The San Francisco call. [volume], February 26, 1898, Page 9, Image 9

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

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AN EXPOSITION IS NOW ASSURED
Mayor Phelan Authorized to Appoint a Committee to Take the Matter in Charge and Arrange
All of the Necessary Preliminary Details.
An Appeal Will Be Made to the National Government and State Legislature for Financial Aid in Carrying the Project to
a Successful Issue.
AN exposition to commemorate the
semi-centennial anniversary of the
admission of California Into the
Union is now assured. Every one
' admits that such an exposition should
be held to show to the world our won
derful resources and products. Califor
nia will not alone be benefited by such
an exposition.
The Midwinter Fair proved a far
greater success than was anticipated
by the most sanguine of its directors.
It brought many thousands of visitors
ir hospitable shores and our cli
mate did the rest. Many who came in
search of amusement were so charmed
by our climate and our resources that
they decided to make California their
future home.
That an exposition such as has been
suggested by Tht^ Call would prove of
great benefit not alone to ihis State
but to the entire Pacific Slope is ad
mitted by all. The only question now
asked is. would it bo advisable to hold
an exposition in 1900, knowing that the
World's Fair will be held at Paris the
same year? That question will be an
swered by a committee 10 be appoint-
UMBRELLAS
IN DEMAND
Forecaster Hammon Says
the Storm Is Still
With Us.
Copious Rains Will, Therefore,
Fall Throughout the
State To- Day.
The Anxious Farmers Correspond
ently Jubilant Over the
Prospects.
The truth of the old adage that there
is nothing so certain as the uncertainty
of California weather has been practi
cally exemplified in the conditions that
have obtained In the past few days
during the visit of the last rainstorm.
It can well be said that for "ways that
are dark and tricks that are vain," our
climate is most peculiar. This storm ;
did not have to overcome that area of j
high pressure over the plateau region |
in Arizona, Utah and Nevada which j
former storms had to meet and which
were in consequence deflected from this
district for so long. It therefore came
to us free and untrammeled, and yet
< omparatively little rain has fallen
throughout the State, and as a result
there has not yet been as much rain
as needed in any locality.
When Official Forecaster Hamraon
was seen at the Weather Bureau in the
Mills building and asked yesterday aft
"moon as to what the farmers had to
expect from the existing weather con
ditions, he said: "1 would rather some
body else did the forecasting, for it is
well known that prognostications in re
gard to this climate are not infallible.
However, I am of the opinion from re
ports that we have received to-day that
the present storm has not done its full
duty. The storm never would have
reached here at all had the conditions
been tlffe same as they were sey«ral
weeks ago. I anticipate that the storm
has not yet fully spent its strength, and I
that we will get more rain before it j
, leaves us entirely, and, although the J
Ed by Mayor Phelan to devise and plan
an exposition that will properly bring
to the attention of the world the re
souit.es and products of the Pacific
Slope.
it is thought by some that the
World's Fair would draw many people
who would visit this city if there were
not a Counter-attraction. For that rea
son it has been suggested by those who
are heartily in accord with the move
ment looking toward the holding of a
large exposition that we defer our fair
until 1901.
A me«ting was held yesterday morn
ing ir th< Mayor's oi!i<;e to discuss the
preliminary details of the exposition.
Letters were received from several in
vited by the Mayor t,. take part in the
preliminary work regretting that other
business kept them away from the
Ing, bin they sent assurances of
their hearty support.
Mayor Phelan, in calling the meeting
to order, stated that he sent invita
tions to prominent business and profes
sional men asking them to co-operate
in forwarding an exposition that would
be worthy of the State and its re-
BOUTC4 8.
•■lt has been suggested by The Call,"
said he, "that an exposition he held in
1900 to commemorate the fiftieth anni
DISCUSSING PRELIMINARY DETAILS OF THE EXPOSITION.
barometer has remained almost sta
tionary all day, still the sky has all the
appearance of rain. One point in fa
vor of my contention is that if it was
clearing after the storm the wind
should be northwest instead of south
east or southwest, as it has been.
