The San Francisco call. [volume], July 02, 1895, Page 14, Image 14

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

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THESE FOUR WILL SCAN THE POLL LISTS
Mayor Sutro Names the
New Election Com
mission.
APPOINTMENTS FAVORED
Heads of Both the City Com
mittees Say the Choice
Is Good.
PHELAN IS A MILLIONAIRE,
And He Is Nothing More— Hlnton
Will Probably Be Secretary to
the Commission.
P. N. Wellin, Democrat; carpenter and
contractor— Four yean*.
Samuel Foster, Republican; merchant-
Four years. •
James E. Denman, Democrat ; capital
-Ist—Two years.
Albert K. Cagtle, Republican ; mer
chant.
Mayor Sutro late yesterday afternoon
appointed these four gentlemen to form
the new Board of Election Commissioners,
as provided by act of the last Legislature.
One of them— P. K. Wellin, a Democrat,
for the long term— came as a complete sur
prise. He had not heretofore been men
tioned for the office.
Wellin took the place that has all along
been set aside in the gossip of politicians
and others for James D. Phelan. It ap
pears that Mr. Phelan, as Mayor Sutro
said, had the misfortune to be a million
aire, and the phalanxes which rallied
chiefly to Mr. Sutro's support in the elec
tion times filed past in review before him
since the announcement was made of his
intention to appoint him, and all of them
inquired, "Where do we come in in this
business?" '.]
•Mr. Sutro seems to have considered the
point well taken, and two days ago a mes
senger found Mr. Wellin where he was at
work at his trade as a carpenter on a "cot
tage of his own over in San Leandro, and
notified him that the Mayor desired to see
him.
When Mr. Sutro saw Mr. Wellin, Mr.
Wellin said, "Certainly; I will be glad to."
So that was settled. The others have
been in the field for some time, and their
merits and the reasons for their possible
appointment have all beencanvassed.
They all gathered at the Mayor's office
at 2 o'clock yesterday afternoon by ap
pointment. John D. Daly, who had been
publicly mentioned for trie place, was also
present, together with a number of prom
inent politicians.
The Mayor called the chosen four into
his private* office and presented each with
a typewritten copy of a letter reading as
follows:
JCLY 1, 1895.
Dear Sir: Yon have appeared to me as &
person fully competent to discharge the duties
of an Election Commissioner and the conclu
sion ha& about been reached by me to tender
you the appointment. Bat believing that
there are some fundamental principles in
volved it has occurred to me that before
definitely tendering the appointment your
opinions upon the iollowins; public questions
shoulrt be well kno-vn, as a guaranty that if
appointed yon will discharge the duties of your
trust You will, therefore, please answer in
writing these questions:
First— Do you favor the general primary law
and will you act upon it as constitutional and
binding unless the Supreme Court decides to
the contrary?
Second— Do you favor the enforcement of the
election law under which you are appointed,
and will you assist in establishing its constitu
tionality"?
Third— Will you devote all the time required
to efficiently carry out the provisions of the
election law under which you are acting, and
will you use all lawful means to insure a true
and honest count of the ballots ?
Fourth — Are you under all circumstances op
posed to the appropriation of public school
funds for any sectarian purposes ?
Fifth— Are you opposed to the interposition
of corporations in the political affairs of this
City ? Very respectfully, Adolph Sutro,
Mayor of the City and County of San Fran
cisco, California.
The four gentlemen read this all through
and then each wrote his indorsement of
the several questions in the affirmative
and returned it to the Mayor.
Thereupon the Mayor formally ap
pointed them to form the commission,
reading a prepared address, as follows:
Gentlemen: By an Act of the Legislature, ap
proved March "2B, 1895, the honor has been
conferred upon me of appointing four Election
Commissioners, two to serve for two years ana
two for four.
It is well known to the people of San Fran
cisco that, for many years past, our elections
have been conducted in a most scandalous
manner.
By the use of large sums of money, great
corporations have introduced a system of
bossism under which our elections have be
come corrupted and the very fountainbe&d' of
our liberties choked.
Packed primaries and conventions, dishonest
voting, fraudulent counts have been the rule,
until the liberties guaranteed by the constitu
tion of the United States and that of our own
(State have been overridden and set at naught,
and our once great, honest and popular Gov
ernment is practically destroyed.
It is indeed no longer a Government for the
peopl?. It is a Government of unscrupulous
corporations, who care nothing for the well
being of the community, and set its will at de
fiance.
It is my duty— a sacred one— to appoint four
men to supervise our coming elections. Four
men who will see that these elections are
honestly and "squarely" and properly con
ducted, and who will insure every voter the
opportunity of casting his ballot as he may
deem best, and who will look to It that the
vote is exactly and fairly counted.
To you, gentlemen, belongs that duty, ; It is
for you to correct past abuses and wrongs; it
Is for you to set the example to the people, and
chow that honesty is not dead.
This is the turning point in our history, It
will be the test of our capacity for self-govern
ment and of our ability to cope with dis
honesty, villainy and corruption.
From among our citizens I have tried to
select four jnen who have the honor of their
country at heart and who will strive to per
form the duties of their office as patriots.
