davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
THE ASSESSORS CONVENTION.

The next convention OF note to be held in
this Stale is that which has been called to
meet at the State Capitol building on No
vem Der %. 1t is to be composed of Asses
sors of the various counties and has been
called to consider the best means of re-
forming the revenue laws of the State.
The present system of taxation in Cali
fornia is really lack of system. 1t has
been the outgrowth of exigencies arising
at different times and in different coun-
ties and results in great injustice to tax
payers. The aim of the coming conven-
tion is to petition the Legislature to so
amend the present revenue laws as to
make them less conflicting, more equitable
and more effective.
1t is also proposed to ask the State
Board of Equalization to form some
schedule to follow on the assessment of all
lines OF personal property, as we'll as to
look into the present assessed value of
property, the object being to discover
where present evils exist, devise suitable
remedies for them and petition the Legis-
lature to pass such acts as are necessary
to amend them.
1t will be seen that the convention will
deal with subject which concerns every
taxpayer. The raising of revenues for the
maintenance of public institutions and
the carrying on of the government is cer-
tainly one of the most important of legis-
lative functions. Nevertheless, it is one
which has perhaps been less carefully con-
| sidered than any other duty which legis-
lators are called on to perform.
In California the evils OF the present
system are great, and have long been
recognized. 1t is certainly high time,
therefore, that some attempt should be
made to correct them.
An assembly of the Assessors from all the
| counties in the State would be bouy of
experts who have had sufficient experi-
| ence to know where the evils lie. and it
may be assumed that among them will be
some who have sufficient sagacity to
know what remedies should be provided.
Much good may, therefore, be expected
from the assembly.
1t IS to be hoped that every county will
be represented, and that plan of more
equitable taxation may be devised for
submission 10 the Legislature this winter.
The reform has long been needed, and
it cannot be too speedily effected.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
At A pix ROSE DINNER.
7 ung People Elaborataly Enter
tanned by the Misses
Stubs.
brilliant Afternoon Reception at the
Ashe Resi- enc on Leaven-
worth Street

ine hlsses Helen and Mary Stubbs gave a
uelis ''liuI dinner at The residences nj their
paient 10 MT. ana Mrs. ]. c. Stubbs. on Pacific
avenue laSt evening. Their guests were all
yoons People. Covers were laid for sixtean
~ 'aDie pretuly decorated with mink rosa-
buds. pinA rose
Inc aHalr was one OF the most successful of
the early season. The young ladies nro,,a1 -.
be most delightful hostesses. the gras,s - "
all congenial, and the menu was delicio,. o,-s
Gaintily served. '--"
Seated at the table were: Mr. and Mrs ~
Stubs, Miss Kate Salisbury, Miss Fannie Rold.
win, Miss Mary Kip, Miss Ida Belle Pa NOR
Thomas Breeze, Edward Daring, Sidney pin
gle, Edward Houghton, Alexander Baldwin.
Allen Wright, Frank King and the Misses
Stubs.
Yesterday afternoon at her residence. 1OO5
Leavenworth street, Mrs. William L. Ashe
charmingly entertained 200 ladies at an alter
noon tea. The decorations of the draWjng-
Tall golden chrysanthemums bio1med in deli
cate vases and ornamented mantelShelf and
bric-a-brac, and in crystal bowls there were
pink rosebuds and red berries.
The hours or the tea were from to g. Mrs
Ashe received her friends. assisted By Miss
Gertrude Foreman, Miss Peters OF Stockton
Miss Bette Ashe, Mrs Norman McLaren, Miss
BESSIE Bowie, Miss Friedander, Mrs. CASTOR
Ashe, Miss Edith Findley and Mrs. J. w.
Keeney.
The members of the Friday Fortnightly are
looking forward with many anticipations OF
pleasure to the regular meeting of the class
this evening. The german will be under the
leadership of Milton Latham and r. NJ. Eyre,
who are expected TO introduce many new
figures James Robinson will give dinner to
some OF the Friday Fortnightly set at the Uni
tertain others at her home, 1901 Leavenworth
street, reVlOuS TO the
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
WATSON'S LETTER.