"The cessation <>£ rain, which I be
lieve to be only temporary, is due to
the storm having rebounded off the
coast into the ocean, but it has not
go-ne so far that it will not come back
and give us plenty of rain. The high
pressure over the plateau region has
permanently disappeared, and has left
us in excellent shape for copious rain
falls whenever a storm shall come.
"We have had about one inch of rain
over one-half of the State. The pre
cipitation has been north and west of
a line drawn from Point Conception
north and a little east to the eastern
i Age ' f the Sacramento Valley. To the
southeast of that line 1.10 inch fell and
only 15-100 inches in the San Joaquin
Valley. The dry spots where no rain
fell were the west end of Merced coun
ty and two or three places on the west
side of the San Jcraquin. The southern
boundary of the rain Is between Los
Angeles and San Diego, none having
fallen at the latter place up to 5 o'clock
Friday.
"The rains that we have had would
hardly grow a crop, hut will help to a
great extent the pasturage for live
stock, which were in dire need of it.
The San Joaquin Valley is probably in
better condition thnn any other local
ity on account of the natural moisture
that pervades the soil there, and if it
would get two inches In a period not
extending over ten days it would be all
that is necessary. The warm, sultry
condition of the atmosphere Friday
afternoon is also a good indication for
more rain, as it shows that the storm
has not left us, for the source of heat
Is the condensing of the moisture In the
storm."
When seen later in the evening Mr.
Hammon said: "I think that I have
described the weather situation accu
rately, and Saturday it will rain ev
erywhere from San Luis Obispo north.
The storm center is opposite the Ore
gon coast, and the barometer is falling
slowly but surely. The rainfall to-day
has been very light, 2-100 inch having
fallen in this city; 1-100 in Los Angeles; :
4-1 Mm Red Bluff, Carson and San Luis \
Obispo, and 6-100 in Los Banos."
It Lead* the List.
• This week's Town Talk bears out its
name for being the brightest and best
weekly on the coast. The contents con
tain among other things an able editorial
on George Washington and the modern
Idea of patriotism; Phil Garlic's ironies;
Saunterer Btorld about a man who fell
asleep at the Baldwin: the District At
torney at the race track; late weddings,
ami news political and .social: dramatic
critique upon Marie Wainwright's new
play; storiette from real life; stories and
poems; chat from Sacramento. Miss Gft
millo iiley is pictured upon the title page* |
THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 1898.
versary of the admission of California !
into the Union. I am heartily in favor j
of an exposition. With me it is sim
ply a question as to the advisability of '•
holding the exposition that year."
Joseph Leggett said that, while he j
favored the exposition, he feared that
the World's Fair to be held in Paris in
1900 would prove a counter attraction
that would be the means of keeping
many people away, who under other
circumstances would visit this coast.
"I believe in expositions, and think
the idea suggested by The Call an ex
cellent one," added Mayor Phelan.
"This is a holiday State, and an expo
sition would prove of great vahie in ad- i
vertlslng the resources and products,
not alone of California, but of the en- ,
tire coast. In 1900 the Paris Exposition
will be held, and I fear it will prove a
great attraction for Eastern people.
They will find it just as cheap to jour
ney to the other side. They are the
people we want to visit us. It is un
fortunate that our fiftieth anniversary
is contemporaneous to the Paris Expo
sition. I met Mr. de Young, the pro
prietor of the Chronicle at lunch yes
terday, and he said that, while he fa
vored an exposition, he did not think
that 1900 was the year for it. He sug
gested that it might be postponed until
1901. The Native Sons have declared |
THE STATE
LIBRARY FIGHT
Present Trustees Will
Not Surrender Their
Offices.
Their Successors Will Not Be
Given Certificates of
Election.
Governor Budd Claims That the
Purity of Election Law Has Been
Violated by Pledges Made.
