New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-04-08
SAN FRANCISCO.
POLITICAL, INDUSTRIAL. ;SOCIAL-WARREN
CHENEY'S EXIT.

POLITICAL, INDUSTRIAL, ;SOCIAL-WARREN
I CHENEY'S EXIT.
iyRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuSE'
SAN FRANoIsCo March 30.-A great many invest
ipations have been begun by the Democratic reform
ers who recently hal Office thrust upon them, Dut
in nine cases out of ten they have either 1ound
nothing wrong or have been unable to make out
case About the only righteous case they had, was
that against eX-Immigration commissioner buhtei,
who nsed for his own profit all the fees collected
from Chinese coolies imported from Hong hons'
Bunter became alarmed and offered to compromise
for So5 600 but this was rejected and since them 1T
ia understood he has received legal assistance which
promisss to bring HIM out without paying cent to
the State Then his predecessor in office, T. u
Van Ness, was arrested on similar charge last
week, but so badly was the prosecution managed
that Van Ness was promptly discharged by the
Court and now he threatens to bring suit against
the Bourbon Controller, Dunn, one OF kearney OLD
sand-lot apostles. Dunn IS one OF the gang OF
spurious reformers who signed pledge to turn over
half their salaries into the City Treasury. lie came
into office with Kalloch and it is needless to say
that he did nothing OF the sort. as he found that
there was no law TO compel him to keep his promise
When Dunn appeared as the prosecutor of Van Ness
for an offence very similar to his own, the latter
scored a neat point by rehearsing this breach OF
the pulitcal promise the part OF the sand-otter
The heavy rains which have dispelled all fears OF
"A dry year have been the sensation OF the week
No one who has not lived in California can apprecl-
ate how much rain means In the winter TO the farm
err The outlook last week was very gloomy even
the saneuine predicting not more than one-haif a
good crop of wheat and barley. Now the two
inches of rainfall pretty evenly distributed over the
State. has changed all this. 1t came at the eleventh
hour, but still it came in time 10 save thousands
of acres of wheat from drying up under the fierce
sun. 1t did not save the hay IN mary counties
md the ranchmen who have not sold their surplus
stock will be apt to suffer loss. The rain was heavy
in MERGED and Fresno-two counties that usually
core IN for scany moisture. AS far as can be gath
sred from the reports of correspondents in the chef
wheat counties. the crop will be fully equal TO
that of last year. while the fruit crop will be the
largest ever known in. the State. 1t Is said
that the California farmer would grunble
If he lived in Canaan, and had DO
nsuzo crop every year. There seems to be some
truth IN this when one reads the reports from the
Sacramento Valley that no more ram Is wanted
there. and recalls the scene one week ago when
prayers were offered in the churches for the sorey
needed showers
The Haverstick shooting naturally excited much
interest here as all the actors In the tragedy were
welI-known San Franclscans The general sentI-
roert seams TO he that it was needless murder, as
Hayerstick was not a man of the physique or temper
to make him dangerous antagonist. lie had lar
more friends in this city than either Uhlor or Conk-
ling The comments that have come under my no.
tce about this case show that the people here are
growing tired of the doctrine that or woman
is justified in ignoring the law and returning to the
savage method of personal vengeance. A half
dozen notorious local cases, in which false public
sentiment led to the acquittal OF the murderer,
might be mentioned; but even here the form of a
trial was observed. The discharge of man with
ont Jury trial. and before the body of his victim
was under ground, is something which San Fran
cisco courts, bad as they are in many ways have
not reached yet.
The sentence of ex-Policeman Lanktree to ten
wears in State Prison will have good effect on the
remainder of the force. He was the man who stole
about 81 600 worth of Chinese silks from Central
Pacific freight while il was lying in the com
pany's sheds. At his house was also discovered n
large amount of stolen goods that had been recently
taken from bonded warehouses He was evidently
an old criminal, as he received his sentence very
calmly.
Warren Cheney, who assumed the management
of the revived Overland Monthly, has stepped down
and out. THE TRIBUNEs exposure OF his plagia-
risms In the article on Bret Harte proved too much
for him 1t is fortunate for the magazine that It's
editorial control has passed into the hands OF inc
Rev c. d. Barrows. n young clergyman from Boston,
who has been here only about year, but VINO mas
made reputation by his ability as a pulpit orator
and his strong interest in all social questions. lie
will make something of the magazine, unless the
iron founder who is supplying the com. grows
tired of playing the role of Mac@nas. The current
number has contributions from several weil-known
Eastern writer's and in every way Is great I'M
proyement over its predecessors.
An effort is being made in certain quarters to show
that leprosy Is not increasing IN the Sandwich
islands The latest papers from there, however,
give some startling facts in regard TO the disease.
The Government in some places is making efforts 10
remove the diseased ones TO the living grave on
Mookai and the branch hospital at Honolulu is re-
ported to be filed with lepers awaiting shipment TO
the lazaretto In other islands no pains are taken
TO arrest those known to be afflicted with the
ioathsome malady and one resident Of Sahaina In
a letter TO The Honolulu Gazette, complains that
four lepers IN various stages Of the disease, get
their meals at the restaurant which he Is forced 10
patronage There is question that iepr0sy Is In
creasing on the islands owing to the gross careless.
ness of the natives and their incurabc licentious:
ness. Time was when the leper colony was looked
on by foreign residents one OF the sights; now
they wish to ignore this they fear IL may
be used as a weapon against the reciprocity which
they so eagerly desire TO retain.