that report is | hear of propositions to purchase ench work. e and In this view it is well that nterested begin to investigate that work and to te its probable value. be well also that the Walker, or another be charged with examination of the lia- ctive earthquakes on the Nicaraguan and the alleged immunity therefrom on the I It is possible that information so se- very powerfully influence the views of our people in the matter. w cre may be many causes of earthquakes, includ electricity, they are no longer quite the mystery they were. It seems to be settled that when > in the earth’s crust is in progress a fracture therein causes a slip on one side. When the upraise ong time before the slip the side that farther to fall to reach equilibrium, and the ion of course is greater. Our Californian earthquakes are not very destructive because of their frequency. There being many slips the mass does not decline very far. In the Eastern States the New Madrid and Charles- ton earthquakes seem to demonstrate a long con- tinued upraise and an infrequent slip with very ap- palling consequences. At least the earthquake conditions of the isthmus should not be ignored, but should enter into the facts upon which the final decision of Congress must rest. e will ssion, cured we an uy goes on falls h destruc a The South African press censor has been guilty of another slip of the pen. A week ago he had-General Joubert traveling in a hearse. Now the distinguishedq Boer is hustling through the country in an omnibus, Whatever he may be traveling in he seems to be very much alive. DECEMBER 3, 1899 | | tions without the approval of Great Britain. 2261 Market | til ® o'clock. | the | rom the line of fracture | THE AFRICAN ISSUE. HE ghastly death roll of the Boer war length- Tens with each day. Mr. Jo Chamberlain is opening his mouth frequently and putting | his foot in it every-opening. Mr. Choate and the rest ! of those who represent and misrepresent both Eng- !land and America are saying their several says, but . | nothing has occurred to justify England’s assault on ! the two republics, and nothing can justify any warmth | toward her in the matter from any official source in this country. As we have said before, Mr. Chamber- lain and Cecil Rhodes succeeded admirably in con- 7(|xsing the mind of the world as to England’s suzerain 3r;ghls in the Transvaal. Those rights were practi- G have under the Monroe doctrine. The Transvaal was | simply barred from making treaties with foreign na- Mr. | Chamberlain has stretched this sole right into a claim that England was suzerain in the internal affairs of ‘th Transvaal, and could therefore rightfully demand | changes in the domestic statutes of naturalization, ]e\ en to the extent of giving subjects of Great Britain a Transvaal franchise without forswearing their al- |Icgiance to her. The awiul bloodshed in the war is in behalf of this ’c]aim For that the murder of the two republics is | proposed. For that the attempt is made to array the | strong with the strong, the mighty with the mighty, | against the weak to destroy them. For that it is told "in European capitals that the people of this republic desire the downiall of the republics in South Africa. The claim is a lie, and it is the most pitiful sight of the century to see brave men dying on the veldt in defense of a lie. Mr. John Hays Hammond has appeared in this country, apparently as the mouthpiece of Cecil Rhodes, to instruct Americans in line with the fan- tastic falsehood which Mr. Chamberlain has wrought linto a war, which is bereaving hundreds of British homes and will bring the holidays of this December in sorrow instead of joy. When Mr. Hammond invaded the South African Republic under the leadership of Dr. Jameson he was caught. Jameson got away and retired to London, | where he was received with all the honors of a hero. Public opinion in Europe was so exasperated by his | raid on and invasion of a country with which Great { Britain was at peace that the Government found some | concession necessary and therefore proceeded to try | him. victed His case was heard by a jury and he was con- and reccived a mild sentence. The Lord Chief ce of Great Britain presided at the trial, and in arge to the jury said: “The Queen's Govern- the complete independence and e South African Republic, subject only to the restrictions of the convention of 1834, to the ct that the South-African Republic should have no power to come into any treaties without this coun- ) v There is the admission and proof, from the highest judicial authority in the British | empire, t Mr. Joseph Chamberlain has brought on ous