The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-14

allow cities and towns to own and operate
their own lighting plants and to sell light
to the inhabitants.
There are several bills in both houses
proposing new methods of holding
-.imary elections, M ost of them providing
that primaries be held on the same day
and under control of election officers
representing all she pciisical parties.
The1aws OF general interest apart from
local influence may be summarized into
very few, and the summary will indicate
the pervading sentiment of the membe
ship of the present session. These laws
provide for reduction of the hours of
labor among bakers and other toilers for
whom there is allowed but little rest.
Labor will be protected in the collec-
tion of its earnings in money and
promptly. Employment Offices and pawn
brokers (the two seem to. go together
somehow or other) will be placed under
stricter regulations for the protection of
the poor from the labor-sweater and the
three ball shark. Reforms will be insti-
tuted in the method of primary elections.
Some commissions will be abolished and
the appropriations for others will be cut
down, for this is Legislature of economy,
it is said; but there are many persons here
who do not believe it. Particular attention
will be paid to the prevention of the sale
of adulterated milk, cheese and butter,
and the dairy mems interests generally
will be looked after.
Supervisor King of San Francisco came
up to-day to look after bill authorizing
himself and his associates to condemn and
purchase the remaining two lots on the
site of the old City Hall in San Francisco,
so that the new building may have the
benefit of the entire half block.
S nator Braunhart will be after the
shorthand reporters in the Police courts
with sharp stick. He says that they
earn too much money. For instance, the
following sums were paid to the stenog-
raphers. of the four Police Courts for one
years work, according to the last munich
pal report: Police Court l. $e519 45; No.
2, $62l3 20; No. 3, 5000; No. 4, $4622 So.
81 propose to reform the Police Court
said the Senator to the writer to-day, "by
providing for three Judges to be appointed
by the Mayor after the expiration of the
terms of office of the incum bents, and to
change the law so that the Police Court
clerks shall be appointed by the County
Clerk and be under his management and
control; also that the prosecuting attor-
news OF the Police courts shall be appoint
ed by t! e District Attorney. At least one
of the courts must be il session each day
until 5 P. NJ. The Superior courts con-
tinue in session until that hour, and there
is no reason why Police Court official s
- \
moons when Superior Judges must remain
in their courts and do business. Police
Court stenographers should receive fixed
salary OF $500 per month. The stenog-
rapher in the Coroner's office transcrites
the testimony at all inquesIs for $3.50 per
month, and he does more work than all
the Police Court reporters put together" "
The Senator's declaration of intention
will be likely to cause much commotion
in the ranks of the shorthand fraternity
in San Francisco.
Major Jose Ramon Pico's claim goes to
the Com mittee on Claims, and the major
has furnished the following circular to
each mem ber of the committees:
To the Representatives Of the Assembly and
Senate of the State Of California: Major Jose
Ramon Pico organized four companies of the
California native cavalry at an expense OF
several thousand dollars, of which expenses
he has never received dollar from this State.
He was the first captain in California to enlist
men for the war. He is now poor man, hay
ing lost his money in business failures. His
father, the late Governor Pico, gave the State
OF California property enough to make large
fortune He gave the ground for the location
of the State prison at San Quentin, Stockton
Insane Asylum, and at Sau Jose for the loca-
ton OF the State Capitol, and others; $1,000
for the cornerstone of the Capitol building,
$1,000 for the sufferers of the Sacramento flood
in 1861 and 1862, $4,000 to Archbishop
Alemany for st. Mary's Cathedral. 5000 10
help build Santa Clara College and other do