The Board of State Library Trustees
will meet in Sacramento to-day, and
! nothing is more certain than that a
j lawsuit will be the outcome of it. The
present members of the board will re
| fuse to give way to the Trustees elected
! by the last Legislature unless they pre-
I sent the proper credentials signed by
1 the Governor. The Governor will not
■ sign the credentials.
The charge has been made that the
! Trustees elected to take office next
Monday have violated the purity of
election law by making an agreement
as to how the patronage of the Li
brarian's office shall be divided. In
fact, it is charged that four of their
number signed a pledge to not employ
any but Republicans in the library.
Prior to the election of the Trustees
who will < laim office next Monday let
1 ters were sei\t out by John H. Dickin
j son, Thomas Fl int Jr. and W. F. Price,
members of the Legislature appointed
at a Republican caucus, notifying can
didates for election as Library Trus
tees that it would be necessary to
j pledge themselves to Republican rule.
The letter was so worded that any
Trustee living up to its obligations
could not under any circumstances ap
point or vote for a Democrat to hold
place in the State Library.
The caucus letter was published in
full in The Call on the 16th inst., and
Governor Budd was not slow in tak
ing notice of the political document. He
says that he will not issue certificates
to the Trustees chosen by; the last
their intent ion of holding a celebration
in 1900. The State's admission will be
celebrated by them. Why not have an
exposition in the fall and winter months
of 1901? We can send a commissioner
to Paris, and he could spend his time
making arrangements for the shipping
of exhibits to this city. The foreign ex
hibits can be shipped around the Horn
from Havre or Marseilles much cheap
er than from Chicago or other points.
As you all will remember the Midwin
ter Fair was made up of attractions
from the Chicago Fair. We could step
in now and keep the field open for a
coast exposition in 1901. In that year
there would be a practicability of hold
ing line."
"I am like you, Mayor Phelan," said
Joseph Leggett. "I am in favor of an
exposition if we <'an get it. I consider,
however, that 1900 would hardly be in
good taste to h"!d an international ex
position. I think one year later would
be better."
•'lt will bo seven or eight years after
the Midwinter Fair," interrupted May
or Phelan. "I think it would be easy
to get up an exposition after the one
at Paris. I believe it an excellent
plan to wait. There will be many who
will be unable to see the Paris Exposi
tion in 1900 who would visit our exposi
tion in 1901."
Legislature, and also says that he ex
pecta to be brought into court in the
matter. ,
"I suppose that I will be manda
mused," said Governor Kudd yesterday
aftern'-on, "but that will not in the
least bother me. 1 will not issue the
certificates to the trustees who will
claim office on Monday for several rea-
BOM. I hold that, with the possible
exception of J. H. Neff, they all took
a pledge that is in violation of the
purity of election law. The gentlemen
who flaim office by virtue of election
by the last Legislature will, if I am
ctly Informed, attend the meeting
"f the Library Trustees to-morrow and
ask for their credentials. I intend be
ing present, and will decline to give
them commissions. The stand I will
take is on the ground that their elec
tion in joint session of the Senate and
Assembly was never properly certified
to by the President of the Senate and
Speaker of the House. In addition, the
pledge given by them to the Republican
caucus is in violation of the purity of
election law. Another and important
fact to be borne in mind Is that the
pertlon of the Political Code governing
the management of the State Library
and the election of its trustees went
into effect in 1873, and provided that the
term of office of the trustees should be
for a period of four years. Under that
law I fail to understand how the term
<>f the present trustees could terminate
in 1898. In other words, if each term
of office as State Library Trustee is to
be for four years, and the law under
which we are now working went into
effect in 1873, the incumbents' terms
would not expire until 1899."
It is understood that the State Con
troller, who is a Republican, will rec
ognize the Trustees elected by the last
Legislature, regardk-ss of the position
taken by Governor Budd. If the Con
troller recognizes the new board it will
have absolute control of the library
funds. In the event of a legal warfare
being necessary, and that is almost cer
tain, W. W. Foote will represent the
Governor, j
The point advanced by the Governor
that the election of Trustees was not
certified to by the President of the Sen
ate and Speaker of the Assembly does
not, in the judment of lawyers-, present
much of an obstacle. The journals of
that day's session of the Legislature
were certified to as correct by the pre
siding officers, respectively of the Sen
ate and Assembly, and this certificate
covers the proceedings of the joint con
vention at which the Trustees were
elected. This approval is believed to
be sufficient.
