The San Francisco call. [volume], February 25, 1909, Page 3, Image 3

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

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SPRING VALLEY
AT THROAT OF
HETCH HETCHY
Skillful Lobbying Results in Re»
tarding Movement for Safe
Water. Supply
New lands Makes Public Health
; Secondary to Possible
Stock Fluctuation
-But Engineer Manson Says
Garfield Grant Rights Will
Be Exercised
FOR SAN FRANCISCO
Senators FLINT, NELSON,
HANSBROUGH, DIXON and
McLAURIN.
FOR SPRING VALLEY
Senators* FULTON, SMOOT,
HEYBURN, CLARK, NEW
LANDS, McENERY and
BANKHEAD.
{Special Dispatch to The Call]
' WASHINGTON, Feb. 24. — The senate
Committee on public lands today laid
• the Hetch lletchy resolution on the
\u25a0table for this session. There was no
formal vote, but the lineup was given
above. Senator Flint, after canvass*
• ing t'.ie members and finding just how
they stood, suggested that the matter
. be" laid over until the next session,
.•Which was agreed to.
The Spring Valley end of the fight
was conducted largely by Senators
" Xewlands and Fulton, They did not
speak for the company directly, but
their attitude was such as to convince
the Kan Francisco people that they pre
ferred to look after the company's in
, terest first and the city's afterward.
Newlan-is offered a draft of a proposed
." report on the resolution providing for
a commission of three persons to be
. .appointed by the president to investi
gate the "advisability and propriety
• of granting to the city of San Francisco
1 rights within the Yosemlte national
park to use the Hetch Hetchy valley
or Lake Eleanor, or uoth. as reser
.... .; . ... .
'. yoirs for a municipal water supply.
\u25a0 and whether the necessities of the city
. .properly require and justify such a
.'•grant." This proposed commission was
. the idea of the Spring Valley lobbyists
' -when they appeared in the senate com
- mittee, and it looked as if the report
• might be favorable on the resolution.
; The one object was to prevent consid
."eration of the resolution this season.
AEWUXDS' PITIFUL. PLEA
Xewlands* approved committee re
\u25a0 port summed up the Spring Valley con
tention as follows:
1 * . "-'The Spring Valley company also ap
\u25a0 .pears as a contestant claiming that
-.the purpose of the city of San Fran
. ck-co Is to acquire this grant from the
'\u25a0 'government orfth a view to hammering
\u25a0'..iiown th-j price of the Spring Valley
water works; tiiat for many years the
'\u25a0'city of San Francesco, through the 10
'\u25a0 -V-al .board of supervisors, lias been fix
\u25a0Ying the rates to the consumers at un
: remunerative prices, and that the corn
>i rar.y has beor. compelled to go re
• •-.')H-atedly to, the United States circuit
for injunctions, -which have been
•- -granted; that lite cenfiscatorj* action
. Jof the city government of San Fra.n
•\u25a0 /tsfo in the past has been apparent,
.\u25a0and has redut*d the value of the com
:. iji.ny's stock in the market, and that
: ..- if San Francisco could secure a good
•. ?nd independent supply it -arould be in
.':ihe position of owning Its own water
:-. ".'works and at the same time fixing the
.""i ates of its competitor and also levying
; -taxes upon that competitor, and that
; ythe government <-f the United States
\u25a0 ought not thus to enable the city au
thorities of San Francisco to prac
;'\u25a0 tically complete confiscation claimed to
; be already iiiaugurated, but should see
:.to it that before any grant is made or
'considered by the ualional government
.. justice should be done to the local com
"rany. The Spring Valley company
' claims that . its resources within 50
; miles of San Francisco will be equal to
the requirements of that city for 50
. years.
.EACH DISTRUSTS OTIIKH
"On the other hand the representa
tives of the city claim that the city
"needs the Spring Valley works- as. a
' part of its approved mountain system;
•that it Is willing to pay a fair price
and the Spring Valley company has re
fused to name a price. It is apparent
'that the city and the company distrust
each other and that the intervention
of some tKird party commanding the
i-onfidence of both is necessary to ar
rive at an understanding."
The indefinite postponement of the
\u25a0 resolution . does not necessarily mean
Jong delay, as there is nothing to pre
vent consideration of the matter at the
extra jsession beginning' next month.
Engineer Manson declares that the city
has acquired rights under the Garfield
• grant which it will proceed to exercise,
whether congress confirms them or not.
Senator Fulton, a leading opponent of
Hetch Hetchy. will^ quit office March 4.
Members of the senate committee did
; not care to discuss the Hetch Ketchy
.question at length. 'Those who opposed
. the resolution defended their action on
the ground that congress has no time
' at this session to debate the matter.
The skillful work of the Spring Valley
lobbyists, however. In creating the sus
picion that the city was trying to
"cinch" the company, was the real fn
\u25a0. fluence in swinging the majority of the
. •" committee.
New Laws to Help Project
-\u25a0"' CALL HBADQUARTERS, CHAMBER
\u25a0OK COMMERCE - BUILDING. SACRA
\u25a0\u25a0 MENTO, Feb. 24.— Three bills of the
utmost importance to the Hetch Hetchy
. project were favorably recommended
.by senate committees today. City At-
V torney Percy Long and H. A. Mason,
attorney for the board of supervisors,
• spoke for them. .'
