The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-02-24

Mayors of other cities come here Mayor
Davie is expected to invite admiration
of 0akland's municipal pile. The latest
proof OF its uselessness was made manifest
yesterday. Two prisoners became tired of
restraint and some of the spirit of the
hereof the day being yet justified in their
thjevish breasts they decided to regain
their liberty. They did not experience
much difficulty in getting out. They
looked for the part OF the prison.wa that
required the least exertion 70 remove and
then they walked out. Had they made
their exit past the Chiefs Office and
salaamed 10 him as they retired from IN
generation there might be some ground of
complaint against the department. But
as they walked out through a wall the
remedy must be looked for elsewhere.
The police force is far too small to es-
tablish a Gordon around the walls OF the
City Hall to intercept fugitives who take
advantage of its weakness and decay, so
that the example of yesterdays escapes is
likely to be generously followed. Only a
few weeks ago two boys did the same
thing. In their case they pushed the top
off their cell and walked out with the
boarders VINO had been accommodated at
tho prison during the night. The CITY
Treasurer has to deposit his money in
bank vault, because it is feared that if a
safe were built in his Office it would tum-
bic through into the prison. The City En-
gineer cannot be accommodated in the
building, but he can be found a couple of
blocks away in a private. block. ANY
property-owner who wishes to look at
plans for sewer improvements or at street
surveys, which business naturally lies be-
tween the street department and the En-
gineer's Office, can probably get all the
information he needs if he has a whole
day to spare. Notwithstanding all these
deplorable inconvenience, not to mention
the rat-in-a-trap experience that would be
the lot Of prisoners in case of fire, all
efforts looking toward the erection of a
new building have met with disfavor. An
earthquake seems to be the only hope of
making possible a new City Hall for Oak
land.
The ladies who edited the Washington
birthday edition of the Enquirer made an
innovation. They dispensed with the
society page. This was not because the
editresses, belonging more to the practical
set than the so-called social set, considered
the page as toadying to human weakness.
but because no member of the staff was
found with enough courage TO accept the
social assignment. There were seven
ladies on the staff and as nearly as can be
ascertained each had the support of six for
the position of society editor. At the
earlier meeting of the staff the value OF
the social column was extolled and the
benefciaries OF the special edition ex-
pected hundreds of nickels from the sale
OF papers on account of it. Toward the
time of publication the enthusiasm re-
garding the important detail waned and
with a keen eye to business it was finally
decided to dispense with it altogether.
Then the secret came out. There was
division of opinion in the council as to
which of the social sets of the community
should be given the prominence. There
are sets and sets in this city and to array
one against the other would be to destroy
the prospects of street sales. So the social
page did not appear for the hrst time In
any paper edited by women, and it was as
acceptable on Oak street as on jackson
and Lake.
The great amount of interest shown in
yesterdays celebrations prove that the
present controversy that is being carried
Oh by opponents of different religious and
polticaI faiths is producing good. 1t is
4nuuclng display of patriotism that was
not previously noticed. In OsSZand tens
OF thousands of people considered it in
cum Dent on them to show that no matter
"nal thelr creed may be, their patriotism