The second point concerning a viola
tion of the purity of election law may
receive a different construction from
that which the Governor apprehends.
An enlightened court would probably
construe a pledge to appoint Republi
cans as a pledge to administer the af
fairs of the library in an honest, intelli
gent and creditable manner.
"Don't you think it would be a good
idea to adjourn until the other mem
bers of this committee could be seen,"
; said John H. Grady, "and their opin
! ion as to the advisability of holding
: the exposition one year later was had?"
"There is no need of that," said
Mayor Phelan, "as it is my intention
; to appoint a committee of fifteeh and
j they will decide on the year in which
i the exposition shall be held. California
i was admitted to the Union on Sep
; tember 9, ISSO, but it did not put on its
statehood until some time later."
"What year was the Chicago fair
opened?" asked Leggett.
"They started to open it in 1892,
i which was the four hundredth anni
versary of the discovery of our coun-
I try, but did not open until 1893," replied
! the Mayor; "yet it was no less a grand
; celebration. We might pass some reso
lutions and get the affair started," he
, concluded.
The following resolutions were then
presented and adopted:
WHEREAS, There is a general
desire to celebrate in a fitting man
ner the fiftieth anniversary of the
admission of California into the
Union by an international exposi
tion to be held in San Francisco; and
whereas, San Francisco, by reason of
her climate and past experience, is
well-fitted as a location for such a
fair to be held in the fall and winter
months; and whereas, the fiftieth
anniversary of the admission of the
State occurs in the year 1900, when
the French exposition is also to be
held, and which may on that account
force upon the citizens of San Fran
cisco the propriety of holding their
fair in the following year, just as
the anniversary of the discovery of
America was celebrated in Chicago
in 1893 instead of in 1892; there
fore be it
RESOLVED, As the sense of this
meeting that a fair be held com-
memorative of the fiftieth anniver
sary of the admission of California
into the Union; that a committee of
fifteen be appointed by the Mayor to
devise a plan and submit it at a
meeting of citizens subsequently to
be called, and that they be given
discretion in determining in what
year it would be most advantageous
to hold such exposition and as to the
character and scope of the enter
prise.
"I think an exposition in 1901 will
go," added the Mayor. "We shal want
to get appropriations from the Na
tional Government and from our own
Legislature, however. The Omaha ex
position, to be held next summer, re
ceived over $200,000 from the National
Government, and if we could get that
amount we would have very little trou
ble in making a fine showing. The Su
preme Court decided not long ago that
the Legislature could vote funds for
an exposition. In order to get legis
lative aid we should get the movement
a-going. If we can show to the law
makers the value of such an affair they
may materially aid us.
"If we get national aid and legisla
tive aid we can send a ship to Paris
and offer to carry the exhibits of the
Paris Exposition around the Horn to
this State without cost to the exhib
itors, and we can hold a successful ex
position. I have another idea for a
fair site," he concluded. "I think it
would be a good idea to get some of
the sand hills by the ocean. The Park
Commissioners could cultivate that
NO CHECK
ON COURT
REPORTERS
Police Judge Prac
tices to Be Inves
tigated.
Stenographers Have a
Free Entry to the
City's Vaults.
Bills Indorsed by the Judges
Paid Without the Sanction
of the Auditor.
The explanation of Justinius Olsen
to the Grand Jury implicating Judge
Low In his alleged crime of present
ing incorrect bills to the Treasurer for
fees as court stenographer will lead to
a thorough investigation by the jury
of Police Court practices.
In the first place it will be deter
mined how Olsen came to be appointed
to so responsible a position. A court
stenographer .has justice at his mercy.