\u25a0', Welch's measure empowering neigh
. boring municipalities to form < a water
\u25a0\u25a0;. district for joint control of a municl
• pally owned water supply was recom
.- mended by the committee on munici
• pal corporations.
Two bills introduced by Burnett
' were favorably reported by- the judi
ciary committee. One amends the law
of eminent domain so that it may be
' ' -applied to property already devoted to
public upe in order that it may be con
demned for a superior public use. This
will legalize the condemnation of the
Spring Valley plant. The other ex
tends the time within which Judgment
in condemnation may be paid. \u0084
At present a ,. municipal corporation
must pay within 30 days, but the time
•'. Ib to 1 be extended to six months, not
including the time of litigation.- This
' law will remove another stumbllncr
TAFT'S CABINET COMPLETED BY
SELECTION OF CHICAGO BANKER
Men t who (will \ be; cabinet' advisers •, of j President during il^s ; admimStrlLtion.
block to the acquisition of the Spring
Valley plant. ' • . . .
City to Go Ahead
"The city can ro right- ahead'' and- I
am sure that is the disposition," said
Mayor Taylor yesterday.. "The action
at Washington postponing till the next
session of congress the authorization
to exchange lands rteed not delay the
Hetch lletchy project in the least. We
have a permanent easement, -which is
as good for practical purposes as fee
simple title to all the land. In any
case the exchange of the city's pur
chases outside the valley for the fed
eral land in the valley would not have
given us title to all of the inclosing
walls. The city is in good condition to
go right ahead.
"Bonds for the construction of the
Lake Eleanor dam and for the other
construction contemplated will sell just
as well one wa».' or the other," said the
mayor. "They rest on the credit of the
city, what we have down, here, not
merely on what we have up in the!
mountains.' Any future session of;
congress may; authorize the exchange
of the lands as planned, but that is
merely incidentaMo the main project."
The supervisors coincided with the
mayor that the delay of congress could
not be construed as adverse action/ nor
as a defeat in carrying out the plan
for a Sierra water supply.
"It is understood," said Murphy,,
"that President elect Taft will prob
ably call a special session about.March
15, so that the matter has only gone
over for a few weeks. Besides, the city
has all It needs. The work will pro
ceed." /
"I don't see what we wanted to go to
congress for anyhow," said ' Payot.
"We have the grant of the interior de
partment and air we have to do Is to
act upon it. That is what the city will
do." . .
"We will .go right ahead."—Super
visor McLeran. *
Actual work should be gotten under
way as- soon as possible; we will.there
by confirm our rights acquired." — Su- :
pervisor Bancroft.
. 'This means no delay.- The city has
the authority to proceed. That is the
only thing -to do,' and in- accordance
with the action of Tuesday that is
what the board will do." — Supervisor
Johnston.
VETERAN MISSIONARY
WILL SPEAK OF WORK
Dr. D. Downie Begins a Series
of Lectures This Evening
- Dr. D. Downie of Nellore, India, who
has been connected more than 35 years
with the famous Telugu Mission. Is*" in
the city for the' purpose of holding a
series of conferences on world mis
sions..
Dr. Downie, -who is one of the few
veteran missionaries, will rspeak this
evening at 8 o'clock in the First Bap
tist ch.urch. 1620 iO'Farrell? street. .- \u25a0
Thursday evening, he will address a
gathering -at Emanuel church. 131
Bartlett- street, and. Friday afternoon
at 2:30 he will speak in .Hamilton
Square church. ' \u25a0 <, ,- . * «
PITTSBURG OX THE B. A O.
Commencing March- ( ,19,---- ;-i909; -i 909 'stop
over not exceeding- ten days will- be
permitted at Pittsburg.-Pa., on all flrst
class individual, one-way tickets \u25a0 and
within final-limit on round trip. tickets
For full information 'call on'or address"
Edwin. Anderson; Pacific . Coast-- Awt
Baltimore & Ohio R.lt.,i 203. Monadnock
Local- Brevities
BANKRUPTCY PETITION FILED— A petition
to declare C. V. . Otto. Inerc.harit of Eureka, an
Involuntary.- bankrupt : was, -filed 'ln'tbev United
States, district, court -yesterday -by his creditors
the- Sperry flour company, -.with' 1 a .claim". of
$542.09; -Hill 'Brother*. - W00.09; -J. A. Folger,
51C5.77. and TlUmann A Bendel.- J125:55. ; .*', • -\
LATON". CASE . CONTINUED— The ,'ca*e --of
Pierre Lafon. the mysterious' Frenchman charged
with " putting iodide lof • arsenic. Jn • a- pot of ' tea
December '- 1, at a lodging . hou»e. : 983 " Golden
Gate aTenne.' trjth Intent to poison, Mrs.' Gertrude
Coffman and Mrs.' Sarah 'R. Arnntronp. wan con
tinned by Police Judge. Weller yesterday : for" a
week. \u25a0 -; •.-\u25a0\u25a0- • . \u25a0 '•- ». < _ - \u25a0-. •• \u25a0: \u25a0
BtmOLAai. LOSES . HIS i WATCH— A burglar
\u25a0was discoTeml-ln the' rpsideucf ofC.'L. Burtt.