war in defense of a lie. ! The demands he magde on the Transvaal were not 1 the suzerain rights of Great Britain. The | South African Republic having, in the language of 1 Chief Justice, “complete independence and could make the period of probation to zenship fifty years, if she chose, or she could deny to Engl ltogether, as we do.to Chinese. What American can so far forget the principles of own Government as to cheer England in such a | cause, while she tries to wipe out that “complete in- | dependence and autonomy” which she acknowledged {in the most solemn way two years ago? | his ck ent recogniz | auton try's o er a disas justified ishmen | THE KAISER AND THE BRITISH. BOUT the time public attention in Great / Britain was largely occupied by the approach- | ing visit of the Kaiser a race was run at the | November Derby in which a horse bearing the name | of Joe Chamberlain beat another horse named Ger- | manicus, and, according to the Westminster Gazette, |a number of people who take an interest in politics | and sports drew from the victory the conclusion that !in the diplomatic negotiations that would be carried on during the visit the imperial Germanicus, the {aiser, would get none the best of Joseph Chamber- | lnin, who is just now the most conspicuous figure in the British Ministry. 1 Without considering how far it may be possible to forecast diplomacy by the results of horse races it is worth noting that the return of the Kaiser to Ger- many has been followed immediately by an address | from Chamberlain frankly declaring that Great Brit- §a'm chou!d no longer remain isolated in Europe, and | that her natural alliance is with Germany. He spoke | with some warmth of an “understanding” with the | United States, and then added: “I can foresee many ixhinga in the future which must cause anxiety to the | statesmen of Europe, but in which our interests are | clearly the same as Germany's, and in which the un- !dcrslanding of which I have spoken with reference to America might, if extended to Germany, do more | ‘peflmps than any combination of arms to preserve | the peace of the world.” Such a speech on such an occasion is sure to give rise to a good deal of speculation concerning the | motive that prompted it and the understanding that i is back of it. | ostentatiously set forth as a:private visit to the Queen. The world was informed again and again that the German Emperor was going to London | solely because of a yearning to see his grandmother. It was noted, however, that he was accompanied by Count von Bulow, and diplomatists wondered what the Count would be doing while the Emperor was talking to his grandmother about the children .or to his uncle the Prince of Wales about pigéon shooting. That the British believe they have it in their power to make an alliance with them of more value to Ger- many than any other the Kaiser can arrange is made abundantly evident by the tone of their press. The London Spectator, for example, recently said: “Ger- many does not want to see France in possession of Morocco, or Russia made pre-eminent in Turkey. Ii, then, we were to say to Germany: ‘If you refuse to help us now we shall let France take Morocco, and allow Russia to dominate all Asiatic Turkey; whereas if you stand by us we will secure Asia Minor to you, and if France fights us will give you and your Italian allies all Northern Africa from the Cyrenaic Peninsula to Cape Spartel (i. e., the whole southern coast of the Mediterranean) as a coloniai empire,” Germany could hardly refuse. In a word, if France and Russia were to ask for ‘compensation’ of a kind which we thought unreasonable we' could wvithout difficulty make offers to the Triple Alliance which would put Germany, Austria and Italy on our side.” The situation is in every respect an interesting one. It was only a little while ago that good reasons were given by experts to prove that the ambition of the Kaiser is'to form an alliance with France so as to make something like a union of all Western Europe strong enough to hold off Russia on one side and Great Britain and the: United States on the other. Now we are told he is coquetting for an understand- | ally but little more than the United States would | The Kaiser’s visit to Great Britain was | | ing with the British and ourselves. Perhaps after all, in considering the crooked course of European dip- | lomacy, it is just as well to draw conclusions from horse races as from anything else. THE WAR REVENUE ACT. WING to the excellent condition of the Fed- | eral treasury and the prospect of a speedy end to the war in the Philippines some authori- ties on national