The San Francisco call. [volume], March 08, 1895, Image 1

About The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913

Image provided by: University of California, Riverside; Riverside, CA

                
VOLUME LXXVII.-NO. 88.
THE PACIFIC SLOPE
Attempted Swindling of
a Land -Buyer at
San Diego.
JORGERY OF A DEED.
Revelation of a Cunning Plot
Just as the Deal Was
to Be Closed.
TRAGEDY AT SAJf BERNARDINO.
A Horse-Trainer Wounds a Woman
and Then Sends a Bullet
Through His Head.
San Piego, March 7. — One of the best
laid traps yet discovered in this city to
swindle a purchaser of real estate, and in
volving a forged deed and perjury, was
accidentally discovered yesterday by J. M.
Clark, who was about to pay over $2250 for
a worthless piece of paper. So cunningly
had the scheme been worked that no sus
picions whatever had been raised until the
last moment, when Clark, by asking a
question, laid the whole thing bare. Some
weeks ago Clark was offered three lots on
Florence Heights for $2300. He accepted
the offer and put up a $.50 deposit.
Yesterday at 1 o'clock he was to pay over
the balance and get a grant deed. It ap
peared that the owner, B. Etcheverry, had
made a deed in Sail Francisco on Septem
ber lf>, 1894, conveying the property to
Frank Etheridge of this city for $10. This
deed was sent to the Merchants' National
Bank here with instructions to deliver it
to Etheridge on payment of $2300, less
$112 50 for commissions. Clark was as-
Bured that Etheridge would take up the
deed, convey the property to him by grant
deed and place them i>oth on record, thus
completing the transactien.
It now develops that the deed was forged,
Etcheverry having been in France for
nearly two years. Etheridge and J.
Walmer, another real estate man here,
from whose list the property was obtained,
both appeared in a bad light, and it is
alleged that the deed was signed here and
later acknowledged by some one imperson
ating Etcheverry before John P. Lyons, a
notary public of San Francisco. As he
could not have known the person, the lat
ter must have been introduced to him by
some one in the conspiracy to defraud, and
whose identification will complete the
chain of evidence needed to convict three
or four men of felony.
Several other fraudulent transactions
have been brought to light during the day
•which ruake it probable that a searching
inquiry will not be lacking in results.
To Sell the Schooner Wahlberg .
San Diego, March 7.— Collector of Cus
toms Fisher has gone to Los Angeles,
where he will bring libel proceedings
against the schooner Wahlberg for a tine
of $500. The last time the schooner was
sold by the Government it brought $1600.
The captain has disappeared and no infor
mation has been obtained regarding his
whereabouts.
TRAGEDY AT SAN FRANCISCO
A Horse-Trainer Tries to Kill a Woman
and Commits Suicide.
Bah Bernardino, March 7.— John W.
Kellett shot and dangerously wounded
Nettie Jones this evening and then put a
bullet through his own brain. The scene
of the tragedy was Rose Cottage, a house
notorious from one end of this valley to
the other. The woman, who had been liv
ing with Kellett, came here from Los An
geles a week ago. Kellett, who lives in
Los Angeles, arrived here Tuesday and
urged her to return. She refused. He
called at noon to-day, and they remained
in the room till the shooting occurred. No
quarreling was heard. The woman re
ceived one bullet in the cheek and another
In the abdomen. Kellett's death wound
ffa? in the temple.
Kellett was a horse.trainer and sporting
man, aged 27 years. A few minutes after
the shooting there was a very dramatic
scene when Minnie Kellett, sister of the
suicide, who is an inmate of the house, re
turned from a ride and found her brother
dead by his own hand. The wounded
woman has made no statement, but the in
ference is that Kellett again importuned
berto return, she refused again and then
lie fired.
RIPE CHERRIES FROM VACAVILLE
first of This Seaiton's Crop Sent to As-
seinhltjtnan Raits ford.
Vacaville, March 7.— That the present
season will be an early one for fruit is
demonstrated by the fact that ripe cherries
are now being sent from here. The first
box of cherries of the purple Guignes vari
ety was sent to Sacramento Monday to As
semblyman H. M. Bassford, they having
been taken from his trees. By next weeK
several boxes will be ready for California
and Eastern markets.
The fruit prospect in general in this great
fruit center is quite flattering at present,
•with the r-xception of the apricot crop.
Trees of this variety were well filled with
blossoms, but from the cause of some un
known affection they failed to set. On
some trees nearly every fruit bud has
fallen, while on others not one-fourth re
main. Young trees, however, are all right,
and on them the young apricot is well set,
but as there are not many young orchards
this will not have much effect on the total
yield. Careful estimates have been made,
and it is generally conceded that there will
not be one-third of a rrop.
