The San Francisco call., 1895-10-08
know it was the custom to throw money on

''Fifty-four years?" suggested Mr.. Simmons
''Lal La!-La! Lal La! l am 3S now only"
"That expression seems to have great many
meanings" remarked @ friend
"Now, 1t is a French exclamation, and there
are very few who appreciate its value" said
Mr.. Martinetti. "I will give you some ex-
amples. You can wrinkle up your nose look
from under heavy frown and say, with de-
ciston, La La!-Lai La La to a man. i'm
plying the utmost contempt in telling him to
mind his own business. Then l wish to
make an excuse for my friends and myself
for not accepting an invitation, on the plea
that we have another engagement-I am asked
where, and after few attempts to think of an
answer turn to my friends in disgust with La!
Lai-Lal Lal La! spoken very sharply-telling
them to say something or assist me. Then I
heave sigh and give the weak little express
sion of resignation-Lel Lai-Lal Lal Lal
"There are dozens of means of expressing
ones self by the use of those five syllables, and
so as to be Immediately ana forcibly under
stood"
$50 you cannot accompany us out to the Seal
Rocks" said Mr.. Martinetti, "LAi LA-LAl
La! LAi"
The members of the Union League are con-
sidering the question of the municipal owner
ship of water. gas and electricity.
]. Richard Freud in speaking to this ques-
tion said:
81 am strongly in favor o: the municipal own
ership of all those properties which are general
to the whole people in all that goes to make
them yaluable-Water, light, whether OF gas
or electricity, steam or water power and street.
cars
1.-THE question as to just what guards must be
thrown about the expenditure of the funds
necessary to purchase or construct these prop
critics is one of most important detail and one
TO- hfnl,
But on the whole, aside from the question of
the best methods of expenditure, deem the
question of municipal ownership one Of the
very first Importance. Wherever it has been
tried il has resulted in the reduction in cost to
the people to very pronounced extent. In
some instances the reduction has been as much
as one-half and in special instances even far
greater.
81 think am not estimating the sense of the
membership OF the Union League Club too
greatly on this question when 1 say that the
greater portion of the members are a unit for
municipal ownership of our water works. The
only questions arising, anticipate, will be as
to the adoption of effective restraining meas.
ures looking to the honest and businesslike
expenditure of the public funds provided for
the accomplishment of such ends as above sur
gested.
''Tne Merchants Association has considered
this question, and 1t came to the general con
clusion that the first practical step would be
perhaps the adoption of the new charter, as it
provides for all such innovations.
ut will be seen that article II, section 64, of
that instrument provides for the permanent
acquisition by the City and County of San Fran
cisco of water works, gas and electric works,
electric and water power and streetcars as
we'll"
Colonel Albert E. Castle said.
ain the main am in favor of the municipal
ownership of the water works and of the gas
and electric-light works also. 1t is question,
however, which must be carefully considered
as to detail. We must have our municipal
affairs conducted more nearly upon the same
or similar lines which govern the business
world in private affairs. Honesty and reason
able economy are wise principles, the applica-
ton OF which to municipal affairs is sorely
needed. There is a growing sentiment TO this
end in the public mind, and no doubt but that
we shall see it embodied in the conduct of
affairs in this City, but as to when it shall be
applied the people must determine for them
selves"
State Senator Benjamin F. Langford of San
joaquin County is in the City. The Senator
has probably served more years in the Senate
at Sacramento than any other living man in
California. He is q Democrat of the old
fashioned sort, and somehow manages to land
in Office, no matter how many of his fellow
Democrats are swamped by the Republican
waves. Mr.. Langford's rule. is to be
very careful in voting to appropriate
public money, but he does not re-
gard appropriations for the Improvement
and maintenance of the Asylum for the In
sane at Stockton as waste of the public treas
ure In fact he regards it as solemn duty to
vote for such allowance and to persuade others
to vote with him.
For many years Senator Langford has been
on the list of Democrats entitled to Guberna-
torial honors, but at every party convention,
where the prospects seem bright for his party,
some clique or combination manages to cast a
blight on theLangford boom.
Joseph Murray, Government agent, who
was sent to Alaska to investigate the condition
OF the seals. is staying at the Palace. He ex-
poets an order to Washington at any time,
however, as he viii, start East very soon to re-
port.
"The seals are decreasing steadily" he said,
despite what is being done to protect them.
spent part of my time up north on the Rush,
and have just come down on her. There are
ffty-four sealing vessels in the north sea,
and two-thirds of them are run by
Canadians. We boarded III of them,
some of them, Of course, more than once to