revenues are of opinion that when Congress undertakes the revision of the war tax law it will be found expedient to eliminate from it a good many of the more vexatious and burdensome of the taxes. )y It is noted that since the act was passed the rev- enues derived from it have rapidly increased with the | increasing prosperity and business activity of the country. The receipts under the act were for the | fiscal year closing last June about $470,000,000, against $320,000,000 for the previous year, and every month | of the present year shows an increase over those of last year. This increase, taken in connection with the fact that the Government has not expended the sum | obtained by the war loan of 1898, has given the treas- ‘\ury ample money for immediate use, and it is there- fore argued the war taxes might well be diminished. A writer for the New York Sun suggests that the Government without much loss of revenue might | drop the little stamp taxes which are of cohsiderable annoyance to the public but yield comparatively small income to the treasury. Among these he includes the taxes on proprietary medicines, chewing gum, bottles of wine, telegraph and telephone messages and ex- press receipts, checks and bills of exchange. Of | the two last-named taxes the writer says: “The re- ceipts from this source, under ‘the act repealed in 1877, were not separately reported, but at most they could not have been more than $1,000,000 or $2,000,- | 000 a year, and they are probably not much greater The imposition of taxes on checks discourages the keeping of bank accounts, which ought rather to | be promoted, and requiring them for bills of ex- | change is a burden on commerce which it is bad policy to retain.” { It will certainly be gratifying to have the taxes lightened at the time the law is revised, with most of the suggestions made the public will agree. It is not desirable, however, that any tax should be repealed which has given rise to a question of law if by the repeal the issues be terminated without being decided by the courts. The controversy be- tween the people and the express companies, for ex- | ample, as to whether the companies or the shippers are bound to ffix the stamp to the express receipt, ought not to be summarily disposed of by abolishing the tax. Ever since the law was put into effect the express companies have compelled the public to pay the tax. Suit after suit has been brought to test the | issue, and decision after decision has been given for the plaintiffs against the corporations, and at last the people are in sight of victory. It is therefore not | desirable that the express tax should be repealed this | winter. That fight should be carried to a finish and | nothing should be done to relieve the corporations of | the duty of paying taxes just as the courts are about to compel them to do so after two years of shirking. For the rest the suggestions made with respect to | repealing the lesser taxes are good. The tax on bot- | tles of wine, for instance, is grossly unjust, since it now. war and is as heavy on a bottle of table claret as on one of ! the costliest brand. There are other taxes equally unfair, and all such should be repealed. | THE PROPOSED NA\EL PROGRAMME. ESECRETARY LONG'S r:comm.;ndations con- | | | cerning the programme of neWw ‘vessels to be constructed for the navy will reawaken the old controversy over the comparative. merits of battle- | ships and cruisers. The Secretary, following the recommendations of the Naval Board of Construc- | tion, requests Congress to provide for the building | of three armored cruisers of about 13,000 tons trial | displacement, three protected cruisers of about 8000 | tons and twelve gunboats of about goo tons. It will lhe seen that not a single battle-ship is asked for. | The advocates of battle-ships point to the expe- | rience of our navy in the Spanish war as an argument for that class of war vessels. The record of the Ore- {gon in her voyage around the Horn proved ghat the | American battle-ship, at any rate, is a good sea- | going vessel and therefore can perform much of the | duty of a cruiser, while a cruiser cannot be counted | on to take the place of a battle-ship in a hard fight. | In fact, it is asserted the United States is really a | battle-ship nation, since her navy has been first to | show the world what battle-ships can do in the way [ol making long voyages and of destroying hostile | fleets, and that to turn away now from the battle- ship type is to be to some extent false to the records | of our own hisory. | There can be no question of the soundness of these statements. During the