355 Central a renue. Tuesday • night* and -he . fled
without taking; any loot. While climbing through
a window his gold w«teh -dropped- out \u25a0of hia
pocket, -.'•.': lt ItiDQw In ..the h»oda of, property
clerk, and. tlie police would \u25a0 like him- to call
for It.- • . •\u25a0 ; : . .... ,-„, \u25a0
KORSE OK EOBZBTS-dMrjp Roberta '• of
Wlrmlow, Ariz., on his vrny to Coos Baj-,ira.'s,ap
proached by a atraugrr yesterday, afternoon -who
offered him a Job. - : ' Tb«y went •'\u25a0 outnlde,- 1 where
tb»-y were. joined by another, m'nn. - Roberts nn
Induced -to . bet $20 on . a•, horse thAt :\u25a0 was • a sure
winner -and that* was* the- last 1 he saw of the
two stranjsers.' .;._\ '- ."\u25a0„*,; ;'. ", ' :", '.' : ' . ";.
RESTAURANT MEN FINED— Fines < .we're :'im
poked .on. the following "restaurant^' men," yes'ter-'
day for selling | watered ' milk: j T. '.Snteron. ,598
SUtb street, James Cotopoulls. 374 Third street,
and X. . Karidls. 247' Third .street. $25.' each:
J. Klesco. 598 Slx,th street. It. H.-Luhmaq.- 249
Market street, and N. \u25a0 Buokes, 2700 Twenty
fourth. «tr»»e,t.'- 510 each. V ; - ... .• ' , :\u25a0', .'. '\u0084,..'.>•
SONS: ATTACK FATHER— Henrys Goodman,
."ifjKi Mlf lon street," obtained 'warrants; from , Po
lice Judge -Deasy yesterday for the -- arrest of
his sons. Harry and Jake: the -former- for assault
with a deadly, weapon nnd the Tatter foe battery.
He-said he had. a. dispute .with \u25a0 his -two sons
Tuesday nlpbt, ;wben .Harry* attacked jhlm- with
a hammer snd Jake. with his". fists. -..'\u25a0*.• .
- STABBED WITH : FORK— Krtti^cbilleiv: cook
at . the .Bismarck cafe, was- arrested 'yesterday on
a warrant * charging him \u25a0 with assault •\u25a0 with* a
deadly , weaoon. The. complaining: witness is Otto
Becke, a waiter. Recke'taygi he ordered .ham
and epirs ' for a \u25a0 customer ; yesterday morning and
the cook was ..slow In fill inn the - order.V Recke
reinonstrate^l with Schiller, * who | stabbed .him
over the eye. ;'. -'.-' •: - ' .-:-\u25a0\u25a0 -. . : ._ * \u25a0 •
UNITED RAILROADS WIN /CASE—^A verdict
for the \ defendant was 'returned \ by.' a .Jury ; in
Judge Sturterant's court yesterday.lnvthe.snJtln
vrtleh M.'Waniorek. an .insurance • solid tor, sued
the United Railroads '. tot \u25a0 $20,000 , damages . for
l>ersonal injuries. . ' Wanlorek Jumped '\u25a0 froni ; a
runaway ' Mlsnion * street • #ar :. and - sustained \u25a0'\u25a0 a
broken - leg and ; Internal i hurts; l>esides injuries
to ,: the; left; eardrum- that' perraaoiently affected
his bearine.- -."-...' '-..,* -. .. "\ \u0084;; ;\u25a0 '\u25a0", :..-•-.: ..-•-.
; COLLIDE WITH * POLE— A ; carriage i lnlwbich
Hi .E. 'Henook. a traveling ' salesman s from New
York, " waH < riding .' with : tiiree \u25a0 women ' was - badly
damaged - latt nicht at Fifth and - Market: streets'
as the result"of a collision with an electric light
pole.' The ' driver." John Rlley. r had . turned : toward
the curb to" avoid an .• approaching' car ,when 'the
vehicle swerved Into the pole. »\u25a0- Rlley; was slightly
Injured," « trot" none 'of - the . " others ' w«« •- hurt,
lieu-jck Is a. gcetl at the St.' Francis hotel.--
mm saist :\u25a0 • i^Nxjiseoft cMifeMim^ 1969;
MACVEAGH TAKES
TREASURY PLACE
Portfolio Offered by Taft Is Ac»
cepted by Chicago Busi-
nessman
', ' NEW YORK, Feb. 24.— President
elect Taft today completed his cabinet
by the offer, of the treasury portfolio
and Its acceptance^ That the offer was
made to and accepted by Franklin Mac-
Veagh of Chicago is as near a positive
statement.of what, is believed' to "be ; the
fact as may bemade in the face of»an
absolute refusal- by Taft to throw any
light on the situation; -
Taft justifies, his . silence .on the
ground that he-some time ago
he .'would give out -no. information re
garding-the makeup of his cabinet until
he was.ready. to announce it ln-its en
tirety.;-, In spite' of strong -belief that
MacVeagh had accepted;, the
it was -reported, that the name of A. B.
Hepbyrn of. New York, former-c ompt
roller of the currency, j had-, .figured
largely in-^ the conference on VtHe--su^'P
Ject.? It Is assumed that/should/ariyi-'
thing eliminate. MacVeagh .from the list
Hepburn ;would be selected. ','.\u25a0 -.-;'-\u25a0 • '.< •'•
Taffs 4 request- brought Frank H.