You will have a trying time. The corpora
tions and their myrmidons, the bosses and the
liosi.s of boodlers will first try to upset the law
which created this commission. If the law is
upheld, of whtoh I have but little doubt, its
enemies wiil try to influence you, to harass
an«i annoy you, but unavailingly, for I know
you will stand by your Colors until victory
croons your efforts and a new and glorious era
dawns upon our City.
The four gentlemen briefly expressed
their appreciation' o£ the honor, and the
responsibility and the "formality, together
with all the preceding doubt and anxiety
of the past several weefcs, was over. .'
Now as to the personality of the men
chosen to fill this most responsible public
position.
P. N, Wellin is 60 years of age, a native
of New York, State. He came to Cali/oraia
thirty-four years ago. He is a carpenter
and contractor, and has been- engaged on
many of the big buildings of the City,
notably the Palace Hotel and, in its earlier
stages, the new City Hall. He has always
been identified with movements for the
betterment of the laboring classes. He
was a member of the constitutional con
vention, and worked hard to secure a
charter for San Francisco- such as would
free it from State interference. He says
he was tendered the office a few days ago,
accepts it with a keen appreciation of its
responsibility, and will at once turn to an
earnest study of hie duties.
Samuel Foster, the other long-term mem
ber, is a wholesale grocer and commis
sion merchant, doing business at 26 and
28 California street. He is 53 years of age.
He was born in Boston and has been in
California for the past thirty-three years.
He has never sought office, he says, al-
I though he accepted a nomination for a
I seat in the Legislature some years ago, and
was defeated.
James E. Denman, the Democrat of the
short term, is too well known for his his
tory to require a recitation of details. He
is over 60 years of ace, hale and hearty.
He has become a capitalist through a long
life of activity. As school principal, City
Superintendent, State Superintendent, City
Superintendent again, author of a history
of the schools, author of the Denman
medal fund, member of the Board of Su
pervisors, and more recently candidate for
the Legislature, he has been in the public
e}'e for a larger part of half a century.
Albert E. Castle, the short term Repub
lican, was born in San Francisco August
29,1861. He was" educated in this City,
and. principally in trie public schools. He
! has been connected flrith the firm known
as Castle Brothers, importers of tea and
coffee And dealers in California dried
fruits, since his eighteenth year, and
since- his father's death three years ago
has with his brother, Arthur H. Castle,
conducted the business. He is past presi
dent of the Alcatraz Parlor of the Native
Sons of the Golden West. Since he at
tained his majority he has been a delegate
to almost every Republican State conven
tion,and was a member of the executive
committee of the State Central Committee
during the Markham campaign. He held
offices in the Union League for five years, *
eervins as its vice-president and president.
This is the first political office Mr. Castle
has held and he says he has no aspirations
in that direction. He believes that the
election of a non-partisan commission will
insure a fair count and an honest election. !
Speaking of the other members of the
commission he said he considers the com
mission a strong one and believes it will
work harmoniously in the interests of
good government.
The impression is pretty general that
the new commission will appoint Registrar
Hinton secretary. A strong pressure will
be brought to bear on Mayor Sutro to in
terfere with the appointments to the posi
tions of that body, and induce them to
select J. H. Dill, who was himself a can
date for menjtoer of the commission as sec
retary. But it is claimed that the Mayor
will refuse to recommend any one, and is
personally friendly to Hinton, as are
Castle, Denman and Wellin. It is thought
that if the Democrats get the secretaryship
with Hinton, the Republicans will be con
ceded the presidency of the commission,
and in that case it would probably go to
Albert Castle, and that the two minor
f>laces will be divided between the Repub
icans and Populists, in order to make the
administration thoroughly non-partisan.
Tne question of making a contest of the
new law will be considered both by its
friends and the politicians who are opposed
to it. A contest may be begun in several
ways.
Auditor Broderick can refuse to audit
the first warrant of the new officers.
Broderick was personally friendly to
Phe/an, but is a bitter enemy of P. N.
Wellin, the representative of the labor ele
ment. But Creswell is a great friend and
admirer of Wellin. Then the new law
is so popular and there is such a strong
public sentiment in its favor tnat it
would be considered a very invidious posi
tion for any one to take a stand against it.
as Mr. Broderick would have to do. So the
question may not be raised in that way.
A way in which the enemies of the law
have talked of raising a contest was to
have Peter McGlade. the Deputy Registrar,
refuse to recognize his dismissal and man
damus the Auditor to pay his salary. But
the Commissioners have discovered a
means to stop that. If Mr. Hinton is not
Clerk of the Board he is certainly the
Registrar and they will simply request
him to make a removal.
So unless a contest is raised by the old
Commissioners or Mr. Hinton, who would
have to take the consequences of the un
popularity of the action, the law is apt to
stand unchanged until the next primary
election, and possibly by that time the
people will think it>a bad move to disturb
such a satisfactory institution as it may
be shown to be.
There is no doubt that the members of
the two commissions and Mr. Hinton will
seriously consider whether it is not ad
visable to bring on a friendly contest to
settle the question now so as to
avoid possible inconvenience and
trouble in the future.