Spanish war our battle- ships completely refuted the predictions of those who | declared they would be unscaworthy, and thoroughly Jjustified all the most sanguine expectations of their supporters. It may be fairly said they overthrew cvery argument urged against them and confirmed all that had been said in their favor. It is therefore a matter of some surprise that neither the Board oi Construction nor the Secretary of the Navy recom- | mends the building of even as much as one at this time. 1t is to be noted, however, that the cruisers pro- posed by the programme are to be much more for- midable than the largest now afloat and will hardly be inferior to battle-ships. In tonnage displacement, in fact, they will exceed the battle-ships. The largest of our armored cruisers now afloat, the Brooklyn, has a displacement of only 0215 fons, and.even the battle- ships Maine, Missouri and Ohio will not equal the proposed cruisers in that respect. The Oregon, for example, has a displacement of but 10,228 tons against the 13,000 tons of the armored cruisers which the Secretary recommends. The controversy over the relative merits of the two classes of ships is one which experts will continue to carry on indefinitely. The public will be satisfied with the judgment of the Board of Construction and the Secretary. The new vessels will add greatly to our naval strength, and, while they will not carry as heavy batteries as battle-ships, their offensive’ power will nevertheless be formidable. They will have great speed and coal endurance, and their guns will be heavier than any our cruisers have hitherto carried. The most significant feature of the programme is the illustration it gives of the rapidity with which the size of war vessels is increasing. When cruisefs are constructed with a displacement of 13,000 tons it is certain that the next battle-ships will have at least 13,000 tons displacement and be floating fortressss in magnitude and armament as well as in name. After hearing of the overwhelming opposition to himself in the House of Representatives- Congress- man Roberts is inclined to the belief that the members have prejudiced the case against ' him. Perhaps he would have been closer to the mark if he had said :1{:( the case had prejudiced the Congressmen against im. DISCUSSION ON THE NEW CHARTER. Attorney George D. Squires Answers Attorney Eenry M. Clement on the Construction of the Article on Civil Service. (The Call does not” hold stself responsible | and resignation will some time complete for the opinions pub ished in this colnmn, but lh'f'h:g ki'a. however, another omission in presents them for whatever value ihey map | article XIII which it Is not so easy 1o have as communications of gemeral mierest.) get over. Section 12, already referre says: “No_deputy, clerk or employe in the classified civil service of the city and county who shall have been appointed under sald rules shall be removed or dis- charged except for cause, upon written fihnr es lhr'ld afte:‘ i;n nppor(:jn!ly”lo be eard in his own defense. This establishes permanent tenure—the life and soul of civil service reform, with- out which, indeed, merit and fitness ex- aminations are unnecessary and a useless expense. But when Mr. Clement mu: !hiselde':tlon f;om t‘ir‘ N.ew \("rk law an pasted it up he evidently over (lfilil 16 of article XX of the S tution: “When the term of any officer or com- To the Editor of The Call: If you will permit me once more to trespass upon your space, I would like to say that the “‘answer” of Mr. Henry M. Clement, pub- lished in your issue of Sunday, to my “answer,” published in your issue of the preceding Sunday, proves merely that the author is an expert legal dodger, and that is all. Mr. Clement says that “‘one of the fundamental rules of construction is that if there arises a doubt as to the meaning of a law it must be read and construed AS A WHOLE, so as to accomplish, if possible, the, legislative purpose and in- tent in its adoption.” But this is exactly what he declines to do. In fact, he not rlooked sec- tate consti- stitution the term of such officer or comz missioner may be declared by law; an 5 f not so declared, such officer or commis- only does not read article XIII as a |sfoner shall hold his position as such offi- whole, but he even refuses to Tead sec- | cer or commissioner during the plegayce tion 10 in that way. of the authority making the 4 pRC0ERM BUT IN NO CASE SHALI EXCEED FOUR YEARS. Are persons examined or appointed un- der civil service rules in municipalities “officers” within the meaning of this sect tion? If so, section 12 of article XIII of the new