Hitchcock 'from Washington .yearly 'to
day and.' the two were. in lengthy cbn
ference-'twice.'- ." * . . / .:" \u25a0.--.:--
EDITOR BOGARDUS ,
{- DIESAT OLD; AGE
Established Famous : Theatrical
Paper Half Centur^vAgp
\u25a0 'J v P-'Bogardus,, sin.cc. UheTearly--'5,08".
edjtor and -proprietor "of t ' the "fFlgraio;-
Sail ; l fa.m6us 11 r f-th§at'rlc(alf -th§at'rlc(al
paper, and pneAof the' best' known men'
on tli^' Pacific v .cba'st..Vpassed.''away'i-at
his home in this' city-, yesterday morn-
Ing after only a short itlness.v He was
84 years old aud- was active- and ; out
on the street until a^few;.weeks before
his demise.-, j •\u25a0-\u0084-.'.' -,~^ j---- .
Tlie Figaro was Tat orie-tlme a much
sought In' San^Francieco^ .- Its
first- edition .was, •issued in.' the early
50s*.and,JtiCame out<semiw«»ekly without
any interruption: untll'the' fire'of 1906.
Bogardus in< the-.last^few. years was
one.. of the .'most -familiar^ figures V^fn
the streets pfthis'city, .'-He/wore- a"f all
p.liig.liat, and 'although' past years
of age' was ;a.vyery actlv,* imanA \u25a0''*'\u25a0..
'. -.Immediately > after 'the:. conflagration
Bogardus- attempted ? : to " again , estab
lish the FJgarp, ,; but .the,'lack>of:sup
port' from the \u25a0". theatrical i profession,
mainly because, ;ojf • the : - few : ' theaters
erected after th» "fire, -compelled • him
to .abandon thevproject. He. later''be
came attached -to -the staff* of Hhe-Dra
matlc Review;; and his special? field -.was
the vaudevlUeVhouses \u25a0 arid^performers.
,He made . and- lostv'Sftverali fortunes,
but always lpoked'on" the- 'bright;- aide
of life, even \u25a0 when S misfortune * crossed
his, path. I^c was -a great; believer Mn
spiritualism' and;\vas.*a/member.,'of the
California Pioneers, 'under -whose aus
plces'che *w4U* be^buried:^ !HeJ leaves Ja
wife.V' Margaret : ,P.'>Boflrardus;' r.two
daughters;*- Mrs:" Bing f 'C/I. Briar -\u25a0, ot
Sacramento - and I^ouise;. Bpgardus.fand
a sister. 'Mrs. Mr E. .Taylor -of : Green
ville, Me. , \u0084f ; ..:;,t.,,..;',^:-! , ,.^
RUSSIANSCLb6K v FOR -Vy \u25a0 ; ;
AUSTROrSERV IAN WAI*
Active .Operations";
.Within Fortnight , : inj- Balkans
; ST.^PETiERSBIikG; VFeb.' '^24.— The
pessimism^wlth'^ regard vto^. the . Balkan
crisisr is .ste,adily^ deepening? inj.dlplo
ma t lc circles, -where \u25a0 it" fs"; bcl ley e'd ; that
Austrian r action Ser-via.-; inayjbe
expected /.within'.^, a "'.fortnight 'unless: 'a
soUition^to . the r present-; grave problem
is ;soon arranged. ' .. \u25a0: .'".:-' - .' .. \, :•;>: .-;,<\u25a0••> ;.
• : Foreign • office . officials -state ..'..that
Russia \u25a0is -not .ilispdsed .. to :ari
in vasion • ; of Servia • . alone^'- as' \u25a0 a., casus
belli/ but there; is .fear^thatithe;* gov
ernment's hand. may.' be forced-byfpopu
lar feeling/ r t The;beginniugiof hostili
ties:would U|irow .-'\u25a0, thousands %• off -Rub-,
sian volunteers; lnto -the •Servian 'ranks.
fk* The? duma- leaders,/ ! who^.vjsited.>the
foreign-office: today,;.' expressed.* them
selves as -convinced ;,that^war*was'in
evitable. Information , f rom «I£iev,- indl
cates,thatrno k military :; measure's "••' have
yet been uwdertaken'-onvtheisduthwest
ern frontier, .but all < applications: of of-"
fleers ' f or.ileave ;of : absence^ h ave a been
refused 4 and ':, the Kiev -department;, is
ready - torJ instant s mobillzati6n; 'i. \u25a0 \u25a0
/^.yiENNA^' Feb.; , 24.^Two
who >,were 'taken : for? spies.'jhayer. been
lynched -at Cettinje.u Montenegro. fiv One
is ;said -to -haveibeen:at«one thne ipor
;ter-Jn/ the. Austrian^ embassy^at
stantinople. - The ears, and .'noses"-: of
both men were cut- off. :" • .•
SCOTTISH MASONS
WILL ERECT TEMPLE
Structure^Will!:Be Among the
\u25a0 kosi Beautiful of Its Kind
in the Country .
