The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 9, 1906, Page 4

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, JANUARY 9, 1906. MAYOR E. E. SCHMITZ DELIVERS EXPECTS T0 ACCOMPLISH MUCH WITH FULL SWAY the Gas Rate Must Be Reduced, as Was Promised in Campaign. Wasting of Taxpayers’ Money Pointed Out and Reforms Suggested. message of ) conscience and your obligation to the people may dictate, and relying upon the good sense and rugged honesty of the great mass of our constituency to | indorse and to approve the results of your conscientious action. EXPERIENCE WITH THEM .LEADS MAYOR TO DELIVER LECTURE ON NEWSPAPERS “ I have laid some stress on this be- | cause many of you are new to political life, and perhaps inexperienced in some newspapers’ ways, and you may not know that such newspapers have heretofore made many an honest official dishonest, elther by forcing a corrupt policy upon him or by driving him through incessant abuse in desperation and in fancied self-protection into im- propet alignments. And it is with the | hope that, if such unjust criticism shall unfortunately be made, you will, notwithstanding, find yourself of man- hood and of strength sufficient still to act conscientiously in the line of the | city’s best interests, that I have ven- tured to make these suggestions, at the same time inviting on your behalf and on my own, all reasonable, legiti- mate and hon suggestion or criti- cism on every one of our official acts. “Gentlemen of the board, the powers | vested in you are vast and important. You are to make the laws of this great city, You will control its great util- es. You are to provide its finances to epportion—indeed, In effect, to expend—its funds in every department of its government. “The broper exercise of these im- nt powers will require judgment, ous attention and energetic action » your part, and at no point will you 1d me lacking in most cordial support d assistance. EXECUTIVE AND THE VISORS MUST WORK THER FOR CITY’S GOOD 1 the Board of Supervisors Mayor there is such intimacy, f official and of personal relation- t reciprocal attitude of the t r should, and I know of the most friendly nature, in delivered to the yesterday, immedi- { tion of the new ard of Super- the continued rwhelming in- of San Francisco his, my third the outset ation and of my- thanks, | ewly elected ed us o ely, 1n the nost bitter ks ever made didates for both o EXPECTED BOARD MUCH IS TO BF WITH MEMBERS OF ALL WORKING IN HARMONY | will be e T wi t ts of an harmonious and suc- p ful administration. Petty personal o o~ o imosities or political differences 1 w the t t any of us in our deal- c affairs, 2nd our actions | s case be determined by Supervisor & or prospective political . or the work which is be- b for yourselves I invoke ess, and for your term » credit and appreciation s honest effort and | ’ ment, With these general views and for our comr senefit and the advantage of S 1 proceed now to submit to you r e consideration and for e tion of the people a num- p gestions of more or less con- interest, all of which seem 1siderable importance. »nd election held on Septem- . j ber 29, 1903, the people of this city s voted for the issuance of $17,174,000 of nicipal bords, the proceeds of which | to be utilized and were intended zed for various much needed ified public improvements. & 3 nds bear interest at the rate of per cent per annum, and under the of our charter may mnot be sold for less than par and accrued in- s During the past two years $4,- Rt of these bonds have been sold, p - of the money so secured $1,829,- & t 5 best e GREAY OPPORTUNITY FOR LARGE ACHIEVEMENTS RY IDLE MONEYS THE NEW ADMINISTRATION 2 bid 2 s CAUSE WASTE & € i1 “The result has been that on « g 5 of| | the momey lying idle In the success treasury the city has been : wastefully paying about $10,000 mapons . | a month in interest to the bond | holders. The temptation to the j 8 | make their comments on niciyp | bond issue a leading issue in < et L | tme two campaigns was too s g i strong for a majority of your 5 | predecessors, and under tne 2 | famclea security of presy im- Lee e | munity exigencies of the cam- ¢ | palgn teok precedence over the e . | interests and wishes of the - people. I wish to assure youm that under the proper condi- tions you will find no difficulty | in selling as many bonds as | may be required. I advise you, however, to offer for sale only such bonds and. %0 many of them as the amount of im- | provements ordered shall re- quire, so that the city may mot repeat the unbusinesslike op- | eration of the last two years in the payment of Immense | sumg of interest on unused and unutilized mone; Excerpt | from Mayor's Message. 5 80 has been expended. Approxi- ately $2.844,000 has lain in the treas- ury and has not as yet been used for the purposes intended. ily | MONEY IS BEING WASTED IN PAYING INTEREST ON BOND MONEY LYING IDLE { “The result has béen that' on the money lying idle in the treasury the city has been wastefully paying about $10 090 a month in interest to the bond | | holders. The temptation to make their -omments on the bond 1ssue a lemdlngl | issue in the two campaigns was too etrong for a majority of your predeces- ! | sors, and under the fancied security of press immunity took precedence over the interests and wishes of the peopie. |1 wish to assure you that under the | proper conditions you will find no aiffi- ity in selling as many bonds as may Le required. 