davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The morning call., 1893-08-29
OAKLANO'S GREAT SUIT.

4 contemporary discusses the question
whether Oakland gains anything by bring
ing suit against the waterfront company
in State court instead Of in a Federal
court. In either case 1t is assumed that the
suit will eventually find its way TO the
United States Supreme Court, whose de-
cison viii necessarily be in accord with tn e
principles laid down 10 the Chicago case.
The question as to whether the Federal or
the State courts would be the more likely
to treat the city of Oakland fairly is of
minor Importance, since any decision that
may be rendered in the State court
or in the lower Federal court will
he subject TO revision in the United
States Supreme Court. The Oakland
case apparently stands upon the de-
cision in the Chicago case. The Supreme
Court there declared that le gislatve bodies.
whether State or county, have no power TO
deprive the people of waterfront property.
The title to the land which serves to con-
meet a town with the sea, or navigable
waters leading to the sea, must rest with
the people, and be subject to Federal laws
regulating commerce. The Federal treas
ury is often tapped to improve harbors and
water fronts. and 1t is not presumable that
Congress would appropriate money for the
enrichment of private corporations. There
are but few people in Oakland or in other
parts of the State who realize the magni-
tude of the case about to be tried. What
would be the future of Oakland with ten
miles of water front at the wharves OF
which sea-going vessels could meet the
cars bringing produce from all parts Of the
State? Can any real-estate dealer place a
limit to the improvement in land values
that would inevitably follow? Can any
business man calculate the advantage of
close and cheap connection with parties he
buys from and sells to? 1t is understood
that the Southern Pacific Company has
been at great pains to perfect its title 20
The land in dispute. 1t has doubtless
bought all that the parties it bought from
were In a position to dispose of. But ac-
cording to the decision of the Supreme
Court in the Chicago case back of the parties
from whom the Southern Pacific secured
titles were the people in natural possession
OF rights which no legislative body could
give or sell.
The morning call., 1893-08-29
THE STANDARD OF VALUE.

The Philadelphia Times relieves Itself
of the following:
This country could use an almost indef
amount of silver In subsidiary coinage If the
silver sbriekers only would be content with
that. The legaitender limit might be extended
TO any reasonable sum. and even the Bland
dollars would float along harmlessly and hap
PLY alongside OF The gold currency, just as
halves ana quarters now do In the narrower
limit. without disturbing the standard of value.
Where does the Times get its standard
of value? By what process has it been
established? When did the people ever
declare for any other standard of value
than that formed by gold and silver
During the history of civilization, until
within a few years, gold and silver have
jointly been the measure of value for all
commodities. From what source does the
creditor get his right to demonetize one
metal that the money of the other may
correspond increase in value? We
hear much In these days about an honest
dollar. The dollar is the must nearly
exactly honest which will buy as much of
the staple commodities now as twenty or
fifty years ago. That dollar is dishonest
which will buy more. The use OF all the
silver mined as subsidiary coin woul6only
affect the question of bimetallism as ii
tends to keep I'D the price of silver until
such time as it may be remonetized. The
business of the world cannot be conducted
on gold basis. There is not enough to
make currency fairly secure. The United
States and Europe are now bidding against
each other for the little free gold in exist
ence. A few millions of gold going to Eu-
rope brings On a financial striDgency in
The United States. A month or two later
the same amount comes west and the
financial skies brighten. A nation having
property to the amount Of s65. .000 OOO, ,0O(
allows S1o.OO0.o0O or S2O.0OO.o 900 of one kind
Of property to materially affect the value
of all the rest. Gold worship Is disease
which men will be ashamed OF as soon a:
they recover from IT,
The morning call., 1893-08-29
THE VOTE IN THE HOUSE.

