New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-06-09
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
TILE CHINESE CERTIFICATE CASES

fnDox OF aEATTIE's NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Oh THE SAMOAN DISASTER AT MARE
IsnAED-wELL-KNowN COURT CASES.
lsY rELKGRAPH TO THE TRIprsaJ
San Francisco, June s.-After several years OF
litigation and an expense Of many thousands the
frauduent Chinese certificate cases came to an emu
this week with the petty sentence OF one OF the
balf-dozeu conspirators TO thirty days in Alameda
tail and a fine of 81 900 HIM, the only man pun
isbed. was the least guilty of the gang, and the
oniv one who did not belong to the Custom House
yorce Their plan was to sell return Chinese GER
tificates which ought to have been cancelled, and
thes defeat the provisions OF the EXCLUSION ACT.
r. IN estimated that the gang made 100000, as
the certificates sold as high as 500 each. Boyd.
one of the leaders, turned States evidence. but
his testimony proved so weak ON the stand that
his associates could not DO convicted. Boyd is the
fellow who gained local notoriety by taking
$500 bath in champagne at the Cliff House
The losses by the great fire at Seattle fail heav-
Ily upon San Francisco insurance companies. IL
is estimated that nearly two millions were held
here by agencies Of American and foreign COM
papies, while a quarter of million was held by
companies not represented in San Francisco. Al
though this FIRE Is a serious blow TO Seattle, IL IS
not believed that it will cripple that enterprising
made Of yesterday when they voted TO rebuild
with brick and stone, and to send fund Of $4,000
raised for the Johnstown sufferers TO its original
destination This exhibition of pluck assures
them generous help from California and the Coast
which admires nothing so much as courage IN 'he
face Of great losses
There Is much dissatisfaction at Mare Island over
The orders of Secretary Tracy, detailing officers from
70 GOA
or course, technically, all officers ana men VINO
survived the disaster are liable to serve out tle,r
cruises so untimey cut short, but when IT IS
remembered that these officers lost everything
and have endured much hardship IL seems hafsh
non to allow them to go East as they petltlohed
There are scores Of naval officers rusucatlng nero
and at Mare Island who could easily be spared
for sea service, but these shore sailors nave
apull," and so continue TO occupy sou Derth
"A banquet was gwen TO Lieutenant j. W. Carlin'
one of the heroes Of the great disaster IN samoa
bv>tha Bohemian Club. The room was beautifully
decorated with naval cmblems and hags Lieu
tenant Carlin told again the salient incidents OF
the terrible storm. He eulogized Admiral MID
berly and Captain Schoonmaker, and PAID warm
tribute to Harry Lyon, Lieutenant J' u WILSON
and others, In private talk Lieutenant oarAlh
praisea the conduct of J. z. Dunning, the Asso-
account of the wreck. He declared that although
Dunning spent the whole time on the beach during
the gale. and did more to save the lives OF those
washed upon shore than any other man, yet Dun
aing said not word OF this in his letter, nor mas
any one in the Navy recognized his valuable alu
The Mercantile Library Association hns voted
not 70 consolidate with the Mechanics institute
Library, but it is apparently doing nothing In the
- 70 hpt
present library building, which was constructed
from the proceeds Of public lottery sanctioned
bv the State together with the lot, is worth about
a 40 600, This amount was said 10 have oecn
offered last year, but the directors demanded
$4,000, SO that the negotiations fell through
The singular action Of the directors is causing
a suspicion that small clique want to wlnd up
the affairs Of the library and DIVIDE the process
as was done in the Dashaway Temperance Assoela-
ron Meanwhile the Free Public Library
directors demand the Mercantile Library DOCKS,
il che latter library goes out OF existence; on le
ground that this valuable COLLECTION snoulu hoV ~
TO private corporation.
Judge Sullivans firm stand in denying Federal
jurisdiction in the application Tor reeeaver GL
the Sharon estate shows that ntgauon over IllIs
celebrated case has only fairy begun me
are still full of fight, despite the receho ouPf'"'
Court decision against them. ,.A etc
Another famous case which was eYlyed c TINS
ford and otber members of the South Sea Company.
Argument was heard before the STATE supreme
Court on appeal from the Judgment ana order OF
lower court denying plaintiffs motion for non
trial. It will be remembered that Mrs. cotton
suedsfor lnrger sum than the railroad managef t
gave her after her husbands death, and her sun
WAS founded mainly on the allegation that the
defendants had misrepresented the value OF their
property, and the interest Of General COTTON IN IT.
The case, by agreement was heard Dy Judge
Temple, and decided By him against Mrs Cotton.
He also refused her appeal for new trial, anu on
this denial Of an appeal the present nearing II
founded,