1 advise you, however, to offer for sale only such bonds and so many of them as the amount of im- provements ordered shall require, so that the city may not repeat the un- businesslike operation of the last two vears in the payment of immense sums of interest on unused and unutilized moneys. ; “Inasmuch as bond buyers seera to have an aversion to purchasing bonds offered in small blocks, it may become necessary to order improvements on a larger scale than has been heretofore the polity. This, it seems, would not only prevent the wasting of large sums of money paid for interest, but itymay even be desirable from the standpoint of practical and substantial results to the people. The patchwork = system which has been much in favor hereto- NEW MEMBERS ARE WARNED OF THE PROBABILITY CRITICISM AND ATTACK approba s and str gentle- honest mis- happen > happen so enship of San to read or ad- which may | ctice and which | njury to the | of San Francisco | and industrial centers » ‘@nd of the world in gen- other advérse agencies | | this to your attention now the purpose of advising and urging you in’all your ‘acts and votes fluenced only by your pwn con- and the interests of the people whom you represent, and however dis- agreeable the savage and unjustified attacks of a boughten newspaper may be, to prpceed elong the even tenor of your way doing the things which your l IS AN SAYS GOOD GOVERNMENT IS HIS AIM. Mayor Eugene E. Schmitz, ori assuming office for a third term yesterday, had many. things to say in the annual message he read to the Board of Supervisors im- mediately after it had effected its new organization. After paying his respects to those who had opposed and attacked him in the recent campzign, he gives assur- ance that he bears no animosities, ¢nd that his only aim will be to demonstrate what a good and “efficient government he will be able to give San Francisco, now that virtually all departments will be harmonious with him. He points out that the duty devolves on:'the Supervisors to make a substantial reduction in the gas rate, that having been one of the campaign pledges of the Union Labor party. He declares the Spring Valley Company’s supply inadequate and that it is imperative the city acquire a water supply of its own. He insists that the plan of public owner- ship of the Geary street railway shall be put through without delay. Expedition is also urged in the carrying out of improvements- under the bond issue. The Mayor hopes to accomplish many governmental reforms. S ity AL SR R Executive Promises to Make Most of Opportunity to Show What Labor Administration Can Do for Public Welfare. which in my opinion is absolutely the,I made certain recommendations along fore with your predecessors, whereby contracts for small parcels of work were let to various contractors, has for some time appeared to me not only wasteful, extravagant and slow in re- sults, but it has caused lack of uni- formity, delays, ‘genegal dissatisfaction and justifiable complaint when the work was eventually completed. AGAINST THE PATCHWORK SYSTEM OF CONTRACTING FOR IMPROVEMENT WORK “My idea is that if a mile of street is to be paved or sewered it would result in cheaper, more economical, more sub- stantial and more rapid work if the mile were let to one responsible con- tractor under bond to finish the work in the specified manner and time than if twelve contractors were to be given a contract for one block each, to be fin- ished in various ways and at various times. I know that if it were my own private business I should not hesitate a moment to decide in favor of the more economical, more uniform and more expeditious result. “I trust that you will take this mat- ter up for serious consideration imme- diately, especially in regard to the pav- ing of streets and the construction of sewers which are to be included in the bond issue, to the end that w2 may | show before the expiration of our term perhaps a complete improvement, and certainly the most substantial progress, in necessary street work ever attained in this city, and that our constituency may see when and how, with what businesslike achievement and with what good result the money which they have voted has been expended for the purpose designated and for the city's benefit. “I am particularly desirous that our streets and sewers shall at once be placed in, good condition, and I am cer- tain that you are all of similar inclina- tion. At the same time let us be equal- ly anxious to erect the schoolhouses which have been provided for in the bond issue, and before the end of our term let us, if possible, see some of our ramshackle school buildings re- placed by modern buildings in which the health and safety of our children will not be in daily peril. I suggest that plans for as many buildings as may be practicable be called for at once, and that if the City Architect's office is too scantily supplied with help or with the necessary assistants to furnish such plans readily, either that more help be furnished the City Archi= tect or that additional outside archi- tects be employed, through competitive plags, if desired, and that a showing of results be made with new school buildings as soon as possible. And in such competition, if determined upon, I believe that only our local architects should be invited to participate. They are certainly as able as—and from a San Franciscan’s point of view as de- serving at least of recognition—as ar- chitects from other jurisdictions. TURGES THAT NEW CITY AND COUNTY HOSPITAL SHOULD BE CONSTRUCTED AT ONCE “By the bond issue moneys were pro- vided for the erection of a new City and County Hospital. Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars of these bonds has been sold, and the money has been lying idle in the treasury for nearly two years. We have been pay- ing out and wasting some $750 a month in interest on these unused moneys— nearly $18,000 virtually thrown away. Plans for the hospital building have been practically ready for a long time past. Let us start the new hospital at once, The present old wooden frame hospital buildings are a disgrace In themselves, and when because of in- sufficiency of accommodations the needy and deserving sick are of neces- sity turned away, there being space for just 425 patients, the same as twenty years ago, when the city had only one- half its present population, the matter becomes a crying shame. \ “Concerning the other matters provid- ed for in the bond issue, I shall com- municate with you hereafter. BEGINNING WILL BE MADE IN PUBLIC OWNERSHIP BY OPERATION OF GEARY ROAD “1. Geary Street Railway. We are about to construct and operate the. first public utility owned by the city, the Geary street rallway, and during our term of office I expect to see the work completed and the road in running order. I should have wished, with other friends of public own- ership, that this first experiment in that direction could have been based ypon an absolute model of enurely new “and ad- vanced modern construction and equip- ment, so that it might serve as a standard for all roads held in private ownership, instead of utilizing the old rails and road- bed and conforming the new rolling stock and other equipment to the old system. “But the determination has been reached and the appropriation made upon the hasis of the utilization of the old rails and roadbed, and however more expensive it may prove in the long run mnot to have built anew from the commencement, the reconstruction of the road as already planned is now the determined policy of this administration, and the road must be constructed with all possible speed and expedition in accordance therewith. -Be- fore the end of our term I sincerely trust that we may all have ridden on the com- pleted municipally owned and municipally operated Geary street line. Incidentally I may suggest to you that the litigation which has just been instituted on behalf of the Geary street railroad to prevent the consummation of this municipal pro- Ject need cause no terror, as it would be a matter of simple resolution by your board to amend the temporary license under which the road is now oper: and thus at once take possesion of the roadbed and right of way, which certain- 1y belong to the citizens of San Francisco. MUNICIPALITY OUGHT AT ONCE ACQUIRE A WATER SUPPLY FOR THE PEOPLE “By far the most important public util- ity which should be owned an® operated by the city, the utility in which every one of our inhabitants is more inter- ested than in any other, and i i ~one | most necessary of immediate acquire- ment, I8 an adequate municipal water supply. The private company which & at present supplying the city is now taxed to the utmost to furnish the city with sufficient water for its actual immediate needs, and the day is not far distant when its supply will prove utterly inadequate for the city’s demands and needs. More- over, the water supplied being largely run- off surface waters standing in catchment storage reservolrs, is of inferior quality and not such water as a city like ours, with our abundant means and practically unlimited available and accessible sup- plies of absolutely pure water, should be compelled to tolerate, and that, too, at prices and rates charged to the consumers which are extravagantly high. In addition, for three years now, by a sort of legal hocus-pocus, the company has been col- lecting from our people in excessive rates hundreds of thousands of dollars above and beyond the rates fixed by the legisla- tive body of the city under the provisions of our State constitution. “It would seem that we are completely at the mercy of the water company in the matter of these excessive collections, as well as in the matter of the water's quality, and the company’s idea must cer- tainly be that whatever they want to give us is good enough for us. SPRING VALLEY COMPANY LIKELY TO FAIL IN ITS SUPPLY IN DRY SEASON “In a comparatively dry season like this we may expect any day to learn that there is not enough water on hand to last us during the year, and in case of extensive conflagration, drawing heavily on our water reserve, there is certainly grave danger that a water famine might ensue. 