The anti-silver men had things their
own way in the House on Monday. The
various propositions 20 change the rates
were voted down by majorities so,large
that the mnOrities hardly seemed TO have
footing. Another proposition to revive
the Bland-Allson act secured 136 affirma-
tive votes. against 213 and the final vote
on the Wilson bill to repeal the silver
purchasing clause of the Sherman act was
239 for and 10 against. Fifteen members
voted for The Bland act who voted also to
repeal the Sherman act. No one OF these
votes tests the strength of silver in the
House. A good many friends of silver are
convinced that the continual purchase of
silver IN der hostile administration would
furnish no solution Of the silver problem,
and 1t Is known that many of the friends
of bimetallsm are not prepared for free
coinage on any ratio that this nation alone
may establish. The administration, by
concentrating its power on the single
prOposition TO repeal the silver-purchasing
clause of the Sherman act, has succeeded
in enrolling on its side votes that would
undoubtedly be cast for some we'll IN otived
and practical plan for the reconciliation
of silver The repeal bill goes to the SEN
ate with strength that will go far to Sc
cure the favorable action of that body
either on that bill or some bill that will do
the same work
The morning call., 1893-08-29
A WEAVING INVENTION.

citizen of San Francisco is said to
have new method Of weaving patented
under which prosperous cloth trade may
be established in this State. His inven-
ton is equally suitable for wool, ramie.
silk and jute as well as other fibers, anc as
the raw materials are abu1dantly avail
able, and a great saving in labor is effected.
a practical application of the machinery
on a large scale ought TO be possible if
capitalists will only take hold of il. Mr..
Robert Hunt will be benefactor to Cali
fornia of sterling character il he can sue
ceed in breaking the spell which keeps 1t
so greatly in the hands of the Eastern pro-
ducers, who send their wares here in over
whelming quantities and convert business
in a remarkable degree into wholesale
and retail trade in imported goods. No
doubt there are satisfactory reasons for
this tendency. which the capitalist who
has ventured into manufactures or who
has watched the efforts of others can eX-
plain. Nevertheless we have vast guam
titles of raw material in wool, hides and
other articles which is shipped East.
remported in manufactured goods and
sold to local consumers after having earned
several profits in passage from hand to
hand. 1t cannot De pretended that this is
satisfactory, or that it is desirable IL
should be permanent.
Mr.. Hunts loom and new departure in a
shuttle with endless thread arrangement
render it possible to decrease the amount
of labor required to attend the machinery.
only one person being required for num-
ber of looms instead of one. The saving
in labor is the leading advantage claimed.
That of itself would give California the
fulcrum in manufacturing it has long
lamented the absence of, the reason the
Eastern manufacturers have such a su-
premacy, even in furnture-maklng. being
10 great part the cheaper labor they are able
to obtain. The Hunt looms are represented
as capable of saving one-half the labor at
least ordinarily employed. This improve
ment NAV displace labor at the outset in
the East. but not in California. where
comparatively little is attempted in the
textile industries. Such an economy here
should have the effect of stimulating ven-
lures into textile industries, for which
also equability of climate confers some
advantages not enjoyed in the East. Pop
ulation would soon increase were there
development of manufacturing enterprise.
1t may, therefore, be hoped that there will
be good practical results from Mr.. Hunts
ingenuity, and that the sole effect will not
be further assistance to manufacturers
elsewhere
The morning call., 1893-08-29
WINES AT THE FAIR.

In whatever way the matter is explained
II cannot be considered happy result of
sending magnificent exhibits of wine to
Chicago that number of the exhibitors
are so much in revolt at the system of
judging that they have determined TO have
nothing more to do with competition. The
awards, such as they are, are thankfully
declined. Mr.. John I. Doyle, who very
pointedly explains his feelings. practically
declares that the awards would be worth
less. This miscarriage of arrangements
may be set down first and last to the
peculiar notions of judging by inries enter
tanned by Mr.. Boyd Thatcher. chairman of
the committee on awards. As the jury on
wines is composed the gentlemen from
Spain will decide upon Spanish wines.
those from France, Germany. Italy and
so forth on the wines of their respective
countries. Mr.. Romualdo will have those
of California committed to his care. and
then the jury as Whole will subscribe to
and indorse what has been really done by
one man or one set of men, each for his
own country. The labels are added, too,
so that the mistakes of the Palate may be
corrected by accuracy of vision.
This is a simple method of distributing
medals and parchment honors, but Is il
likely TO satisfy exhibitors or the public? ?
The proposal Of the Viticultural Commits
sion that there should be a number of
jurors for each class of wines was far
more likely to result in sound opinions on
vintages. and if there were an indors G.
ment Of California wines by competent
European judges the decisions would be
of immense value. But in what respect eau
the products of our vineyards be much
raised in public favor by the ouinion of an
estimable California gentleman that this is
good. that commendable and this other
brand decidedly superior, with certificates
accordingly? With the labels to guide him.
too! The judging might just as efficiently
be performed n San Francisco.
The morning call., 1893-08-29
CHURCH LIFE OUTLOOK.
Meeting of the Presbyterian Minis
terial Union.

