The San Francisco call., 1897-04-22
Grading and ExCavating
Bids Will Soon Be
Called For.
Senators Perkins and White
Make a Call on the
President.
The Latter's Opinion Is Asked In
Regard to the Circuit
Judgeship.

WASHINGTON. D. c., April 21.-Rep-
resentative Loud called on Assistant Sec
retary of the Treasury .. /. Spaulding
again to-day in reference to the San Fran
cisco Postoffice building. Mr.. Spaulding
assured Loud that he would Immediately
take steps 20 prepare the specifications,
based upon which bids would be adver-
ii ed for as soon as possible. 1t was the
opinion of Mr.. Spaulding that within
three weeks advertisements would be pub
lished calling for bids for the work of grad
ing and excavating.
Senator'S Perkins and White accom-
panied General Romauido Pacheco to the
White House and Introduce him 10 the
President. They urged his appointment
as Minister TO Brazil or the Argentine Re-
public At this interview President Nc
Kinley improved his opportunity to in
quire OF Senator White something about
the different applicants for the Circuit
Judgeship to succeed Mckenna.
The opinion OF White was sought as a
Democrat who might have no partiality
for any OF the candidates. Senator White
warmly praised Judge Morrow. and said
that in his opinion Morrow was the
man for the place. This was the first time
Senator White had ever met President
Mckinley. During their brief interview
it was impossible for Senator White TO
gain even an idea of the Presidents choice
for the Circuit Judgeshlp, but he is in
clined to believe that Mckinley has two
names under consideration-Mo and
Van Fleet.
The Cabinet had under consideration
yesterday the San Pedro deep harbor mat.
ter, brought up by Secretary Alger.
Senator White said 10 THE CALL CORE.
spondent tonight that he was uninformed
as to what took place at the Cabinet meet
ing. He is inclined to believe, however.
thatin view OF the emphatic telegrams and
letter which Secretary Alger has received
from Southern California he will not dare
to further delay the execution of the act
OF Congress and Will advertise for bids If
he does not do so White will inIIoduce a
resolution in the Senate demanding to
know the reason for the Secretary's neg
lect of duty.
Colonel J. F. Evans of San Francisco to-
DAY appeared before the subcommittee OF
finance, which has the tariff bill under
consideration, and presented additional
reasons why draw back should be allowed
on coal used by American vessels He
showed the committee that the drawback
provision In the shipping act of 1886 was
intended TO be continued by the tariff act
OF 1890, but owing 10 the unskilIfuI word
lns OF the drawback clause of that act the
supreme Court held that said clause was
not broad enough to include coal. The
dltference IN the price OF coal on the
Pacific as compared with the Atlantic
coast was shown to be more than 100 per
cent, and the fact that high-priced i'm
ported coal is used almost exclusively for
steaming purposes by the Pacific Coast
steamers was especially dwelt upon.
He SAID that II IN addition to this great
expense for coal, the vessels of the coast
must also be taxed rs cents per ton, with
no relief by way of drawback, 1t would
operate as a discrimination against the
shipping of California and other Pacific
States, and would be a just cause of COM
plant.
Colonel Evans contends that this is
Pacific question, pure and simply, and
that the drawback will not injure the coal
interests of the East, the price being regu-
lated on this side by the domestic supply.
II the foreign coal comes in its price must
conform to the local rate and the foreign
shipper must pay the duty. 1t is dog
ln-the-manger policy then for the Eastern
coal magnates to oppose the drawback to
which they never before objecl ed.
The probability is that anthracite coal
will be subjected to the sam. rate Of duty
as bituminous coal, the line of distinction
between the so-called anthracite and Brit
ish Columbia coal being almost impossi.
bic of definition.
Alexis Sullivan, formerly of San Fran
cisco, Is In Washington. He wants to
have vice-consulate esta blished at Mata-
gapa, Nicaragua. Senator Perkins and
Judge Mcguire will call on the Secretary
OF State tomorrow in regard to the mat.
. ter. Mr.. Sullivan Is not a candidate for
appointment to this place, but is business
manager OF the San Francisco Coffee Com
pany IN Nicaragua.
j. q. Johnson of Benicia wants 10 be
Com missioner of Immi igration at San
Francisco, and ]. f. Jansen, William III.
Ellis and L. I. Kinsey of Eureka would
Ike to be Collector of Customs at Eureka.
They have filed applications at the Treas.
ury Department