Tom Watson's long lost letter has been
published at last. 1t contains nothing
new and it is just about as useful now as
it would have been had it been made pub
lie before the elec tion. 1t will not be read
by many people, and in all proba bility
would not have been read even if it had
appeared when the interest in the cam
paign was sufficient to induce men to read
almost anything that touched on politics.
The document it is said would if pub
lished in full make seven columns in q
newspaper. That is longer letter than
the people of the United States will read
from nybody. Even Watson when his
mind is hottest and his pen is supplied
with the best brand of vitriolic ink could
not make such letter warm enough all
the way through TO prevent it from falling
upon the public mind as unpalatable as o
cold pancake.
There is but one point in ii deserving
consideration now. Mr.. Watson saws:
mo one regrets more than do that the
Democratic managers in shaping their
fusion deals have considered those Popu-
lists only who were getting Ioaves and
fishes. They have lost sight OF the great
al Va 6AOSc uOHcSt u6dTIS ana
sincere souls form the strength of the re-
enforcement Mr. Bryan needs.''
There can be no question of the truth of
Mr.. Watson's statement that the fusion
managers really arrang d their com bina-
ton with the Populis;s solely or those
who were to get the loaves and fishes in
case of success. The rank and file of both
parties were treated like so many cattle
who could be traded and delivered by their
bosses at the polls.
The only excuse which the fusion lead
ers can urge for their conduct is that any
o ther com bination than that which thew
arranged could not have been accom-
plished. Mr.. Watson's own letter shows
that the spirit of Populism is so alien to
the spirit of Democracy that complete
fusion between them is impossible. The
fusion managers did the best they could.
and certainly achieved g greater success
than the justice of their cause deserved.
Watson's letter will tend to m axe more
clear he wide disagreement between Pop
ulism and Democracy, and to that extent
will serve good purpose, even though it
comes after the fight is over and when
comparatively few people will care enough
about it to read even the digest which was
published yesterday
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
STEEL KING OSHIMA.
The Japanese PIutocrat Leaves for the
East and Europe With His
Experts.

T. Oshima, the technical director of the
gigantic steel works to be erected in the
coal fields of Southern Japan, and who
will be the king of the iron and steel busi-
ness in the land of the chrysanthemum,
left last evening on the east-bound Gen.
trail Pacific overland. He was accom-
panied by the four expert engineers who
came from Japan with him.
Mr.. Oshima will stop for few days at
Chicago and then go to Cleveland. In
both of these cities he will make careful
study OF the steel business. He wants to
examine the best plants, and when he has
done so and decided on what he wants he
will spend 100000 for machinery for
japanese use.
But Mr.. Oshima is looking at other
things also. He wants to make a study
OF electrical power, with the view of intro
ducing it in Japan, and will therefore 20
to Niagara Falls and examine the monster
electrical works and the strange ways of
utilizing the power of the falls.
When he has done this he will proceed
to Birmingham, Sheffield and other great
iron ana steel centers. He and his ex-
perts will be gone many months.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

bottom at the point marked A would ascend
In succession to each of the stories above the
ianolng places in every case being indicated
D. the letter A. Another person entering the
stairway at the same time at the point marked
d would also ascend in regular order to each
OF the floors above, ana all of his landing
places are indicated by the letter B. These
landings are in every case on the same level,
but AT the opposite sides of the circular well
containing the stairway. The two persons
could keep continually within sight of one
another and would be able to converse, yet
they could never get any closer together as
long as they remained on the stairs.
Tne form OF stairway is more than a mere
curiosity, since not only can il accom- mods te
twice as many people as winding stairway Y
having only single revolution, but it COM
pietely separates the lodgings on the two sides
OF Inc house. The opposite tenants on the
same hoor cannot pass into one anothers
rooms without first going down to the ground
moor. They might quarrel across the we'll, but
could not get at one another except by labo-
rious climb. which would PROBABLY exhaust
their anger as well as their wind.
AS funny scene as any writer of farces has
ever imagined would be presen ted by couple
OF quarreling tenants on this Partisan stair
way running up and down from landing to
landing, shaking Their fists and hurting epi-
thets at one another, yet never able to get near
enough to come to blows.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
Bank Against Rank