There are good prospects of a large peach
crop. The blossoms are well distributed
ami are setting firm. This can also be said
of nearly every other variety, but it is too
early to make positive assertions, espe
cially on the prune crop in general, as this
fruit not unfrequently drops after it is half
grown.
A Xapa Will Coiiirtt.
Napa, March 7. — About one month ago
Charles W. Plass, a wealthy farmer of this
county, died, leaving a will which gave his
property in trust to his wife, Catherine
Plass, and his brother, Philip PJass, to be
held and used by them during their life
time, and at their death to go to his two
f
The San Francisco Call.
sons, Philip Plass Jr. and Charles Plass
Jr., four-fifths to the former and one-fifth
to the latter. The will was duly filed for
probate, but the matter has not yet been
heard in court. To-day Charles Plass Jr.
filed a protest against the admission of
the will to probate, alleging that undue in
fluence was used on deceased against him
at the time of making the will. The mat
ter has not yet been set for a hearing.
SUICIDE AT VICTORIA.
rice-Principal of the High School Kills
Himself in a Fit of ittspair.
Victoria, B. C, March 7. — A great sen
sation was produced this morning by find
ing the body of Neil Heath, 8.A., late
vice-principal of the high school, in a field
near this city with a bullet-hole in his
head, having shot himself Friday last.
Heath was suspended for six months for
using language highly disrespectful to the
Catholic doctrine of transubstantiation.
There was religious feeling over the mat
ter, and. Heath, who was in straitened
circumstances, brooded over his suspen-
sion. He was 52 years old and a native of
Scotland. He had a family in Australia
and was a fine scholar.
SUICIDE OF A RADEC GIRL.
The Lass Shoots Herself for Some Reason
I'nkuow)!.
Riverside, March 7. — Details of a suicide
which occurred Tuesday last near Radec, a
remote settlement in the east end of the
county, were received in this city to-day
when the Coroner returned from the scene.
The unfortunate victim was a 16-year-old
girl, named Carrie E. Tripp, who for some
cause unknown ended her life by shooting
herself. The Coroner held an inquest yes
day and the jury rendered a verdict of
suicide.
Miss Tripp w?s a lady of cheerful dispo
sition and her relatives are at a loss to ac
count for the rash art. There is v strong
belief that the shooting was accidental.
A MYSTERY OF LOS ANGELES
Finding of a Woman's Leg Re
calls Mrs. Hoffman's Dis
appearance.
Authorities Resume Work on a
Strange Arroyo Seco
Case.
Los Axgeles, March 7.— Mrs. Etta Hoff
man, wife of Philip L. Hoffman, a butcher
residing at Arroyo Seco, has long been
missing from her home and cannot be
found.
Mrs. Hoffman was a young and rather
handsome woman of about 25 years of age.
It was one evening during the latter part
of October, 1894, that Hoffman came to the
house of Mrs. Walbridge, his mother-in
law, and stated that his wife had suddenly
left him. Since that time the missing wife
has not been seen or heard from. When
Hoffman called on Mrs. Walbridge to tell
the news of the sudden disappearance of
the woman he acted strangely and ap
peared to be greatly excited. He afterward
paid *veral visits to the house of his
mother-in-law, and shortly after one of
these a note came to Mrs. Walbridge
signed "Etta," in which the writer re
quested her mother to deliver a photo
graph to the bearer. It is now not believed
that this note was written by Mrs. Hoff
man, but that murder is behind the affair,
and that the woman's leg found in the
heap of debris on Broadway a few days ago
belongs to the body of Hoffman's wife.
During {heir short period of married life
the Hoffnians had many quarrels. Their
home in Arroyo Seco, which is located
about two miles outside of the city limits,
was the scene of many bitter wordy en
counters, and the story that the wife had
left her husband did not create much sur
prise at the time Hoffman tola his story.
As the days went by and months passed
and the missing woman did not return
her relatives became suspicious and em
ployed detectives to work on the case.
Absolutely no clew was discovered which
would lead to information as to the where
abouts of Mrs. Hoffman, and the officers
were inclined to give up the search when
the leg was unearthed in a back yard the
other day.
Is the mortified limb a part of the dead
body of the young butcher's wife? That
is the question which the authorities are
now trying to determine.
DISPUTE OVER A REWARD.
Claimants to the Amount Offered for the
Capture of Jtoseoe Robbers.