charter is unconstitutional. " 1t Mr. Clement will consult the case o People vs. Perry (79 Cal. 105) he will find the following remark ap) nded to a Sui reme Court decision: ‘“The members ”d he Board of Health of the city an county of San Francisco are officers within the meaning of article XX, sectlon 16, of the constitution; and a statute fix- Ing their term of office at five years Is un- constitutional, and leaves the duration of the term unfixed and subject to the pleasure of the Governor, who may ap- I am satisfied that if Mr. Clement could be induced to read article XIII “as a whole,” or even sections 10 and 11, he would at once perceive that the clauses which he wrenches out of those sections and sets up as arbitrary enactments bear no such construction as he places upon them. If he declines to do this, how- ever, but insists upon violating his own quoted rule of construction, what is to be done with him? It is manifestly use- less .to argue with one who so deliberately deceives himself. 1 claim that article X1II sets up a clvil service system, the basis of which is| CLASSIFICATION. Until the offices and | 5 places - of employment under the New | point an incumben® at any time. charter are “classified” the commission | " The constitution of 1849 (section 7, arti- appointed by the Mayor will have no au- | cle XI) provided that ‘‘when the duration thority over them. What would happen. | of any office is not provided for by this may 1 ask Mr. Clement, if the officials | constitution it may be declared by law, who u\k\;‘nmvcdor:‘.lunuury s sho’uld:‘gogh the clerks an leputies now. in C4 No_ permission o ppoint temporarily | the appointment; nor shall the duration ould then be necessary. How would the | of any office not fixed by this constitution 1 Service Commission g0 to work to | ever exceed four years." compel the employes thus held over to| Chief Justice Murray, in Penrle vs. Hill take the civil service examinations? Will | 7 Cal. §7) construed this section (which, the situation be any different on January | as we have seen, is substantially repro- $ when all these appointments are made | duced in the rresonl constitution) as fol- of necessity prior to the organization of | lows: “By reference to lexicographers it the commission? will be found that the word ‘duration’ sig- The fact is section 10, upon which Mr. | nifles extent, imit or time. When, there- Clement so strongly relies to defeat the | fore, the time of holding is not fixed the “push” on Janum% %, is only a part of ‘lY:e | l;nurv nf‘ t'?’\(- office is at the pleasure of V! e he temporary appoint- ' the appointing power. e herein provided Tor are designed | moval sannot be divested or. taken away to prevent stoppage of business under the | except by limiting the term." “classified” system. This is apparent| The word “term” Is used in the present when the section is read “as a whole.” | constitution instead of the word “dura- Here it is entire: tion.” =~ Webster’ Dictionary defines “Section 10. The appointing officer shall | “term” as follows: “In law, a limit; the notify the Commissioners of each posi- | whole time or duration of an estate.” | tion Yo be filled separately and shall fill | “In the case of Vaugn vs. English (3 Cal. such place by the appointment of one of | 4 Justice Terry thus defined an officer: the persons certified to_him by the Com- | “The term officer, in its common accepta- migstoners therefor. Such appointment | tjon, is sufficiently comprehensive to in- | shall be on probation for a period to be | clude all persons in any public station | fixed by the rules of the Commissioners: | or employment conferred by = govern- | but such rules shall not fix such period | ment.” as exceeding six months. The Commis- | sloners may strike off names of candi- ng the pleasure of the authority making It thus appearing that section 16 of ar- ticle XX of the constitution applies to | dates from the register after they have | a|| “officers” of the city and county of remained thereon more than two years. | San Francisco to be ,“,i,,,,,m.d under the | At or before the expiration of the peri civil service rules, and that, therefore, | of probation the head of the department none of them can hold for a longer term or office in which a candid: than four years, it may be asked how charged hi all be deemed | instead of once in two, as at present, in r0 PREVENT THE STOP- | what respect are their morals to be im- 'BLIC BUSINESS, OR TO | proved and the Government benefited? TRAORDINARY EXIGEN- | "Will Mr. Clement please inform the HEAD OF ANY DEPART-‘ JFFICE MAY, WITH THE THE COMMISSION- large number of