..The ' contract if or, the .steel "and stone
work*-of the' >hew Scottish Rite^ temple;
to^ be -constructed ='at* Van* Ness avenue
and | Sutter ->street,t T after 'plan's 'by
O'Brien I , &\u25a0 Werner, accepted last* June,
was i awarded. 'yesterday- afternoon:-. to
Mahoneyi Brother's ~'of . San .Francisco.
Th"c< special^cornmlttee; of the
of., the Ancient and" Accepted; ; Scottish
Rite of • Free'; Masonry^ which had v bcen
appointed, wlth-f ull ; power 'to act in tlie
matter .' of ,-;'; bidsi '\u25a0 announced ; : that the
Mahpney.bi'd ,'of • $330,000 would be ac-
cepted, and at' 6 'o'clock "yesterday.- af t r
"ernoon^the^ Vp-ntract; was' signed vbyt-W.
H^Crocker*,^ ehalj*ni[an .oit<the, committee,
and "by." theTcbntr'ictors.- - \u25a0•'•\u25a0 - m ':. -.- . :.',•".
«'?, The \u25a0 butidln^.^Wni '4be ; ';of * .jjteel -j'ahd
.ligrit- sandstbne^Jn ?tb'e [ architecture . of
the* Italian .renaissance;* and'j-itv will be
\u25a0t6\irAsit>rles' :: -higtiy>}V; will tost' about
llMO'.pOQr'.ltjlwHl.'have^thre^frontaKes,
102^e'B«i6h^aqI»^aimNes4fa%nQ§,'^yt
t^r^,street- and -I'^iern-vavenue.V^lnl the
b'aaeiment-:. there '; wHlj.be:. a^-large' drill
•hill:>i6apa_blpAaf^BeatinV:;l',po'o.-and ! 'tli?6
,*r}'ll jj be fitted withfa.- stage.'r : A* banquet
f66mseatingr('S6o{.wiJl.bpen'"6ff the drill
:}{a4i^v ;.\u25a0: ,.^vs ,,.':-.: •.?.••.•-•;\u25a0« | ( .- 1 . f :\u25a0 s '^ - . «•,; -
"•*iTXe : entrance.' to itlve hall -on the* I . main
'flpprf ia J .tb> be*. through 'a. larg:e^circular
iJbb.by.' 1 h'alK*tb-fbe. Urioivn,a? \u25a0Scot
tish \u25a0\u25a0,ißUe>'Ka-Jl,'f;wlU'.;.hftve::, i ßUe>'Ka-Jl,'f;wlU'. ; .hftve: : galleries *on
,-three aides ' ; aridt will- be ,:lbo : 'feet« long,'
-7Ot*f eetl Wide l and : two -in 'hefght,
.^lth lailarge/stAge'"equipped'wlth'-com
plete.settingß^ahdfnechanicial. contriv
ances "egdalvto/tßose; in the most /mod
ern metropolitan V"^heaterV : ~. The hall
will:- be^walnscbteditin.vitaUari !-' marble
and< there Twillr beVcomniodiouSf^atlprs
Adjoining. iT^ei interior .flnfshings- will
be;in'mpsaicf and; gorgeous decorations.
.Nearly .-.Vhalf ja; mUlion dollars ' will '- be
sperit'iri - the' interiors albrie.';Th"e .wobd
wofk.''in 4 the \basement*halls ; iwlll be v in
fumed-VEngllshfoak.
The twojupperi floors .of/jthe' building
willftbe idevotedAto ether use. of ,"the -San
/Francisco fbodleif^oC order. -.iTHere
willj bga: lar^ej.loageroorn,';with*stage,
.waltirikj»robmrt,' nobtn'gr.'r'oom, lounginp
room,;, committee f robhi, banquet* room,
bllliard\ room. Vilibrary.- and y secretary's
office. .The/rlpdgerpom wi II ; be J ligHted
wlllii cathedral!. windows ' ahd".will ; co'ni
tain VanVoraran:^ loft. -C- .'.. \u25a0 ,;^-.- ; v /^ i:->>:
>»Th*e -.contract, ;awarded,- to), Mahoney
Brothers^ is torr'> trie \u25a0 isteel and -stone .work
aloneyatid*4dojos r ;no^t /include; anyf of i the
lnßfde.V6rk.^l£" was; at; first decided to
sperid-^only.^half^ a ; million.^ollars on
tnß^n|U^iJpUildtnjS^ul^iH«pla'pßwer^
alte*red^latersnjid;j' according, ?'to ; the
pre,sentj designs;^ which ;\u25a0,., provide.;; for
elaborate interior;. decoration,- 7 the com
pletedtTstructtir'e'r'wi 11: cos t \u25a0 close "to Ka
. mliHonr; *. ; •"*: ,° k -.; v- '• » \u25a0* •; - \u25a0 ' - ' :
-', ; The .'-committee^ which i awarded ". the
.contract-: is ;cpmpps'ed^ofiTV.'H.v Crocker
chairm'an^w.' v P4Fllmer ' and Robert -E
Allen.V.,-.% :^ V, *\u25a0' "'-H'l \u25a0'- X' \u25a0•:\u25a0-.:%\u25a0\u25a0'\u25a0' -^-s-
TWENTY)my E^ KILiiED/XS
yTRAIN^UMPS^FROM^CLI^FF
Forty! A lso Injured
' by^Crashfc in" \u25a0 Ecuador; .' -
'^ GUAYAQUIL; -. Ecuador, . Feb. ~24 -^-A
passenger .-" train- Von -.. the' main 'line,
boundinorth.^was^tpday' thrown^ over : a
cliff iioo: feet- high jat^a point'; near! Rio
Bamba? and r" crashed?", to vtlie^bottornCof
the iravihc.-iiTwenty-five ."persons % were
JiliiedT r andt4o*-iisjurea.!;7
"WE ARE DOWN
TO BRASS TACKS"
Epigrammatical Jones of
Company Drops Theories
for Bluntriess j
Concern at Supervisors- Meet»
: ing Asks City for Big Sum
for Depreciation
--: President John i ;A. Britton of the San
Francisco gas and electric company ap
peared before . the board ; of supervisors
last. night with a claim of j0f8,63S as
a' depreciation allowance for 'the com
ing 'fiscal year. In another moment he
asked; the'e'ty to pay the year's inter
est* of- $33, 495.30 on" the company's float
ing /debt. Finally -he; asked that the
company be allowed a return of 7 per
cent on a plapf valuation of $13,363,384.