The case of the American EXCHANGE Rsnt .,
New York City against the First National Bank
OF spokane Falls ana F. Lewis CLARK. the re-.
eeiver OF the same. was appea ed yesterda =
from the United States Circuit Court of Wash.
lng,on state to the United States Circuit Cour,
OF Appeals of this City
Several years before the eollansa Of .hs
Sp Spokane bank 1t secured loan of S5o
ooo from the New York bank and in fSgg
a7b 5ar, ia was paid, leaving ba lance o. S34'.
AZ - ~ unpaid. The New York bank sued 10,
the remainder and asked for an order of con
70 compel the receiver to recognize the claim
as as Va4la anu place the creditor bank next on
Lts tsb1e OF distribution. The Washinpto
court court Jury returned verdict against the de.
tenuanis, and TO the courts instructions
" the jury exception was taken AS the
ouuse refused TO grant new hearing of ihe
case II was Appealed the Court OF Appeals
N IN tne appeal the allegations are principaIIy
tnat me court erred in the matter of a,mif-
ting and excluding testimony and in ire IN
structions to the jury.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
THE MINING CONVENTION.

The convention Of the Miners Associa-
| ton has done its work well and has out
lined plans for the future which promise,
II effectively carried out, to do much to
| promote the welfare of the mining indus
| try. 1t is therefore with renewed hope
that the miners of California will return
to their work. They can now 60 forward
with fair degree of assurance that their
enterprises Will be carried on under better
conditions in the future than have pre-
vailed for long time past.
The resolutions adopted by the conven-
tion called for several changes in the ex-
listing laws OF the State. These it will be
the duty of the Legislature to consider
| carefully, and it goes without saying that
whatever the State can do TO promote the
industry by amended legislation, or by
new legislation, will be cordially snp-
ported by the people.
The miners also ask for National legis-
lation. and this it will be the duty of the
California delegation in Congress to sup
port as heartily in the future as it has in
the past. The request for the appointment
OF a National secretary of mines ami min
ing, with seat in the Cabinet, is one that
VIII have the support of Congressman
from all the mining States. Such an Of
ficial is greatly needed in this country.
The mines in the United States represent
an enormous industry which is affected in
thousand ways by legislation. 1t is al
together right and proper therefore that
| a represen tative of that industry should
ave an honored place In the councils of
every admin istration.
For the rest 1t seems clear that the pros
perity OF our mines will largely depend
upon bringing additional capital into the
State to work them. Modern mining has
| become one of the most costly and scien-
tific of human industries. 1t is only by
the use OF expensive plants and processes
| that the rich gold fields of South Africa
have been developed and those of Western
Australia exploited.
In California we have hardly more than
scratched the surface of our gold-bearing
| mountains, and If the same means that
have proven successful in South Africa
| are employed here, there is no doubt great
results Will be attained. To employ these
means, however. implies the control of
large amounts of capital, and while Cali
fornla is rich, she should nevertheless
| arrange to get as much aid as possible
from the wealth of the world in the task
of this development.
The harmony of sentiment and vigor of
spirit shown by the convention give
promise of success in all the lines of State
work that were mapped out. The iegisla-
tion needed from the Nation can also be
obtained if the miners of other States act
with the same unity and energy as those
OF California. The wealth required from
the East and from Europe will come of
| itself as soon as it is known that our mines
are profitable and can be worked under
laws favorable to their development. The
future, therefore, is bright in every respect,
| and the people have good reason to be
satisfied with the work the convention
accom- plished
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
NEWStAfER r EASANTRY

"The smart American girl of to-day knows
how to say yes in every language spoken on
the earth"
"How about 'no'?"
''Oh, she only knows that in English-and
never uses it except in America."-Truth
May-I met DR.. Fish ON the avenue TO-DAY
and he cut me.
Pameiia-That's his great falling. He doesn't
know where 10 draw the line between business
and peasure--Brooklyn Life.
"If she were young girl" said the plump
juryman with the metropolitan air, '.I would
be in favor Of assessing the damages you wish.
But ii seems TO me that a widow is not entitled
10 quite so much for the damage to her fee i
ings by breach of promise
81 don't look at II hat way at ALL" said the
long juryman with the red clay on his boots.
al take it that widder's feelin's 'ud be hurt
the wust, cause she realizes what she is
losin'."-Cincinnau Enquirer.
His father-If you marry old stubbs' daugh.
ter you shan't have cent of my money.
The son-But, father, If 1 don't marry her I
can't gel a cent of old Stubs money.
His father with grudge to satisfy)-Mv
own boyl Marry her. and render that old skim
flint pennfless ess-Philadelphia North American
.l am sorry bought one of those door-mats
with Welcome on it''
"Why so?'
"SOme stupid fellow mistook the meaning of
the word and helped himself to it the first
night."-Cleveland Plain Dealer.
III don't care that for what the newspapers
think about me- said the statesman Swapping
his fingers.
''No?" said the incredulous constituent
mo It's what they say that keeps me
awake OF nigh,s."-IndianapolisJ Journal
Teacher-Biily. can you tell me the differ
ence between caution and eowardice?
Billy-Yes. ma'am. When you're afraid
yourself then that's caution; but when the
other fellows afraid then that's cowardice.-
Harpers Bazaar.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