Rev. Joseph E. Scott, the president of
the Presbyterian Ministerial Union. pre-
sided for the last time at the meeting in
the Howard Church Yesterday morning,
his term of office having expired, and Rev.
George D. 3. Stewart was elected presi-
dent for the ensuing three months. Rev.
james Woodwork was reelected secre-
tary for six months. Rev. Arthur Arm
strong Of Colorado was introduced and
took part in the proceedings.
Rev. 81. n. Bevier read a paper on
"Soms hopeful Tendencies In Modern
Church Life" First among them he
placed the growing tendency toward
higher estimate of the scope and dignity
OF the pastoral Office. The people on the
one hand are coming to pay greater defer
ence to the pastor a. a leader. and on the
other he is gradually relinquishing his
claims to ANYTHING like absolute control in
ecclesiastical affairs. Never had the true
preacher better outlook than he has to-
DAY.
The increase in the number of meetings
for various purposes. all, however. working
together in the same direction. rendering
it necessary TO keep the church open all
through the week, and making 1t to a
great extent an ecclesiastical institute, is
one of the hopeful tendencies. Another
is the increase Of activity among the young
people, as seer in such organizations as
the Christian Endeavor societies. Still an
other is the movement TO reach and save
| the boys through the agency Of the Boys
| Brigade.
The expansion of woman's sphere and
the increasing presence in different fields
and branches of lab or, reaching even to
her invasion of the pulpit, may be re-
garded as among the hopeful indications.
The growth of interdenominational inter
course. and the breaking down of sectarian
barriers. bringing the Lords people Of
fferent names into closer communication
with each other. is certainly encouraging, g,
and may we'll be placed among the hopeful
tendencies.
Mr.. Bevier is a graduate of the San
Francisco Theological Seminary. and is
the youngest member of the union; but
his paper was characterized by a clearness
of thought and vigor of expression, as
we'll as literary elOquence, that any minis
ter present might have been proud of. 1t
so happened that the first to take part in
the discussion of the paper was Rev. DR..
Minten. one of Mr.. Bevier's professors in
the seminary, who was naturally we'll
pleased with the maiden effort of his
former pupil. He was followed by Rev.
Messrs. Colner, Smith, Meeker, Arm
strong, Duprey, E. B. Stewart, Phelps,
Rhoda, Griffths. G. ID. B. Stewart, Wood
worth and Elder Charles Geddes.
The morning call., 1893-08-29
FREE COAL AND FREE IRON.

The Boston paper which has discovered
much political wisdom in a proposition to
put the raw material used by New Eng
land manufacturers ON the free list has
received information from the South that
the exigences of the Government will re-
quire the imposition of duties on coal and
iron. The production of iron and coal is
quite an important industry in the South
and has served 10 convert several Southern
members TO the policy Of protecting in
dustries In which they are especially inter-
ested. The South Is human as well as the
North States which do not produce raw
material, but do work raw material into
finished goods, conceived the idea OF admit
The morning call., 1893-08-29
HOARDS.

There are indications on every hand that
boarded money is finding its way back to
business channels. People who boarded
large sums in the hope of making nice
turn with ready money have made their
turn or are convinced that none is to be
made Those who boarded small amounts
to be on the safe side in case of pro-
tracted period Of depression are now re-
assured by the partial revival of business.
1t is these boards quite as much as more
liberal bank rules that will restore the in
dustries to their normal condition. Capt.
talists now have money in their own hands
and are looking about for good invest
ments. Banks are good things In their
way. and safe banking is commend bic,
but from the nature Of the banking busi-
ness they must be IN ore careful of other
peoples money than man need be with
his own.
The morning call., 1893-08-29
THE SAN JOAQUIN SETTLERS.