To the hopes the people of Los Angeles
entertain of a large increase in the popula
tion of their city in the near future is as
cribed the cause of the incorporation into
the law of the clause that it is, claimed
makeß it unconstitutional. The law was
originally properly drawn for cities having
a population of over 100,000 by the Citizens'
Defense Association. Assemblyman Pow
ers, who introduced the bill, encountered
considerable opposition on the part of the
Los Angeles delegates. They expected
that Los Angeles would have a population
of 100.000 within two years, and did not
want the law to apply to that city. In
order to facilitate its passage by obviating
the opposition, Powers raised the figures
to 150,000. The classification aot does not
provide for cities of a 150,000 class.
James D. Phelan was seen last night
with regard to what some people term the
"turning of him down" by the Mayor.
"I was not offered the position by the
Mayor and therefore did not decline it,"
he said. "The Mayor introduced the sub
ject by sending for me last week, but we
discussed the fitness of candidates, and I
believe the board selected is a very good
one. I consider the work of the new
Election Commission the most important
in the City eovernment and have written a
paper on the subject, which was published
by the Citizens' Defense Association.
Therefore, if the position were offered me
I could not have consistently declined it.
"I hope the law will be declared consti
tutional and the new board begin at once
to select precinct officers for their fitness
and honesty, without respect to the rec
ommendations of the political organiza
tions.
'•I believe the political parties will be
satisfied if the precinct officers do their
strict duty, for heretofore the political
battles have been fought for control of the
perjured scoundrels who count your and
my vote. Hereafter let us hope that the
campaign will be one of discussion of great
questions and be decided by a majority
vote fairly cast and counted. Good men
and good measures should engage the ac
tivities of political parties, and not the
control of the polling-booths. This result
will be brought about by the new law."
"I think that the selections made by the
Mayor are excellent," said Max Popper in
speaking of the anpointyie.its last even
ing. "As far as the Democratic appointees
are concerned, I am convinced that they
are representative men who have the c*n
. fideqee of the party. The Mayor used con
siderable judgment in his choice, leaving
no room for the display of any possible!
factional feeling. In regard to thVßepub
llcan appointees, 1 only know that they
are equally satisfactory to their party. I
do not know Mr. Foster personally, but
understand that he is an estimable man,
as is, of course, Mr. Castle."
"Do you anticipate any protests against
the selections?" was asked.
"1 do not. Of course the State Central
Committee of either party has the right
under the law, as I remember it,, to- protest
against any appointee. Then the Mayor
can appoint some one else, and keep on
appointing until there is no longer any
protest. This is the extreme, of the mat
ter, wh^ch 1 do not think Will be called
into play with these appointments."
"How about a secretary for fne commis
sion?"
"I am of the opinion that Registrar Hin
ton will be ebosen. There is no reason
why he shouldn't he. He can fulfill the
duties of Registrar and secretary and is
the proper person for the p.oftition."
Mr. Hinton was in the Baldwin Hotel
corridors last evening and spent several
hours in conversing with his friends.
While not making an active fight for the
secretaryship, it is known that his aspira
tions are that way, and his friends have
promised to stand by him. It is known
that both Wellin and Denrnan are in favor
of his appointment and are his stanch sup
porters. When spoken to regarding the
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, TUESDAY, JULY 2, 1895.
matter he said he did not want to express
any opinion one way or the other. As to
the appointments, he thought they were
very satisfactory and would cause no pro
tests from their* respective parties.
State Senator John Fay was enthusiastic
in his comments on the Mayor's action.
"He hit the nail on the head." remarked
the Senator, "in not catering, as he says,
to the millionaires. He picked them from
the middle and the working classes. It is
right to give the latter the chance which
he has. They are deserving of it. The
new Commissioners are good men and they
want a good secretary, and he, I think,
will be Registrar Hinton."
While the Democratic side of the com
mission are so jubilant over Hinton little
is said by the Republican members. Not
that they have anything against him, but
both' Mr. Foster and ' Mr. Castle are
inclined to be noncommittal until they
have consulted together and with their
party associates. It is possible that they
will fall into line and choose Mr. Hinton.
In fact, with an evenly divided board this
may be taken as the best plan for har
mony's sake. At best, it is argued, in
case of a deadlock over Hinton there would
have to be a compromise man selected. To
avoid this and enjoy the services of a
capable man will be the probable reason
for choosing Hinton.
CARPENTERS ON WELLIN.
They Protest Against His Appolnt-
ment by Mayor Sutro as Elec
tion Commissioner.
According to the action taken last night
by Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners
of America No. 483, which is the largest
union carpenters' organization in the City,
P. N. Wellin, whom Mayor Sutro has ap
pointed on the Election Commission, is a
persona non grata to organized labor.
The indignation of the members of this
union was deep and loud, and all the more
so because Mayor Sutro had given as his
reason for appointing Wellin instead of
James D. Phelan that Mr. Phelan had the
misfortune of being a capitalist, while Mr.