These; figures were T the center of-argu
ment during the rate fixing": hearing.'
No decision was -reached. Eritton~"an
nbunced that' the company, would-be
satisfied with 1 a $1 rate, but the board
of 'supervisors appears disposed *to re
enact the 85, cent figure. . -
Supervisors Murphy., and Cojinolly
Questioned Britton and rebelled
againstVhis system charging for.de
preclatfbhr^ -Theyy called attention" to
the .fact; that /although ne> claimed, a
depreciation allowance for his- company,
he : had .falled.'ln estimating the value
of his plant, :to; figure that it had de
.preciated ;in ;-any- particular. Super
visor Murphy quoted:the recent Knox
yll.le decision : to_ support his contention,
tlfat. a' certain ; suih | should be' 'charged
off thcVValue of ' the plant each year
arid'the .residue should, bo. accepted as
a x basis for rate .fixing 'purposes. , \u25a0;*;?'•;
LEAVEig POIXT IX DOUBT
.; It_ would .that"- the company
itself was somewhat undecided on this
points for' in a summary presented to
the 'board Britton said: "
"Actual replacement of gas. proper
ties for' year. 1908, -5122,765,. 22. This
year, however, is no criterion, as since
1906 the plant has been placed in prac
,tlcalJy new. condition and. depreciation
.wllltnot be ; operative ; for. sonic time.
Reserve, however, must be \ allowed to
take care of the future."
.Brlttoti then refers to a supreme'
court decision bearing on the subject.
Notwithstanding;; the statement that
depreciation' would not be operative for
some time, Britton has presented his
modest claim for $618, 635. He arrived
at this 'figure by charging 5.56 per cent
on $11, 126,153.. which tie declared to be
the value of the plant exclusive of the
real estate. ' .The 5.56 ,per .cent was
taken^as'an average ; estimate ; of de
preciation. \u25a0
Members of the board also questioned
the right of the company to ask the
city to, pay. interest on Uie corporation's
floatlngj debt. ' ' f':, •' .
• ."When- it;is necessary for us to bor
row money to, conduct our business we
feel that the city should pay back to
us the sum that we must expend to
get that v money," . replied Britton. He
added that the city was not asked to
pay interest on the bonded debt.
" Britton: testified that the leakage,
which had been 27 per cent in 1907 and
18 per cent last year, had now been
reduced to 10 and 12 per cent, which
he considered normal..
' The -.company, said Britton. .valued
the; electrical plant at $9,010,930. He
said that although, the "legal rite was
9.4 theY company was in some' cases
selling 1 electricity at one-third that
figure. . .. . t • -. \u25a0:.-\u25a0\u25a0• --, \u25a0\u25a0\u25a0
EPIGRAMS BY JOKES /, - ,
E. C. Jones, the engineer of the com
pany, was an epigrammatic : witness.
When Supervisor Connolly - objected to
the , i term : obsolescence, -< Jones' replied :
.VQnei. doesn't v haye >to^, take., pepsin .to
digest the word, obsolescence." .In an
other? moment'' Jones -was discussing
deterioration 'and .explaiiyid: ."Deterio
ration- is a. process .that .goes ;on among
people- and; physical.,';»r6pei.*ties. It- is
m6st^notlqeable ; among.. people -becaus.e
they^'don't" receive ,the | occasional coat
of -paint."^. > .-'j; v^-. ' -.V" : '% . - ;
. 'T6,"support;his plea for;an."amorti
zation" "ehargephe pleaded: ."Amortiza
tion-goes' on-. until \v/e finally "die -and
Kave." no \u2666money . with; which; to /bury
ourselves." ,r, r -',; \u25a0 ' - ;. • •\u25a0
; 'When- theorizing /and ; . ; explaining
proved .unavailing Jones 'declared blunt
ly:?".Wejare \u25a0-right-down to r brass ; .tacks
and .we've^got ;to protect ourselves.".