Lob Angeles, March 7. — It has not yet
been decided who is entitled to the reward
for the arrest and conviction of Alva John
son, the Roscoe train-robber. Detectives
Frank Dowler, A. B. Lawson and Leslie D.
Rogers have all laid claim to the $1300 in
dispute, and Charles Etzler also wants a
share.
Etzler if the man who accompanied
"Kid" Thompson to Arizona and helped
him spend some of the Mexican money
secured at the robbery. Etzler made a
confession and Johnson finally admitted
his guilt. The latter was given life sen
tence, and Etzler, not having taken any
part in the "hold-up," was not arrested.
"Kid" Thompson is now awaiting trial.
Wells-Fargo and the Southern Pacific
companies have asked the court to deter
mine who is entitled to the reward for
Johnson's conviction. As soon as Johnson
received his sentence he refused to testify
at the examination of his partner in crime,
knowing that the law did not provide
greater punishment for contempt of court
than the sentence he had already received.
It is now said that he has changed his
mind and will testify. Thompson has se
cured the services of three attorneys to
conduct his case.
A Neglectful Husband in Trouble.
Los Angeles, March 7.— Otto Raacke,
the son of a wealthy brewer of St. Louis,
was arrested here to-day at the instance of
his wife, for non-support. Raacke is said
to have spent $200,000 in two years in a
merry life. He has been a resident of this
city for several years. He was formerly a
newspaper man. He is well educated and
has a pleasing address. He married his
wife in tnis city. He has two children.
Highbinders Attempt Murder.
Los Angeles, March 7.— Highbinders at
tempted to kill Charley Ah Goon in China
town Tuesday. He is a partner of Ah
Suey, killed by highbinders a few days ago,
and an important witness at the trial of
Wong Chce, charged with the murder.
Charley Ah Goon is now at the home of
the attorney in the case and will remain
there until the trial. Chinatown is all ex
citement over the affair.
SAN FRANCISCO, FRIDAY MORNING, MARCH 8, 1895.
A SPECIAL MESSAGE
Gov. Budd's Appeal to
the Legislature for
Economy.
SEYMOUR'S BILL A TEXT.
Urging the Creation of a State
Board of Charities and
Corrections.
PRESENT WASTEFUL METHODS.
The Numerous Expensive Boards In
Existence He Says Should at
Once Be Abolished.
Sacramento, March 7. — Governor Budd
transmitted a message to the Senate and
Assembly to-night strongly requesting the
Legislature to pass the bill introduced by
Senator Seymour, providing for a State
board of charities and corrections, which
should displace the various boards con
trolling the different insane asylums and
reformatories.
The Governor refers to his inaugural ad
dress, in which he called attention to the
heavy taxation in California and the great
expense of the State government in Cali
fornia as compared with those of other
commonwealths. He declares that the
asylum reports show that the cost for the
various institutions for the insane is dis
proportionate to the costs of other States.
He recommends the abolition of the local
boards, and concludes with a strong request
for the passage of the bill.
The text of the message is as follows:
To the Senate and Assembly of the State of
California: In my inaugural address delivered
to your honorable bodies I called attention to
the extravagance of our State government and
to the high rate of existing taxation. I made
a comparison in. that address between the ex
penses of California and those of the other
principal States of the Union, showing by
tables presented that while California in popu
lation was twenty-second, in the matter of
total expenditures it ranked fourth.
In that inaugural I also called your attention
to the reports of the Superintendent of the
Napa Lunatic Asylum and the former Super
intendent of the Stockton Lunatic Asylum,
showing the large number of persons therein
maintained, who, under the law, should not be
inmates of those institutions. I said in this
connection, after indicating the great dispro
portion between the expenses of California and
other States of the Union :
As ,a step In the direction indicated I would
recommend a bill be passed abolishing existing
asylum boards and providing for one non-partisan
board of from seven to nine members to control the
entire system of lunatic asylums, with power to
employ one eeoeral superviaiuf? ln-;ul. who shall f«
an expert and cot otherwise connected with any of
the institutions. The saving by such a system
would be large, and local persuasion and influence
could circumvent neither the expert nor the gen
eral bourd.
Since my inauguration and in the discharge
of my duties as Governor I have more fully in
vestigated the institutions and affairs of the
State than was possible prior thereto. I have
discovered ample proof of all I said in thot ad
dress and that its statements were far short of
the actual facts.
A bill was introduced, without suggestion
from myself, by Senators and Assemblymen of
the State, going beyond even the recommenda-
tions of my address, which bill, in my belief, if
adopted by this Legislature, with such amend
ments as it may deem proper, would save to the
State hundreds of thousands of dollars each
year. I refer to the Senate bill known as the
Pendleton bill (No. G9H).
