New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-04-27
TOPICS IN LEADING CITIES.
SAN FRANCISCO.
THE ANTI MONOPOLISTs DEFEATED-CLAUS
SPRECKLEss LAST ACHIEVEMENT.
fsr TELEGRAPH TO THK TRfBUSE.l


lBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TnfsUSEl
E,x FRANCISCO. April 25.-In the State Legisa-
laturc the anti-monOpoists tins week nave met
crushing defeat which virtually ends their schemes
for amending the constitution so as to plnch the
railroads Thi, leaves the Democratic party In
bad fix rs their hopes of success IN this state were
fixed on successful legislation at Sacramento. AS
the Legislature has boon in session i've weeks II Is
probable that the Governor will refuse TO order an
extra appropriation.
The surprise In the Sharon case this week is due
to Tho arnearauce as a witness for the defence of
w NJ Nellson the man whom Sarah Althca origi-
nalv selected "a her champion. lie gave some Singh
lar Testimony going 10 shawl that the alleged mar
rago contract was spurious. but his evidence s not
worth much to Sharon, as no one hero would be-
evc him on oath.
Some timo ago charter was secured in Indian
apolis for the Peoples Railway Company OF America
The design was to build railroad across the con-
inent the funds to be raised by popular subscrlp-
tion. Emil Kennedy. who organized the knights of
Labor was president of the new company. Books
wero opened here. and by the appeals of the anti
monopoly party $50 900 has been subscribed. 1t
now turns ont that there were no directors aud no
one knows W nat has become Of the funds. Abont a
week ago Kennedy, who had been Threatened with
legal proceedings, appointed a board OF directors
from the heaviest subscribers. At their meeting
this week quarrel arose and Kennedy struck Fitz-
gerald who had been counsel for the company, with
whip. The latter Knocked Kennedy down and
pummelled HIM well When they were separated
Fitzgerald pulled ont memorandum book and said:
81 have evidence here which will convict Kennedy
of being either a swindler or thief" At this Ken
nedy pulled pistol and the failure of the weapon
to 60 off probably prevented murder.
This incident suggests the recent use of pistols in
n meeting of the directors of the Dashaway AssocI-
alton which has now ended so dsaStrOusly, the man
who was accidentally shot then having died of his
wound. These two cases show the bodness of the
swindlinG officers of a corporation upon whom no
wholesome check has been placed.
Claus Spreckles has long controlled the ;ugar trade
on this coast. He proposes to mOnopoize the
carving trade with the Sandwich Islands He has
made arrangements with the Pacific Mail Steam
ship Company, by which they are 10
take no moro freight or passengers
between this city and Honolulu. Spreckles recent
" put on n number of new steamers and packets,
and with this cast iron contract with his only rival
he can bring any obstinate sugar planters to terms
and control the trade of the islands. The next
thing we may expect is that the old German, who
was knighted by Kalakaua, has bought up the
Hawaiian kingdom and retired the present monarch
on pension lie virtually controls it now, as the
Government s hopclessly IN debt to him. One OF
his favorte lawyers was recently appointed Attor-
ney-Gcncral and Sir Claus's word is law TO tho ell
tire Cabinet of the pigmy kingdom.
A few months ago tho Electric Light Company
erected poles and illuminated about one-quarter of
the city as q specimen of what they could do. Their
bid for lighting the city was 100000 more than
that of the gas company in the district where they
put UP the poles, but $4,000 less in the suburbs,
whore they proposed to erect masts. This week
the Supervisors awarded the contract for two years
to the old gas company at - cents lamp per
night. The main argument against electricity was
that tho mast system would give insufficient light
in q large part of the city. 1t was admitted that
the pole system with one light to blOckwas vastly
superior to gas.
The suicide of w. II. Lent. the eldest son of w VI.
Lent the well known mining opcratorm New-lOrk.
was no surprise to his friends. lie had been out of
health for "A long time and Respondent and
morose He was in the habit of taking his dinner
at II restaurant where numerous friends of his also
dlned but he invariably sat alone. This nissan
thropy in so young man was no donbt due To
chronic i'll health. The family arc wealthy and
Young Lent has al Ways had abundant means