1t is impossible not to come to the con-
clusion that the bona-ide settlers on the
900 acres in San Joaquin Valley which
the Southern Pacific Railway Company
now claims under a decision of Judge
Ross have a very strong case for equit-
able consideration. On these lands there
are hundreds of settlers who have taken
up their claims since 1856 under decisions
of Land Commissioner Sparks and the Sec
retary of the Interior. Their title was ap-
parenty valid under the security of Gov
ernment patent. and they went ahead
bringing their farms under cultivation and
looking forward to a time when they
would be fairly prosperous. All of sud-
den, by the decision of one man, Judge
Ross of the Southern District Circuit
Court. the toll of these years is pronounced
wasted and the farmers declared squatters,
the entire tract being held to be the prop
erty Of the Southern Pacific as railroad
lands. Having got one test case in its
favor, the company is bent upon obtaining
judgment against all, the harshness of the
proceeding. as might be expected. not
weighing for a moment against the impor-
tsnt resolve of getting possession.
Congress is to be petitioned to devise
some means OF relieI 10 the settlers. III
the railroad must have its 100000 acres of
land it would be equitable to set over to 1t
some equal superfcies of unmproved land
somewhere not yet settled or purchased.
There is ample territory out of which a
slice of 100000 acres could be selected, and
the gift would disturb nobody. But to
seize these farms well under cultivation
and to hand them over with all their i'm
proyements to a corporation remorselessly
exacting in all its dealings savors of confis-
cation. The Government is to blame if
this is allowed to be done at the expense
of the settlers. 1t was the Government
which allowed entry upon the lands. and Ii
ought 10 do what ii can to mitigate the in
jury which threatens 10 fall upon those who
trusted it. The representatives of Cali
fornia in Congress can at least ventilate
this matter and make plain what evils
arise from indiscriminate bounty in hand
ing over vast areas of public lands TO cor
poraiions for so-called railway accommo-
dations, which too often means u magnifi-
cent opportunity to harass trade by exac-
tiOnS,
The morning call., 1893-08-29
THE CITY'S ASSESSMENT.
Supervisor James to Conduct San
FranciSco'S Fight.

The chairman of the Finance Committee g
of the Board of Supervisors. j. g. James.
will leave for Sacramento this morning in
order to conduct the fight that San Fran
cisco will make against the proposed rails
ing of the county's assessment-roll. The
meeting of the State Board of Eaualiza-
tion. which gave notice of the proposed
raise, will take place on August 81. Au-
ditor Broderick will also attend the Sacra-
mento session. Assessor Siebe and Mayor
Elert will be in attendance, and a lively
fight will be made in San Francisco's in
terest.
The San Francisco men have carried the
war into Africa. They sent Expert Cyril
Williams of the Board of Supervisors to
Santa Clara, Contra Costa, Alameda and
other counties with instructions to look up
the assesSment-rolls of these various coun-
ties. Expert Williams not only looked up
the assessment-rolls. but got rscords of
appraisements and opinions of real estate
men and the sums mentioned in convey
ances. and made comparisons between
the assessed and the real valuation.
These facts and figures will be sprung on
the State board by the Supervisors when
they meet in Sacramento. The statistics
will be used as n reason why San Francis
co.'s assessment should ot be raised.
The morning call., 1893-08-29
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.

Jane Hading. the French actress, is said
to be more beautiful Oft the stage than on.
She almost always wears black on the
street.
General Menotti GaribaIdi. son of the
Italian patriot. and his wife celebrated
their silver wedding few days ago in
Rome.
ductor of the Boston Symphony Orcbes-
ira. will arrive in America early in Oc-
tober.
Maria Mitchell, the Vassar professor.
used TO spend her vacations at Boston and
Lynn, where many "reminiscences of her
are told.
Delaware is still the great peach-grow-
ing State, and Ex-Governor Blggs and his
two sons are the largest growers of
peaches In the State. and perhaps In the
world.
Kipling, who despises Americans so
thoroughly that he wouldn't live among
them, has nevertheless apparently settled
down for good on his wife's farm near
Brattleboro. Vt.
Bishop John T. Newman of the Method
ist Episcopal Church. who has been visit
ing the missions in South America, has
been absent about four months and his
tour has covered about 600 miles.
Our recent guest, the Princess Eulalie,
has gone to R0yan, a French watering
place. where she will remain three weeks.
Upon her return to England. which will
be in semi-state. the Infanta will visit
Queen Victoria and several memb bers OF the
Orleans family.
The Duke of Fife has been summering at
Westgate- on-Sea. and has got him self dis
liked by the local populace on account of
his stinginess. He never tipped" the
boatmen. to whom he paid the lowest legal
price, and he finally became so parsimoni-
Gus that he ordered out the coast guard
galley for the use OF himself and his party.
The morning call., 1893-08-29