INSANE CARPENTER
tWOLILb WRECK^ HOSPITAL
Frightens .Nurses at St. Boni-
face by Violent' Actions
: John' Johnson, .a carpenter fr0m. 2305
liahsas i -street,-' who; was a.^patient .at
St.^^Boniface hospital., became suddenly
insane .last night. rand descending "into
Ihej kitcheri ;'whlle *" the attendant was
absent" fromMiis, 'ward,' frightened the
nurses,* wlio were preparing^ th~elf dih
ner..tb>,'his r.wj Id cries and ;vlolent ac
tions^ ..\u25a0\u25a0-\u25a0• ;; ;\u25a0\u25a0'.:, ; \u25a0;\u25a0\u25a0 '\u0084'\u25a0 \u25a0\u0084'..:\u25a0•, . \u25a0'
\u25ba He^picked up a; gas' stove and threw
it -out -of ,the.= doQr -after^ a. retreating
nurse, .and .then .returned /and . smashed
the > ffurniti>re' : and', dishes.' ••'.-.;•. .. >-; -'
• ' It.tpok'jsixmal.e attendants to subdue
hjm.' but'he was finally-put ln;irons and
conrveyedr.in v an -to* the* cen
tral ;em^rgency : hospital; where,. he . was
placed.'ln the- detention ward and will
be .held for; examination: :v: v > -'• \u25a0_- .' *
IN.THAINjWaECK^Coifax,, W«sh.V
Feb. . 24.— An :" Oregon •.railroad' and- navigation
company /".c^tra; freight. (No. -.; 312), westbonnd
from' Granger . Cltj- to : Utriatilla,"-. wan wrecked at
Scott. • 28 : miles ', west ; of Granger : City. - tonight,
and, 0.~-;.y.Vßaer.\tlie."flreinan., ;was> crushed to
death '. beneotli the 'engine. l^ Jotinnlc jlldddy.' the
eDKlneer," escaped Injury.' Baer.wds' married Sat
urday.',; ..'".V, .-.•-\u25a0* : " —V •"\u25a0-\u25a0:'\u25a0 -'^t--" ; ~.:i\'--isi
• \f HEKEYStONE/ }.
'£-:\;T O HEALTH
fHOSTETTER^Sf
vl --V STOMACH^ : \u25a0 -:T.
V BITTERNS II
f^! l^ m^' : \u25a0'\u25a0'\u25a0 :^""XY.t; : -C \u25a0 : - : *-; : ."" l |^^
Persons "of -a bilious temper^
ament \u25a0will be especially bene-
fited by,- taking; the -Bitter^ -It
"will j keep} the -liver active, jeg-
ulate ;the 'flow \u25a0\u25a0 of bile," relieve
costiveness - and -stomach ills ; :
i rii fact '>. niake \ life 'worth} living.
Harv(^kimoWin^
Play -at Emmet Annual
TO HONOR MEMORY
OF IRISH PATRIOT
Robert Emmet's Birthday Anni
versary to Be Observed
by Red Branch
Knights of the. Red Branch are pre
paring fittingly to celebrate the one hun
dred and ( thirty-first anniversary of the
birth of' Robert Emmet, the Irish
patriot, at the Van Ness theater on Sun
day afternoon, February 28. A
program of high merit has been pre
pared by the ' committee having the
celebration in charge. Prominent
among the numbers will be the ora
tion by Father Phillip O'Ryan and
piano selections by Miss Mary Car
rick. Frank T. Shea will act as chair
man. T. Redmond "Flood will deliver
Emmet's famous speech from the dock.
There will be a soprano solo by Mrs.
Daisy Keane Glllogley. a Gaelic solo
by M. J. Lawless, a violin solo by Lee
Murphy, Mrs. Laura Flanlgan will sing
and the program will close with a
tenor solo by David Manlloyd.
The program will start at 2:15.
The following constitute the
mittee In charge, of the celebration:
John Waters, chairman; Frank Dugan.
secretary; Joseph P. Kelleher. Thomas
Demond, Colonel J. C. O'Connor. John
Rogerson. Captain Thomas McNabe,
Thomas Meynihan and T. Shea. Seats
can be reserved at . ICelleher &
Browne's, 11 Seventh street.
EEK LUX— Mrs. Annie Ingram,
the young wife of Arthur It. Ingram. 173
Lexington avenue, whose disappearance -was'
reported, to the police Sunday night, obtained a
warrant from Police Judge Sbortall yesterday
for the arrest of. her husband for threats against
life.- She said she left 'home Sunday morning
because her husband . put -a razor to .her throat
and threatened to cut her head off. Slcce then
she has be«n liTing in a hotel at Third . and
Townsend streets. : '.' -i v <•'
PASSES RAISED . BlLiS— The - police are
searching for n man abo« 40 years of age
5 feet 10 or 11 inches tall, stout build, smooth
shaven. ' light cotnplesloned. who is \u25a0 passing $%
bills raised to $10. denomination. . He passed
one on Charles Reuss. baker. 507 Point Lolx-s aTe
niie, and one on Charles Bruno, shoe dealerj 507
Point . Lobos aTenue, Monday. .; He also at
tempted to pass one 'on: Mrs. Esther - Sulli-ran.
baker, .449 Point Lobos avenue. . ....... .
