The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-27
The Merchants Exchange Anxi.
Gus That All Officials Should
Pay Their Debts.
LIVERM0RE BADLY FOOLED
A Glass Agent Used It's League of
Progress TO Bid Against
Martinez.
OAKLAND OFFICE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, !
l.. %

sos Broadway, Jan. 20.
The Merchants Exchange of Oakland has
inaugurated a war against people who feed
at the public crib and who dodge the col
lector when their bills are due. The move
ment has taken active shape and a COM
mittee is now at work compiling list of
official beats. The exchange will also
work to have the next Legislature modify
the present insolvency bill. They contend
that the present legislation offers too much
inducement 10 certain people to avoid pay
ing their just debts. That the position
taken by the exchange is not without foun-
dation has recently been proved. A short
time ago county official who is in receipt
OF good salary filed q petition in insolv-
ency, and an investigation held yesterday
into the conduct of police officer proved
that the official owes nearly three times as
much now as he did when appointed, and
he has been drawing 500 a month right
along. These facts have opened the mer
chants eyes and they will endeavor to
profit by the experience.
&Ihere Is q rule of the Police and Fire
departments that the members must pay
their bills or suffer dismissal but the rule
has not been applied to any other city or
county department. 1t has long been
a fireman with SIS per month should be
made to pay for his groceries while
county official with $4,000 year should be
free to beat everybody he desires.
1t so happens that the secretary OF the
Exchange is also School Director, and he
has promised that he Will use all his en-
deavor toward having q rule passed that
school-teacher shall be liable to dismissal
who does not pay legitimate debts. While
this Will be all that can be done locally,
the merchants will try TO have the in
solvency act so amended as to reach higher
game.
During the past twelve months several
agents representing large interests anx-
ious to locate in Alameda County have
made their appearance in Oakland and
elsewhere. They have represented gun
makers, boxmakers, bicycle-makers and
glassblowers. They have invariably inter-
ested the various public bodies in the cities
and towns, and have been given an oppor-
tunity to display their samples and to ex-
plain their alleged value. By talking
plausibly about the great advantage that
would inure to the town where they located
them, the increased circulation of money
and the addition to the population, thew
have generally created favorable impress
sions, In every instance, however, they
have been making the same offer in q
dozen different towns and asking for in
duCements, and by bidding one community
against the other they have finally found
a very generous offer.
The last case on record happened last
Wednesday night at Livermore. An
agent for a large glass works was anxious
TO locate near the Corral Hollow mines
and would employ over hundred people
before the end of two years. He had given
considerable attention to glass factories
and had found that there was a greater
need for one in California than for any
other kind of factory. The Gamers.
brewers and druggists and orchardists are
large consumers, and sufficient business
could be obtained to keep a first-class
plant running for at least ten months in
the year, The Livermore League of
Progress called a special meeting, and
were to make definite statement TO the
agent and were to close the deal.
Meeting night came and goodly at
tendance was present. After waiting
nearly an hour the agent failed to appear
and the Livermore folks concluded that
he had, like most folks who disappear
met with foul play. Great was their sur
prise couple of days later to learn that
while they were waiting for the glass
agent, he was at Martinez telling the
people that be had a semi-concession from
Iivermore. The League of Progress
denies that he has a semi or any other
kind OF concession from Livermore, and
says that until he apologies for his lack
ofrespect they want nothing more to do
with him. S. w. BOOTH.