Wellin, in the Mayor's estimation, was a
E roper representative of labor. Brother
ood 483 would several hundred times
rather see Mr. Phelan on that commission.
There was only one thing far the union
to do, however, and that it did — namely,
formulate a strong protest against Wellin's
appointment, which will be sent to the
Mayor at once.
The feeling of the brotherhood respect
ing Wellin is voiced by Guy Lathrop, who
said :
The Mayor must have been greatly misled in
this matter. Why, Wellin never has been a
representative of labor. He has always been a
third-rate Democratic politician, and nothing
else. Surely Mr. Sutro would not have to go
very far to find a man to represent the labor
element, if that was his real reason for select
ing Wellin. The idea of choosing Wellin in
stead of Mr. Phelan, out of deference to the
workingmen of the Cityl We wish he had re
versed his choice.
Yes, it is true that Wellin was at one time a
member of Brotherhood No. 22— he was once
its president and also represented it as a dele
gate to the National Council — but when he
found he could not swing his union around as
he wanted to he left it. He is not a member of
organized labor now at all, He has always
been just what 1 said— a third-rate Democratic
politician.
During Mr. Ellert's administration Wellin
tried to get the appointment of superintendent
of construction at the new City Hall. I'll give
Mr. Ellert credit for this— he went around and
made inquiries and when he found out what
kind of a man Fat Wellin was he refused to ap
point him.
The protest states in just so many words
that Wellin is a politician and not a work
ingman, and informs the Mayor that his
selection will be questioned by ail the or
ganized labor of the City. A general sys
tematic effort will at once be inaugurated
to convince the Mayor of his error.
Officers were elected last night as follows :
President, E. R. Johnson; vice-president,
Louis Metter; recording secretary, W.
Bertrum; financial secretary, Guy La
throp; treasurer, W. H. Hutchinson ; dele
gates to the District Council— C. F. Schadt,
R. B. Ingle, M. Doyal.
The statement published in a contem
porary that notices for carpenters are
numerous and conspicuous in Oakland is
pronounced false. There are more men
there, it is said, than work for them to do.
Brotherhood 304 (Germßn) chose Fred
Mueller president, John Felix vice-presi
dent, Amos Danfelzer recording secre
tary, William Gilge financial secretary
and Henry Buck treasurer at its meeting
last night.
National Organizer Joseph Valentine of
the Iron-molders' Union of North America,
and who is also its first vice-president, has
just returned trom an organizing trip, and
has been selected by the local union, No.
164, to represent it as its delegate at the
convention, which is to meet at Chicago
July 10.
"Altogether there will be about 360 dele
gates at this convention," said Mr. Valen
tine last night, "and it will last about three
weeks, with headquarters at the Revere
House. This is the first convention in five
years, and it is the result of a popular vote
bf the unions all over this country and
Canada. Besides myself from this City
there will be one delegate from Sacramento
and one from Los Angeles to represent this
State. • • ... '
"The matters to be discussed are the pro
posed adoption of an idle benefit, a
loan benefit, a superannuate benefit
or pension, an international sick benefit,
and a graduated death benefit — that is
that the longer a man has been continu
ously in the union the larger should be
the death benefit paid. All the benefits
we have now are a local sick benefit and a
national death benefit."
Martin Fox of Cincinnati is the inter
national president of the iron-molders.
Mr. Valentine manages to get home to
San Francisco twice a year. He says busi
ness is fast picking up'in the East.
THE DE CARDONA CASE.
Little Story About a Laborer and His
Warrant— The Hearing Post
poned. .
Leo de Cardona, charged with raising
warrants of the .Street Department, was
before Judge Cajmpbell yesterday morning
for preliminary examination, but the hear
ing was postponed until July 9.
The thorough examination and com
parison of the books of the Street Depart
ment with those of the Treasurer and
Auditor discovers no new or great dis
crepancies. It appears that the entire run
of these nimble transactions netted the
forger or forgers— for it is still believed
there are others interested in "the crooked
work — only about $470.
John McDonald, whose warrant was one
of those raised from $8 to $58, 'tells a story
that will stand for evidence against Car
dona. He sold his $8 "tag," representing
the amount owed c him by the City, to a
broker for $7 50. The broker went to the
Street Department for the warrant, but
De Cardona refused to give it to him.
McDonald then called for it and De Car
dona gave him $8 in silver.
McDonald's warrant afterward turned
up calfing for°ssß.
It is said W. D. Little, the name on the
dummy warrant, is the name of a brother
in-law of Larry Welsh, criief deputy in the
department under Ackerson. Mr. Little
lives in Haywards.
The Royal Baking Powder is the purest
and strongest Baking powder made and has
received the highest award at all the great
international and State fairs wherever ex
hibited in competition with others.
Shot in the Arm.
Eouls Jorgerson, livin^a the Lafayette Hotel,
visited the Receiving Hospital last night and
had a gunshot wound in the fleshy part of his
right arm dressed. He said he was having some
fun with a friend at the Fourteen-mile House,
San Bruno road, when a pistol which the latter
had accidentally exploded. He declined to
give the name of his friend.
He Took a Hint.