In another portion of my address I spoke as
follows:
The extraordinary increase in the number of our
lunatic asylums and othr-r State Institutions had
its origin in two causes: Virs t, the desire of mem
bers of the Legislature from particular sections to
secure the approval of their constituents by con
ferring upon them certain supposed benefits, and
the consequent Iniquitous system of trading to
which this gave rise.
These observations, first, as to the endeavor
of the members of the Legislature to secure
the approval of their constituents at the ex
pense of the people at large, and second, local
persuasion and influence exerted upon them,
have been put to the test in this Legislature
and have been exemplified in the considera
tion of the so-called Seymour-Pendleton bill.
We have seen in the corridors of the Capitol
either the trustees of the various institutions
affected by these bills or their representatives
using every influence within their power for
the purpose of defeating the measures. We
have seen local boards of trade and local mer
chants not only appealing to the members
from their re c pective localities for the defeat
of these measures, but even demanding that
the measures be withdrawn.
AVhen local communities or the business men
of leading towns publish to the Legislature and
to the world that they demand that their rep
resentatives in the Legislature shall abandon
measures of this nature because of threatened
loss of business it is a virtual admission that
the loss to the localities would be a saving to
the taxpayers of the State and constitute a
very strong reason why the proposed legisla
tion should be adopted. While these boards
of trade and other like bodies are making such
strenuous efforts before the Legislature, I fail
to find one recommendation emanating from
them in the interest of economy.
The Board of Examiners of this State, of
which the Attorney-General and Secretary of
State, both upright Republicans, are members,
will bear out the executive in his statement
that the extravagance of these institutions and
the burdens placed upon the people by their
mismanagement are things so far beyond the
conception of the people that, if known, they
would create a storm of general indignation
which would cause local trustees and local
merchants to pause before assaying to dictate
to the Legislature what ought to be done in the
interest of the people.
The investigation made by the Board of Ex
aminers show that but few institutions are not
in violation of the letter and spirit of the law,
misapplying public funds, in some places us
ing the maintenance fund for the purpose of
making purchases and improvements, and in
others spending money for the State in luxur
ies for the heads of the departments such as
would not be contemplated by any judicial
regulation, and in still others maintaining
many inmates that should not be there.
The maintenance of State officers, housed and
cared for at the expense of the people, is an
item in the list of extravagances of no small
Importance. The Attorney-General, the Secre
tary of State, the Surveyor-General and other
officials of equal ability, who are elected by the
people, receive but $3000 a year to maintain
themselves, whereas persons selected for im
portant positions in State institutions by local
boards are allowed larger salaries by the9e
boards, and are maintained in luxury at the
expense of the State.
This measure that I now recommend to you
has no politics in it, but is a proposition of
such great importance to the people and will
work so great a saving to them that I feel even
at this late hour of the session called upon to
urge its passage, so that something may be
done to change the existiug state of affairs in
California and give the people some relief, for
which they are asking, and to which they are
entitled.
I hope you will pass thiß measure, and that I
may not be compelled in the future, in the
selection of boards of trustees of the institu
tions affected by it, to select three men who
will be members of each and every board, and
thereby, under the law, constitute a Board of
Charities in fact, although not in name.
IGNORES THE MESSAGE.
Virtual Defeat of the Bill the
Governor Wanted.
Sacramento, March 7. — No fiercer con
test has been waged this session than that
which was precipitated upon the Assem
bly this evening by the message from
Governor Budd.
Pendleton's bill, identical with that of
Senator Seymour's, v.hich gives a board of
three commissioners the entire controling
power of the Mendocino, Napa, Stockton,
Agnews and the Southern California asy
lums for the insane, the Industrial Home
for the Adult Blind at Oakland, the Deaf,
Dumb and Blind Asylum at Berkeley, the
Home for Feeble-minded Children, the
Whittier school and Preston School of In
dustry at lone, has been awaiting action
on the urgency file for some time. It gives
these three commissioners power to engage
all employes and buy all supplies.
Naturally such a bill would be regarded
with suspicion when coining to a Repub
lican Legislature from a Democratic Gov
ernor. It was natural that the Democrats
should try to advance the measure, but
when Republicans tried to give the Gov
ernor the power of appointing a commis
sion that would control more patronage
than the Governor himself the House
called a halt and it did so by 45 ayes to 25
noes. The roll call was as follows:
Ayes— Ash, Bassford, Belshaw, Bennett,
Berry, Boothby, Butler, Cargill, Coleman, Col
lins, Davis, Dlxon, Dodge, Dunbar, Fassett,
Gay. Glass, Guy, Hall, Huber, Hudson, Jones,
Kelsey, Kenyon, Laird, Laugenour, Lewis,
Llewellyn, Mefld;-, Merrill, Kelson, North, Os
born, Powers, Price, Richards, Rowell, Spencer,
Staler, Tibbitts, Tomblin, Wade, Waymire,
Weyse, Wilkinson — 45.