Dr; Matilda A. Feeley; removed to 1700
Sutter.; Diseases of women and children.*
i| /J^^^LWAYS RELIABLE * MARKET & JONES STS. \
TODAY m
• WHETHER A PURCHASER OR NOT
"A Wealth of Spring-Millinery
§ff TRBMMEB HAfr^i
I 'First Sale ' of the Season- ! ; ' $&rf*s%S&
WITH the advent .of sunshine
comes the pressing need ot
Spring Millinery; which, we ' W^^^^^
are in better position to supply. this <_2#^^*r^?^:- /
year than ever before. The scope of
styles "is remarkable. .That they
r differ, from* all other.h ats offered at ,<f^
.this price is due to^the fact that „ \L-^>^ y
; most of them . are tlie products of /M^^W^^llf/»
\u25a0". our. : . own -workroom, where, careful ililifWfi^/s^^^
• . attention is^given to ever>' detail. ''JiW^fJ
; \u25a0 „ \ ' All stylish, new shapes of satin braidi horsehair
braid; chip. Milan and Tuscan straw ?and trimmings of
::' . gorgeously .colored flowers, fruit and foliage, not to
" ' ' - '.mention the numerous trim- ~ • ' * ,
1&/ M. mings of ribbon bows,^ rosettes/ \€£/8 '\u25a0£& EZ\
JUROR STARTS A
GUESSING CONTEST
Charles C. Bradford. Asks for
Consideration and Talk"
fest Ensues
Period of Loquaciousness Takes
Place During Ah Sam
Gambling Case
Save for a loquacious juror who as
sayed the desperate task of trying to
talk down Attorney J. J. Greeley, who,
with R. 11. Countryman, is preserving
the integrity of American interests In
China by defending Ah Sam, gambler
and club man, the work of selecting a
jury in the Ah Sam case yesterday be
fore Judge Deasy was as full of tedi
ousness as chop suey is of sprouting
bird seed. The saving feature of the
day was Charles C. Bradford of 20 East
street, a seaman's outfitter.
\u25a0 At the close of the day's session
there were 11 jurors in the box, and
Assistant District Attorney Louis Ward
tried again to have the defense agree
to exercise its peremptory challenges
at that time.
"Yes, do It," urged Bradfprd from the
jury box. "Consider the jurors.'*
Greeley ' vehemently Interrupted* the
Juror, and Bradford asked pitifully:
>"Are you going to do all the talking,
or can I speafc?"J
Judge Deasy came to the defense of
the East street man, who simply
wanted to say that he thought he had
served on a jury during the past year.
Investigation resulted in Bradford
making several "guesses." which re
sulted in his being retained on the
Jury. ."I guess I haven't .served* since
the fire; I guess I was in error," he
admitted. " . "':
The additional Jurors selected with
Bradford were Fi Fischer of 7 Fourth
avenue, William Manley of Laguna and
Hayeg streets, and N. F. Keller, 393
Elsie street. . \,V ' . *
In all, nine men were examined.
Neither Countryman nor Greeley intro
duced highly • phrased problems of
statesmanship nor international ex
pediency into the case yesterday, a3
they have done at previous hearings.
A special venire of 50 names was
issued, returnable Friday afternoon.
Then the jury box may be filled and
the club men and women of San Fran
cisco may be called to testify in behalf
of" the Mongolian defendant accused of
being In a barred room containing
gambling appliances.
Telegraph Brevities
TWO PHISOKZHa ESCAPE— New Wwtmin
»ter. B. C. Feb. 24.— Early today John LaNmr
dette and Alfred S&elton. desperate prisoners,
escaped from the penitentiary and are snpposetl
tote fa the Tlcinlty of Fort Jlocklj'. A posse is
in pnrauit. \u25a0 •
MONSTEK WHALZ CAPTURED — Norfolk.
Va.. Feb. 24. — A whale fiO feet long and esti
mated to weigh 8.000 pounds was found In fish
ing nets today off Duckroe beach, abort* O!il
Point Comfort. -It was <J.Thiar from a wotxnd in
the head and UTed bat a short time.
HORSE THTEI 1 FOUSD GUlXTY— Klamatb
Falls. Ore.. Teh. 21. — Charles Klskey was fottnd
guilty of stealing 14 horses In this county
last December today. The*, horses were solii
to a San Jose. Cal.. firm. Walter Waleh pleaded
guilty and made a confession. Implicating Llskey
and one Wallace.
TE3I PEBSO3S KlLLED— Uamburff. Feb. 24.
Tea persons were killed aad II injured tonight
through the slipping of .a camrway Jx>tw<»»D
wharf , and the steamer Kalserla Aagraste Vic
toria," which was belasr loaded preparatory to
sailing for New York Saturday. No passenger*
were , among the rictlms.
CAST ANOTHER DISK — Los Angeles. Feb.
24. — Word was receiTed today by Dr. tieorge D.
Hale, head of the Mount Lowe solar obserratory.
from J the glasM works In (iobalu. France, that
the works will at owe «jnd'Ttake another cast
o* the 100 \u25a0 Inch disk for the obserTatory. to
be placed In the Hooker telescope.
I STREETCAX "HOO" SCOHED— Chicago. Feb.
[24. — A coura* in* ethic* for the stivetrar "ho""
' was recommended at the annual meeting of the
department of »uperintend»-uce of ti»» National
Educational . association by Mii« Ella Lyman
Cabot of the MaMachusctts hoard of education
today. • The next annual nieetins of t*ie depart
' ment will, be held In Indianapolis.
3