When doctors told him purity of salt
water for bathing was just as necessary as
pure drinking water he.went over to the
Crystal Baths, on North Beach, where the
baths are emptied every night at 10 o'clock.
LETTER-CARRIERS' PICNIC
Their First Annual Outing Will
Be Held at Schuetzen
Park.
A Bid ATTENDANCE EXPECTED.
The Various Committees Working
Hard to Make the Affair a
Complete Success.
The San Francisco Letter-carriers' Mu
tual Aid Association will give its first an
nual picnic and games in Schuetzen Park,
San Rafael, on the glorious Fourth. The
proceeds will be added to the sick benefit
fund of the organization, and as the man
agers of the affair expect an attandance of
at leaet 4000 people, the net results should
be something handsome.
The Letter-carriers' Association was or
ganized in 1888 and incorporated in 1890.
The montly payments are only 50 cents,
and for that small sura each member is
guaranteed $10 a week while sick and $100
is given to his widow or relatives should
SOME OF THE MANAGERS OF THE LETTER-CARRIERS' OUTING.
[From photographs by Taber.]
he die. The monthly dues are not suffi
cient to meet the sick benefits and the offi
cers of the association have therefore been
compelled to get up a picnic to raise
funds.
At a meeting held last month the follow
ing committee of arrangements was ap
pointed: R. M. Roche (chairman), George
F. Folsom, P. J. Whelan, B. Frank Ames,
I. C. Gross. J. A. Spiller. Carl Fimm, R. D.
Murphy, Charles McAuliffe, Ray Locke,
A. B. Reed, H. M. Locke, L. E. Bowen,
Fred Sink. F. H. Stanley, L. F. Nunan, J.
Blaemel, Harry Logan and Conrad Trei
ber.
After a month's hard work these gentle
men have now everything in first-class
working order and a most enjoyable time
is anticipated. There are 206 carriers and
50 substitute carriers in the organization
and 100 clerks and 25 substitute clerks em
ployed in the Postoffice. They are all
working for the success of the picnic, and
are confident that their efforts will be
crowned with success. There are 300 gate
prizes, 50 prizes to be contested for on the
racetrack and 15 prizes for shooting, be
sides cash prizes for bowling.
The letter-carriers' baud, under Drum
Major Gritfin, will be a feature of the occa
sion. It will leave for the grounds on the
9:20 a. m. boat, and a large crowd is sure
to go over on that trip. A special steamer
win leave at 1 :50 p. m, and return at 6:30
P.M. Besides these the boats of the San
Francisco and North Pacific Railroad will
leave on the regular schedule time.
The National Association of Letter
darriers will meet in Philadelphia the
latter part of next month, and Joseph A.
Spiller and Conrad Trieber have been
chosen delegates by the San Francisco
branch. All the letter-carriers from New
York City, Brooklyn, Jersey City. Wash
ington and Baltimore will be there on
September 2 next, and the organization
expects to march 3000 strong in the Labor
day parade.
The officers of the Letter-carriers' Asso
ciation are: President, L. A. Stevens;
first vice-president, I. C. Levey; second
vice-president, Thomas Nixon; third vice
president, Matt Lorigan; secretary, Con
rad Trieber; financial secretary, I. C.
Gross; treasurer, R. D. Cunningham; ser
geant-at-arms, W. W. O'Neill; sentinel,
W. H. McNulty; physician, Dr. John F.
Dillon ; board of directors— George O'Neill
and R. M. Roche.
A HOME FOR GRAND OPERA
Local Capitalists to Recon
struct the Old Panorama
Building.
Walter Damroach's Wagnerlan Com
pany to Give the Initial
Performances.
San Francisco is to have a theater suit
able for the production of grand opera. By
the last of next week the old panorama
building, in which the water circus w.as
recently built, will be under course of re
construction, and will be completed in
time to open with a season of grand opera
in the last of December with Walter Dam
rosch's great company.
"The lease of the property has aiready
been arrangeU," said Architect William F.
Smith last night. "It will be a long one —
for ten years at least. The only thing that
remains to be done is to decide upon the
apportioning of the shares of stock among
the six or eight wealthy men who are in
terested in the scheme. Till that is de
cided upon nothing definite can be given
out, and I think it would be better to wait
till then."
"Is there, then, any doubt about the
new opera-house being built?" was asked.
"None in the least. The only thing is
the capitalists who are furthering the idea
want to decide upon certain minor details
before they become known. The new
opera-house will be built as a money
making scheme and to encourage high art.
"The matter has been considered care
fully. We have looked over the field and
find that there are leading attractions
euouch to keep the stage busy during six
months of the coming year.
"We will open with the Damrosch Com
pany in December; then will follow Irving,
Bernhardt and other great stars. But we
hope to make money out of the leading
constellations in the lesser theatrical
world. Take the Boston ians. At $1 50 a
seat in a small theater that company
would lose money. We could play them
at $1 a seat and make a great profit, for we
have 3000 seats."
Mr. Smith was enthusiastic over the pos
sibilities of the new opera-house. He de
clares that with the $100,000 to be expended
in refitting the Panorama building ne will
be able to accomplish more in the way of
decorations than with $200,000 in a new
building.