Noes— Bachman, Barker, Bettman, Bledsoe,
Brusie, Bulla, Coghlin, Cutter, Dale, Devine,
Devitt, Dinkelspul, Dwyer, Hatfield, Healey,
McCarthy, McKelvey, O'Day, Pendleton, Phelps,
Reid, Robinson, Sauford, Thomas and Twigg —
25.
This vote was laken on a proposition by
Huber of Los Angeles to strike out the
section of the bill enumerating the institu
tions over which the commissioners were
to exercise control.
It is hardly probable that the bill would
have come up had it not been for the Gov
ernor's message. While the urgency rile
was being considered the Sergeant-at-Arms
announced a message from the Governor.
Under pressure of this statement, Pen
dleton had his measure considered out of
order.
Tliis aroused Hubsr. He objected to
taking the measure up out of order. "The
gentleman from Los Angeles was in the
House last night five' minutes before the
bill was called last night," ho said. "Five
minutes after it had been passed on the
file because of his absence, he returned.
This it seems to me is very significant,
when we consider that the bill is eagerly
brought forward as soon as the Governor's
message with its covert threat arrives."
Pendleton protested that there were no
politics in the bill. He urged that it was
for economy's sake. One concession he
gladly agreed to. This was an amend
ment providing that no more than two of
the Commissioners should be of the same
political belief.
Thomas of Nevada also joined in defense
of the bill. He told how costly the present
boards of directors were and of the im
mense saving that would follow having
three directors for all the homes instead of
five for each one.
Huber wanted to amend by striking out
the Whittier School, and then moved to
strike out the whole of section 5, enumer
ating the schools to be governed by the
new board. This would, of course, be equiv
alent to killing the bill.
North of Alameda and Spencer of Lassen
supported Huber.
Bachman. Reid and Laugenour, all Dem
ocrats, made stirring speeches in favor of
the bill.
Jones of Stockton denounced thebill as
most iniquitous. The Democratic Gov
ernor, by trying to force his will upon the
Assembly, he said, was following closely
in the footsteps of President Cleveland.
Nelson, Wade and "Waymire also opposed
the bill.
Laugenour said that the present Boards
of Directors discriminated in favor of local
merchants. This he thought the commis
sion would correct.
Then the amendment was voted upon
and section five killed.
A consultation was held between the ad
vocates of the bill. At length Laugenour
gave notice that he would "reconsider the
vote by which the bill had been killed."
Upon a point of order being raised he
changed his motion. This time he gave
notice of his intention on the next Legis
lative day to consider the vote by which
the amendment was lost. Again a point
of order was called upon him. As the con
sideration had to be ruled on this evening
he knew the House was against him.
Another hole was punched in the bill by
striking out the tenth section, ordering the
State Treasurer to turn over all moneys to
the commissioners when they should be
appointed.
Then further consideration of the bill
was postponed till to-morrow.
LIEU LANDS INVESTIGATION.
Governor Budd Seeks Informa
tion From Attorney-Gen
eral Wright.
Sacramento, March 7. — The lieu-land
squabble which has developed over a bill
introduced in the Legislature probably
prompted the following:
March 7.
Hon. M. J. Wright, Surveyor-General, Sacra
mento. Cat.— Bear Sir: lam directed by the
Governor to ascertain what applications, if
any, have been made in your office, and what
proceedings, if any, have been made in your
office during and since, the year 1891, relative
to selections of land in lieu of sections 15 and
36, embraced within reservations by the Gov
ernment of the United States, and if any, will
you please furnish him with the names of such
applicants, the lands so sought to be selected,
and in lieu of what lands, and any information
within your knowledge bearing- on this matter.
An early reply is of importance. Yours very
truly, E. L. Colnon,
Private Secretary.
FIGHT ON MERCHANTS.
Efforts to Kill a Bill
Checking- Fraud by
Creditors.
MOTIVES OF OPPONENTS.
Certain Assemblymen Seek to
Prevent the Reduction of
Sheriffs' Fees.
MEMBERS VIOLATE PLEDGES.
In Spite of the Opposition the Meas
ure Passes by a Good
Majority.