civil service reformers | in this city who are not looking for of- | ice why he did not neutralize this con- stitutional limitation on terms of public employment by providing for the reap- | pointment every four years of those who passed the examinations? This could have been done. Why was it not done? | As article XIII stands, it is manifestly | a farce. It lets the “push” in on Janu- a |ary 8 in a body and retains them indefi- ment for wrenching the clause in | nitely, or at least until the officials who capitals out of its environment and_ set- | appoint them retire from office. The con- ting it up as a separate enactment? Read | stitution limits the terms of all appointees “as a whole,” the section convicts him of | under. civil service rules to four years, the rankest kind of sophistry. | thus taking the very pith out of the whole But, although I am convinced that there | merit system. is no provision in article X1II for forcing | The article, however, will serve one ve: those who procure ntments on Janu- | useful and beneficient pupose. Tt wiil ary 8 to_take the clvil service examina- | provide three Civil Service Commissioners tions, I do hot regard that as the monu- | with comfortable places at $100 a month mental blunder of Mr. Clement and his | each, and give a chief examiner, a clerk colleagues on the civil service commit-| and a balliff a chance to earn a §uml tee of the Board of Freeholders. In time | living at doing nothing. If it is godllke doubtless that omission will remedy it-|to care for the needy, the civil service every person appointed without | reformers who have placed their faith classification on January 8 will be unpro- | in Mr. Clement's work ought to be happy | tected by section 12—which confers per- | in the thought that they have at least | manent tenure durin| ood behavior—for | thrown the mantle of charity over a few | their own benefit probably eventually the | more tax eaters. Yery r(»Dpccllun 2 | members of the “‘push’ will subject them- GEORGE D. SQUIRES. | selves to the rules. At all events death | San Francisco, December 1, 1599, THE T OR O OVAL OF KE TE |UNDER _THE F | ARTICLE CAN BE MADE.” Does not this entire section refer to the ' service? What authority has NN, f\/‘ 2 Y. PLAYING THE RACES. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. NOT A PREMIUM DOLLAR-K. T., City. An American dollar of 1834 is not a premium coin. M DECISION 18 FINAL—D., Newark, Cal. In a pugilistic contest the decision of the referee is final. ILLITERACY—H. T. W., City. The per- centage of illiteracy in the United States is 8, Germany 2 and Spain 72. STATES IN THE UNION—Subscriber, City. There are now forty-five States in the Union, thirteen original and thirty- two admitted. ¥ ONE DIME—A. 8., City. A dime of 1820 with a small 0 In the date is offered by dealers for 3) cents, and one with a large 0 in the date for 50 cents. MIDSHIPMAN IN THE NAVY-—Sallor, City. The rank of midshipman In the United States navy was abolished in 1882, The lowest rank in commissioned officers now is ensign. GREEN AND NEILL FIGHT-H. W. K., City. This department refers you to The Call and other morning papers of November 25, 18%, for details of the last round in the Green-Neill fight. MUST GIVE NOTICE—A. 8, City. If a tenant is always prompt in the payment of his rent and the landlord wants the premises he must give the tenant a rea- sonable notice, not less than fifteen days. ing each variety in a cubic inch space and then counting the gralns. 5 THE AGE—J. H. N,, Lincoln, Cal. This department has no record of the age asked about. If you will communicate with the District Attorney of Calaveras County. at San Andreas, he may furnisn {ou the information that may place you n Iron;munlmflon with the owner of the animal. SEASONS—J. M. C., Suisun City, Cal Those who predict a dry or wet season, claiming to do so by certain signs, some- times hit it, and more times they do not. It is not within the power of man to pre- dict months ahead what a season will be, The Weather Bureau can make predic- tions about twenty-four hours ahead, bas- ing such on the movements of storms, but sometime a storm changes its course im- mediately ‘after the prediction has been announced, and the pred Snnoun prediction goes for INTEREST—W., Philo, Cal. In the State of California interest is the compen- satlon allowed by law or fixed by the arties for the use or forbearance or de- ention of momx. Unless there is an ex- ress contract fixing a different rate, in- erest is payable on all money at the rate of 7 per cent per annum. rties may agree in writing for any rate of interest and it shall be