Cases are not unknown where stenog
raphers have so changed the testimony
of witnesses in the transcription for a
bribe that the complexion of the evi
dence when read in higher tribunals
was entirely different from that first
given, so that guilty persons have es
caped punishment. Olsen, as far as
pol'ce records go, is not a man who
would hesitate to accept bribe money.
A few months ago he was a prisoner
charged with obtaining money by
false pretenses, and he was convicted
by Judge Joachimsen. The court,
however, was lenient with him and
The fao-iimile _y/4£» T~ *■ on 1
7 uignature of C*a//zi<U£A*4i of CASTOEIA.
portion of the park and make a gar
den spot around the fair. A few elec
tric lines could be extended out that
way and the land in the vicinity would
attain mor* value. Ex-Mayor Sutro
owns most of the land out there, and I
think he and his family would be glad
to let us have the use of it. I think a
Midwinter Fair by the ocean would be
delightful. Just think of holding an
exposition beside the ocean. I think no
better spot could be chosen."
After the adjournment of the meet
ing Mayor Phelan said he would not i
name the members of the committee
for several days. ""I do not intent nam
ing any one," said he. "unless I am
certain that he will take an active in
terest in forwarding the movement.
With the proper amount of energy we
can give an exposition that will draw
the attention of the whole world to
our coast. I believe the exposition
should be planned on international
lines. If we wait until 1901 we can un
doubtedly secure the best of the Paris
exhibits and give a miniature repre
sentation of the World's Fair. The
Midwinter Fair was a success. The
exposition proposed by The Call should
be a greater one. Let us wait until
lflOl to hold our exposition, and I have
no doubt but that we will be success
ful. Energy and concentration of ac
tion are all that are required."
SUCCESS IS
ALREADY ASSURED
All of Our Citizens Should Take
an Interest in the
Exposition.
EX-STREET SUPERINTENDENT
ACKERSON— The idea of holding an
NEVADA CITY WILL ALSO CO-OPERATE.
NEVADA CITY, Cal., Feb. 23, 189 S.
W. S. Leake, Manager Call, San Francisco — Dear
Sir: The Call's proposition of having a semi-cen
tennial exposition held in San Francisco in 1900,
to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the admis
sion of California into the Union, was brought to
the notice of the Board of Trustees of Nevada City
to-night, and the following resolution presented by
Trustee Carr was unanimonsly adopted:
Resolved, That we heartily approve of having a
semi-centennial exposition of the resources of Cali
fornia held in San Francisco in 1900, and w r ill earn
estly co-operate with other municipal officers in
making it a grand success.
Respectfully yours, T. H. CARR,
Clerk of the Board of Trusteee.
exposition in 1900 is a grand one.
Every public-spirited citizen should
take an interest in the movement.
There is no doubt but that with the
friendly assistance of neighboring
States we will be able to hold an ex
position that will draw the attention
of the world to the wonderful resources
delayed punishment on condition that
the persons he swindled should be re
paid.
A few months after that he was ap
pointed to the responsible position in
Judge Low's court. Attorneys who
knew of his unsavory record wondered
at Judge Low placing so much conii
dence in him.
It is common talk among Police
Court practitioners that the stenogra
pher is the intermediary between the
principals in the cases in courts and
the Judges. It is said that the prose
cution of a great many felony cases
has been dismissed in the lower court
on payment to the stenographer of the
amount his fees would have come to
had the person charged been held to
answer in the higher court. If the
Judge gets part of the money or not it
is a matter so f#r only of conjecture,
but it is the belief of those who know
the workings of the Police Courts that
the Judge and the stenographer divide
the fees. It is also said that cases
where stenographers are required are
disposed of not particularly on their
judicial merits, but so as to incur big
bills for the court reporter.
The Judge of the Court is the only
person in the civic government to
vouch for the correctness of the bills,
and should collusion exist between the
Judge and the stenographer the vaults
of the city treasury may as well be
without locks or guards as far as
they are concerned.