Sacramento, March 7. — In the Assembly
this afternoon there was a long debate on
bill 561, the idea of which came from the
San Francisco Board of Trade, proposing
to lessen the amount of expenses necessary
for an insolvent debtor to turn over his
goods to his creditors. The bill is the work
of the Judiciary Committee, and was the
result of long, hard work by men who rec
ognized the viciousness of the present sys
tem.
But the word went around that the bill
was intended to give the "rich merchants
of San Francisco" a lever with which to
pay their bills. It was on this ground
alone that the fight was made.
When the bill first came up Reid of Trin
ity had an amendment he wanted accept
ed. The law in its present form makes it
a prima facie evidence of intent to defraud
if a merchant mortgages any of his prop
erty within thirty days of tlie time he goes
into insolvency. Reid wanted this stricken
out. He argued that the banks would fear
to loan money to merchants whose credit
was shaky, and that the latter would often
be forced to the wall when, if they could
mortgage their property, they would have
been able to weather the storm.
Powers of San Francisco spoke of the
frequency with which convenient brothers
in-law got property on mortgage. To
amend the bill at the present stage of pro
ceedings was endangering its passage. He
thought the gentleman should have put in
his amendments before, when the bill was
being carefully considered. "The bill is
only against the dishonest debtor," he said.
"The debtor class cannot be opposed to it,
since it lessens the amount of expense
they now have to endure to make a settle
ment. The only men who will be injured
will be lawyers, who will lose fees, and the
sheriffs, whose bills will be cut down ma
terially."
Buila of Los Angeles announced that
every honest debtor would be in favor of
the bill. "He will no longer have to go
down in ignominy as only paying 10 cents
on the dollar, because the fees of the
Sheriff, keepers, assignee and attorneys
have eaten up all his property," said he.
"Instead he will be able to show that he
was able to return at least 35 or 40 cents."
Judge Waymire and Mr. Spencer spoke
in the same line, showing the value of the
bill and its many terrors for the man who
would try to cheat his creditors.
Then the previous question was moved.
Reid wanted a chance to close the debate,
but the ruling of the previous question
shut him out. Reid's amendment was lost.
Then the question of the passage of the
bill came up. Not enough votes were cast
to carry the measure and a call of the
House was demanded. As soon as the
doors were closed the real lobbying began.
It was evident that the pity for the mer
chant was only put on. The trouble lay in
the fact that the Sheriffs' fees would be cut
down. In San Francisco the perquisites
of the Sheriff alone would be cut down at
least $10,000. The Sheriffs of the smaller
counties would lose porportionately. Of
course their influence was actively at work,
and the rumors of an active "sack" grew
to ominous proportions.
There were large enough interests at
stake to give these rumors the aspect of
fact and a number of members were forced
to object to the presence of lobbyists hov
ering about the doubtful members. At
first it was thought the San Francisco dele
gation would be solid for the bill. Bettman,
Dinkelspiel and Powers were foremost
among those pressing the bill, although
they were aided materially by all the lead
ing attorneys on the floor.
At last the call of the House was dis
pensed with and the roll was finished.
Then it was shown that the bill was passed
by a vote of 44 to 30. One of the votes in
the affirmative was cast by Thomas of
Nevada, who was actively fighting the bill
in the interests of the Sheriff of his county.
He moved a reconsideration for to-morrow.
The action of those San Francisco mem
bers voting against the bill has caused
much unfavorable comment. The Demo
cratic platform pledged its members to
"aid the commercial and mercantile inter
ests and avoid unnecessary delays and
needless expense by passing such amend
ments to the insolvent act as would shorten
the time when assignees might be chosen
to ten days, and limit the fees and ex
penses connected with keeping insolvents'
assets, prior to the election of assignees, to
the amount allowed Sheriffs for holding
property under attachments." The reso
lution concluded: "And we pledge our
legislative and municipal nominees to
carry out the spirit of this resolution."
Coughlin, McCarthy, O'Day and Twigg
voted against the bill.
The Republican platform pledged its
legislative candidates to similar measures.
Boothby, Devitt, Lewis, Merrill, Wilkin
son and Zocchi voted against the bill.
Among the others who opposed the
measure were: Ash, Cargill, Coleman, Col
lins, Gay, Holland, Huber, Hudson, Keen,
Laugenour, Osborn, Pendleton. Price,
Reid, Richards, Robinson, Sanford, Staley,
Stansell and Tibbitts.
THE JORDAN CLAIM.
It Leads to a Lively Fight in the
Assembly, but Passes.
Sacramento, March 7.— One of the live
liest tights of the session occurred to-day
over the claim of D. Jordan for $70,000.