7 “Attempts have been made for some years past to acquire a municipal water supply from the Sierra Nevada Moun- tains. The city has expended many thousands of dollars in engineering ex- penses to examine and esthmate uponi various proposed supplies. - The Tuol- umne, or Hetch Hetcy system, 8o called, has been looked upon with great favor, but apparent insuperable obsta- cles have intervened, either through the influence of the Spring Valley Water Company or otherwise, and we are as far from the.acquisition of that water supply as we ever were, and from the looks of things we are apt to remain in the same condition with re- gard to that particular proposed source of supply for years to come. “I have no idea that we can do any- thing materially or substantially with the Hetch Hetchy system during our term of office, but 1 do belleve that we should make an immediate, energetic and practical attempt to secure an ad- equate supply of pure mountain water for this city during the next two yedrs. “A number of systems have been sug- gested and offered. Let us take them up for practical and serfous consider- ation as soon as possible, and let us take the first seriows and practical step toward the acquisition of any one of them which is adequate to our present and future needs, and the title to which can be had without the solution of such difficulties as have presented themselves in the matter of the Hetch Hetchy system. I sincerely hope that We may be able to make great prog- ress in this direction soon. SUBSTANTIAL REDUCTION TO BE MADE IN THE GAS RATE, AS WAS PROMISED “It will be your duty next month to fix the maximum rates which may be charged for artificial light in this city by those engaged in supplying the same. The reduction of the present high rates charged for gas was one of the leading issues of the campalgn which resulted in our election. We must, of course, keep our pledges to the people, anG a substantial reduction by you of such rates is confidently ex- pected. “In this connection it is my intention to request of your honorable board that Market street be illuminated by a se- ries of incandescent electric lights in ornamental fixtures extending from the ferry to Valencia street, and perhaps that other important streets be simi- larly lighted. The magnificent advan- tages of such illumination and the re- sultant beautification of the city there- by cannot be overestimated. I make this suggestion in order that the ap- propriate committee of your board may have it in mind when considering the question of the city’s lighting. “In view of our pledges io give the city an honest, economical and busi- nesslke administration, it becomes very important to consider the adop- tion of methods which, without impair« ing results, will effect retrenchment, safeguard the finances and centrallze responsibilities. In my last inaugural address presented to your predecessors WANTS TO RUSH RAILWAY WORK “We are about to comstruet nnd operate the first public utility owned by the eity, the Geary-street railway, and dur- ing our term of office 1 expect to see the work completed and the fond In running order. The détermination has been renched and the appropr made upon the 3 utilization of the old From Mayor Schmitz's Message. these lines, which, like certain othe: recommendations made by me, received the compliment of being entirely ig- nored. Among other things I said then and I repeat now. 'THOUSANDS MAY BE SAVED BY CHANGING METHODS OF BUYING CITY'S SUPPLIES "It séems to me that a large and Intelli- gently governed city like ours should be able to put into effect a reforny in the manner of the purchase and distribution Of supplies for public institutions and de- partments, which would mot only prove mare economical, but would secure much better service. And this should be se- cured, even if it be necessary to submit a charter amendment to accomplish the ob- ject. No well-regulated private business concern would think for a moment of having a dozen or more storekeepers, commissaries and agents In as many dif- ferent departments, acting independently of one another in the same general di- rection. A concentration of this element of our municipal business in a central de- partment and its proper regulation would effect a ratlonal saving of thousands of dollars a year in salaries apd in the pur- chase, Teceipt and distribution of munici- pal gupplies. I strongly recommend to your honorable board the earnest consid- eration of this suggestion. Such a bureau would also render possible more careful supervision, and would enable the city to make certain that goods of home manu- facture and the product of free white la- bor were belng delivered at the various institutions, as called for and in the quan- tities and of the qualities paid for. “My experience and investigation during the past four years has convinced me, as it must convince every one who has con- sidered the matter at all, that there is much looseness and carelessness in the cush transactions of the various city offices and departments. LACK OF SYSTEM IN CITY'S ACCOUNTING HAS COST THE TAXPAYERS VERY HEAVILY “This laxness and lack of system has cost. the city many thousands of dollars in ascertained defalcations, many more thousands, undoubtedly, which have never been discovered, and additional thousands for expert services for discovery of what in all probability can never be recovered. For the past two years the bills for ex- pert accountants alone on official books amouted to over ten thousand dollars. “In addition to these losses and ex- penses, the present system of disorganized accountancy involves the employment in the varfous offices of cashiers at good salarfes, multiplies the possibility of losses by error as well as by intention and is wasteful and pernicious in the ex- treme. “Under present conditions there is hard- ly any check on any official who received moncy, if he makes no official entry of it in his books: in several of the offices