The San Francisco call., 1896-10-01
VALUE OF LICENSING,
The Merchants Exchange Finds
It's Weapon Used Against
Itself.
Coal.Dealers Want the Privilege o.
Selling Coal 10 the Employees of
the Southern Pacific,
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, [
9O8 Broadway. Sept. 80.

SUo Broadway, sept. 81.
Frank r. Girard, an ex-director of the
Merchants Exchange ana one of the most
active merchants of this city, caused a
surprise to that body at last nights meet
ing by sending. the following resignation: !:
To the Merchants Exchange: hereby tender
my resignation as a member of the exchange
for The reason that my business IS more IN
jured than benefited by your constant agita-
tion of licenses; M renting business in Berke-
ley, formerly good, being fully as good there
as in Oakland. | am told by merchant of
Berkeley that they have followed the lead of
Oakland in raising the license, and, as can
not afford to pay 800 for my team, l viii have
TO discontinue my business there. Very re-
spectfully yours, +. r. GIRARD.
One of the chief reasons for the organi-
cation OF the exchange was to secure the
passage of license ordinance that would
keep outside merchants from coming into
Oakland and doing business. After sew
eral arrests had been made the San Fran
cisco firms opened branch stores in this
city and thus avoided the high license.
The next trouble came when some Oak
land hack-driyers were arrested in Ala
media for not having a liceuse to do busi-
ness in that city. The Alameda ordi-
nance requires all expressmen and car
riage-owners to take out a license if they
enter that city.
The latest difficulty comes from Berke.
icy. The Town Trustees passed license
ordinance tonight that provides for a
license of 500 per quarter on all parties
doing business in Berkeley who have not
fixed place OF business in that city. At
the meeting OF the Oakland Merchants
Exchange last night this matter was dis
cussed. but as the local merchants have
been anxious TO secure the same protec-
ton that Berkeley now seeks, no COM
plant was made.
Another very interesting subject was
brought up. L. N. Hager of the Coal
dealers Association asked that the ex-
change cooperate with the coal-dealers in
trying to induce the Southern Pacific
Company to cease selling coal to its en-
ployes.
An employe of the company stated to-
day that the Southern Pacific had made a
practice for years of selling their en-
ployes sufficient coal for their personal
use at cost price, 1t is this practice that
the association is anxious to stop.
VIII Consent to Divorce.
OAKLAND, CAL, Sept. 30-Mrs. Keene,
better known as Miss Lottie Johnson, has
through her attorney, t. f. Garrity, fled
a demand on her husband for money for
her support. Miss Johnson was about two
years ago the servant OF II. II. heene, a
Valencia street druggist. Keene betrayed
the girl under promise OF marriage, and
owing to the work of a charitable society
he was required 10 marry her. A few
weeks after the marriage child was born
which soon died. Before its birth Keene
deserted his wife and she was taken to the
City and County Hospital. Mrs. Keene
started out to maintain herself as do
mestic and is at present in East Oakland,
shattered mentally and physically. She
is working as servant in a private FAM
lily. A sister of Keene's lives on Vernon
Heights in this city and at the present
time Keene is in Los Angeles. Mrs.
Keene has said that she will consent 10 a
divorce with reasonable alimony.