"The rear wall of the building will be
torn down," he said, in telling of the new
theater. "There is enough land back of it
to enable a stage to be constructed. Th' -•»
stage will be one of the largest in the
United States.
"It will be fifty feet deep and 100 feet
wide in the clear. With its accessories it
will be 150 feet wide at least. Of course, it
will be fitted up with every late im
provement.
"But its entire appearance will be
changed. The boxes will all be taken out.
There will be two galleries, besides the.
dress circle and parquet. In all there will
be a seating capacity of at least 3000.
"None of my plans have been drawn
yet," he said, "but I have them mapped
out. There is no doubt of our ability to
effect the transformation desired in time.
Why I gutted the old building and refitted
it for tne water circus in thirty days—
though I had 210 men employed at one
time, to be sure.
"One great assistance to us in arriving at
an idea of what the scheme would cost was
the presence of Frank. Damrosch, the
brother of Walter Damrosch. Mr. Dam
rosch came out to San Francisco to find if
some place could not be obtained suitable
for the production of grand opera by his
brothers company. We have consulted
with him, and there is now no doubt but
that the new theater will open with a sea
son of Wagnerian operas by the Damrosch
company.
"In order to make the engagement a
paying one we have figured that "the com
pany would have to take in $100,000. Ac
cording to our calculations $65,000 will
have to be taken in'before the first cost of
putting on the first |opera will have been
covered. Then wili come the running ex
penses."
Mr. Smith says that the names of the
gentlemen interested in the new venture
will be made known by the beginning of
next week. He thinks, too, that he will
have his plans well under way by then.
CHINESE-MEXICAN TREATY
Consul-General Lf Wing You
Reported Against Its
Ratification.
The Six Companies Could Not Con
trol Cooly Citizens of
Mexico.
Chinatown is expectant. It is waiting,
more or Jess impatiently, for some official
news of the treaty Between China and
Mexico. Every incoming steamer now is
expected to bring some word of the matter
—either of its rejection or its approval by
the Chinese Government. While the war
was on there was no hope that the Emperor
or his Ministers of State would have time
to consider su^h a minor question, but
now that hostilities have ceased those in
Chinatown that have interests at stake in
the rejection or the acceptance by the
home powers of the offers of free land and
citizenship made by Mexico to Chinese
subjects are on the anxious seat for news.
It is learned now upon good authority
that Consul Li Wing You, upon his return
from Mexico a few months ago, reported
to the Chinese Minister at Washington his
disapproval of the ratification of the pro
posed treaty. There was no reason to com
plain of the terms oftered by Mexico. That
Government wants some of its broad acres
put under cultivation, and to this end it
offered to give every Chinese family who
choose to come a 50-acre tract of ground
on condition that at least one-third of the
tract should be cultivated within ten years,
and that the grantee should become a
citizen of Mexico.
It is said that Li Wing You's disapproval
of such a treaty between China and Mexico
rested upon the objection that was purely
ethnological. He did not think it possible
or practicable to undertake the amalgama
tion of a Latin and a Turanian people. It
is understood, however, that the real Mon
golian objection to the Mexican coloniza
tion scheme lies in the fact that the home
Government would lose their control of
the Mexican immigrants. The policy of
the Chinese Government is to retain the
allegiance of and their control over all
their subjects at all times.
It is for this reason also that the Chinese
Six Companies have given their disap
proval to the ratification of any such a
treaty. All these objections to tne treaty
have, however, been kept somewhat of a
secret in Chinatown, and for obvious rea
sons. There are several powerful mer
chants that have big interests at stake in
the proposed treaty. These favor it. Two
of them accompanied the consular party
on its recent trip through Mexico.
These merchants are said to have their
eyes on the choicer sections of the land
offered by Mexico to Chinese settlement.
It is their plan to have the colonization
carried on under their supervision and
only through their financial assistance— if
there is to be any colonization at all. It
means a great deal of money to them and
for a long time, doubtless, the colonists, in
spite of their Mexican citizenship, would
be serfs of the colonization company
which should advance the small capital
necessary for them to commence opera
tions.
On the other hand, a large number of the
poorer classes of Chinese in this State are
anxious to have the land open for their
settlement, and it is quite certain that
there would be a considerable exodus of
Mongolians from this City alone were the
treaty to be ratified. And that is why so
many in Chinatown are on the gui vive for
news from home regarding the proposed
treaty of a Turanian and a Latin people.
No agency has more influence in bene
ficially affecting the health and comfort of
the people than the Royal Baking Powder.
CHIEF SULLIVAN'S HOBSE HUBT.
It Dashed Into a Post-Street Cable-Car
Last Evening.
Chief Sullivan of the Fire Eepartment
visited the Olympic Club last evening. He
rode there in a buggy, and left his rig out
side while he was inside. Along came a
Post-street cable-car, No. 707. Something
scared the horse iust then and it made a
dash for the cable-car. The dash was so
fierce that the right shaft of the buggy was
driven clear through the iron facing of the
car and the front seat was smashed. But
what was far worse is that Chief Sullivan's
horse— one of the very best in the Fire De
partment — was seriously injured. And all
of this happened about hall past 7 o'clock.