allowed according to the terms of the o S, agreement until the entry of ON A TRAINING SHIP-H. M., Ala- meda, Cal. Apprentices on board of United States training ships are educated to fill the positions of seamen and peity officers, but they cannot become commls- sioned officers. "The Hartford is at Mare Island. Information relative to enlist- ments in this State and course of study should be addressed to the “Commandin ?:Ef"'r of the training ship, Mare l.uuuf, AMERICAN COINS—B. A. 8, Golden Gate, Cal. The market or selling price of a quarter of 1536 is from 60 cents to 81; half doilars of 1818 and 1819 from $5 cents to $110; H)-cent piece of 1831 from 75 cents to $1, and 50-cent plege of 1834 from 75 cents o aing to locality or Bemand: Deaiors ta cording ocality lemand. ers in | GOVERNMENT “LAND—F. - R t . J. H., City. golns é’:m':?t offer's premium for a0y of | 1¢ you wish tformation about Govern. ment land in this or any other State you should apply at the United States Land Office in the district in which the land is nde Angeles. Maryaville, Redding. Sacramio to, San Francisco, Stockton, ‘Susanville and Visalia. Either of these offices, for f:lo'nt'r!:lll 1:';"2" a ll(l ]o( dls;d under jts . showing what lan B has not been taken up. AN and GAS COMPANY Subscriber, City, The law says that a gas company must furnish gas to an applicant within a cer- tain time, but is silent on the subject of eposits to secure the company furnish- ing the gas against possible loss. If the company does not furnish the , i it has a main within easy access, lfl: liabie party ag- LIABILITY—B. A. 8, Golden Gate, Cal. Your question in relation to the liability of a city for ‘destruction of property by fire, by reason of inefficient fire depart- ment or insufficient apparatus, is one that cannot be answered offhand. It would ““Tlm evidence on both sides and a ju- dicial mind to determine. If you are of the opinion that you have a case inst the corporation, lay your case before a reputable attorns GRAINS OF SAND-B. W., Oakl Cal. The amount of clear .:;a mtl::n.dy' 2 o character of the your 1dle moments vou might nd cnt')wls many grains may contained soace hy obtaining several vuiotie‘-; "flg to & penalty In damages to the missioner is not provideti for in this con | nd if not so declared it shall be held dur- | The power of re- | | may, by and with the consent of the Com- | Mr. Clement proposes to enforce civil ser- | | miss discharge him upon assigning | vice reform at the City Hall. If the in writing his 0 therefor to the | practical politicians are to be allowed to Commissi he fs not then dis-| scramble for the offices once in four years rieved, who may commence an action ty 5&0\'er such penalty. Make your demand to have -gas connected with your prem- ises, and if the company falls to do so commence suit. It has been held that a as company cannot demand a deposit, ut an al has been taken from that decision, and the appeal has not yet been acted upon. HOMESTEAD—A, B, City. The law re- lating to homesteads In California says: “If the claimant be married the home- stead may be selected from the commu- nity property, or from the separate prop- t’rl{' l.;' {hr ‘nl!b.lhl. or with the conseit of the wife from her separate property. When the claimant is not married. but is the head of the family, the homestead may be selected from any of his or her roperty. The head of the family is t Ku!hnn when the claimant is marri every person who has residing on premises with him or her and under | or her care and maintenance, either | | or her minor children or minor granic | dren, or the minor child of a decea.. | husband or wife. a minor brother ¢ | ter, the minor child of a brother o | ter, a father, mother, grandfather, mother, the father, mother, grand | or grandmoiner of a deceased hush wife, an unmarried sister, or any relatives mentioned In this sectior have attained the age of majority ar able to take care of or support the ves." | | u AROUND THE CORRIDORS H. B. Wood of San Juan, Porto Rico a guest at the Palace. Superior Judge F. A. Cutler of Cres City is a guest at the Palace E. W. Winter, a well-known mining man of Placerville, is at the Grand. Among the recent arrivals at the Call- fornia is J. R. Dodds of London. C, W. Crystal, a prominent merchant of Vacaville, is registered at the Grand A. A. Van Voorhels, a wealthy banker of Sacramento, Is registered at the Occl dental. Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Land, andro have taken rooms | dental. | Dr. B. A. Plant, one of the prominent medical men of Santa Cruz, Is &« guest at | the Grand. | M. 8. Dashwood, a traveler from Lomn- don, was one of the arrivals last night at | the Palace. | N. G. Hughes, a prominent capita | Los Angeles, is registered for a stay at the Occidental. James A. Hardin, the Nevada cattlie- man, Is at the Palace. Mrs. Hardin ac- companies her husband. W. A. Reld, a millionaire from Dawaon, !ls registered at the Grand, where he ar- rived yesterday morning. J. G. Weatherwax, a wealthy lumber- | man of Aberdeen, Wash., is among the | recent arrivals at the Lick. B. V. Sargent, one of the leading at- | torneys of Salinas, is registered for a | short stay at the Occldental. | T. M. Henderson, a merchant of Van- couver, who is in the city on a short va- ‘cnllon trip, is at the Occidental. Frank Short, a well-known and In- fluential politician of Fresno, is one of the late arrivals at the Palace. J. W. Barbour and D. R. Cameron, two wealthy speculators In the oil lands of | Fresno, are registered at the Lick from Hanford, E. M. Sheehan, one of the leading news- | paper men of Sacramento, is registered | at the Ocecidental, while on a short visit | to the city. | A. 8. Canney, a fortunate mining man of Alaska, is at the Occidental. He comes | from New York and is on his way back to his home in the north. Mrs. Hugh C. Wallace, daughter of ! Chief Justice Fuller of the United States | Supreme Court, is at the Palace on a two | weeks' visit of pleasure to this city. | Dr. V. B. Gregor, U. 8. A., Is at the | Oceidental en route to Manila from Cuba, where he has done excellent service since | the outbreak of hostilities with Spain. | P, Lewis Clark, a well-known millfon- afre and horse fancier of Louisville, Ky., is registered at the Palace, where he ar- | rived yesterday, accompanied by his wife and child and Dr. C. 8. Penfield, C. H. Markham, general freight and passenger agent of the Southern Pacific | lines in Oregon, is registered at the Cali- | fornia from his headquarters in Portland. He is down here on business connected with his position. —_—————— CALIFORNIANS IN NEW YORK. NEW YORK, Dec. 4—Sam Samter of San Francisco is at the Herald Square; F. M. French of San Francisco Is at the Imperial; Samuel Sachs of San Francisco is at the Savoy. ] at f San Le- the * of short —_————— Cal. glade fruit 50c per Ib at Townsend's.® el LAl ol B Mocha, Camella, Pistache for soiree. 305 Larkin. e Kbt - el sl Note—S81 Fourth st., 5c barber, grocer; best eyeglasses, specs, 10c to 40c. . —_—e-—— Special Information supplied dally to business houses :nd public men by the Press Clipping Bureau (Allen's), 510 Mont- gomery street. Telephone Main 1042, ¢ — Mr. Babcock on Deck. The newly appointed Shipping Commis- sloner, C. F. Babcock, took charge of the office yesterday. No changes were made in the personnel of the office nor will thers be likely to be until after the holidays. ————— Cleanest in America. The Lackawanna Rallroad fs the cleanest raiiroad in America. Even though it cared little for the comfort of its passengers, which | It does, 1t probably would burn hard coal, for the reason that it owns the most extensive an- thracite coal mines in Pennsylvania. and it is cheaper for it to.burn hard coal, which makes no smoke, than soft. At any rate, there is no smoke from its locomotives. It is bullt for the most part through the mountains where rock | Is the material easiest of access, and its road- | bed for that reason is rock-ballasted. There I, therefore, no dust. two things are of unusual interest to the traveler by this line, for the reason that on no other road in the United States is there stronger incentive to | keep one's eyes upon the passing scene. It is | Said of this lne truthrully, that every mila | is picturesque. It traverses the Itural region of Western New York. the valley region of Central New York, the mountain region of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and every mile offers a view !’II(‘II b!r.llllf. DI:QYI‘IHI and entrancing. In point of com: s passengers are particularly fortunate, for, in addition to there being no smoke or dust, the cars are roomy, comfortable and scrupulously clean. | Eleeping cars, parior cars and dining cars offer all the convenlences and comforts of modern travel. S NEARING HIS FINISH. Aguinaldo Is right now. He has got encugh! There are many people in this town that know when they have hal enough of poor laundry work on their linen, and they turn to us for relief. It is a pleasure to a man to see the exquisite color and finish that we have put on his shirt, collars and cuffs when sent home from this laundry. “No saw-edges.” United States Laundry, Offios 1004 Market Street. Telephone South 420. Oakland Office. 514 Eleventh Bt.