ting raw material free. while retaining
duties on finished goods. Other States.
which produce raw material, think that If
there is to be any protection at all they
may as we'll bave some of it. The demand
in the South is no more selfish than that
in New England. A practical tariff bill
cannot be framed on the principle of pro-
tecting one class of industries and leaving
unprotected another class also in need of
protection. The vital principle in any
tariff bill is the protection of American
labor, and to protect American labor eff
ciently the list of articles in producing
which American labor is largely employed
must be protected. III there had been less
self-seeking on the part of the representa-
tives Of certain manufacturing interests
the free-trade party would never have
obtained seeming verdict in its favor.
The morning call., 1893-08-29
STATE BANK CIRCULATION.

The New York Sun cries incessantly for
a liberal Interpretation OF the Chicago
platform in the matter of the tariff. AS
the tariff plank declared protection uneon-
stitutional the San insists that in the tariff
to be formulated by the present Congress
no trace of protection should be visible.
But there is another point On which the
Sun does not consider the platform so
binding. The platform calls for the repeal
of the tax on State banks, but the East
ern Democracy is surrounding that plank
with so many difficulties that there is now
The morning call., 1893-08-29
TRUSTS AND TURNS.

A New York gold paper argues that the
purchase of silver has tended TO contract
the currency, and supports its theory with
statistics showing there is less currency
now in circulation than there was year
ago. 1t appears that there was S19R, 200, 900
Withdrawn by depositors from national
banks between July II. 1892 and July II,
1893 This immense sum cannot be traced
to new enterprises 1t has disappeared,
and much of it will not bly, see the
light again until our financial affairs are
put on a solid basis. But what caused it
to disappear? Why should men who have
money in banks where it was earning
money take il out and put it in safe de-
posits at the expense of the owner? The
paper referred to thinks it is because the
treasury has been buying silver. Other
people may say that it is because the
volume of paper currency is so large in
prOporti on TO the metallic basis that conf
dence in the ability of the makers of this
paper to redeem it is impaired. Iu ordi-
nary times the purchase of silver would
add dollar TO The circulating medium for
each dollars worth of silver purchased.
The treasury notes issued in payment OF
that silver differ only from the old legal
tender in form. The Government is no
more bound to redeem one in gold than
the other. If there had been no purpose
foreshadowed to reduce the metallic basis
by the demonetization of silver the appre-
hension Of the results TO flow from @
change in the tariff would have had less
effect. But a contraction of tbs coin basis
OF the currency and threat to reduce
duties to revenue basis were sufficient
cause for the disturbance which is now
nassinO awav
The morning call., 1893-08-29
George E. Whites Affairs.

Referee Harry T. Creswell has fled his
report in the divorce case of George E.
White VS.. frankie White.
EThe report shows that there is no CON-
munity property of the marriage. The
husband is shown TO Lave considerable
real property in various counties of the
State. amounting in value to upward OF
S132, 900. Besides that, there is personal
property values at S54, ,725. Whites in
come has not varied much during the past
twenty years. and his average income is
placed at $S1 .404 A. His expenditure.
however, is said 10 have exceeded mis- in
come. and his liabilities are set down al
SI32. .5S4
The morning call., 1893-08-29

1t has lately been limited that Mexico
aims at establishing a protectorate over
the five republics which lie to the south.
This is about as absurd canard as coald
we'll be sent ouacking. Mexico has enough
on hand to develop her own vast re-
sources, and were she to engage In such
adventures she wonld only weaken her
position without having power 10 control
her neighb0rs. The army that Mexico has
would require to be increased 20 an un-
bearable extent. Except for internal
peace she does not need an army. it being
clear that no European power will ever
again give her trouble. and none of the
Central American States being strong
enough for aggression except among them
selves. The Nicaragua canal would have