Jordan in 1878 built a portion of an addi
tion to Folsom prison. Since that time he
has been vainly trying to collect the money
which he alleges is due him for that work.
When the roll was called Judge Waymire
at first voted in the affirmative. Later he
changed his vote to "No." The entire San
Francisco delegation present voted for the
bill. Dwyer and Powers were absent. The
vote was as follows:
Ayes— Bachman, Bassford, Bennett, Berry,
Bettman, Boothby, Brusie, Butler, Cargill,
Coghliu, Collins, Devine, Devitt, Dinkelspiel,
Dixon, Dunbar, Ewing, Gay, Guy, Hatfield,
Healey, Holland, Kelsey, Laird, Laugenour,
Lewis, Llewellyn, Meads, McCarthy. McKelvey,
Merrill, O'Day, Pendleton, Richards, Robinson,
Spencer, Swisler, Thomas, Tibbetts, Twigg,
Wilkinson, Zocchi — 43.
Noes— Ash, Belshftw, Bledsoe, Bulla, Coleman,
Dale, Davis, Dodge, Fassett, Glass, Hall, Huber,
Hudson, Johnson, Jones, Keen, Kenyon, Nel
son, North, Osborn, Price, Reid, Sanford, Staley,
Stansell, Wade, Waymire, Weyse— 2B.
THE ASSEMBLY.
Members Settle Down to Clean
Up Accumulated Business.
Sacramento, March 7.— There is no play
in the actions of the Assembly now. When
an opportunity comes for relaxation they
take it. Every working hour is being taken
advantage of. To-day an equal number of
important bills were considered.
Most of these were appropriation bills.
The passage of the larger part was abso
lutely necessary to meet obligations al
ready incurred by the State. Other bills
represent just claims. Measures asking
for appropriations that are not an urgent
necessity are very closely scrutinized and
meet scant courtesy.
Laugenour's bill appropriating $10,000 to
pay the Commissioner of Public Works
and his employes for completing the labors
outlined when the commission was estab
lished, was beaten by a vote of 37 to 28.
Many members expressed the opinion that
it would be well to abolish the commis
sion, and they were not in favor of allow
ing it any money. A call of the House
was demanded, but receded from. Mr.
Laugenour, however, gave notice of recon
sideration, and the bill will probably be
passed to-morrow.
Considerable discussion was evoked by
the question as to whether the bill appro
priating $120,000 for additional buildings
for the Home for the Inebriates at Los An
geles should be read a second time.
Speaker Lynch resigned the chair to speak
in its favor, showing that it was already
crowded and that the appropriation had
been cut down from $250,000 to its present
size. The bill passed to its third reading.
Reid objected strenuously to the bill ap
propriating $4750 to pay the California
Demokrat, a German paper, for printing
the constitutional amendments last year.
Bachman of Fresno read the section of the
constitution directing that the amend
ments be printed only in English, and de
clared that to pay the bill would be uncon
stitutional. After lowering the amount
allowed to $2000 the bill was passed to its
third reading.
Among the bills finally passed in the
Assembly were:
Appropriating $25,000 for the completion
and equipment of the branch of the Deaf and
Dumb Asylum at Berkeley.
Appropriating $356 to pay Ira H. Locey and
Henry Locey for services to the State Board of
Forestry.
Appropriating $1131 to pay C. S. Merrill for
services as stenographer upon Court of Inquiry
held in San Francisco September 8, 1894.
Appropriating $831 to pay moneys advanced
the forestry stations by the State University.
Appropriating $600 for two additional clerks
and a phonographic reporter for the Attorney-
General.
Appropriating ff<sooo for the Home for
Soldiers' Widows and Orphans and Army
Nurses at Evergreen.
POLICE COMMISSION BILL
The Assembly Votes Against the
Measure.
Sacramento, March 7.— An unexpected
opposition has arisen to the scheme to
abolish the life tenure of the Police Com
missioners, and to-night the bill was voted
down in the Assembly. For several days
it has been known that a vigorous fight
would be made against the bill of the Ju
diciary Committee. The bill was framed
by a Republican committee. It is being
urged by Cutter of Yuba, an ardent Re
publican, yet it is being opposed on the
ground that it is a Democratic measure.
The San Francisco delegation is divided
on clear political lines, those voting for the
proposition being: Coughlin, Devine,
Dwyer, Healey, McCarthy, O'Day
and Twigg, all Democrats. Those voting
against the bill were: Bettman, Boothby,
Devitt, Dinkelspeil, Dixon, Lewis, Merrill,
Powers, Wilkinson and Zocchi, all Rebub
licans. Ewing, the Populistic Republican,
voted with the Democrats and then
changed his vote to "no," in order to move
a reconsideration. In the total the vote
stood, 31 to 37.