grave might be the consequences in some
election if the will of an overwhelming
majority of the American people should
be rendered of no avail by reason OF the
peculiarties OF our present method of
electing Presidents. The majority would
OF course submit to the vote of The Elec-
toral College, for we have had minority
Presidents elected before, AID may have
them again. Nevertheless, the subject s
not altogether pleasant to contemplate
and it is easy to imagine that issues might
arise when the election of a candidate
under such circumstances would result in
serious evils to the country.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
HE MIGHT HAVE WON.

In the face OF the enormous popular ma
jority for Mckinley it seems almost in
credible to say that Bryan came very near
election to the Presidency. Nevertheless
that appears to be the fact. The Wash.
ington Post compiled table from the
early returns which shows that change
of less than $4,000 votes would have made
Mr.. Bryan President of the United States.
This condition of affairs results from the
fact that the majorities at first recorded
for Mckinley in the States OF California,
Delaware, Indiana, Wyoming, Kentucky,
North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and
West Virginia were very small. The total
OF these, according 10 the returns cited by
the Post, was little more than $1,000. Tnese
States, however, cast sixty votes in the
Electoral College. 1t is clear. therefore
that If something like $4,000 men had
voted for Bryan instead of for Mckinley
IN those States their electoral votes woud
have gone to him instead OF to his oppo-
nent, and Mckinley, notwithstanding the
popular majority of LOCO, 900, would have
been defeated candidate.
The corrected returns show some chance
from the figures given by the Post. but
these DO not materially alter the point
which 1t makes. The great tidal wave was
IN fac. dependent for its success upon a
comparatively small wave in few States.
and considera ion OF this phase of the
election Will probably lead to a revival of
the agitation in favor of electing Presi-
dents by popular vote instead OF by the
present system.
Ordinarily the vote in the Electoral Col
lege fairly represents the will of the peo-
ple, and even in his case, since Mckinley
has been elected, no harm has been aone !:
but it can be readily understood how
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
GODS WITn TnE COUNTRY STILL

It's the same round sun as 1t heaves In sight
The same blue sky GER the hill;
SO, song by day and a song by night,
For Gods with the country still
It's he same sweet moon with the same soft light
And the stars their splendors spill:
So, song by day and a song by night
For Gods with the country stini
It's the same old world, with its rosy round
And the same sweet songbirds triiI;
And the storm winds blow, but the roses grow,
For Gods with the country stilli
FRANK /. STANTON,
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
JOURNALIST in TAE FAR NORTH
Alaska News.

Alaska News.
Those who have witnessed the struggles of
the News during the past two weeks to issue a
paper printed on wrapping paper, butchers
paper, wall paper or any old kind of paper we
could get to print on, will appreciate our feel
ihgs while waiting for the Topeka 10 arrive
with suppiyo of regular stock. The boat was
due Wednesday evening, but owing to heavy
ana continuous logs was delayed and did not
reacn here till Friday evening, during which
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
ESTATE OF H. WoLTERs.
All the Property to Be Divided Among
Decedents' Relatives.

~AAA SAO L AOpcIby 10 De D1VlueQ Among
Decedents' Relatives
The will of the late Henry Wolters has
been filed for probate. 1t bequeaths $4,000
to the widow OF the testafor (which
amount is 10 be reduced to $4,000 if the
estate does not aggregate $1oO, 600 in value);
to Mrs. Wilhelmina Krauch, $1,000; Ed
ward Wolters, $1,000 and the residence
and real estate now occupied by him; Mrs.
Augusta Cole, $1,000; Miss Mary Peters
$500; the residue to be divided equally be.
tween the widow and five children by a
former wife, with the exec Dtion that $4,000
shall be deducted from the share of Henry
Wolters Jr. on account of cash advanced.
In order TO guard against contests as far
as poss bic, the testator provides any one
who offers contest shall receive no more
than 81.
The will concludes: "There is not any
one that has tried to bring any influence
to bear upon me as to the making of NV
bequests, but l am acting solely on nv
own judgment and for mvself, as has
always been my habit in any and all NV
business transactions"
The United Kingdom has one medical
student to every 1886 of its poouIafi0n
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
CLEvELAND'S 4 ORK DONE.
Alexandria Gazette.