The City Treasurer has the record of
an incorrcet bill that was presented by
Stenographer Vernon. A long and im
portant case had closed on a Friday,
and the following Monday the stenog
rapher presented a bill indorsed by the
Judge for fees amounting to $3900. Au
ditor Broderick happened to be with
the Treasurer when the bill was pre
sented, and he asked Vernon. If he had
completed the transcript of the case
and placed it with the proper city offi
cial. Vernon replied that he had not,
but it would be ready in a few days.
He, however, said he was going on a
holiday, and he wanted the money. The
Treasurer refused to pay the bill until
the transcript of the case was com
pleted and on file, and when it was
checked up it was found that the sten
ographer was entitled to over $300 less
than the bill that was indorsed by the
Judge called for.
Auditor Broderick claims that the
bills of the stenographers on the In
dorsement of the Judges only are paid
contrary to law. The Auditor, in sup
port of his claim, quotes paragraph 274
of the Civil Code, which says:
In criminal cases, when the testimony
has been taken down or transcribed upon
the order of the court, the fees of the re
porter shall be certified by the court and
and products of the Pacific Coast An
exposition such as has Icon suggested
by The Call would prove of great and
lasting benefit to California and con-,
tiguous States. The Native Rons hava
been for a long time engaged in pre
paring for a grand celebration of the
fiftieth anniversary of California's ad
mission into the Union. That they will
co-operate with the directors of the
exposition and assist in every way pos
sible to make it a success goes without
saying. If the people enter into the
movement with the proper spirit suc
cess is assured.
WOULD BENEFIT
BUSINESS MEN
Henry J. Seegelken Gives His
Views on the Proposed
Exposition.
HENRY J. SEEOELKEN of the
wholesale liquor firm of Seegelken &
Buckner heartily indorses the proposed
exposition, and gives his opinion that
it will be of untold advantage to the
State.
"San Francisco," said the merchant,
"is rapidly on the decline, and unless
it gets something of this character to
help it along there is no telling where
the present state of business depression
will end. An exposition planned on
such a stupendous scale as proposed by
The Call is bound to be of advantage
in helping and bettering the present
state of business affairs both in the city
and the State generally. It is sure to
attract visitors here, no matter how
much positive truth is expressed that
they won't come.
"The great obstacle that will have to
be contended with and a satisfactory
adjustment made before Eastern people
will come to this coast is the present
exorbitant rate of transportation.
These little side issues, I believe, could
be readily settled if the exposition were
once started."
paid out of the treasury of the county or
city and county In which the case is tried,
upon the order of the court.
That, he says, does not mean that
the provisions of the consolidation act
shall be ignored. Section 84 of that
act says:
Every demand upon the treasury must,
before it can be paid, be presented to the
Auditor of the city and county, who shall
satisfy himself that the money is legally
due and remains unpaid.
Section 87 of the same act says:
The Auditor is the head of the finance
department of the city and county and as
such is required to be constantly ac
quainted with the exact condition of the
treasury and every lawful demand upon
it.
"It is apparently the desire of some of
the judges." said the Auditor, "to escape
an investigation of their stenographers'
bills when they demand direct payment
on their orders. The law gives the judges
the right to draw the warrants to pay
their reporters, but it does not imply that
the safeguards now around the city treas
ury should be removed."
. .. — __ . _ _ — ,
ADVERTISEMENTS.
— — i- *—^ i - -i— u-l_ ■_ - _ _ L.
Expels Sleeplessness, from your borf >
. chamber and gives you sweet,
refreshing . sleep instead.
Calms the nerves.
Feeds and rests
the brain.
ML BLATZ BREWING CO.,
MILWAUKEE, WIS.. U. S. A.
LOUIS CAHEN & SON,
Wholesale Dealers,
4 1 6-4 1 a Sacramento St.
NOTARY PUBLIC.
A. «'. HENRY, NOTARY PUBLIC V
Q Q MARKET ST.. r. OPP. ;^ PAI*ACa
DOO I Hotel. . Telephone 670. * Resideno* SM
Valencia street. Telethon*. "Church" ■: U.
9