The morning call., 1894-02-03
THE WATER RATES
Oakland's Council Will
Reduce Them.
A San Francisco Merchant Killed by
a Train-The Home for
Adult Blind.

Adult Blind.
OAKLAND.-It is now pretty certain that The
City Council Will make a reduction 10 the pres
ent water rate demanded by the Contra Costa
Water Company of 20 per cent. and some
Councilmen are talking OF so per cent reduc-
tion, arguing that the waller company could
furnish water At half its present rate and still
make big profit oil the capital invested.
The estimate of the cost of the company'S
works has not yet come to hand, but Council
man said yesterday that the body OF which he
was member would probably find way OF
forcing The matter, and ii this method fails then
the Council would do the best it could. "But
one thing is certain said he, sit won't DO the
water company any good to withhold the de-
sired information, for ii we are forced 10 guess
at it we will be more inclined to guess above
than below The company's figures"
The Committee of One Hundred had its sec
retary, j. W. Dutton, send TO various Eastern
cities few IN onths ago for water rates paid by
those cities, and comparison showed that
Oakland people paid far more for water tnan
the residents of any of the places heard from.
In some cases the amount paid to the Contra
Costa Company was double The rate.
Helping the Unemployed.
The Citizens Committee met in the Mayors
chambers last night. A resolution indOrsing
Secretary Lyon was unanimously adopted, and
that gentleman was thus eXonerated from the
blame and odiGm which the Federal Union has
sought To heap upon him.
The following resoiu ion was also adopted:
Resolyed That it IS the sense of this committee
tnat they feel yerY much disappointe d that the
oricials have nos completed their arrangements
the unemployed could have been put TO worz
ere this.
Rev DR.. Rice was appointed complittee of
one to secure the tabernacle for the purpose OF
lodging and feeding the unemployed.
About $4,000 Is on hand still, due the CON-
mitlee from the ely.
A complimentary resolution was adopted
thanking the school children for their timely
assistance in relieving many distressed fami-
lies. Over $1,000 worth of provisions came in
TO the unemployed from these school children.
Secretary Lyon PAS issued a call for a meet
ing of the registered unemployed at the Council
chambers tonight.
1t was The design of the Superintendent of
Streets TO put two hundred men at work on the
lake shore drive, but il has been found neceS-
sary TO postpone this action until Monday.
Work on Inde pendence square has been de-
ferred, as the City Engineer is without The data
in his office TO set he stakes upon the lines OF
the COmmerce-Street extension, where it was
proposed TO dump the dirt.
To Be Punished for Contempt.
Aflidavits are being prepared by the District
Attorney In the Louis MaIheny case, upon
which it IS proposed to have Juror McVey,
| who served In that case. cited 10 appear and
show cause why lie should not be punished for
contempt. 1t is upon the recommendation OF
the last Grand jury that McVey Will be
brought up with a round turn In its report
| the Grand jury SAYS Of the McVey matter:
We desire TO call your Honor's attention TO the
| conduet OF w A. McNey one OF the Jurors In the
| case of the People against Louis Matheny, hereto
| fore tried in your Honors department OF our
| superior Court. Upon careful investigation of
| the demeanor and conduct of some of the jurors
in this case we ascertaned that Mr.. McVey, during
the time the jurors were dellberating upon their
| verdict in the Juryroom. communicated with a
| person other than an officer of the court by
| writing upon cigarette box a statement showing
/ the result of the ballotiBg of the jury and by
| throwing this message to one OF the courthouse
/ gardeners who at the time standing in the
| courthouse garden 1uStunderneath the window Of
| the juryrOon and who received THIS message and
communicated the CONTENTS thereof TO John +.
league, one OF the private detectives employed in
| this we call the attention of the court TO
| this matter In order that McVey may be proceeded
| a-ainst for contempt of court if your Honor
| deems such a course proper ana advisable.
Tuck Cannot Return.
Judge Ogden yesterday delivered an opinion
| upon The demurrer 10 the petition of Il. {.
! 1 uck for writ OF mandate against the direc-
| Blind. The Judge sustained The demurrer OF
| The A:Iorn Y General, who appeared tor the
trustees. BY this opinion the powers of the
! board OF directors are definitely settled. Her
| bert Tuck, blind man, had been discharged
| from the institution. He attempted 20 force The
directors inO taNing him back and 10 this end
| brought an action for reinstatement His
claim was that the board had no authority TO
| dismiss him.
| IN MS QeclSlQn JuUEe OgQe0 SIateu tnat the
| board of directors are vested with the power to
make bylaws for the government OF the home
| and tile inmates thet eof. He stated thal they
were also vested with the legislative judicial and
eX cutiye powers IN connection With The man.
| agemenI OF The home, as well as in the matters
| OF the conduct and admission Of The blind. BY
paragraph z OF article NJ OF the act OF the Leg
islature under which the home was established
power is conferred upon the superin endent iC
! remove any inmate whose presence appears tc
| be in conflict with the interests of The home
* a m
mendatlon 10 the board for his final dismissal.
KuIed bv the Train.
| Vincent L. Valentine commission merchant
| at the corner of Davis and Washington streets,
San Francisco. and residing at 1929 East
| Ninth street in this city, was run over by the
| down local train a $50 O'Clock at the Twenty
! thiId avenue station yesterday morning and
! frIghtfully mangled. lie died fifteen minutes
after.
Valentine at the time lie was struck was on
his way 10 san Francisco. He attempted 10
| cross lhe track in front of the approaching
| train with the object of buying ticket or the
other side. He mlscaculated the speed al
| which the L ain was running and was strucH by
| The cowcalcher. Valentine plunged 10 one
side and was rolled over several times, finally
striking his head against the Steps of The FIRST
car. When picked up his skull was found TO be
| crushed and both legs broken. The Coroner
was notified and the body removed 20 the
! MOrgue.
The deceased was 40 years of age. He had
! been married and divorced. A son, also named
| Vincent. is now residing In Chicago The un-
fortunate man was living with his mother aud
| Two brothers.
| Money Bet al Poker.
Justice Wood rendered Judgment yesterday
In favor of Il. Ii. McCloud In his suit against
| Il. +. Simpson for tie recovery OF $3.50 ana
| interest on a note given by the latter TO the
| plaintiff one night in February of 1890. Al
| that time simpson was playing poker with
friends In the back room of McClOud'S cigar
! store. The defense advanced by Simpson was
that McCoud knew the money was 10 be used
for gambling purposes, and that therefore. he
could not collect il by any legal process.
| Justice Wood based his decision in favor oil
| McGloud on rulings OF the State Supreme Court
according 10 which money loaned 10 he used II
shaking dice could De recovered by Law, as dice
Is not game mentioned among those pro-
hbiIed by statute. Neither Is draw poker
simpson was playing the latter game when ht
borrowed the 500, consequently he falls be
fore the statute.
attorney Benson Assaulted.
An attack was made on Attorney z. II. Ben
sou, yesterday, at the corner OF Eighth stree
and Broadway, by John Rule, The 2O-year- ole
sou OF Mrs. Boogar. Benson was on the way Il
his office, when young Rule jumped from be
hind The corner and attempted to strike the
attorney, at the same time saying, "Pll teach
you how 10 lie about my mother" Bensor