There was no fight over the measure to
day. It came up as the special order and
an unsuccessful attempt was made to stave
it off. Since this could not be done
opponents of the measure moved the pre
vious question to prevent amendments, de
feated a demand for a call of the House,
put it on its final passage and beat it.
The truth then appeared. The oppo
nents|of the billjwere fighting to perpetuate
bankers Alfcrd and Tobin in office. The
friends of the bill think that when the
truth becomes known the allies of the Re
publican portion of the San Francisco
delegation will transfer their allegiance.
THE IDAHO DEADLOCK BROKEN.
George i. Shoup Is Elected Senator to
Succeed Himself.
Boise City, March 7.— The Idaho Sena
torial contest was brought to a close to-day
by the re-election of George L. Shoup to
succeed himself.
The finish was close and exciting. When
the joint assembly met a Populist member
who has been for Sweet moved a call of
the House.
A Case of Legislative Blundering.
Sacramento, March 7.— Another instance
of legislative blundering was discovered
to-day. Assembly bill No. 431, carrying a
small appropriation for the office of the
Secretary of State, was sent to the Gov
ernor as passed, when it had but 40 votes
in the Assembly. As a bill requires 41
votes to pass that body the Governor could
not sign the measure.
Xa Fiesta Subscription Fund.
Los Angeles, March 7.— The public sub
cription fund for the fiesta is growing rap
idly. All of the committees are meeting
with encouragement of a substantial order
and to-night the amount on hand foots up
to 111,367.
PRICE FIVE CENTS.
CROWLEY CENSURED
Blamed for Writing the
Letter to the Leg
islators.
M'COPPIN IS SURPRISED.
He Did Not Think the Chief
Was Capable of Doing
Such a Thing.
SAYS IT IS UNGRACEFUL.
The Police Commission Has Been
Non-Partisan in Character for
Sixteen Years.
"I did not think Chief Crowley was cap
able of doing such a thing; I had a better
opinion of him."
Postmaster McCoppin was the speaker.
He was discussing the letter of the Chief
of the San Francisco police force to the
members of the California Legislature
wherein the author urged the members to
vote against Assembly bill 658. This bill
sets the term of office of all offices at four
years, and the question is giving the Police
Commissioners some concern. So the
Chief wrote a letter to his friends in the
Legislature in which he declared that it
"appeared to him to be inadvisable for the
Postmaster Frank McCoppin.
[From a photograph.]
Republican party to convey ouch power to
the Democratic party, a power which they
would undoubtedly make use of in the in
terests of that party."
"That is just the object," continued the
Postmaster. "It was to lift the Police
Department out of politics that I, as a
member of the Legislature in 1878, secured
the passage of a bill creating the present
Police Commission. This act gave the ap
pointing power to the Judges of the Dis
trict Courts of the Fourth, Twelfth and
Fifteenth districts and they appointed two
Democrats, Major Hammond and Judge
Tobin, and two Republicans, Mr. Alvord
and Chief Crowley, who is ex-officio a
member, to office. I, myself, advised the
appointment of Crowley.
"The complexion of the Legislature that
passed this act was Democratic in both
the Assembly and the Senate ; the Gov
ernor who signed the bill was a Democrat,
Governor Irwin, and two of the three
Judges who made the appointments were
Democrats. Therefore it comes with very
bad grace for Chief Crowley to raise the
cry that this is a Democratic measure,
Chief of Police Crowley.
[From a photograph.]
drafted and designed for the purpose of
gaining control of the Police Commission
for that party. He owes his office to the
Democracy. The Chief is a good man, an
honest man, has certainly earned his $4000
a year ior the last seventeen years, but
that has nothing to do with the case. He
above all men should try to keep the de
partment out of politics.
"In such connection the department is s
great power. In years gone by it has been
used by different persons to serve private
political ends. There is no question about
that. It was a political machine.
"When the people of San Francisco
selected me to serve them as their chief
executive I was immediately called upon
to consider some 1500 applications for
places on the police force then
held by other men. I then saw the
evil of politics in this department
and determined to correct it. I did
so when I went to the Legislature and
after the hardest right of my life succeeded
in getting through the bill that created
this august body. Now the members of
the commission are all my enemies, and
simply because I offered a little friendly
criticism on the danger of allowing the de
partment to drift into politics; machine
politics at that, the lowest, the nastiest
politics.
"I was the creator of this Police Depart
ment as much as I was the creator of any
thing in my life. I naturally feel an in
terest in it. I have watched its growth;
studied its development, and when last