Under the new idea that success is the
measure of merit, Mr.. Cleveland is unquss-
tionably great man. Those who knew him
pest after SIX m onths of his first administra-
tloa, said his mission was to break up and de-
stroy the Democratic party. He has succeeded.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
APos.omc. Omc;.,

superintendent Flint of the Railway Nail
service has gone to Los Angeles TO meet George
8. Stone. the Chief clerk 10 the Second Assistant,
Postmaster-GeneraL Mr. stone ia on ,his
coast on combined pleasure and business
trip. While in this city he will make a hor
way mail SERVICE al
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
A cURIoSl Y OF PARIS
WINDING STAIRS WITH DOUBLE REvo-

In one OF the old quarters of Paris, near the
Palais Royal, stands n nine-story house, which
possesses a most singular and interesting form
OF winding stairs. The stairway is situated in
the central court af the building, and is open
to the SKY al the top. It's popularity OF con-
struction can best be understood by reference
to the accompanying cut, borrowed from the
French scientific journal, La Nature. 1t is
evident at glance that there are two separate
spirals intertwined, each turning in an OPP
posite direction. A person entering at the
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

Bit by bit the immensely valuable real es-
tate in Denver once owned by Senator Tabor
has passed out of his possession, till now the
only property standing in his name consists
of sixteen lots surrounding the family home
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
CALIFoRNIANs IN NGW YORK

NEW YORK, N Y, Nov. 12.-At the St.
Cloud-A. Becker; Netherland--J. Eas man,
Mrs. p A. Hearst; MaTiborough-E. E.
Murphy; Astor-w. L. Travis.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

An extra session of Congress would not
disturb business but benefit it. That is
the Republican way.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

The miners will furnish US with gold,
but unless we patronize home industries
we won't keep it long.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

The campaign is exhausted, but Bryan
is not. H. seems he has another speech in
the slack OF his iaw
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

OUR fall and holiday lines of ladies' pocket
books, cardcases, purses. biilbooks, letter
cases. valises and handbags in all the new
lea ners are now on sale. Sanborn, Vail & Co.,
TAI Market street.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

If there is any such thing possible as an
over production of gold, let us try it for
luck.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13
..Mrs. winslow soothing sxrun"

Mrs. WinsIow soothing Syrup
Has been used over fl Y years by millions OF
mothers for their children while Teething With per
rect success IL 500 hes the child, softens he gums
allays Pain. cures WiEd Collie suiates he Bowels
and is the best remedy for Diarrhoeas. whether arx
Ing from tee hing other causes or sale by drug
gis;s in every part of the word NBe sure and ask
for Mrs. winsow's soothing Syrup csc bottle.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

The Dingley bill may do for time, but
what the country expects is an extra ses-
sion OF Congress and speedy return to a
thorough system of protection.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

Old Miss Democracy may indulge the
hope of getting rid of Altgeld, but when
the next election comes round she will find
the villain still pursues her.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

There is abundant room for improve
ment in our State system of taxation, and
an mbly of Assessors ought to be able
to agree where to begin the work.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

The guessing at the composition of Nc
Kinley's Cabinet has no end of variety IL
it, and yet it is becoming monotonous.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

The present monetary system is good
enough for business, but the deficits in
the revenue show every month the neces-
sity OF immediate tariff reform.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

Tom Watson has the consolation O
knowing he carried his own town, and thai
is more than Sewall did.
The San Francisco call., 1896-11-13

sable, makes llost useful garment for general
wear, and is still stylish enough for the best
coat. s
A blue cloth, with lace collar edged with
minH, is more dressy but less serviceaple.
Sage-green cloth, with trimming of Persian
iamp lpr q q olack braids. is very effec i've.
OF oiue wet edged with krimmer, is very
Medlterranean blue velvet with collar of
1t is possible to get iou as