~ The California Fireworks Co.,
219 Front st., are retailing assorted cases home
made fireworks specially selected for family use.
REDUCING THE MILITIA.
Twelve Additional Companies
to Be Mustered Out Within
Ten Days.
THE GUARDSMEN DISGUSTED.
General Dlmond Says the Reduc
tion Was Made Without Favor
or Prejudice.
The soldier boys have-not fully recovered
from the shock received Saturday, when
three companies of the home guard were
mustered out of service. The blow falls
hardest, probably, on Company H of the
First Regiment and Troop A of the Cav
alry. The members of these two organiz
ations are surprised— very much surprised,
and a few go beyond the mere military and
social bewilderment and unaffectedly say
they are disgusted.
Company C of the Third Regiment
affeots an indifference that appears to be
genuine, only for the reason that the term
of enlistment of a majority of the members
would have expired within the next two
months. Another reason for their appar
ent lassitude is the fact that Company C is
the junior organization of the regiment.
In any event this company of the five so
far mustered out is the only one to accept
the situation gracefully. A few of the
members will probably seek admission
with other companies, and there the mat
ter will end so far as C of the Third is con
cerned.
There is another surprise in store for the
National Guard of California, though it
will probably be a week before the bomb is
dropped into the armories of the several
companies and regiments. Within the
next ten days twelve more companies will
be disbanded, seven of which will probably
come from San Francisco. It is this rumor
that is causing so much uneasiness in mili
tary o : -cies, for it is impossible at the pres
ent liiue to tell just where the ax will fall.
The feeling among the National Guards
men now is that it would be an "outrage"
to muster out any more companies of the
home guard, though this opinion will avail
but little when the Board of Location get
down to work again.
The National Guard of California cannot
justly complain of the treatment it re
ceived at the hands of the last Legislature.
The appropriation of money was liberal
when it is considered that $200,000 was al
lowed for armory and other expenses for
two years beginning July 1. In addition
to this 1142,500 was appropriated to pay
troops serving during the strike and $42,500
for supplies furnished at that time.
"It was absolutely necessary to muster
out five companies by July 1," said General
Dimond yesterday, "in order to keep the
National Guard ef California on a legal
footing.
"The last Legislature reduced tne num
ber of companies, the law to become op
erative on the day mentioned, and hence
the action of last Saturday. The com
panies mustered out, however, were not
picked at random, nor were they the ob
jects of prejudice. We examined into the
records of each company and decided that
the companies named in the order of last
Saturday should be the first to go.
"To keep within the appropriation it is
necessary to disband seventeen companies
in all and the Board of Location will com
plete this work within the next week or
ten days. I am not prepared to say just
what companies will be mustered out.
though it is highly probable that several
will come from this City."
Captain Samuel Ruddell, late of com
pany C of the Third, has seen seventeen
years of service, and since 1885 has been a
commissioned officer. A few months ago
he handed in his resignation, but for some
reason the newly elected captain failed to
receive his commission.
"I have not been in active command of
Company C for several months," said Cap
tain Ruddell yesterday. "For the last
four years I have been, endeavoring to get
out, bat until the present time I have been
unable to do so.
"Personally I am glad the company is
disbanded, and from what I can learn
among the members few, if any, feel at all
badly over it. Being the junior company,
it was what might t>e expected, and for
that reason the members are not inclined
to kick. I entered the service seventeen
years ago during the Kearny riots and I
am honestly glad to get out. I understand
that seven of the twelve companies yet to
be disbanded will come from San Fran
cisco, though I am not able to give their
names."
Since Colonel Sullivan was defeated by
Colonel Bush for the command of the
First, matters have not been at all pleasant
in the regiment. One of the principal
reasons for Colonel Bush's election waa'on
account of his great influence. Those
who opposed him now point to the fact
that Company H, which he commanded
prior to his election to the colonelcy, is the
only company in the regiment to be mus
tered out.
One of the principal reasons for the con
tinued feeling of dissatisfaction in the
regiment is that all the companies are not
under one roof. Five of the companies
have their armory at Tenth and Mar
ket streets, and the other two, C and G, on
Ellis street. Prior to the election, Colonel
Sullivan had been laboring to have the
companies under one roof, but C and G
objected. At the election it was rumored
that Colonel Bush, if elected, would de
cline to remove C and G from their armory
and therefore Colonel Sullivan lost their
votes.
After the election it was published that
Company A had voted for Sullivan and
because Sullivan had been defeated they
were in a state of revolt and would refuse
to drill. The contrary has been proven.
Since the election Company A has turned
out at the three parades more men than
any other company ana at the inspection
and muster they had more than any other
company of the First on the roll. The
company will continue that way and do
just what Captain Marshall orders. On the
other hand, it is pointed out that the other
companies, Company B in particular, who
voted for Colonel Bush have practically
gone to pieces.