several deputies may receive moneys and if not entered it can scarcely be traced. There is vrotection neither for the city nor for the eitizen who pays. I suggest that a system be devised of numbered re- ceipts (something in the nature of a Wells-Fargo money order), which shail be delivered to the respective city offi- cials and charged agalust them for their face value, and each receipt shall there- after be accaunted for by tae official re- ceiving the same. ‘Netices should be posted conspicuously in every office that no receipt except tire official receipt should be accepted by any person paying in any money. This would safeguard the city’s interest and would effect a great saving of expense. One clerk in the Treasurer's or Auditor's office could, in my opinion, do all the nec- essary cash accountancy of every muni- pal department, except as to the collec- tion of taxes. I respectfully recommend that an ordinarce be framed on the lin of taese suggestions. 3 ’ ALL EMPLOYES MUST BE AT THEIR POSTS OF DUTY DURING BUSINESS HOURS ‘‘Along the same lines I have to-day in- structed the heads of all departments to require their deputies and clérks to be in actual attendance at their places of em- ployment during official business hours and keeo a record thereof. “I have observed during the past two years that many of the most important resolutions and ordinancey passed by the Board of Supervisors-are written on the flimsjest of paper, and that frequently be. fore they reach the Mayor's office they are almost in-pieces. I would respectfully suggest that you preseribe a regulation :hn .'l-l!' nu%? (lllocumnnts must be writ- en on durable linen or parchment paper. “I would also recommend that your finance committee investigate and de- termine upon some means for more readi- ly counting the moneys in the Treasurer's office. The present method is slow and unsatisfactory, and the former way of ‘hefting’ is unsafe. There should surely be some practical way of asces a few hours, at most, exactly how much money is actually on hand in that im- portant 3 “‘During the past two years the municipal commissions have operated with the greatest efficiency attainable ppropriations, ducted their business with reasonable economy. Certain changes may be rec- ommended, however, from time to time in the future, for their betterment. WORK OF HEALTH BOARD IN BEHALF OF PURE FOOD “I am pleased to call your attention to the magnificent dune by NUAL MESSAGE TAKES A STRONG STAND FOR PUBLIC OWNERSHIP Urges Expedition in the Taking Over of the Geary-Street Railway. Acquisition of City Water Supply Set orth as Absolutely Necessary. terference from an antagonistic Board of is at least a compliment to and a tribute to their prac- standing the unfair attacks which have been made against them, present a show- ing of excellence and of attention to duty which has never been excelled since these commissions were established. The con- | Guet of the last election alone s evidence of the faithful and devoted work of the much abused Board of Election Commis- sioners. ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONBUCT OF THE VARIOUS COMMISSIONS ‘“Yet noue of these commissions is ab- solutely perfect in its work, nor s it to | be expeeted that any commission charged with the multifarious dut'“s reposed by the charter in these various boards ever will be absolutely perfect. Indeed, until human power shall become divine man will ever be prone to err, or to leave something undone which perhaps ought to have been done, but I confidently as- sure you, and through you the people of the city, that in all that has been done by these various municipal departments during the past two years there has been, 80 far as 1 have been able to discover— and I have kept in very close touch with their work—only the most earnest and faithful devotion to duty and to the peo- ple's interests. 1 feel that they are enti- tled to at least this small meed of pralse in view of the continued groundless and unjustifiable abuse which they, have sus- tained simply for pelitical reasons at the hands of a portiop of the press of San Francisco. “Yet 1 wish to advise you that many desirahle changes and improvements may be made in the organization, conduct and menagement of some of these depart- ments, which have been rendered impos- sible by the actlon of your predecessors. “When you shall be prepared to take up the matter of the budget of appropria- tions for the various departments for the next fiscal year I shall be pleased, indeed, to confer and advise with you concerning such changes and to give you whatever benefit my expérience and observation may be able to accord. GOOD RESULTS TO FOLLOW NOW THAT ALL DEPARTMENTS WILL BE IN FULL ACCORD “These departments, notwithstanding their good work heretofore, should pre- sent even better results in the next two vears, for every department of the ity government, fncluding the county office! will now work hand in hand for the com- mon purpose of producing the best results for the people. And while this will make our work somewhat smoother, and cer- tainly more agreeable, yet we must not forget the greater responsibility which such harmony and homogeneity places upon us. Let us live up to this responsi- bility to the fullest extent, so that when we shall have laid down the insignia of our offices the people may say with truth and with friendly feeling: ‘These men have