Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-03-03
. Of THE EVENING SrAR.

ats-Washtmg tom,s birthday I'm san
Franchise.
Correspondence Of THE EVENING STAR.
OAKLAND, CAL, February %. 1883.
Your correspondent arrived last night in this
young and beautiful city which bears the rels-
tion to San Francisco that Brooklyn does to New
York. 1t IL the second largest city on the Pa
cific coast, and its comparative freedom from
fogs and winds makes 1t moro desirable as a
place OF residence than Its rich and powerful
neighbOr. As consequence many of the prom
inent and wealthy business men Of San Fran
cisco live In elegant style In Oakland. The two
cities are connected by q line Of large and hand
some steamers, which leave every half hour from
either place from early morn till midnight, the
time from wharf to wharf not exceeding fifteen
minutes.
The present population Of Oakland approxt-
mates $1,000, and 1t Is destined to q much
greater growth. 1t has a magnificent water
front OF four miles or the bay and land-locksd
harbor. whose sparkling waters are smooth as
mill pond. To improve II the government
has already expended nearly half million, and,
with another appropriation Of the same sum-
this grand harbor can be made accessible to the
largest ocean steamers. Commerce and man.
ufactures here are both growing into import
ant and profitable industries. The public school
system Is said to be admirable In It's arrange
ment and execution, and the church edifces, of
the different denominations, are among the
most conspicuous and ornamental objects which
attract the eye OF q visitor. San Francisco, we
believe, Is destined TO be the most influential
city on the continent. The waves Of oriental
ana OF occidental civilization meet and mingle
at this central point. San Francisco faces more
millions OF the human family as she looks
toward the setting sun than New York does as
she looks towards the sunrise. Commercially
ana morally she has, as her neighbors Japan;
China, India; Australia, New Zealand and the
grand highway through which Christian ciyiI ill.,
only the island world Of the Pacific but
the great empires on the east as we'll
The longer live on this coast the more pro-
ioundiy am impressed with the immense posi-
ofifties OF California. 1t Is safe to say that In
respect to climate, scenery and soil 1t is unsur-
passed by any state In the Union. The winters
are remarkably mild and lovely. and the sum-
mers bracfng and breezy. The ordinary temper
AZURE Is from 80 to 70 degrees the year round.
The material resources of this state are amazing
Its vast and varied products In 1882 will appear
from the following figures. based on reliable
data: Product Of wheat 80 600 600 bushels:
wheat and flour exports, 81 ,635 9O6 centals; gold
and silver yield $50, 800 900; barley crop Of CAL
nornla, 1900 600 bushels; coinage in San Fran
cisco mint. $37.9l5.0 600; merchandise. export
values by sea. SIS, 752 42S wool clip. 10 600 900
pounds; product Of wine. 10000 600 gallons
federal revenue at the port of San Francisco,
$13, l43, 553; lumber receipts at this port. 26f
VSe Sl4 feet; quicksilver product in California
5O,S2O TASKS: value of manufactures In San
Francisco, S100, 600 coo; sale of real estate In
San Francisco, $15, 12e. $50: increase Of imrni-
grafton, $500 souls; banking capital Of the
state, Sl15,OOO,O 600; combined gold and silver
product OF the Pacific slope since 1S4S. e. $685.
554,5OO; gold and silver exports in twenty six
years. $3.50 20I 2l6
The Legislature of this state is still In session.
1t has repealed the Sunday law and is adverse
to the doctrine of prohibition. California has
now q free Sunday and free whisky. and
what Will be the effect on public morals and
social order remainstO be seen. The Christian
people are generally opposed to the views of
the present legislators on these two subjects
whilst the people of the world. as generally,
sustain them, and it Is not difficult to deter
mine which OF these two parties are In the ma
jOrity.
The civil service bill passed by Congress does
not find much favor with the democrats of the
Pacific coast. Before its passage they were
confident of victory in 1884, but with the pros
psct OF permanent exclusion from the minor
of1ces OF the government. their zeal In regard
to the approaching presidential contest is liable
to flag.
San Francisco IL all ablaze on this bright ami
versary morning. Banners are waving and
bugles sounding and military professions. i'm
brilliant array, are marching through the
streets. The city will be Illuminated tonight
during the display Of the imposing and POM
pous ceremonies of the Mardi Gras. w.
Tax Remittance ANA Exemption.
To the Editor Of TIE EVENING STAR:
Twas delighted with your editorial in The
STAR, February Goth, upon the bill RENTING
certain taxes due by Eliza n. Patterson. The
principle you advocate is a correct one Surely.
hof Viorhk
prominent in social life from the burdens of
taxation, /" any more than 1t has to pass q law
ITO put their hands individually into the pockets
OF the said taxpayers and abstract that amount
OF money!" You say, ut is strange that bill
OF TINS character should have any standing in
congress" But will not this principle apply
equally In another direction namely, exemp-
tion or church property from taxation?
church Is religious corporation. aud the whole
amount exempted is virtually to assess upon
non-exempted property the full amount of the
exempted, thereby compelling comparatively
poor, laboring men and women, who find It
dllncuit to live and bear the taxation on their
own little hOmesteads and property. to nav
taxes on the churches Of the millionaire. whose
chief luxury consists, it may be, in sitting In
snese gorgeous palaces which the poor labOrer
can never enter! Then. let every man and
woman pay taxes on their own property; every
corporation pay its own taxes, and eyery church
consider itselfa robber that does not bear it's own
share OF the public debt through just and-eQuable
taxation. Yours, for justice, E.E.G.
RERDELL CORROBORATED.
1.-THE Defendants Have No Honest
Means OF Escape.'s
From the New York Herald. March,.
The star route prosecution yesterday called to
the stand several important new witnesses to
corroborate the remarkable testimony given by
Rerdell. Rerdell, it will be remembered, was
ex-senator Dorsey's clerk, and had charge of all
hts books, correspondence and papers relating
to the star route business. As most of these doc
uments are now in possession of the defendants. |
who for obviOns reasons have refused to comply
with the demand Of the prosecution for their pro-
duction In court, Rerdel was permitted to prove |
their contents. Among other things he testified |
to entries Of money to the account Of the two |
Dorseys, Brady and other jobbers, Brady's &C |
count being kept for prudential reasons under |
the name OF civilian Smith" |
In the spring Of 1880 Rerdell was summoned |
to produce these books before Congressional |
and inf