Unless all the companies of the First
have the one armory there will be a split,
as the five companies at Market and Tenth
streets grumble at having to bear one-lifth
of the expenses, while if they were under
one roof the percentage would be one
seventh.
The action of the board has raised a
large-sized kick, and Company H of the
First is making the greatest exertion to
have the order rescinded. They claim
that it is the best-drilled and strongest
company in the regiment, but that claim
is disputed by the other companies, who
characterize it as the smallest in point of
numbers and the poorest drilled.
Two Boatmen in Trouble.
Harry Johnson and John Barry, boatmen
employed by T. McNamara, at the foot of
Folsom street, were arrested last night by
Detectives Dillon and Crockett and booked at
the Southern station on a serious charge.
They took Katie A. Sullivan, 17 years of age,
living at 2 Zoe pla.ce, into a coffee house on
Sunday night, and insisted upon her drinking
some wine, which it is believed was "doped. 1 '
They then took her along the water front and
criminally assaulted her. They acknowledged
beinp with her and taking her home at 2
o'clock yesterday morning, but deny the
charge.
Many receipts as published still call for
cream of tartar and 9Oda, the old-fashioned
way of raising. Modern cooking and ex
pert cooks do not sanction this old way.
In all such receipts the Royal Baking Pow
der should be substituted without fail.
ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
It Protests Against the Dls~
missal of Professor
Davidson.
Acetylene Gas as an Illuminator— A
Lecture on Lower California
Delivered.
At a meeting of the California Academy
of Sciences last evening a committee con
sisting of W. S. Chapman, G. P. Rixford
and Dr. Gustav Eisen was appointed \a>
draft suitable resolutions to Congress pro
testing against the removal of Professor
Davidson as director of the Coast and Geo
detic Survey of this c6ast.
A reading and exhibition on acetylene
gas derived from calcium carbide was
given by E. C. Jones, assistant engineer of
the Pacific Gas and Improvement Com-
pany.
"It seems as though nature deals out
her treasures to us according to a well de
fined system, dependent on our needs. The
secret of combining calcium and carboii
was divulged by the high temperature of
the electric arc and was purely accidental,
yet electricity produced an offspring which
may prove a'menace to it in the field of ar
tificial lighting," said the lecturer.
"In 1893 L. T.lWillson of Spray, North
Carolina, devised a process for reclaiming
metallic alluminum by means of an elec
tric furnace, but was debarred from carry
ing on his work by an injunction obtained
by another company having similar pat
ents.
"He then turned his attention to the
utilization of his furnace for the purpose
of obtaining the metal calcium by reducing
lime with nnelv divided charcoal.
"He found that at the temperature of the
electric arc an inter-action took place,
which resulted in the evolution of carbon
monoxide and light behind a fused mass
which solidified to a very hard semi-crys
talline body. This mass was thrown into
water to cool it, as it was apparently use
less material, but an instant evolntfon of
large quantities of gas attracted attention.
"Mr. Willson gave an estimate of the
coat of making carbide, from which the
gas is manufactured, based on his experi
ence, at about $15 per ton. It appears,
however, that Mr. Willson had underes
timated the cost of the carbide, or else the
dealers are realizing excessive profits, for
an allumirum company in Neuhausen,
Switzerland, is manufacturing calcium
carbide and offering it for sale at about
$110 per ton.
"The cheap production of acetylene opens
a new and fascinating field for the student
of chemistry, for acetylene is regarded as
one of the most important intermediate
bodies in the synthesis of organic com
pounds from these elements.
"By heating it in a sealed tube, it is con
verted into Denzine and styroline and
alcohol, and all of the cyanides may be
synthesized from it, in fact the scope for
research opened by this discovery is so
great that the effect on organic chemistry
will be revolutionary."
Dr. Gustav Eisen delivered an interest
ing lecture, illustrated with steropticon
views, on Lower California and Mexico, on
the habits and mode of living of their in
habitants and the Rcenery and facilities for
travel and transportation in that semi
barbarous and rugged country.
5O
\
LADIES'
TAN
OXFORDS
Opera Tips
Ladies* Black Oxfords * m.
PatentTip5:................. tJUC ■
Ladies' Vici Kid Shoes,
Piccadilly toe, patent tip.
1 ' " Princess $1.25
Juliets $1.35
Ladies' Tan Button Boots $1.25
These prices are good .
: only in the .
FORENOON
at the
Big Shoe Factory
Retailing at
Factory
Prices
581-583 MARKET ST.
NEAR SECOND. V
THIS WEEK ONLY!
v 500 CAPES, 200 SILK . WAISTS,
AT HALF-P^ICE. I
ARM AND OAIIjXjBj y,
46-48 GEARY •STREET,;
: . Corner Grant Avenue.
GO TO THE
"MEW LOUVRE,"
; 8 to 14 O'Farrell Street.
WE r ' HAVE i! REMOVED THE "LOUVRE"
i from v the ■ old v basement • under : . the i Phelaa
building, and now occupy the finest quarters above
ground in the city. '■irej»i'WTCg'»Tnm»ri«'«rur)ii*iafcMM
, RUDOLPH M AQEN, ; FELIX ; EISELE, Prop*.