honestly tried to do the best which was in them, for their own sakes and for the sake of their party and their cause, LOWER GAS RATE MUST BE MADE “1t will be your duty next month to fix the maximum rates which may be charged for artificial light in this eity by those engaged in supplying the same. The reduction of the present high rates charged for gas was one of the leading issues of the eampaigm which resulteq in our clection. We must, of ecourse, keep our pledges to the people, and a substantial reduction by you of such rates Is e-mn expected. In this is my imtention to request of board that Market street be illuminated by = wserles of incandescent lights in ornamental fixtures extendibg from the ferry to Valencia street, and perhaps that other important streets be stmilarly lighted.” — Excerpt from Mayor's Message. BRI S ¥ — and for the city which has so signally h?'mmu:h:c:lmhr that we are not all constituted exactly alike, that we are of different minds and temperaments, and that each must sometimes yleld here and there a little for the good of ail if he ean~ not bring us ail to his way of thinking. “Let :‘: remember. that we must have a harmonious administration in every branch of the city government, not oniy for the better results which may thus be CORONER NOW SAYS SUICIDE Comes to Comeclusion That Charles A. Edwards Took Own Life in New Haven VERY STRANGE Vietim Said to Have Shot Himself, Swallowed Poison and Crawled to His Room —— NEW HAVEN, Conn., Jan S—Suicide by means of both bullet and poison Is the explanation given by Coroner Mix of the death of Charles A. Edwards of New York at the Abigail Hiller homestead here on Tuesday night last. This finding is contained in a preliminary report to State Attorney Willlams, and is based in part on the discovery of morphine In the body of Edwards by Medical Examiner Bart- lett and the surgeons who performed the autopsy. The finding 1s supported by some portions of the evidence taken at the inquest, which has extended through five days and which is not yet completed. The preliminary report is made at this time to reileve public suspense, and Coro- ner Mix announced that Edwards’ death probably was one of the most remarkable on record. The theory of suicide ap- pears not to have been held by the Coroner until SBaturday, when the detec- tives unearthed in the shrubbery near the Hiller house a 22-caliber revolver and a half-pint bottle containing a quantity of laudanum. Until .aat time and In ab- sence of a report upon the chemical ana- lysis of the viscera, the weight of evi- dence taken by Mix was that Edwards had been murdered. The first action taken by Coronmer Mix to-day after reaching a conclusion in the case was to order the release of A. Ma Hiller, brother-in-law of Edwards, who CASE ! on Thursday evening last was placed in charge of a police officer. The Coromer's brief report does not fully dispell the mystery as to the death of Edwards. As Coroner Mix describes his actions: “Bdwards at 2 o'clock on Wednesday moriiing last left his chamber and scended to the basement; lighted the gas. unboited and opened the rear door, twice discharged a revoiver at himself, one bul- let going into the ear, then failing to kill himself, threw the weapon away, drank laydanum and tossed the bottle after the pistol, and with blood flowing from a wound in the head, dragged himself back to his chamber, got into bed, drewthe bed clothes over his shoulders and, after plac- ing a handkerchief under his head to stanch.the flow of blood, lapsed into un- consciousness, death coming six heurs later.” —_——— SAYS THE PRESIDENT ERRS IN URGING BIG FAMILIES Authority om Child Labor Volces Opposition to Race Suicide Theory. NEW YORK, Jan. 8.—President Roosevelt's declaration in favor of big families was discussed before the New Rochelle People's Forum yesterday. The Rev. Owen Lovejoy, secretary of the National Child Laber Committee, declared that, except in special casey the President was mistaken in pro- mulgating such ideas among the Amer- fean pople. Many men, he sald, were working to-day at the bench and in the factory for less wages than their fathers received for the same amount of work and it was costing them more to live. Such men, he said, if they were of a consclentious type. would hesita at. the responsibility of bringing chil- dren into the world to struggle and toil for a bare living without prospects of advancement. SIGHT IS RESTORED TO A REDDING MAN Able to See After Being Nearly Blind for Eigh- teen Years. REDDING, Jan. §.—After being com- pelled to use glasses for elghteen years, not being able to read a line or distin- Zuish objects or persons without them, BE. P. Conner, a popular mining man of this city, suddenly discovered yesterday that he could read and see with his naked eyes. His vislon is better and clearer than it was when he was a boy. He has cast aside his glasses. attained, but also as an inspiration to the public who have elected us and an exam- to those who may come after us. } ‘“Let us remember to be tolerant of others’ ideas; let us not forget that a lib- eral administration, which this is intend- ed to be, does not necessarily adm! record of San for your thanking you tion, let me at the same time bespeak for IS LIBERALLY COMMENDED | you, and for each of you, two years of T w-vt:i; a l‘r&pfln inistration, either in the y Hall or in the city’s life, and let us Franeiseo’