New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-02-24
TOPICS IN CALIFORNIA.
THE HAWAIIAN CABLE-FOOLISH LEGIS-
LATION-PERSONAL AND DRAMATIC


tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNEl
San Francisco. Feb. 23-The failure Of Congress
20 make an appropriation for a Hawaiian cable is
ascrbed here to the injudicious tactics OF the local
merchants who formed private cable company.
These men have real intention Of building a
line to Honolulu. In fact they organized a
poration for the express purpose of getting Gov
ernment subsidy. but the Cleveland Admnstra-
ton. that felt compelled TO do something to break
the force of its bunders in Hawaii and that was
prepared to agree to a appropriation. seized upon
this San Francisco corporation as convenient ex
cuse, and thus denied Government aid to the
cable project. 1t may be that this mistake may
be remedied by the next Congress. but there will
never be an American cable to Hawaii If San
Francisco merchants counted on to build it.
The big deal by which 10000 900 gallons of Cali
forna wine was contracted for this week has
greatly encouraged all vineya rdists. and many
mourning over their haste in selling last sea-
sons crop at very low prices. The new associa-
ton proposes not only TO market wine without
paying large profits TO middlemen but TO insist
upon good quality of the product. California wine
has been seriously hurt by the carelessness OF
many grapegrowers. who pay little attention to
the condition Of the grapes which they send 70
the winery. In France every decayed or sun
dried berry is clipped off with scissors. but here
everything is dumped into the crusher. 1t looks
now as though no California vineyardst will have
10 sell his wine at a lower price than 10 cents
gallon, which leaves a very fair margin Of profit.
The butcher-cart robbery in New-York years
ago was recalled this week by the bold looting Of
diamonds in a pawnbroker's window by thief
who escaped on horseback. With the aid OF a
small boy he locked the clerks in the store,
smashed the show window. seized the diamonds
and escaped though IT was about the theatre
hour and Grant-ave. was crowded. Only one
man tried to stop the thief and mis- energy sub
sided when bullet grazed his leg Many of the
highway robberies that have been frequent lately
are ascribed 10 the unemployed of whom there
are 900 in the city. The greater part of these
idle men are eager TO work. but there is a small
percentage of criminals who have given the po-
lice great trouble. The churches and the public
schools are doing much to relieve distress among
families OF the unemployed The school children
are working through the Salvation Army, which
knows where poverty pinches worst
The lower house Of the State Legislature APP
pears determined to show how foolish body OF
lawmakers may be. Last week II passed the bill
granting suffrage to women though the Consti-
tuition distinctly prohibits it, This week II has
passed bill actually prohibiting the manufact-
ure or sale OF cigarettes and another declaring
against the wearing Of high hats at theatres
Meanwhile important public measures have been
30 grossly neglected that the session will have
TO be prolonged into March. One measure which
has excited great opposition is the proposition to
establish d Central Board of Charities and Cor
recton which will have charge OF a score Of
institutions with powers similar to those OF the
New-York Commission In Lunacy. The admin
istration of these Institutions Is now very costly
although the Trustees draw no regular salary.
Under the new plan salaried State officials would
be responsible for all contracts and for econom-
zeal management
The colossal figure of Progress which will sur
mount the dome Of the City Hall, has been
modelled by Marion Wells the sculptor and will
soon be cast. II is 22h feet high and represents
q winged female figure holding aloft torch Al
night this torch will be brilliantly illuminated.
and ~ the statue 10 over 300 feet above the